Tameka pushed the door closed with her hip and placed the food in her insulated lunch bag. “Look, if this is about my property, I’m sure my lawyer told you I’m not interested in selling.”
“We’re prepared to make you a very attractive offer. How does two hundred and fifty thousand dollars sound?” Like a rip off, she thought, rolling her eyes. “For twelve acres of land and a nice sized house? You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“All right. Three hundred thousand.”
“No.” She looked around to make sure she wasn’t forgetting anything.
“Ms. Jones, you drive a hard bargain. Four hundred thousand. That’s as high as we’re willing to go.”
“Look, I’m neither negotiating with you nor holding out for more money. I told you, this land’s not for sale—for any price.
That’s final. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m late for work.” Tameka disconnected the call. Now she had to hurry or she’d be late. She wished she had time to take something for her head.
Dealing with those people had given her a headache.
She drove into town with the AC on full blast, all the vents pointed at her. As early as it was, it was hot as Hades out there.
They were in for a scorcher of a summer if the last few days were an indication. When she arrived at the shop, there were quite a few guys waiting for haircuts. Tameka greeted everyone as she went to her station and got busy.
After about the sixth client, she paused while sweeping her area and told Lulu, “I’m going to have to get me a fan. I don’t know how you stand this heat.”
Betty spoke up. “It’s actually kind of cool in here, even with the dryers going. Lulu’s got the air cranked down really low. Are you feeling all right? You look a little flushed.”
“Are you sure? ‘Cause I’m so hot, I’m sweating and that’s not something I normally do,” Tameka told her while fanning her face.
Lulu gazed at her with a concerned expression on her face.
“You don’t think you’re coming down with anything, do you?” Tameka wiped her forehead with the back of her hand as she cleaned her supplies, preparing for the next customer. “I felt fine when I got up this morning. I had a slight headache when I left the house, but that’s because that annoying developer called, trying to get me to sell Momma E’s property again, despite the fact that I’ve told them I’m not interested.” Lulu’s gaze sharpened. “Someone made an offer on the property?”
Tameka nodded as she motioned for the next guy to come over. “And being downright aggravating about it, too. Won’t take no for an answer. She actually thought I was trying to drive the price higher. I finally hung up on her.” She placed the cape around the man, ignoring the way he stared at her and picked up the spray water bottle, after finding out how he wanted his hair cut.
Lulu waited until she finished cutting to ask, “Do you remember the name of the person who called?” Tameka paused. “Now that I think about it, she never did give me her name. Just identified herself with the Markham Group.”
“What about the letters?” Lulu questioned.
“I couldn’t tell you. Momma E’s probate attorney handled them after the first one. He just passed the message along.”
“How much they offering?” Rosa asked.
“Four hundred thousand was the last offer.” She turned her attention to her next client, running her fingers through his shoulder length hair, checking the ends. “What can I do for you today?”
“Just a trim.”
Tameka grabbed her spray bottle and got to work once she verified how much he wanted trimmed off the ends.
Betty picked up the conversation. “The land alone is worth that much, and that’s not including the house. That’s a prime piece of real estate you have there, with plenty of trees and if I remember correctly, a small lake as well.” Tameka frowned. “I didn’t know about the lake, but it doesn’t matter. I couldn’t sell even if I wanted to. Momma E
made it a condition in the will.”
“Why not?” Rosa wanted to know. “If they offered me enough, I’d take the money and run.”
“Because the land belongs to the Raven pack. Tameka’s just the trustee.” Lulu supplied the surprising answer.
“If it’s not your land, how did your grandmother leave it to you in her will? Doesn’t that make it yours,” Rosa asked Tameka.
“It’s mine to live on and use, but there are restrictions. I’m on what they call a Conservation Land Trust, basically the land’s caretaker. I make sure the land stays as it is—undeveloped—but the deed lists me as trustee, not owner.” She’d thought the land belong to a non-profit, conservation group. Thanks to Lulu, she now knew better.
She turned her client to the mirror, fanning out his brown hair before letting it drop to its new length, just above his shoulders. “Is that enough, or do you want more?”
“That’s fine.”
Tameka didn’t know how he could tell. He was looking at her reflection instead of his own. “That will be fifteen dollars.
Pay at the register.”
Tameka placed her hand on her stomach while she waited for him to exit the chair. Her stomach was cramping like she’d eating something rancid, and her headache was getting worse.
She swayed and closed her eyes as a wave of heat washed over her, leaving dizziness in its wake.
“Are you all right? You’re pale as a ghost.” Lulu’s voice came to her, sounding like it was a great distance away. She wanted to answer, but was afraid if she opened her mouth her stomach would erupt.
“Meka!”
She swallowed hard. “I don’t feel so good.” She swayed again and grabbed a hold of the chair to steady herself.
Lulu left her client, came and placed her hand on Tameka’s forehead. “Child, you’re burning up. No wonder you’re hot.
Rosa, go into the office, get the Tylenol and bring a bottle of water.”
A wave of pain radiated out from her stomach to encompass her entire body, knocking Tameka to the floor. She felt her eyes roll up in her head as her body began convulsing.
Someone shouted, “She’s having a seizure!”
“Call Alex. Tell him to get somebody over here,” was the last thing she heard before darkness claimed her.
How dare that bitch hang up on me! She doesn’t deserve
that land. It should be mine. It should always have been mine
along with everything else denied me. Let’s see how she likes my
next little surprise. Bet she won’t be so cocky then.
Chad parked the truck haphazardly, shoved the gear into park, and jumped out of the vehicle while it was still rocking. He left the keys in the ignition and the door open as he ran toward the entrance of the Mountain View Emergency Clinic, the private medical facility owned by the pack and operated by Alex.
Damn it! They’d called hours ago and he was just getting here. If only he hadn’t gone for a run. He’d felt so good, he decided today was a good day to let his wolf out to play. Tameka wasn’t scheduled to be off until later this evening and he was off from work. Why not? It had been too long since he’d gone wolf and just had fun.
He burst through the doors of the small, state of the art facility, glancing around wildly before rushing to the reception window. “Where is she? Where’s Tameka?”
“Chad, over here.” Carol Johnson, head nurse and the Raven pack’s second-in-command, waved him over to a door that read Authorized Personnel Only.
He was on her heels as she strode rapidly down the hall.
“What the hell happened? She was fine with I left her this morning. Where is she? I want to see her!” Carol paused by the nurse’s station. “You can see her in a minute. Let me go and get Alex. He wants to talk with you first.” She turned and walked off.