Chapter 42
I’m in so much pain that if I didn’t have Mason and Griffin eyeing me repeatedly, I’d slump over and let out a pathetic mewl.
Holding back my groan, I push myself to my feet and stretch my body out, wincing when I realize our fight last night took a bigger toll on my body than I expected. Aches in places I didn’t expect are rendering me practically useless, and I know it’ll be impossible for me to even pick up a pencil today.
The only thing bringing me any sort of relief is that they’re as fucked up as I am and moving just as slowly as they peel themselves from the floor of Paul’s bar.
“The hell time is it?” Griffin croaks out, rubbing a hand over his face, then stares at his palm as if it’s covered in shit. It probably is. This place isn’t exactly sterilized unless you consider the amount of alcohol that’s been spilled on the floor.
Squinting with one eye shut, Mason checks his phone, then his eyes go comically wide. “It’s almost fuckin’ noon!”
Both Griffin and I mutter and we all start gathering our things. I should probably go home and shower before even attempting to make things right with Edith, but I can’t wait.
As I head out, leaving the other two behind, something on the bar catches my eye. When I pick up the paper, I read the note left behind.
‘There are bottles of water in the fridge behind the bar and painkillers. I stuck them in there so you all wouldn’t have to go digging through my shit. I’d thank you for the entertaining night, but since I had to close early, I charged $200 on each of your cards. That includes alcohol, damages, and lost wages. Jaxon, I added an extra $50 to yours since you started earlier than the other two. — Paul’
Snorting, I hand the paper to Mason as he comes up to my side, reads quickly, then heads behind the bar to pull out the water and the pills. He hands the bottle over to me. Pouring out a few extra, I open the bottle of water he tossed to me and down them, then hand the pills to Griffin.
“I’m out.” My voice is scratchy from all the yelling last night and my lip stings from where it was split open as I take another long drink from the bottle. With a second bottle in my hand, I head toward the door, then squint from the sun when I wrench it open.
I don’t pay attention to who is behind me as I head toward my truck until a hand stops me. “You know where Ruth lives?”
Griffin’s eyes are red-rimmed from the whiskey, but it’s obvious he’s just as determined as I am.
Shaking off his grip, I nod once. “Yeah. I’m going over there now to talk to her. Edith, I mean.”
“Can I follow?”
Irritation takes over and I snap, “I need to talk to her alone.”
“Man, get off your high horse. You’re not the only one who has their hat thrown in the ring. I was there when she got the shit kicked out of her. I need to make sure she’s alright, and honestly, there’s a good chance that baby is mine as well.”
“I’m comin’ too,” Mason calls out, heading to his own truck.
As much as I want to tell both of them to fuck off, I give in. “You can follow me.”
We’re all dragging as we pile in our own vehicles and the two of them stick close as I drive over to the Danielson house. Once I’m parked, I don’t wait for them as I climb the front steps and ring the doorbell.
It’s whipped open as if Ruth was waiting. The glare she’s leveling forces me to step back. For the first time, I’m not greeted with a smile or kind words, which I know is well deserved.
Swallowing down the nausea, I straighten my spine. “May I please speak with Edith?”
“She’s not here.”
That’s it, no explanation. The door starts to close, but Mason’s hand stops it just as he makes it to my side.
“Ruth, right? I’m Mason Cooper. It’s important that I find her.”
“We.” I roll my eyes at Griffin’s interjection. With a flashy smile, he adds, “Griffin Graham, ma’am. I was with her yesterday durin’ the incident. I’m sure she’ll want to see me. Would you let her know I’m here?”
The door swings open wider and Pastor Josiah comes into view with a sad smile. “Let them in, Ruthie. Doesn’t hurt to have a little chat.”
I swear, the little woman growls and steps back to allow us in. My eyes are flying over the space, but Edith isn’t anywhere in view. Finding the stairs, I head in that direction, thinking she’s hiding away in a room, but Ruth’s sharp voice stops me.
“You’re not welcome to go up there. Besides, as I said a moment ago, she’s not here.” Her eyes roam over the other two before she adds, “Not that any of ya’ll have a right to speak to her. I know what’s been going on and all of you should be ashamed of yourselves.”
Her scathing tone freezes all of us, including her husband, who’s staring at her as if she’s grown two heads. Pointing a finger toward a floral patterned sofa with a silent command, we all trudge our way over. An elbow jabs into my side and I side-eye Griffin as he takes the middle and settles in as if he didn’t do anything.
“Now, I don’t have much patience for listening to any of your reasonings over what happened yesterday, but we’re gonna to get a few things clear now, then ya’ll best be on your way. Edith—”
“Is she alright?” Mason blurts out, interrupting her. I catch Josiah shaking his head hard in an attempt to tell him to shut his mouth, but Mason doesn’t pick up the hint. “I appreciate you wantin’ to talk, but if she’s not here, I don’t have the time to sit around for a chat. I need to find her.”
“Don’t interrupt a lady when she’s speaking.” Ruth sniffs in annoyance, then holds a hand out. “There’s the door if you want to go.”
Mason stands as if he’s going to leave, hesitates, then asks, “She at home?”
Blinking up at him, Ruth’s lips stay pressed together in a thin line. With an aggravated sigh, he plops back on the couch and once she’s happy, she nods once. Folding her hands together in front of her, she studies all of us.
“Now, I don’t know what kind of business three grown men have with that girl, and frankly, I don’t want to know.”
Readying herself to lay into us, she takes a deep breath, then hits us with everything she’s got.
“Edith was here. She left this morning after speaking with the police last night, then again this morning. I assume you all know what happened yesterday between her and that man who… Well, I won’t say what I want to say.” She sniffs again, picking an invisible piece of lint from her shirt.
“Sorry for interruptin’, but seriously, is she alright? When she left yesterday, she was pretty beaten up.” Griffin is rubbing his hands on his pant legs anxiously, and I frown down to watch, then eye him. I have no doubt he’s concerned, but it pisses me off he’s even here.
“You’re asking if she’s alright? Aside from swollen eyes, bruised ribs, a broken nose, and in so much pain she can hardly walk?” That image hits me like a fucking train.
My eyes dart around the room for a trash can because I think I’m going to throw up again. Mason’s breath whooshes from his mouth and Griffin completely deflates into the couch. “I’m gonna kill him,” Mason growls.
“What did the cops say?” I croak out, mentally agreeing with Mason, but I say nothing because I want more information. Her glare shuts me up.
“It’s obvious you all think you care about her, but I’m not so sure it’s born from anything but guilt and a sense of duty. If it is, don’t bother. Edith will be gone until things are settled on the legal side with her fath—with Clayborn Hughes.” Eyeing us all carefully, she asks, “Did any of you know he’s been abusing her? Aside from yesterday, I mean.”
My couch mates and I stay silent, guilt souring the air. Finally, I speak up because Ruth doesn’t seem as if she’s going to continue without an answer.
“I, umm, I knew she was in a bad situation. I didn’t know details, only that she was working on a way out of it. I had no idea who her father was.”
“But you had sex with her.”
The condescension lacing her tone hits hard. My cheeks flush and I don’t think I’ve ever felt so small. Ruth drags her glare from me and focuses on the other two.
“As did the two of you. Not one of you knows a damn thing about that girl, do you?”
“Ruthie.” Josiah’s voice holds a slight admonition for her language. Blinking away her tears, it’s clear this isn’t just a talk where she’s giving us shit. She’s truly devastated with not only what happened to Edith, but with our disgusting behavior.
“Josiah,” she cries out, then points at us. “These men have been dragging that woman into the haystacks to get their rocks off without havin’ an inkling of who she is!” Whipping her teared filled eyes to us, she shouts, “You all treated her like a whore when all she needed was a bit of love!”
“Ruth!” Josiah snaps out. “Be kind and tenderhearted to people who don’t deserve it and patient with those who fail you.” He locks eyes with me when he adds, “Failures might get knocked down, but they’re not destroyed. Fix yourselves. All of you,” he adds, indicating he’s speaking to all of us.
“Where is she?” Mason grits out while Griffin shifts restlessly in his seat.
“Gone.” Ruth’s answer is just as biting. “They set her up somewhere to recover where that man can’t find her until he’s handled.” With a deep breath, her fury with us melts away, and she smiles widely. It is not a friendly smile. “Since you all have so much time on your hands now, why don’t you stay for lunch to sober up and the two of you”—she points at Griffin and Mason—“can give Jaxon a hand over at the barn build. Now that we’re short a strong pair of hands.”
Opening his mouth to argue, Mason is silenced with a hard look from both me and Griffin. “Fine,” he eventually grumbles out.
A loud single clap causes me to jump and I swear, this woman has a maniacal gleam in her eye. “Wonderful! I’ll accompany you to the site and read from God’s word while you three work.”
Standing, Griffin gives her a forced smile. “If you don’t mind, ma’am. I’m gonna take a raincheck on lunch. There’s someplace I need to be first, but I’ll head over to the barn in a couple of hours.”
Something in me is screaming to agree and follow him, so I stand and make my apologies for leaving as well. Mason, the rude fucker he is, just leaves with us once Ruth concedes. With her mood, it’s a surprise she gives in so quickly. Maybe she’s feeling the tension the same as us.
As soon as we’re outside, I call out to Griffin. “Where you going?”
Without slowing down, he glances over his shoulder and flashes a smile that spells out death and destruction. “Got a man to see about a horse.”
“I’m goin’ with you. Ya’ll can park at my ranch if you want.”
Clued in, I nod quickly and follow them out of town, riding silently and glancing often to the seat next to me. Seeing Edith spread out before me across that seat is ingrained in my head and I can’t help but think I’ve ruined every chance I had with her just by opening my mouth.
“I don’t want any fucking part of that kid, especially if it’s got Hughes’ blood in its veins. When you manage to push it out, I’ll submit to a test and if it turns out to be mine, all you’ll get is money. Nothing more.”
I’ve never regretted saying something more in my life. The news of who her father rocked me to my core, but I know her well enough to know she doesn’t have a manipulative bone in her body. I know this. So why the fuck did I let my two decades old hurt pour out as if she was responsible for it?
Clayborn’s sins aren’t hers to bear, and I made her think they were. I don’t even deserve a chance to be the father of her baby, but fuck if the idea isn’t burying its roots deep inside.
I blame the whiskey, but a realization strikes me hard, and I sit up straighter.
Did he hurt the baby?Ruth said she’s bruised up, broken nose, but what about the baby?
“Fuck.”
Shifting so I can grab my cellphone, I call the only person with information, and as soon as she answers, I’m blurting out my question.
“Is the baby okay? When Cl—when he hurt her, did he… Is the baby okay? Did she go to the hospital and get checked over?”
There’s a pause, then shuffling as if she’s moving the phone to her other ear. Then Ruth sighs loudly.
“She went to the hospital. The baby seems to be fine.” Closing my eyes in relief, I find my throat is closing up, clogged with emotion. Since I don’t say anything else, she ends the call. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“Bye,” I rasp out, then throw my phone to the side.
Relief is all I can think about until we’re hopping out of our respective trucks. Griffin immediately starts toward the trees at the edge of the property and Mason is following, only glancing toward me briefly.
Running to catch up, I keep my voice low as we pick our way through the wooded area separating their properties. “How do you know he’s home?”
“I don’t. But I’m gonna find out.” Griffin’s nonchalant shrug seems as if he’s unperturbed by this whole situation, but if I study him closer, it’s obvious how tense he is. To my left, Mason has a hard glower as he stares ahead.
Choosing to keep quiet, we finish our trek. As soon as the house comes into view, I wrinkle my nose as I glace around. The whole place looks run down and loaded with junk. It doesn’t seem as if it’s been touched for the twenty years since I last stepped foot on this property.
Picking a key out from between two rocks, both Mason and I scowl as Griffin uses it to unlock the door. As he returns it, he pauses when he catches us. “What?”
“How do you know where the key is?” I ask, not liking how familiar he is with Edith’s home.
With an eye roll, he doesn’t answer. Instead, he pulls the door open and holds it open so the two of us can head in first. The first thing to hit me is the stale scent of cigarettes and memories about bring me to my knees. My eyes dart to the wall where I took my fists to Clayborn until my dad pulled me away.
Since I’m breathing harshly, Griffin raises a brow, silently asking if I’m alright. All I can do is shake my head to brush him off. I’m not fucking okay, but fuck both of them if I’m going to have a breakdown right now, no less in front of them.
“Where’s his room?” Mason asks quietly. When Griffin points toward a door in the corner, Mason pushes his way past and peeks inside.
Pulling back, he’s sporting a massive grin spread all the way across his face. “Our man of the hour is takin’ a bit of a nap. Looks like he got out early.”
Whatever they say after is lost to me as I surge forward and barrel through the door, not giving a shit when the door slams into a dresser, sending shit crashing to the floor.
Clayborn jerks upright, confused and growling. “Fuckin’ girl,” he bites out, before his eyes grow round.
Without waiting, I throw myself on top of him, my balled fist the first part of my body to connect. His movements are slow and sluggish, but it doesn’t take long for him to go into fight mode and he starts swinging.
“Clay, buddy!” Griffin sings, plopping on the bouncing bed to our side while I aim every hit I can into the most sensitive areas I’m able to reach. When Griffin ducks to avoid Clayborn’s flying arm, he grabs it to pin to the bed. “I’ll keep this safe for you right here, friend.”
I can hear Mason yelling something behind me, but a haze takes over me as I do my best to end this worthless sack of shit. It feels like forever as I expel every ounce of rage on him, but it couldn’t have been too long because the fucker is still breathing.
“Move,” Mason grits out, shoving me to the side where I roll to my back and catch my breath. Staring at the cracked ceiling, I let sounds of grunts and flesh being pounded envelop me as I feel myself circling the drain.
There’s nothing I can do. She’s gone. Hidden away until this guy is permanently out of her life. We all know how long the courts take and it could be months, maybe even a year or two, before she’ll feel safe to come back. She’ll have the baby without me. I fucking promised her we’d get through this and I’d help before I fucked up.
“Get the fuck out.”
“Get the fuck out!” Clayborn shouts the same words I used on her. I blink slowly, then turn my head to the side to watch. Apparently, Mason and Griffin have swapped positions because now he’s leaning his forearm against Clayborn’s throat.
Pleasure fills me when I see his face turning purple from lack of air and I whisper encouragement for Griffin to end him.
A hand moves in front of my face and I drag my eyes from Clayborn to find Mason standing over me, holding that same hand out. “Let’s go. We’ve done enough.”
Begrudgingly, I take it and wince when he hauls me up, my bruises from last night aching. “He needs to die,” I tell him, and he nods once with understanding.
“He does, but for now, we’ve got a shitload of days to come visit and take our pound of flesh.”
“Ya’ll are ruinin’ my flow here,” Griffin yells over his shoulder. Then, shoving Clayborn back, he backs away and wipes his hands on the front of his shirt. “Alright boys, we got a barn to build and I’m feelin’ much better now.”
When he passes by to head out the door, Mason gives him a murderous look as Griffin smacks him on the shoulder.
I’m shocked that I actually want to laugh when Mason mutters, “That asshole is fuckin’ next.”