Chapter 18

Turning to Peyton, I explained, "Masyn and I tried to talk Beau out of proposing last Christmas. It didn't have anything to do with Felicity. We didn't know her. We just thought they were rushing things." That was a nice way to put that we believed she was after his last name and bank account.

"Anyway," Beau continued, "if her parents don't fight it, and Josten doesn't believe they will, then I'm just stuck with legal expenses for his time."

Josten White was the only lawyer in town. He'd graduated from high school with Masyn's oldest brother, Ty. Once he passed the BAR, he came back to Harden to set up practice. We all thought he was crazy at the time-nothing happened in Harden to need an attorney, people didn't even get divorced. Oddly enough, once he'd opened his doors, business started flowing through. Workers' comp, farmers with land disputes, child support-he did it all. And made bank.

"I can't imagine my parents fighting any of this. My mom won't want the negative publicity