Hidden in the Shadows

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

It was all happening so fast, Angel said simply “This is a lot to take in for sure, but I need to go shower and get dressed if we’re to keep up with all your plans.” That said she went to the bathroom taking her clothes with her, she stood before the mirror trying to see if there were any physical changes from the day before. Because today she felt completely different.

When she walked from the bedroom, she said “Are we ready to go?” It was her Grandma Marigold who said “Dear, do you have a jacket?” Angel sighed and told her honestly “I’m from California there isn’t much need for one there.” Lillian nodded and said, “Well that settles that then, we’ll be taking you shopping for some clothing before we go to the ranch.” Angel hadn’t been prepared for that, but she bit her lip and let the women lead her out.

She noted that two of Justin’s men were trailing them and was curious. When she asked her grandma, Belle said “Dear, you’re a very wealthy girl now, we want to make sure no one tries to take advantage of you ever again.” Angel could take that two ways that they didn’t trust her judgment or that they wanted to look out for her best interest, and she knew that was it.

They wanted to make up for the past. When they pulled in front of an exclusive boutique Angel said “I won’t balk at what you think you need to do for me, I promise. But I’m not a boutique kind of girl. Would it be okay if we went to the outlet mall instead?” They didn’t even seem bothered that she’d changed their choice of venue and she knew why when she saw the outlet mall. This place housed stores as exclusive as Armani in it. No wonder they were okay with her choice.

Three hours later, twenty stores later, literally she was dressed in a new outfit, new shoes and all. She had clothing for every occasion. When her female relatives shopped, they shopped. At some of those stores the associates worked on commission anything they brought that looked good on Angel they were told to add to the pile. She’d never owned a pair of Kenneth Cole shoes in her life but was now the proud owner of ten pair, as well as new Nike’s and Converse, and the list went on and on. She even had a new pair of western style boots.

She’d walked to the car dressed in new Levi’s, a belted cowl neck sweater in black and her new dress boots. She’d had any number of sales associates ask her who did her hair. She’d simply pulled it up in a ponytail high on her head the curls swung freely as she’d changed clothes multiple times. She’d noted on their way back to the car that men were staring openly at her. While she’d always attracted men, this was different, now they were staring at her in a different way. It took her a minute to figure it out; they were gauging how much she was worth. She wouldn’t let that get her down; she pulled on her new pea coat and buttoned it before leaving the store to go to the car that was waiting.

She’d completely forgotten she hadn’t eaten anything until her stomach began to growl loudly in the car. It was Belle who said, “Why don’t we call in an order for pizza the men can pick it up on the way to the ranch.” That decided Ellen did just that. There had been arguments all day over who would pay for her clothing, she’d insisted that if she had as much as they said she could cloth herself, but they’d insisted it was their due to give her gifts. So, she’d watched each grandmother vie for the tab and seen her Aunts sneak in a few victories themselves.

When they were almost at the ranch, she ventured to ask, “Where will I buy furniture?” Marigold responded saying “We’ve hired an interior decorator they will do exactly as you ask them and in a timely manner that you ask them. As for what furniture, you want we have catalogues at the ranch waiting for you to peruse them.

I didn’t even stop to think about what we’d sit on until your new things arrived dear.” Minus having no furniture turning into the drive that led up to her new home was like seeing a fairy tale come true. She couldn’t believe this was her home, she was stunned. Despite no furnishings, they all enjoyed their time at the ranch that night going over the property. She’d realized that other than a couple of older mares no horses had come with the property. She hoped Justin’s friend knew what he was doing because she sure as hell didn’t. She made a decision to read up, on horse breeding for racing and racing itself.

When she reached the penthouse, she was beyond worn out. Justin and his men had carried her things into the bedroom and left them at the foot of the bed. She was just too exhausted to put them away. For the first time, she crawled into the bed and slept, after setting the alarm for five in the morning. At which point she did her yoga routine, then push-ups and crunches.

She’d just finished her breakfast when the doorbell rang for the first time. Checking the monitor, she knew it was Justin, she opened it and let him in saying “I have a busy day ahead of me today.” Justin smiled and said, “Good morning Angel. I’m here because Cody would like to meet you at the ranch this morning so you can go over everything and see if you’re both on the same page.” Angel nodded; she grabbed her leather coat and her new purse and followed him out the door.

When they arrived, she said to Justin “I’m supposed to meet with five different attorneys this morning at the ranch house, I wasn’t sure if you’d been told. I’m to select one for my personal attorney to handle my legal matters.” Justin nodded and handed her five folders and said, “I pulled their backgrounds, and their histories thought you’d like to read through them.”

When they climbed from the car, she noted there was a big black truck parked near the barns. She arched her brow and asked Justin “Your friend?” at his nod, they walked to the barns to meet Cody. Her first impression of Cody was he was a hardened take no prisoners kind of man. He was genuine and he didn’t talk around her he talked to her telling her what needed improving and what they could do here. She made sure he knew she knew next to nothing about the business, but she was willing to learn. They showed him around the place, and she showed him the little house he’d be living in if he took the job. It was a two-bedroom house, it was, quaint and she found it cozy and cute.

When they made their way back around to the house Cody asked, “What are we looking at here, are you wanting to race, and breed racers?” Angel nodded and replied, “I’d like to try our hand at it, see what we can accomplish.” Cody looked concerned for a moment then asked, “What kind of seed money are you looking at; you’re going to need to buy quality horses to start with.” She glanced at Justin because she honestly wasn’t sure what kind of money she had at her disposal. Before she could answer she heard her father say, “She has unlimited funds.”

At his voice, Cody looked up and studied her father before asking “And you are?” Hunter replied evenly “Believe it or not, I’m her father.” Cody couldn’t hide his shock at that answer and looked to Justin who nodded. Cody introduced himself and then her father said, “I’m Hunter McDaniel’s” Cody blinked once then said, “The Hunter McDaniel’s?” At his nod Cody nodded too and said, “I see why the kid here needs security as well. Me and Justin will be making sure she’s safe don’t you worry.”

Cody paused then said, “There is a horse auction this weekend that we can attend but you’re going to need equipment. You need trucks built for pulling horse trailers, and you’re going to need trailers for your horses.” Hunter nodded at him and said, “You’ll also need to find a vet you trust Cody to work with the animals, and feed supply company that delivers, things like that.” Cody nodded and said, “Then we need to get busy.”

Angel glanced at her watch and said, “I have a meeting with some attorneys right now as soon as it’s over, how about we all go check into getting everything we need to set this place up right.” Hunter followed her inside, while Justin and Cody stayed outside discussing security and making sure the attorneys were who they claimed to be.

She’d read their files and just going by them she had to admit she had a favorite. She was a woman who had worked hard and was climbing up the ladder tooth and nail slowly. But she came from the same kind of environment that Angel had. After four meetings Angel was beginning to think this was hopeless until she met Hannah Davis, she knew Hannah had certain preconceptions about her, but she wouldn’t jeopardize her chance to gain Angel as a client.

Angel said, “First let me tell you a story about my life, and then you decide if we can work together.” She told Hannah everything about Stacia, about just finding out who she was, how she’d been raised by Serena who did drugs and drank. She could see the more she talked the more Hannah could relate to. She finished saying “I want to help those who can’t help themselves, and I want to make a difference in the lives of, at risk kids. Kids like me, kids like you. I need someone who’s been at the bottom and wants to go to the top with me.”

Hannah was about seven years older than her, but their past lifestyles were similar, eerily so. Hannah said honestly “If you’re willing to work with me, I will give everything I have to helping you do everything you want.” Angel glanced at her father who nodded, and Angel held out her hand and said, “Welcome to the family Hannah.” Hunter gave Hannah the information she’d need for contacting the family attorneys for both families.

When Hannah left, Hunter reached into his briefcase and handed her a manila envelope inside it was a bankcard, multiple credit cards, and several checkbooks and account registers. When she got a glance at it and they had her name on them she looked at him questioningly. But when she saw the amount in the register she froze in shock. She looked at Hunter and said “But, I haven’t received anything from the grandparents yet.”

Hunter shook his head and said “That’s from your mother’s estate. Your attorney will handle the deed changes for the property, but the financial aspect is your own. That is only what Stacia had at her death.” Angel looked at the number again and felt as if she were in a fairy tale. She looked at him and said, “Is that really nine zeros?” At his nod she said, “Who in their right mind needs a billion dollars?” Hunter asked, “You have identification, correct?” At her nod he said, “Okay then, you’re sweating the fact you have that when you’re nowhere near done.”

When they rejoined Cody and Justin she said “We’ll follow you, Cody. We will setup accounts wherever you think is best and go either order or get those vehicles you say we need. Do you have to special order those trailers too?”

Their first stop was the feed and grain store which also sold tack. After setting up the account for the ranch and ordering everything they would need for the ranch they headed out. Their next stop was the trailer dealership, they only had one model of the trailer that she noted Cody was drooling over. The trailer even had living quarters attached, and it hauled six horses at a time. She ordered three of them in the colors black and silver, as well as two four horse trailers, with the logo her Aunt had emailed to the dealership on them. After that was the stop at the Chevrolet dealership, where she ordered three crew cab dually in black, with the Wild Creek Ranch logo on the door.

She’d gone to the bank to open an account specifically for Wild Creek Ranch, into which she had put fifty million dollars of her money as a startup for the ranch. When she’d asked Cody if that would be sufficient, she’d thought he’d pass out on the spot. They had then setup an account for phones for the ranch hands they’d have and interviewed a vet Cody had worked with before; it had been a tedious and long day.