Page 72 of River Legacy
“He’s dead.”
“Dead?” Ryder hadn’t expected that. He felt surprise but no shock. His brother had been heading for a violent end for a long time. And from his mother’s tone of voice he didn’t even consider he’d been in an accident. “Who killed him?”
“Treyton McKenna. Apparently, they quarreled, and they ended up shooting each other,” she said.
He heard something in her voice. “Are you all right?”
“I’m sorry it had to end this way for him, but I’ll be okay.”
She was taking this much better than he would have suspected.
“We’re going to have a funeral tomorrow, family only. I’m burying him on the ranch.”
“It’s not our ranch anymore.”
“I’m aware of that,” she said. “I got permission from Wendell.” He didn’t say what he was thinking, remembering what Vicky had told him about their parents possibly having an affair years ago. “I hope you’ll be there, Ryder. Treyton’s funeral will be first, then CJ’s. Both families will be attending, only family.”
He almost laughed. For years he’d wished that the rivalry between the families would end. Now they were coming together for funerals for their eldest sons. “I’m still in Billings but planning to head back this morning.” He wanted to ask what the rush was on getting CJ buried but realized he didn’t really care. Neither he nor his siblings had ever been close to CJ. If anything, they’d avoidedhim for years because he’d always been so awful with them.
He’d disconnected, still shaken from everything that had been going on, and turned to see Vicky watching him. They’d been staying at the Northern Hotel. But now they would be returning to Powder Crossing for not one but two funerals.
With their twenty-four hours up, Wendell Forester would be taking over the ranch. Ryder wasn’t even sure he and his family would be able to get on the ranch to pack up their personal belongings. Now his mother was having a funeral for CJ on the ranch?
“That was my mother,” he told Vicky. “CJ’s been killed. The funeral is tomorrow on the ranch.” She lifted a brow. “Apparently, your father gave her permission. I think it’s my mother’s way of getting back at CJ in death since he blackmailed her out of the ranch and then sold it. Now he’ll be stuck there six feet under. There is so much irony there.”
“I’m sorry about CJ,” she said, stepping to him.
He took her in his arms just as he had every night since the explosion aboard the plane. They’d held each other, both no doubt lost in the horror of everything that had happened. Claude had been so determined to take his boss’s jet back to Dallas, and now he was dead along with JJ Gibson. Thankfully, no one else had been onboard, Ryder had thought again and again. In a matter of minutes, Vicky and her father could have both been on that plane.
“We need to leave for the ranch. Holden left amessage that he has room for us at the McKenna Ranch,” he said.
She nodded. “That’s good, because my father called. He’s staying at the hotel in Powder Crossing. He wants to see me. He sounds really upset.”
Ryder wanted nothing to do with Wendell Forester right now or ever. But he was her father. “You should go meet him. I’m sure he’s as upset as we are.”
The man had been shaken at the airport, but Ryder figured it had worn off by now. Forester was back in Powder Crossing, probably busy making plans for the Stafford Ranch. Hadn’t Ryder heard that he had already contacted the methane gas company to start drilling wells on the property? Vicky had been right about her father only wanting what he could get from the land. He’d never had a real interest in the ranch except for what money he could make from it.
Everything felt on hold now until his mother’s wedding. He couldn’t help but wonder if any of this had changed Vicky’s mind about Montana, ranching or him.
Her smile said it hadn’t.
Victoria wasn’t looking forward to seeing her father. She hadn’t seen or talked to him. In truth, she’d avoided him as much as he had her since the plane explosion. So much of this was his fault. She couldn’t believe everything that had happened since she’d flown into Billings for the weekend.
She couldn’t help but think about Claude as she went upstairs to her father’s hotel room. He’d flown up here with her father with such high expectations, thanks to Wendell. He’d had no idea how it would end. Claude had wanted what he’d been offered from his boss—her included. He’d been a fool, yet her father had made him promises he couldn’t keep.
Worse, her father had worked with CJ to steal the Stafford Ranch. And now CJ was dead. How could her father not share in the blame?
Walking down the hallway, she felt sick at the thought that she might never be able to forgive her father. They’d often disagreed, but had she ever believed that he would really force her into a loveless marriage?
Victoria tapped lightly at her father’s door. She heard footfalls on the other side, and a moment later the door opened. Shock. It was the only emotion she felt at the sight of him. She’d thought he’d be upset about the plane blowing up, but this was so much more. His pale face was drawn, and there were bags under his eyes. It was as if he’d aged overnight.
“Are you all right?” she asked in alarm.
“Not really. Please, come in.” He held the door open wide. “I had the café bring up coffee. I thought you might want some.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
He motioned her into a chair as he set about pouring her a cup from the carafe sitting nearby. “How are you doing?” he asked as he handed it to her.
