Forever and Always by Leigh Greenwood Page A

compete with the other bank.”
    â€œThat’s because one cousin runs it, and another cousin’s husband is the primary investor. Sibyl is very loyal to her family.”
    Logan valued loyalty to family, too, but it shouldn’t determine how you do business. If his father had been so loyal to his brother that he’d refused to go against him, their company would have been bankrupt years ago. He’d have to help Sibyl understand that. She owed it to herself, her daughter, and her employees.
    â€œWhere do you have your accounts?” Logan asked Jared.
    Jared grinned sheepishly. “With the competition. Norman was particularly cruel to my wife when her first husband died. That’s the main reason the new bank was formed. Neither she nor I would do business with Norman.”
    â€œBut Norman is dead, and Sibyl is your wife’s cousin, isn’t she?”
    Jared’s gaze narrowed. “What are you getting at?”
    â€œSince both banks are owned by your wife’s cousins, wouldn’t it be a gesture of goodwill to use both banks equally?”
    Jared’s features relaxed. “I’d never thought of that.”
    â€œThat’s not surprising with Norman’s death being so recent. But now that you have, I hope you’ll consider it.”
    Jared favored Logan with a speculative gaze. “I get the feeling you’re a very clever man. I hope you’re an honest one as well. I’ll talk with my wife about your suggestion , but I hope you know that everyone in Cactus Corner loves Sibyl. They would be very upset if your efforts to help her were to have any negative effects.”
    Logan smiled inwardly. Jared might not have been able to develop the brotherly relationship with Colby he’d hoped for, but he clearly had developed a protective feeling for his own wife’s family.
    â€œI know I don’t look like an upstanding citizen. I live in a tent in the woods with an abused dog as a companion. I’m not in good health, and no one knows who I am, where I came from, or why I’m here. All I can tell you is that my time is my own. I have nowhere to go and no place to be. I offered my help because Sibyl needs it, but I have no plans to stay here. In fact, I’ll be gone before the end of summer.”
    â€œI’m not trying to run you out of town,” Jared said. “Steve likes you, and Sibyl obviously trusts you. And if you’ve managed to win Cassie’s approval, that’s good enough for me. She comes across as flighty sometimes, but that woman can smell a bad apple hidden at the bottom of a barrel. I just want you to know that people will be watching you.”
    â€œGood. I’m glad everyone is so concerned about Sibyl. And I hope you’ll encourage people to give her bank another chance. They’ll get a very different reception.”
    â€œI can’t appear to favor one cousin over the other.”
    â€œI wouldn’t expect you to do that, but it would help if you’d let it be known that things are going to be very different now.”
    â€œNo one doubts that. They’re just waiting to see what happens. As much as everybody loves her, they don’t know if she can successfully manage the bank.”
    â€œShe’ll do fine,” Logan said. “You just wait and see.”
    â€œWill she let people know that you’re responsible for some of that success?”
    â€œI’m just helping her figure out what everything means. All the decisions will be hers.”
    Jared seemed skeptical. “If you’re as good as I think you are, she might benefit from your advice.”
    â€œWhat makes you think I know anything about banking?”
    â€œThere’s something about you that doesn’t fit. You live like a hobo yet you speak with the confidence of a successful man. You’ve already talked me into thinking about supporting both banks equally. Besides, I trust Sibyl and