Page 31 of Javier

“I bring it up because what happened that night cast lingering shadows and created new secrets in the Narrows. What happened changed all of us. A small group—” Her eyes panned over Javier, Sammi, Rose, and Stone, who had just stepped inside “My kids led the charge. One of them is not here tonight. Ransom Creed. He came into my care when he was a young boy. Ransom was banished by the very people he considered his family and friends. He was my son. I should have been asked.

Daphne moved about the room pausing in front of a few tables at a time. Her voice was strong and sure. “What only a few know is that Ransom reached out to me later.”

She waited until the gasps and murmurs faded.

“He had married a lovely young woman. Her name was Lindy Fuller Creed. They settled in Texas, at Lindy’s parents’ ranch. They had two children. A daughter and a son. Lindy died shortly after Eben’s birth.” Wringing her hands, she paused, looked up at the whitewashed ceiling, cleared her throat, and continued.

“Ransom asked me to come and help.” Murmuring grew into talking that grew so loud that she could not speak above it.

Javier pushed off the wall and went to stand next to Daphne with his legs wide and arms crossed. “Hey,” he called above the racket. “You’re disrespecting my mom. Shut the fuck up. This is important.”

The talking ceased, all eyes on him.

“Better. Now, stay quiet. Drink your beer, you only get the one tonight, and listen.”

Daphne smiled a sad smile. “I’ll wrap this up. I couldn’t deny Ransom. I went to Texas for a month to help a grieving father with two little ones and his in-laws. That’s the last time I set eyes on or spoke to Hank and Myra Fuller, my son, and grandbabies. Over the last few days, you may have noticed my stunning grand girl or her beautifully restored red ’68 GTO convertible. Memphis is a redhead like her mama and grandmother. She is Ransom’s daughter.”

She clasped Javier’s arm and squeezed, conveying a silent message to not to say anything, and waited for the talking to subside. “Memphis needs our help. You all have a chance to make amends what I have long considered was wrong.” She looked up at Javier and said, for his ears only, “Finish please.”

“Creed Ranch, the property Ransom took over and made very profitable built for his family, is in jeopardy of being stolen by a ruthless neighbor. Ransom sent Memphis to make the request in person: our physical presence at the ranch in numbers. We turned our back on one of our own once. Are we going to do that again?”

“Why isn’t he here?” Dierks, Rose’s husband, shouted from a corner.

“Two reasons. One, Ransom was banished. Two, he’s dead.”

There was an immediate hush and then the room erupted.

Javier pounded on the table with his fist, silencing everyone again. “Listen up. We have a short timetable. We ride out at noon tomorrow. Northeast Texas. The trip is sixteen hours, and we’ll camp halfway. It’s likely we’ll be camping on the ranch, too. We’ll be gone for at a week to ten days, maybe more. A head count is needed tonight.”

There was a chorus of “Let’s go!” and other comments:

“Man, it’s been too long since we took a long road trip as a club.”

“Count me in!”

“This is going to be great!”

Cissy yelled over the small talk. “Are you riding with us, Daphne?”

The conversation ebbed again as many waited to hear her response.

“You bet your sweet ass I am. This is about family, and with family I’ll travel.” She yelled back.

The room grew louder.

Javier grimaced at Daphne, shook his head, and raised his hand. The talk reduced to a murmur. “Rose and Sammi are organizing. Those of you who can’t make the ride can help in other ways. Meals, road snacks, water, etc. No alcohol. Pack smart and get a good night’s sleep.”

CHAPTERTWELVE

Creed Ranch, A Few Days Later …

“Morning.” Javier murmured, playing with the red hair fanning out on his chest and shoulder and kissing the top of Memphis’s head. Did you get what you needed, baby?”

She pushed up onto her elbows and fixed him with an impish look. “Well, sort of …”

“You were disappointed.”

“Not at all. I’ve woken up on top of the sexiest hunk of man in my bed with muscle to spare and my body is aching from more.”

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