Page 73 of River Legacy
“I’m still shaken,” she admitted as he took the other chair.
“A hell of a thing. I spent the past few days talking to the FBI again. They finally know what happened.” He raked a hand through his hair, sounding breathless. “There was a bomb onboard. It was meant for me.”
“A bomb?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She’d wanted to believe it was an accident. This made it all the more horrible.
“My former bodyguard, Brice Schultz, planted it and, believing I was on that plane, detonated it.”
“Why would he do that?”
Her father looked contrite, almost hanging his head in shame. “He told the feds that I cheated his father out of some property, and the man took his own life.”
She didn’t know what to say. Hadn’t she known how her father operated? He saw something he wanted, and he went after it, no matter who got hurt—just as he had with the Stafford Ranch.
“Victoria, you could have been on that plane with me. You would have been, if Claude had had his way.”
“Claude,” she said, knowing that she didn’t have to say more.
“I know. It’s all my fault, all of it.” He shook his head. “When I saw Claude holding that gun on you and then later when the plane blew up, I knew I was responsible for all of it.”
Seeing how hard he was taking this she couldn’t help wanting to come to his defense. “You didn’t put the bomb on the plane.” But he didn’t seem to hear her.
“I didn’t mind the media and everyone else calling me names. But when I looked into your eyes and saw how disappointed you were in me, it was no longer a game I’d been playing.”
“You knew how I felt about Ryder, yet you worked with CJ to take away the ranch.”
“I didn’t think you were that serious, and I saw a way to get the ranch. I’d told myself that I was building this dynasty for you. But in truth, it was all about me and what I wanted, what I thought I needed.” He leaned toward her, his gaze imploring. “I kept thinking about how you looked at me when you were little. You used to think that there was nothing your father couldn’t do. Maybe I was trying to prove that it was true. I’m so sorry.”
“I know there are things from your childhood that put this kind of drive to excel in you, but—”
“I always took it too far. That kind of power is intoxicating and dangerous. That’s why I wanted to see you before I left for Dallas. I wanted to apologize for the way I treated you and Ryder and so many other people. I’m going to try to make amends in the future.”
She hoped he was serious and that once the shock of what had happened wore off, he wouldn’t change his mind. “I need to go. Ryder is waiting forme out at the McKenna Ranch where we’re staying. I would imagine you’ve already started drilling for methane on his ranch.”
“No, I canceled the drilling. You really care about the ranch, don’t you?”
“I fell in love with it. This lifestyle, Ryder and his family.”
“I can see that. I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you. Will I see you before you leave for Texas?”
“Count on it,” he said.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“People around the Powder River basin are calling it the wedding of the century,” Bailey told her father when she stopped by and found him behind his desk doing ranch business. “Half of them bet it won’t happen. The other half are convinced even if it does, it won’t last. Holden McKenna and Charlotte Stafford are both too passionate and have spent too many years fighting each other.”
“What do you think?” Holden smiled at his daughter as he pushed away his work and motioned her into his office.
“I think no one is about to miss the wedding,” she said as she took a chair. “You do realize that there isn’t enough room at the church.”
He nodded. “I suggested the fairgrounds.”
Bailey laughed. It was so good to see her happy. “I guess you heard we eloped.”
“I’m not surprised.” He didn’t tell he was disappointed. He would have thrown her a big wedding if she’d wanted it. He would have at least liked to have seen her get married. “Marriage looks good on you.” Did she actually blush, his daughter, a woman of the world? He chuckled. “I suggested we elope,but Lottie wouldn’t hear of it. She thinks we owe the community a grand wedding after everything we’ve put them through.”
“That’s one way of looking at it,” his daughter agreed and looked away. He was sure she didn’t feel that she owed the community anything. She’d lost faith in anyone watching out for her after being attacked by a local rancher all those years ago. He couldn’t blame her.
