62. Chapter 62 - Cade
Dust kicks around my boots when they land in the dry grass. Then a billow of black smoke fills the air when Oliver starts up the excavator.
Ah, so that’s the plan.
Wade grins, standing poised at the backdoor of his truck. “Ready for this shit?”
Ford ties his horse to Mason’s bumper and strides towards me. “Cade, is it true?” His gray eyes are stormy pinholes under his hat.
Fuck, I could never read this guy.
“What part?” I ask cautiously.
“All of it,” he grunts. “The accident? The bullshit?”
“I had no part in any of it.” I keep my hands out…just in case.
He watches me with impassive features. “Sometimes we get mired in shit, even if it isn’t our fault, huh?”
Is that a positive or a negative?
“Mason called me. Said these are the two who caused it all.” He watches Wade open the backdoor and yank Eli out onto the ground.
“Eli cut my brake lines and set the bomb. John is the one who hired Dave.” I make sure to add the last part.
I know that name will resonate with Ford.
When his fists bunch next to his thighs, I know he’s made the connection.
His jaw tics when Wade reaches in and tugs John out next.
Then he steps forward, grabbing the fallen man by the handcuffs to drag him across the ground.
Sawyer and Mason each take an arm of Eli, pulling him face first so his shoes leave furrows in the dirt.
“You’re all gonna pay for this!” Eli yells, red faced between them.
Oliver works the massive bucket of the machine until it’s dangling a few feet from the ground.
I jump to help Ford while Wade and Dixon stand by as we loop their cuffs over the jagged ripping teeth of the excavator.
Oliver lifts it until their feet don’t quite touch and they’re hanging by the chains around their wrists.
“Let us down!” John finds his voice.
“Tell them the truth and we’ll consider it.” Wade’s demand carries over the engine noise.
“You’ll just kill us anyways.” Eli glares at him, then spits towards my feet.
This time it’s my turn. I land a fist into his stomach making him gasp. “How fast you talk determines how fast you die.” I don’t give a shit if he turns into a human pinata. “Tell them who caused the accident.”
“You did by dating my sister,” he sneers.
It takes three more hard blows before he coughs blood. “Stop. Fine.” He grimaces as he twists. “I drugged your drink and cut your brakes. But Ava wasn’t supposed to be there.”
Mason hurdles past me to land his own hit.
Again. And again.
“Mason,” Dixon growls.
“What?” Mason twists to face our much larger brother. “He took everything. My wife. Our parents. Cade.” When he looks at me, I can see the misery in his eyes. “I’m so fucking sorry, Cade.” Tears shine before cresting to fall down along his nose. “Instead of listening, I chose to hate you.”
“Mason.” Ford steps to him. “One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is sometimes we gotta let the past go.” He raises his hand, gesturing for Oliver to get out of the cab.
When Oliver gets out, he steps down gingerly.
I know that damn grimace of pain. I wear it myself every day.
“What?” Oliver scowls at Ford and moves to join us.
“I didn’t want this to land on your shoulders, son.” Ford takes a few fast steps and reaches up towards the seat of the excavator, flipping up the lock bar.
Then he drops the bucket.
It happens so fast there’s no noise except the solid thunk of the massive amount of steel hitting the ground, crushing the two men who were dangling beneath it.
“Ford!” Mason yells. “Why?”
Ford’s lips are thin but the very edge curls.
“Oops.” He shrugs, making a point of waving to Wade.
“We could stand here for eternity asking those two assholes the same questions. We all know the truth. We all got fucked by them.” His nose wrinkles when he looks down at the spreading pool of blood soaking into the earth.
“I’m sick of living in the past,” he mutters.
Then he kicks his boot, ripping dirt with his heel to scatter over the leg sticking out from under the heavy metal edge.
“Cade?” He looks at me with those eerie gray eyes. “Welcome back.” Turning on his heel, he unties his horse and while we all stand silent, he gallops away.
“There goes the last real cowboy,” Wade chuckles. “I need to retire before his kids get old enough to raise hell like him.”
“Want me to bury ‘em?” Oliver stares at the mash of bodies beneath his machine.
Movement has me look past him in time to see Sawyer rush behind Mason’s truck. The sound of him heaving overtakes the crickets chiming in the grass.
“Might as well.” Mason shakes his head and backs away from the mess.
As Oliver starts digging a hole, Dixon gestures me over.
“What are your plans?” His gruff tone doesn’t quite hide the sadness tightening his eyes.
“I might be heading back to Texas in the morning.” I promised Rosalyn I would.
But that may change.
“Texas?” Mason shakes his head. “That’s so damn far.” He lets out a long breath, the cheek under his left eye twitching. “I wish you’d stay for a while so we could catch up.”
“I’ll see what my wife says.” I shrug. “She’s the boss.”
Dixon snorts. “Got that right.”
“At least join us for dinner?” Mason’s jaw clenches. “I’d like to hear all the details.”
All these years I’ve waited for today. I wanted so badly to be brought back in, fully accepted.
It isn’t until now that I realize it won’t be an easy path.
If anything, I’ve learned from Rosalyn just how long trauma can stick and that I can’t just wish away the past.
He may not hate me going forward. But he’s spent over a decade living with my name being attached to all of the pain in his life.
Hell, truth be told, I’m probably holding onto my own.
“Let me see what she wants to do. I’ll meet you at the ranch and let you know.” I’ll always choose her.
“I’ll follow you down. Elena can ride with me so you two can talk.” Wade falls into step next to me.
When we’re out of ear shot, he pauses with a hand on my shoulder. “Cade, I hope y’all can stay for a while, but understand on so many levels why you’d go. Just know I’m glad to have you back and I want to stay in touch.”
“Thank you. I do too.” I circle the truck to the driver’s side and open the door. “Elena, Wade’s your knight in sweaty armor.” I grin at her as Wade pulls on the far handle.
“Your chariot awaits, little girl.” His wink is downright nefarious as he helps his wife out.
She giggles, waving to Rosalyn before walking away.
Within seconds, Rosalyn’s face drops and she turns to me. “Well?”
I shake my head with a frown. “They’re gone, Ros. They will never hurt anyone again.”
When the tears start to fall, I know I made the right decision.
“I can’t believe it,” she sobs. “Is it real?”
“Yes, baby. I promise.” I shift the truck into drive and aim it down the hill towards the ranch.
These were my old stomping grounds. The place I grew up yet never thought I’d see again.
“Mason wants us to stay for dinner. I told him we might be leaving for Texas in the morning.” I steal a glance to see how the idea sits.
She takes a harrowing breath and leans against my arm resting on her thigh.
“I wanted to get away from them.” Her hair tickles my skin when she shakes her head.
“If they’re gone, there’s no reason why we have to rush if you want to get to know your family again.
” She flattens her palm on the inside of my elbow. “I know how badly you want it.”
When those big blue eyes meet mine, I can see all the love and adoration she holds melted into her gaze. “I want you to be happy, that’s what I choose.”