Page 54 of River Legacy
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but it’s too late. I’ve already purchased the Stafford Ranch.”
Charlotte sat behind the wheel, shaking so hard that she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to drive.Fear that CJ had lied, and that Holden was still in danger, finally made her pull herself together. She called, fearing she was too late.
Holden answered on the first ring. “Lottie, are you all right?”
Her heart lifted as tears burned her eyes. “Where are you? I need to see you.”
“I’m at the ranch.”
“Stay there. Don’t even go outside. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Lottie, you’re scaring me.”
She disconnected. Her hands trembled as she started the engine. She gripped the wheel, her knuckles white with rage and pain and fear, but mostly heartbreak. Her son was gone. So was the ranch. She had to accept that. Now what she had to do was keep her family and the people she loved safe. She knew they would all want her to have CJ thrown back in jail and void the papers she’d signed.
None of them had seen the look in CJ’s eyes. But she had. There was no doubt he would do what he said. He had his so-called friends like him who thumbed their noses at the law and thought vengeance was an honorable pursuit. CJ would get his revenge against the family he had always believed was against him because that was who he was.
Charlotte couldn’t wait another moment. She had to see Holden. She needed his help. Putting the SUV into gear, she drove off from the hillside and down to the road that turned into the McKenna Ranch. She told herself that CJ was smart enoughto know that if he hurt Holden before the ink dried on those papers, she would come after him and it wouldn’t be to have him put in jail.
Like he said, he could kill from there. He wanted the money from the sale of the ranch. Until he realized he wanted more, everyone should be safe—as long as she could convince everyone not to do anything that would make CJ change his mind.
She made one call on the way into town. “I thought you’d like to know that Treyton McKenna shot Brand,” she told the sheriff when he answered. “CJ was behind it, but I need you to do me a favor. I don’t want either of them taken in for questioning yet. But if you just wanted to pay Treyton a visit, that would be good.”
“What are you up to, Charlotte?” Stuart asked suspiciously.
“My son CJ just stole my ranch and sold it to Wendell Forester, but I need him free just a little longer. I’m trying to keep my family safe. I need you to trust me. It will all make sense soon, I hope.”
“Charlotte, I hope you know what you’re doing,” the sheriff said.
“Me too, Stuart. Just be careful. CJ is more dangerous than he’s ever been.”
Ahead, she saw the turnoff to the ranch and slowed, her heart in her throat. As she pulled up in front of the McKenna Ranch house, Holden came rushing out. He had her vehicle door open and was taking her in his arms almost before she could turn off the engine.
“We need to get inside,” she said as she reached up to touch his cheek. He must have seen the fear in her gaze and felt it in her trembling body because he quickly ushered them into the house and called Elaine to get them all something to drink.
Once in his office, Charlotte downed her shot of bourbon and told them what had happened. Just as she’d expected, Holden was furious and wanted to call the sheriff to pick up CJ and put him back behind bars.
“I already spoke with the sheriff,” Charlotte told him. “He knows that Treyton is the one who shot Brand and had someone start the fire out at Oakley’s house. I’m sorry, Holden.”
He shook his head and shot to his feet. “I want to take care of both of them before they do any more damage.”
“Holden, you heard what she just told you,” Elaine said, trying to help calm him down. Charlotte was so thankful that the two of them had been secret friends all these years. Elaine was the voice of reason to Charlotte’s destructive temper.
“What would you have me do?” he demanded. “CJ can’t be trusted not to go back on his word. Lottie, CJ stole your ranch, and my son helped him.”
“We have to keep everyone from going after CJ or Treyton. He’s already made a deal with Wendell Forester to buy the ranch. Once he gets the money, maybe he really will leave the country as he said.”
Holden scoffed. “You don’t believe that any more than I do.”
“No,” she said. “But he has to believe that I do. The money won’t be enough for him. Would you come with me to tell Ryder? Brand will have to be told too. He’s still in the hospital. Then you’ll need to tell Cooper and Tilly and Oakley and Pickett. They have to trust that I know what I’m doing. You have to trust me too.”
She could see that even Holden was skeptical. If he ever knew what she’d done... She pushed the thought away. Her whole life she’d done what had to be done no matter how objectionable. She’d hoped that she’d put that behind her. Holden would figure it out. She just hoped he would forgive her.
“You have a plan to get your ranch back?” Elaine asked.
Charlotte shook her head. “It’s gone. Wendell will drill methane wells, take whatever treasures there are from the land, and then he’ll sell it.”
“And I’ll buy it back for you,” Holden said.
