Chapter Ten
Justice was sitting in the chair in front of Sam’s desk as he settled himself on the corner. Worried lines had etched deep crevices in his leathered skin. He didn’t look like himself. He looked tired. Preoccupied. Irritated. Had he even lost weight?
“Daddy? What’s wrong?” She wondered why he appeared angry and unsettled.
His gaze narrowed and he waved a gnarled hand in the air. “I’ve been meaning to discuss something with you.”
She crossed her legs. “Whatever it is it’s certainly bothering you.”
“Over the years I’ve tried to do my best. To give you and your sisters the guidance you need. I know I’ve failed in many ways.” His gray eyes turned a shade lighter.
Acid rose in the back of her throat. “All parents fail. So do children,” she said softly.
He slid off the desk and went to a drawer, reaching for something. He dropped it on the desk in front of her.
Her spine tightened. It was a photo of her sitting with Kent. The day she met with him at the restaurant because he’d requested to see her. She’d stormed out after realizing he’d wanted to see her only to convince her to come back to him. “Who took this?”
“Doesn’t matter. Won’t change the outcome.”
“Daddy, I—”
“Have some explaining to do?” He poured himself a drink.
Had Kent sent him the photo? How could he be so ruthless?
Gathering and preparing for what she’d say, Sam was back on the corner of the desk, eyeing her with a grim expression. “That snake Downs would do anything to get his hands on this land. Looks like he found the weak link.”
She cringed deeper into the plush cushion of the chair like she’d time-traveled back into her childhood. He’d never been a mean father, but he always had high expectations. “You’re speaking like you think I betrayed the family,” she said when she finally found her voice.
“If you were sitting with that bastard,” Sam stabbed the photo with his forefinger. “then you betrayed this family.”
“Are you interested in my explanation?” She found a sliver of hidden bravery. For some time, she’d anticipated this moment. Now that it was here, she wanted the earth to engulf her.
“I’m afraid to hear the truth. Somehow, I think this is worse than I can handle.” He swallowed the contents of his glass in two gulps and slammed his glass down on the desk.
There was no way around the truth. “Kent and I were seeing each other for a short time—”
Sam’s groan came out like a disgruntled bear’s growl. “What has gone wrong in this picture? Out of all the men of Sagebrush Pine, in the world, you pick the slimiest rat in Wyoming?” More agitation appeared in his weathered features.
“Daddy, I know how this must look—”
“Can you? Can you?” He shook his head. “I’m not looking for an explanation.” His shoulders slumped. “I've done everything I know to do as a father, and I know it hasn’t been enough. I don’t know how often I’ve swept in and cleaned up a mess.”
“There’s no mess to clean up. I’m taking care of this one myself,” she said firmly.
“Is this your idea of cleaning up a mess?” He swiped up the picture, crumbled it in his hand, and tossed it into her lap.
“I know it looks bad, but Kent and I never talked of the ranch, or you. He’s only trying to ruffle your feathers by sending you this photo.”
“It worked.” He inhaled, his chest rose and fell like he’d run a marathon. “It’s time for each of you girls to start putting the needs of this ranch ahead of your personal needs. Sometimes I think you all enjoy seeing how many grey hairs you can put on my head.”
There were so many things that she could have said, but she didn’t. “I’ll take care of this,” she said in a soft voice.
He shook his head adamantly. “No, what you’re going to do is leave Sagebrush Pine for a while. Put some distance between you and Downs.”
She wrapped her head around what Daddy wanted. “I can’t. I’m busy and taking care of Jinx.”
He scraped his fingers down his whiskered jaw. “Lafferty said Jinx wants to go home and recover. You’ll go with him.”
“Go with him? That doesn’t make any sense,” her tone rose a notch.
“It makes perfectly good sense. I forbid you to see Downs again,” his voice was eerily low.
“You don’t have to forbid me to do anything. I made that decision on my own,” she snapped.
“And you’ll marry Jinx.”
He stated the demand so matter-of-factly that she almost thought she’d imagined his words. Although the idea had already crossed her mind too, she didn’t like being told what to do, even if she was in the wrong. “This is ridiculous.”
“It’s called damage control. Has Downs tried to bribe you into going back with him?”
“Yes, but…”
“No buts. We’re going to plan this strategically. Once he realizes you’re married let’s hope he loses interest.”
She blinked. “Are you afraid that I’d marry Kent?”
“I don’t know what I’m thinking at the moment,” he answered honestly.
“You said you wouldn’t force us to marry a specific man, that we could make that choice.”
He looked weary. “I wasn’t until you forced my hand. Let’s face it, Jinx is a damn good man.”
“How good of a man he is has nothing to do with marrying him.” It felt much different when she had the idea. She opened her mouth, but he held up his hand.
“I’ve made my decision.” Some of the harshness left his expression. “Plan a private ceremony and then I’ll take care of the rest.”
“There’s a little problem. What makes you think Jinx will marry me?”
“Convince him.”
She sighed. “How do I do that?”
“By convincing him that you identify with the important things to him. Marriage. Children. Family. He has a younger sister. She could use a good role model.”
She sunk back into her chair a little. “That doesn’t mean that he’ll marry me, or anyone.” Saying the words aloud made her feel guilty. This felt more like they were talking of livestock and not a husband. “I can’t do this,” she huffed.
His gaze narrowed. “Under the circumstances, you don’t have a choice.”
“Your demands have no boundaries, do they?”
“I'm a father who takes care of his family, his business, and his legacy. One day, I hope you’ll understand the sacrifices parents must make.”
A part of her wanted to argue, but a part of her also saw his point. She should never have gotten involved with Kent, and she could see why her daddy saw it as a betrayal. In the end, maybe he was right. Getting away, putting distance from everything going on around the ranch, might settle some things.
****
Pok swallowed his laughter. “I hate to break it to you, but she’s fucking Jinx.”
Downs' fists lay on the chair's arms. His white knuckles were the only sign of his internal conflict.
Pok was pleased. He enjoyed controlling the situation, and his anger towards Downs intensified.
“Is that why you showed up unannounced?” Downs said in a low voice.
“Nah. I brought you the information I swiped. The old man is getting ready to sign a big contract with Markum Livestock. They’re combining resources. Once that happens the Rose family will be indestructible.”
“Where’s the proof?” Downs remained stoic.
Grabbing the folded paper from his pocket, he tossed it into Downs’ lap. He stared at it for a good three seconds before he finally unfolded it and began to read. Still showing no emotion.
“You don’t think Rose will miss this information?” Downs said through tight lips.
“The man thinks he’s losing his mind,” Pok said with satisfaction.
With a long drawn-out sigh, Downs held the paper up and Tribe took it from him.
“I heard about Jinx’s accident. Did you orchestrate the event?”
Pok cleared his throat. “Why would I do such a thing?”
“Be careful. From what I understand Sagebrush Rose Ranch is more secure than Fort Knox.”
"I am fully aware of where the cameras are positioned."
“But if you get caught it ruins my day. That’s why I’ve warned you to stick to the plan. You’re supposed to be sitting back and listening, observing, not taking unnecessary risks.”
Pok’s fist ached to punch the man. He was never satisfied. “Fine.”
“Fine?” The next thing Pok knew, Tribe grabbed him by the back of his shirt, dragged him over the sofa and dropped him to the floor. Downs was standing above him, his eyes beady and his mouth thin. “It’s fine when I say it’s fine,” he snarled.
Tribe gave Pok a good kick to the ribs.
Pok bent over in pain, gritting his teeth. He swore then that one day soon both men would pay.
“Tribe, show him out.” Downs spit on Pok and walked away. “I’ve reached my patience.”
Tribe snatched Pok up by the collar and set him on his booted feet.
“I can walk,” Pok jerked away from the man’s grip.
Tribe gave Pok a good push toward the door. Once he was outside, he heard Tribe’s laughter until the door slammed shut.
Pok grimaced in pain. He wanted to go back inside and show Downs, and his thug, what destruction a real man could do when provoked. But he needed to bide his time.
He started for his truck, slowly, cringing at the pain in his side. He spat blood on the ground and shook his head. Anger sliced through him and his head felt like it would explode. He reached into his pocket and there he found a lighter. He took it out and flicked the flame, feeling calmness settle him.
Looking back at the house, he craved retribution, wanting to walk back inside and demand that Downs beg Pok for forgiveness. He took a step, but his cell phone buzzing paused him.
He dragged the phone out of his pocket. Lanah was calling. A part of him wanted to ignore the call, but he wasn’t finished with her yet.
“I was just thinking about you, beautiful,” he said when he clicked ‘talk’.
Her giggle vibrated at the other end of the line. “Good, because I’m thinking of you. How about we turn our thoughts into actions?”
“Now you’re speaking my language,” he said smoothly, climbing into the driver’s side. He grunted as the pain radiated through his body.
“Are you okay, cowboy?”
“I found myself up against one of the wild horses today. Got clobbered. A little sore.”
“Then how about you come to my place? Can you be here in thirty? Nurse Lanah will patch you up.”
“See you then, beautiful.” He clicked off. Things were coming full circle. Soon everyone would know his name.