Chapter 25 #2
“We bought out the Daloways,” Leonard says, starting to come to a realization.
“We did, son. And I used that, and what Hank Carson wanted to be kept secret, to ensure that I got that power I wanted over him,” Ronnie explains.
“Surely the secret was the power.” Caleb shakes his head in confusion.
“Secrets aren’t always enough, Carsons are ruthless. And that’s where Walker really came into it.”
“Wait, I thought Walker was the one who found out the whole secret thing.” Leonard is getting as confused as I am.
“That was just the start. Walker had everything I needed. The man’s ambitious, he’s charming, he had a young family and good morals.
Which is why, when he went to Hank Carson and asked him to sell him some land so he could build himself a homestead, somewhere where his beautiful wife could watch the sunset from the best view in the state, I knew Hank would listen to him. ”
“So, you got Walker to buy the land and then sell it on to you? That’s smart.” Leonard nods his bruised head like he’s impressed.
“Course, it wasn’t that simple. Carsons haven’t sold an acre of land in the whole of their existence. Walker had to be persuasive, and when that secret was used as a threat, he put pen to paper and sold to Walker for a very reasonable price.”
“Basically, what he’s telling ya is, that he got George Walker to blackmail old man Carson into selling him some land,” Joe summarizes it up for his brothers and it makes the reality of it hit.
If the Carsons found out about this, it wouldn’t matter who my dad has since become, they’d want him dead.
“Walker got the land, he sold it on to me. And ever since, I’ve held a pull over the Carson family.
That, my boys, will forever keep them in my pocket.
I own land that runs straight through theirs.
I could build what I like on it. I could set up a reservation for wolves if I want.
That’s how you win, son.” He looks at Leonard and scoffs cruelly.
“And that’s how you got Walker to make his daughter marry this schmuck.
” Leonard looks at his younger brother. “You're threatening Walker to tell the Carson brothers that he was the one that blackmailed their grandpa all those years ago. He was an out of towner, the boys would have been young. They don’t know, ‘cause I’m pretty sure that if they did…”
“No, they don’t know and I’m sure if they did there would be hostilities, but as it turns out Walker did become someone, and when he did, he found his way back here.
He has his own protection these days. Protection that goes way above those River Boys, or whatever they call themselves.
Your brother here is set to be getting that same kinda power.
A respect that will be extended to our family, but only if this marriage goes ahead.
We make sure that happens. This family don’t need to spill blood to hold its power, how we got that power is just history. ”
“Except it ain’t just history,” Joe reminds them all.
“You missed out the part where, after you got that land, you exposed Hank’s secret anyway, and ten days later he was found hanging in one of his barns.
Do I need to remind you all that my wife is dead too?
Don’t pretend there ain’t blood on your hands.
You kill with your secrets.” I shuffle back when Joe starts marching toward the door.
“Don’t recall you being much of a husband with your dick in the stableboy!” Old man Mason calls after him as he barges out the door, and I make it into the kitchen just in time to hide.
“You shouldn’t speak to him like that.’ Leonard shows he has some loyalty when he speaks up for his brother, and seeing that Joe has stormed outside, I sneak back around so I can hear the rest of the conversation.
“I don’t get it, if you have that power over the Carsons why don’t you just use it? We could do so much to screw them over with that land,” Caleb asks.
“I enjoyed making Bill Carson squirm, and now I enjoy making his sons do the same.” Ronnie laughs.
“But seriously, Dad, we could really do something with this. We could destroy them.” My fiancé looks like a kid at Christmas, and I didn’t think it was possible for me to hate him any more than I already did. Guess I was wrong.
“Who’s to say I won’t?” The old man chuckles.
“But for now, we focus on getting you in favor with The Order. Go find the girl, show her some kindness, we need her to be on board with this. The mayor’s weak when it comes to her and she’s used to getting her way.
” Old man Mason gets up from his chair and pats Caleb proudly on the back, and I rush back up the stairs as quietly as I can and wait for him there.
What I’ve just learned was a lot to take in, it makes sense why my father is bending to Mason’s demand.
His life really does depend on this marriage, because if Ronnie Mason told the Carson brothers that my dad had something to do with why their grandpa hung himself, I don’t think even the River Boys could save him.
Suddenly, knowing why I have to marry Caleb Mason feels like a curse, because if I tell Wade the reason, I’m pretty sure he’ll kill my father himself.