After the Dawn Read Free Page B

came from beside him. Feeling helpless, Dillon tightened his arm around his mother’s slim shoulders. She wasn’t a woman who cried easily. They both had reasons to hate and love the man being slowly lowered into his final resting place. Abe had stuck by Dillon’s mother when half the town and many of the employees at Collins Industry turned their backs on her because she’d been unwed and pregnant with Dillon.
    Twenty-three years later, he’d fired Dillon and ordered him off the company’s property. At sixty-nine, standing six feet, he’d still been a man who could win against another man half his age and win. At twenty-two, brash and arrogant, Dillon might have taken him on if his mother, Abe’s secretary at the time, hadn’t come into the office when she’d heard them arguing.
    â€œDillon,” his mother said softly, bringing him back to the present, “I can’t believe he’s gone.”
    Dillon patted her arm awkwardly. It was just him and his mother. He had no idea how to deal with her grief. She’d lost friends, of course, but none had affected her as much as Abe’s passing.
    â€œI feel sorry for Samantha,” his mother continued. “She’ll have no one now.”
    Her uncle and aunt certainly wouldn’t be there for her, Dillon thought. They were as selfish and snobbish as they came. Although Dillon didn’t associate with them, they probably hadn’t changed much in twelve years.
    Dillon couldn’t see Samantha for the crush of people, the towering hats the women wore, but he could visualize her face—hurt and embarrassed after he’d rebuffed her awkward attempt to seduce him.
    That had been twelve years ago. His mind shut down from going further. Those thoughts weren’t appropriate at a funeral. He hadn’t seen or heard from her since. “She’ll be fine.”
    â€œI hope you’re right. Abe loved her so much,” his mother mused. “I’m glad she came before we lost him.”
    Dillon wasn’t sure if his mother expected an answer or just wanted to talk. He’d come as soon as he’d heard The Old Man, as Abe was called behind his back, had died. Listening to the strong voice of the minister Dillon couldn’t think of one reason why Abe would have called him the day he’d died. Dillon had been in Canada working on a Lotus for the Formula One vintage car racing competition.
    His mother had mentioned Abe’s heart attack when they’d talked the day before but said he was recovering at home. When the call came, Dillon had been in the middle of getting the car ready for a trial run and hadn’t been able to talk.
    An hour later, when Dillon had been able to take a break, he’d called his mother to check on her. She was his and Abe’s only connection. Once he knew she was fine, he’d decided to call Abe later. When he’d called later that night, the housekeeper said Abe was dead. He’d taken the first flight he could get to be with his mother. He would regret for a long time that he hadn’t taken Abe’s call.
    â€œAshes to ashes. Dust to dust.”
    â€œCome on, Mama,” Dillon said, gently urging his mother toward the car parked a quarter of a mile away on the narrow two-lane road. There was no way they would get near Samantha to offer their condolences. His priority, as it had always been, was taking care of his mother.
    *   *   *
    They’d been at his mother’s home an hour when the phone rang. Dillon grabbed the receiver. His mother was watching a sappy Lifetime movie in the den. He hadn’t wanted to leave her, but the movie was making his eyes cross.
    â€œHello.”
    â€œMay I speak with Dillon Montgomery and Marlene Montgomery?”
    Dillon frowned at the strange wording. “Who is this?”
    â€œSamuel Boswell, Abe Collins’ lawyer. Is this Mr. Montgomery?”
    Dillon’s