Page 13 of The Bastard Heir
“No need to thank me. I didn’t come for your benefit.” Castillo grimaced at how harsh the words sounded. He didn’t particularly like the man for what he’d done to his mother, but he wasn’t bitter.
Instead of taking the bait, Tanner gave a little shrug of his wide shoulders and inclined his head. “Nevertheless, I’m glad you came. I hope everything went well with Miguel. He settled in fine?”
Castillo nodded. “Well enough. He didn’t want to go, but I think he realizes an education is best for his future.” It was a damn sight better than being chased like a criminal until someone eventually gunned him down. That situation with Campbell’s gang had been too close.
“Hunter didn’t want to go, either.” Tanner chuckled and shared an amused glance and some unknown memory with Hunter before looking back at Castillo. “I had to take him myself, much like you had to take your brother. I’d like to meet Miguel someday.”
Castillo stayed silent. In recent years, Tanner had made attempts to get to know more about him and his family—mainly with requests sent through Hunter—but that didn’t even come close to making up for the years his father had been absent or how the man had hurt his mother. Maybe Castillo was a little bitter.
When it became apparent Castillo wouldn’t reply, Tanner asked, “When did you meet Emmy? Back in the dining room…well, it seemed that you knew each other.”
Castillo took another sip of whiskey and glanced to Hunter. Together they’d all three concocted a story about how Hunter and Emmy had met. Due to his venture breeding horses, Hunter had met Emmy’s stepfather through business. When the man had needed to take an extended overseas business trip, he’d implored Hunter to take in Emmy and her younger sisters because they had no other relatives to see them through such a lengthy absence. Naturally, it had been love at first sight for the young couple and here they were getting married just weeks later.
They couldn’t very well go around telling everyone the truth. That her stepfather was Ship Campbell, leader of a ruthless gang of bank robbers who’d kidnapped Miguel in an act of retaliation. Or that Hunter, Castillo and Zane had kidnapped Emmy, and then she’d escaped to a brothel and Hunter had bid on her virginity. Not even Tanner knew about their legally questionable activities. Castillo was still unclear about how he was supposed to fit into that story, so he smiled as Hunter took the lead in answering.
“Castillo and Miguel came up from Texas not long after Emmy arrived. They spent a little time here before taking the train to Boston.”
“I’m sorry to have missed the visit,” Tanner said. “With any luck, the vote for statehood will go through soon and I won’t have to spend so much time in Washington.”
“Is it luck or money that’s involved?” Castillo wasn’t involved in politics, but he knew enough to understand how it all worked. Whoever had the most money could generally get what they wanted.
“A bit of both, I suppose,” Tanner said with an easy grin. “There’s no question it takes money. Lots of it. But it also takes a lot of convincing the right people that we’re not just a bunch of lawless, immoral heathens. I expect we’ll see some changes coming to Helena soon. Saloons, brothels and gambling dens will have to be brought down to a manageable number. We’ll have to do our part to fit in with Eastern expectations.”
“I’ve known many heathens with greater moral character than most of the men in Washington.”
Tanner paused, perhaps wondering if he’d been included in that group, before inclining his head in agreement.
“Won’t closing those places anger a lot of people?” Castillo asked. “Those places cater to the people who work the mines.”
“They do, but the times are changing. We’re not just a mining town anymore. There are families here, businesses, schools and churches. It’s time to move forward.” Tanner took a deep breath, as if he had something else he wanted to say but didn’t know how to start. Finally he let the breath out and met Castillo’s gaze. “We can talk about Montana statehood all night if you want, but that’s not why I asked you to come in here.”
Castillo clenched his jaw, already preparing for what he knew was coming.
“I want you to accept the income from your silver mine and acknowledge your interest in the Jameson Mining Company.”
On Castillo’s first and only other visit with his father, Tanner had mentioned the silver mines he’d bought in both of his sons’ names years ago. Apparently they both produced a healthy income. Castillo had refused his in no uncertain terms. But when he’d returned home to Texas, and his grandfather had made him aware of the financial state of the hacienda, Castillo had been tempted to soften his stance. His outrage at his father couldn’t withstand his sorrow at seeing his grandfather’s dream crumble around him.
When he would’ve weakened, his grandfather had urged him to stay strong, saying that he’d never allow Tanner’s dirty money to sully the hacienda’s good name. Hunter had taken over the management of both mines, and Castillo still wanted no part of his.
At some point since his first visit, Tanner had redrawn his will so that Hunter and Castillo shared in the estate equally. He’d also made them partners in the Jameson Mining Company. Hunter had urged him many times to accept his share, but Castillo had refused. If standing strong against Tanner was the only way to honor his grandfather, the man who’d raised him, then that’s what he’d do. Making the hacienda a successwouldn’t mean anything if it was accomplished with Jameson money.
“I have no interest in your money, Tanner. You know that.” Castillo clenched his hand around the tumbler, while the other balled into a fist at his side, as unreasonable anger coursed through his body. He shouldn’t feel this angry. Logically, he knew that it wasn’t productive. He’d spent too many years rationally weighing his options and outsmarting those who were a threat to the brotherhood to allow anger to rule him now. But, just for a moment, he indulged it, allowing it free rein. “I don’t want anything from you.”
“It’s your inheritance, Castillo.” Hunter’s voice was soft but firm when he spoke, his expression earnest.
“No, it’s your inheritance, and you’re entitled to it. Take it with my compliments.” Castillo looked back to Tanner’s wary eyes. “It’s not my inheritance. You abandoned her.” He’d never spoken so plainly to the man. On that first visit, he’d barely said more than to introduce himself and hand him the letter his mother had written. Tanner had spoken, but Castillo hadn’t. He’d been too angry, and too surprised and overwhelmed by that anger and his grief over his mother’s death, to say much.
“Castillo, you must know…I didn’t simply abandon Marisol. I asked her to come with me.”
Castillo’s breath caught in his chest. He’d never heard Tanner say his mother’s name before. Something about hearing it now made their relationship seem more real, which was foolish because of course it had been real. Castillo was living proof. The green eyes with a tint of gold he saw every time he looked into a mirror were staring back at him now. The strong jaw and wide shoulders had both come from the man sitting across from him.
He’d never known that Tanner had tried to take his mother with him when he left. She’d never told him that, but it didn’t matter. “If she said no it was with the understanding that you’dcome back for her, and she never saw you again. You abandoned her.”
“There’s more to it than that, Castillo. It’s more complicated.” Tanner was agitated. He set his whiskey on the table beside him and dragged a hand over his chin.
“I’m certain there’s more to it, but it’s not all that complicated. You were more interested in building a fortune, in this—” Castillo raised a hand to encompass the opulence of the room “—than you were in honoring your commitment to her. After all, what better way to solidify your ambition than to marry into a political family like the Hartfords? Something tells me a Reyes for a wife wouldn’t have held as much political weight.” Castillo jerked his gaze toward the fire. He hadn’t meant to drag those old demons out. He’d told himself when he found out Tanner would be here that he’d stick to benign topics and avoid the man as much as possible.
The room went silent, with only the crackling of the wood as it burned filling up the air. Finally, Tanner said, “I’m sorry for what happened with your mother. Sorrier than you’ll ever know. I can’t change the past, but I’d like a fresh start with you.”
