Page 49 of River Legacy
“I’m not going to prison because of you, Stafford. Don’t forget. You owe me money already. You’d better get your hands on that ranch.”
CJ hung up, cursing under his breath. He couldn’t believe his mother was going to marry McKenna. All that talk of forgiveness. That was what this had been leading up to, hadn’t it? He should have known.
His cell phone rang. His mother. Perfect timing.
After Pickett’s call, Holden was even more worried about Lottie. He tried to reach her several more times with the same results. Voice mail. “Don’t meet CJ alone. Call me. There’s been a fire outside Oakley’s new house. Someone intentionally set it. Lottie, for the love of God, be careful.” He put down his phone, hoping he wasn’t too late.Call, Lottie. Call. Don’t go alone.
After all this time, he couldn’t lose her. Nor could he rein her in, he reminded himself. Charlotte had always been her own woman. Like him, she’d made mistakes, and many of them they’d made together. He wished she’d talked to him about getting CJ out. But she would have known that he would have advised her against it. Not that she would have listened if she had bothered to ask him. He suspected she hadn’t told him because she feared he might try to stop her. He suspected she was trying to make up for the past and was smart enough not to try to stop her.
When it came to their individual families, they would have to be careful. Some boundaries needed to be upheld, especially when it came to their offspring. Just this morning he’d seen an ad on television about his daughter Bailey’s book being released nationwide—right before his and Lottie’s wedding. When it rained, it poured, he thought about his family. He was worried enough about what Treyton would do on the wedding day.
But with CJ out of jail, Holden worried that his and Lottie’s oldest sons might team up again. He knew Treyton had been involved in that meth labat the old ranch on their property. But his son had apparently destroyed any evidence before the sheriff could get there. Holden suspected Treyton and CJ had been in business together—and feared they might be again. They were both cut from the same cloth, both the result of growing up caught in the worst of the bitter rivalry between the two families.
Too nervous to think about all the mistakes he’d made as a father and to worry about Lottie at the same time, he picked up the early copy of his daughter’s book that she’d sent him. Apparently, Bailey had been working on this book for years as she searched for the man who had attacked her. He read the dedication.
This book is dedicated to the man who saved me, the love of my life, the man I’m going to marry, Stuart Layton.
They had married, eloping without telling anyone. Holden wished now that he and Lottie had done that. They could be on their honeymoon right now instead of her going to meet with CJ.
He studied the book in his hand, afraid to read it. A tell-all about the people of this area of Montana? He couldn’t imagine anything good coming out of it, even with the names changed. He wasn’t sure he wanted to read about people he knew even if it was about how their secrets had affected their lives in this unique place where he’d grown up. He turned to the first chapter, thinking it would help get his mind off Lottie. To his surprise his daughter’s writing grabbed his attention. He read the wholechapter, then picked up his phone and called his daughter. Voice mail. Did anyone actually answer phone calls anymore?
Holden sent a text.
I just started reading your book. Bailey, you’re an amazing storyteller and a beautiful writer. Congratulations on your first book!
Then he turned to the next chapter and began reading again, impressed how she had captured the area and its people in a light that made them seem as unique as the Powder River basin itself.
Claude wondered how long he was going to be forced to stay in this old house on the side of the hill, watching the Stafford Ranch. He hadn’t seen Victoria and Ryder for a long time. He could well imagine what they were doing in the house. He cursed in disgust. He hoped CJ was telling him the truth about taking down these people.
Unfortunately, Wendell Forester was the one who would gain everything he wanted, and CJ too if whatever they were up to worked.
Seeing movement down at the ranch, he picked up the binoculars and focused on Victoria as she came out the front door, followed by her cowboy lover. She and Ryder appeared to be going back into town. He wondered if a person could die of boredom as he lost interest and began to look around the ranch.
The place was huge with few roads, so it was no wonder that he’d spotted the dust being kicked up first. An SUV crossed, headed toward the foothills between the two ranches. He followed it with the binoculars, zooming in to see a Stafford Ranch pickup parked in the trees, and recognized CJ leaning against it as if waiting.
Claude quickly found the SUV again as it turned and headed for the spot where CJ Stafford was waiting. A secret meeting? He couldn’t help being curious about who was driving the SUV.
He didn’t have to wait long. The driver continued up the road to come to stop a few yards from the pickup. CJ hadn’t moved. He lounged against the side of the truck, waiting for whoever it was who’d come to meet him. Claude groused at the sight of the arrogant bastard. Whatever he was up to, he thought he had the upper hand.
The door of the SUV finally opened, and a statuesque older blonde woman stepped out. CJ’s mother? He watched her close her door, but she didn’t move toward CJ. Instead, like him, she seemed to be waiting for him to make the first move.
CJ finally pushed himself off the side of the truck, seemingly irritated as he closed the distance between them.
What was this about? Claude wondered. But even more interesting, had CJ forgotten that he was up here watching everything that happened near the Stafford Ranch through his powerful binoculars?
Chapter Sixteen
On the way into town, Victoria could tell Ryder was still worried. Brand had come out of surgery fine. The doctor said he should have a full recovery. It was the phone call from Brand’s room from Sheriff Stuart Layton that had Ryder concerned. “What did the sheriff say?”
“Just that he would meet us at the hospital. That’s all I know.”
If Ryder was worried, there was probably a good reason. “I’ve been trying to call my father.”
He looked over at her before turning back to his driving. “Let me guess. He isn’t taking your calls.”
“He must realize that I’m going to tell him to stop.” She saw not just skepticism, but incredulity on Ryder’s face. “I know it’s a long shot, but there is no one else who can reason with him. He loves me. At least, I think he does.”
Ryder shook his head. “He’s trying to get you to do what he wants. The only way he’s going to back off is if you do.” He shot her another glance. “Don’t do it. Not for me. I’d never forgive myself for putting you in this position.”
