I felt tears building in my eyes. I’d heard of every single one of these horses, but I had never dreamed they were my father’s. All were named after each of us. He must have used a different name as the owner.
“I can’t believe it,” I whispered.
Whitley took my hand in hers. “Layton? Are you okay?”
I shook my head. “He named them after us. ”
Whitley looked confused. “What do you mean?”
I looked down at her and smiled. “Sunset Sky was the name my mother wanted to call the ranch. When he saw a horse he thought was a winner, he’d say, ‘That damn horse is fast as a bullet. ’ Kate’s Date—well, that has to be for Kate. Lay It Low is what my father used to say when I got in trouble with my mother. He would tell me to lay it low until she cooled down. ”
Whitley smiled. “Mike’s Lucky Star. ”
I smiled and nodded. “For Mike. ”
“What about Sweet Baby?” Mr. Mitchel asked.
I looked up at him and fought like hell to hold back the tears. “He called my mother Sweet Baby. I can see him now, walking up behind her as she cut up vegetables. He’d ask her, ‘How was your day, sweet baby?’ I can actually hear him saying it to her. ”
My heart was breaking all over again.
Why did he leave us? Dad…why did you leave us?
Mr. Mitchel stood and opened his briefcase. He pulled out a folder and three envelopes. One had my name on it, one was for Whitley, and one was for Kate.
“Mr. Morris, you’ll want your lawyers to take a look at all of this. Your father was a major stockholder in an investment firm. All of that will be transferred to you. I’m guessing they will probably request for you to attend the next stockholder’s meeting. ”
I rolled my eyes as Whitley let out a small laugh.
Motherfucker, not another investment firm. Why the fuck did my brother and father get involved with these companies?
“Where’s the firm located?”
“New York City. ”
I saw Whitley suck in a breath of air. I was pretty damn sure we were praying to God it wasn’t Roger’s dad’s company.
“Miller and Pike Investments,” Mr. Mitchel said.
Whitley and I both let out the breath we had been holding. I glanced over to her, and she gave me a small smile.
“Do you have any other questions for me, Mr. Morris, before I head back to Chicago?”
I snapped my head over toward him. “Chicago?”
“Yes. That’s where your father was living when he passed away. ”
“I see. Um…may I ask how he died?”
“Oh, yes, I’m so sorry. I don’t normally take care of estates like this. Please forgive me. Your father had lung cancer. He battled it for a few years, but…” Mr. Mitchel looked down and away.
“Thank you so much for making the trip out here. Let me walk you out,” I said. I leaned down and kissed Whitley on top of the head.
As I walked Mr. Mitchel out to his rental car and said good-bye, I noticed Mitch driving by, heading to the barn.
“Layton, don’t go talk to him right now. You’re upset, and now is not the time to do this. ” Whitley placed her hand on my arm.
Fuck! This was supposed to be the best day of my life, and it’s turning out to be one of the worst.