“So he was a good businessman?” Sadie asked.
Zach was quick to answer. “Yes. And a miserable human being.”
She studied his suddenly shuttered face. “That sounds like it comes from personal experience.”
He simply shrugged and walked away, leaving her to wonder as he strolled around the length of the old-fashioned, quirky shop.
She glanced over at Mr. Callahan. He gave her a half smile. “I’m not big on telling other people’s stories,” he said, “but James was most definitely difficult. He ruled Black Hills with an iron fist and had definite views on how things should be done.” He, too, glanced over at Zach. “And he wasn’t above using devious tactics to get what he wanted, either.”
He finished putting Sadie’s package together on the computer, checked it twice, then rang up a payment on her card that made her slightly nauseous. If Victor didn’t come through with that money in her bank account by tomorrow, she was going to ruin him for sure.
He was used to throwing around that type of money, but Sadie definitely was not.
They headed back out to the car, Mr. Callahan’s promise that the camera would be delivered in forty-eight hours drifting behind them.
Hopefully it wouldn’t be a moment longer.
There weren’t too many things that made Sadie impatient, but waiting on a camera was like a kid anticipating the bike they just knew they would find under the tree Christmas morning.
The silence in the car on the way to the mill wasn’t helping her nerves. “So the Blackstone men I’ve met,” she asked, “they’re James Blackstone’s grandsons?”
Zach nodded.
“You seem to know them well.”
“Not really...at least, not until recently. Different circles and all that.” The words were accompanied by a smirk, but at least he’d started talking.
“KC actually got involved with Jacob Blackstone first, months before I knew the family. Before that, I just knew of them. None of the grandsons lived here then. She met Jacob when he came home on a visit to his mother, and then she ended up pregnant with Carter.”
The scowl darkening his features turned fierce. “That was my first up close and personal encounter with the patriarch of the family. He threatened my sister, scared her so badly she left town. I’ll never forgive him for that.”
Sadie recognized something in Zach’s expression all too well. “Or yourself?”
He shot a quick glance her way before resolutely returning his eyes to the road. “She knew I wouldn’t have held back. I’ve spent my life protecting my family. And I would have jeopardized my livelihood and my mother’s bar to teach that son of a bitch a lesson.” His knuckles whitened from his tight grip. “So she made a decision and left alone. She didn’t come back until James was dead.”
Zach took a deep breath, almost as if cleansing himself of the memories. “Jacob and KC were lucky. Their story ended in a happily-ever-after—but it never would have if James had had any say about it.”
Zach’s stiff shoulders and furrowed brow suggested that he was still angry. But it was obvious from seeing Jacob and KC together that they were very much in love. From the sounds of it, they’d overcome a lot to get there.
Sadie knew how Zach felt, though. It was his job to protect his little sister. He hadn’t said it outright, but he must feel as though he’d let her down.
The question was, would he understand someone else needing to do the same for their family?
* * *
Almost a week later, Sadie stepped into Bella Italia with more trepidation than she’d ever experienced over a formal event. Mostly because she was usually at these things as the help, serving, blending in with the decor rather than standing out like a peacock in a brand-new dress.
She’d known exactly what she wanted to wear when KC had invited her to the Blackstones’ party celebrating a new chapter for the mill. The bright blue dress had called to her from the moment she’d walked past the window on the square on the way to Callahan’s. Sadie was used to admiring clothes she wasn’t able to buy.
Not this time.
For once, she didn’t blink at the price. She didn’t even use the company card Victor had given her for regular expenses. Somehow that would taint the gift of being invited in the first place. This time she wanted to experience something on her own terms—even if it ended up being a fairy tale.