Chapter 2 #2
The sound of sirens filled the air, and footsteps coming upstairs followed.
“I love you,” his mother said, gazing at Owen. “I’ll be watching over you.”
“No, Mom. Hang on, they’re here. We’ll get you to a hospital,” he said desperately.
“Holly,” his dad wailed in despair as the police and ambulance surrounded them.
They lifted his mom on a gurney, and Owen stood there, his hands covered in her blood.
“Mason, watch the others. I’m going with Mom,” he ordered as they carried her down the stairs. His Dad’s heavy gait sounded behind him.
“Owen, let me ride with her. Bring your brothers,” he said, climbing into the ambulance. He watched them drive away with his mom, who died en route.
Owen shook his head, snapping out of his haunting memory. Why couldn’t his father have died instead? He used the blue towels and returned downstairs to join the others.
Everyone sat at the table chatting as he walked in and took his seat. The family started passing the dishes of pork chops, salad, and baked potatoes. Owen saw how a real family worked, and his heart ached for the family he lost.
“Did you get settled?” Gunny asked him, slathering butter on his potato.
“Yes, thank you,” he said, accepting the platter of pork chops from JoJo.
“We’ll talk after dinner and then have dessert. I hope you still like apple pie with ice cream. JoJo makes the best. Rucker told her it’s your favorite and she made it for the occasion,” Gunny said, cutting into his meat.
“Aw, thank you,” he said to the woman beside him.
“You’re welcome. Max helped. He snuck apple slices while I made the crust. Rucker made the ice cream this morning.”
“I appreciate it. You’ve made me feel welcome,” he said, smiling at her.
“How’s the fish in Wyoming?” Gunny asked.
“I caught enough to stock my freezer for the winter. I debated whether to fish or replenish my firewood when you called me. I try to avoid town as much as possible,” he informed Gunny.
“How’s the business going?” he asked, knowing Gunny’s now extended family helped him run it, and the men worked for a security team. He never asked for specifics, but something about it made him miss his time in the military.
“It’s picking up,” Gunny said, reaching for the salad dressing. “JoJo can fix about anything, and Rucker can run this place with her eyes closed.”
“Of course, I can. You taught me how as soon as I started walking. If I didn’t pick it up by now, you need to fire me,” she replied, grinning.
When everyone finished, they helped clear the table.
When Owen took his plate into the kitchen, Gunny gave him a head jerk, motioning him to follow.
His stomach plummeted. He thought about the mountain he used to live on as a child on the drive down to Gunny’s.
It felt silly since he never returned to it over the last ten years, but his chest ached at the thought of someone else owning it.
Gunny sat behind his desk and took out a thick manila envelope and a binder stuffed with paperwork.
“Jeremiah came to see me a few weeks ago. He seemed distressed and asked me to hold on to this for him. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but it might provide some answers for you. He left me strict instructions to give it to you.”
“Rucker mentioned he visited you. I don’t know why he insisted on my handling this. He hasn’t seen me since the night Mom died,” Owen said, staring at the envelope.
“I know a lot has happened to all of you since your mom passed away. I’ve kept tabs on all of you, but my hands were tied legally from stepping in and doing anything. I don’t know if you kept up with what happened after you left.”
“No, I left and never glanced back. Nothing will change what happened the night Mom died. Mason, Dillon, and Cade blamed me for starting the fight with Dad. Wyatt refused to even talk to me, much less speak about what happened. Elias tried to act as a peacemaker, but it didn’t work with four brothers determined to hate me. We only agreed on hating dad.”
Gunny shook his head. “It’s a damn shame. I’ll give you a shortened version of what happened after you shipped out. What you don’t discover tomorrow or in this packet, you can call me, and I’ll fill in the blanks the best I can.”
Shifting in the chair, Owen wrestled with wanting to know what Gunny planned to tell him while the other half of him wondered if it might be best to leave the past buried. He finally nodded, giving Gunny permission to continue.
“When you left after the funeral, the police charged your dad with reckless endangerment. He served a year in prison and four years probation. Mason and Cade stayed with a family in town, then joined the military. I lost touch with Dillon and Elias, but Wyatt bounced from one foster home to another. The boy still struggles with what happened to Holly. When they released your father, he got sober and turned his life around, all in your mother’s name.
Of course, by then, the damage was done and ruined his chances of having a relationship with any of you boys.
None of you wanted to have anything to do with him.
He understood. Over the years, he met a woman, and they lived happily on the mountain for two years, and then she died in a car accident during one of the winter storms.”
Owen’s stomach churned. He may have resented his dad because of his mom, but it must’ve hurt to lose the woman who saw past his mistakes.
“What did he do after she died? Did he go back to drinking?”
“No. He poured his heart and soul into the mountain, trying to bring back what he lost all those years ago. He made some found family and lived the rest of his days in your childhood home. I rarely saw him, but he called every now and then. It surprised me when he showed up, unannounced, and seemed frantic, insisting I keep this here for you.”
Gunny pushed the envelope and binder closer to him.
“He gave me this. Jeremiah made me promise if you didn’t come back, I’d burn it. Jeremiah struggled with demons, and I know he fully regretted what happened to your mother. Most of all, he worried about his sons and how to make amends.”
“Nothing can make up for what he did,” Owen said, taking the items from the desk. “I appreciate you calling me. I’m planning on burying him, getting all the paperwork handled, and going home. There’s nothing at Wolfe Mountain to keep me there.”
“Understood,” Gunny said, rising from his chair.
“Before you jump in the truck and head off in the morning, read the files. I asked JoJo to cut you a piece of pie and ice cream to take to your room. I know you don’t want to do it for Jeremiah, but I vowed to give this to you and insist you read it. If not for him, do it for me.”
“You have my word,” Owen promised as he stood, following Gunny to the bar. Rucker handed him his slice of pie with a healthy portion of vanilla bean ice cream. “Thank JoJo for me, will ya?”
“Will do. Have a good night’s sleep, and if we don’t see you in the morning, we’ll be there for the funeral,” Rucker assured him.
“Good night,” he said, anxious to review the files and figure out how to tackle everything.
Entering his room, he threw the paperwork on his bed, took off his shoes, and set his pie on the bedside table.
Settling on the bed, Owen opened the manila envelope and dumped the contents.
Seven envelopes fell out, all addressed to him and his brothers, except for one.
He picked it up and read the name, Conner. Who the hell was this guy?
He picked up the pie and stared at them as he ate the warm dessert.
Nothing they contained would change his feelings toward his father.
His drinking made family life tough. Owen spent most of his childhood parenting his brothers.
Mom always attempted to make up for it by giving him an extra ten dollars from the allowance tin, a restaurant gift card for him to take out Leslie, or a later curfew than his brothers’.
It seemed like such a small gesture, and yet it meant the world to him.
His stomach flipped at the thought of Leslie.
Regret filled him. One day, they made plans for a future together, and a week later, he drove off the mountain without a single word.
He intended to call her once he got to the base, but the words he wanted to say stuck in his craw.
Before he knew it, a year went by. He assumed she gave up on him and moved on.
Why disrupt her life? Every now and then, he stared at his phone and wished for a connection.
What could he possibly say to ease the pain?
Owen left with a burden on his shoulders and his head in the wrong place.
Anger, sorrow, and hopelessness ruled his life.
The military gave him the structure he needed, but it never replaced her.
Finishing the dessert, he put the plate on the table. He picked up his envelope and ripped it open.
Dear Owen,
If you’re reading this letter, I’m finally gone. I’m surprised you didn’t throw it in the trash as soon as Gunny gave it to you. Thank you, I don’t deserve your kindness, but I’m asking for your grace.
They say time heals all wounds. I call bullshit. What I did to you, your brothers, and especially your mom, will haunt me even in my afterlife. You have every right to hate me. I hope some secrets die with me, but some need to come into the light.
As the oldest, I put you in charge. It’s not fair of me to ask it of you.
Owen, you helped your mother while I tried to forget the past with a bottle.
Your brothers didn’t know how badly their words cut you after the funeral, but I did.
They stayed angry for months. I spent time in prison and attended an alcohol treatment program.
I hope she’s watching us from heaven, knowing I fulfilled part of my promise.
It’s time I tried to fix the one thing she held together, our family.
Like it or not, I’m your father. Holly made one hell of a mom, and I can’t let her down.
Owen pinched his nose, wondering why he gave a shit about his dad’s last request. He continued to read.
Help me put the family back together. Bring them to our mountain and heal the wounds.
Elias hides his grief. Don’t let him fool you.
Mason has suffered a cruel blow. His wife died in a car accident and left him two little boys, twins, Nathan and Noah.
He’s angry and grieving. He needs his brothers to help raise those Wolfe boys.
Cade and Mason joined the military as soon as they finished high school.
You might’ve seen Cade along the highway.
Some big Hollywood scout saw him, and he graces the covers of magazines in his underwear.
Then you have Dillon, who went to college and works as an engineer.
You left a wonderful woman because of me.
It’s one of my biggest regrets. Leslie has become a daughter to me.
I suspect you’ll see her again soon. She still has a temper.
You might want to wear a cup. Finally, we come to Wyatt.
He blames himself for his actions the night your Mom died.
My son should’ve never felt threatened enough to pull a weapon on his own father.
He’s hurting, Owen. I’ve kept tabs on all of you.
I made sure the boys got Christmas and birthday presents through Gunny.
I knew they’d never take them from me, but I stepped up for Holly.
I left instructions for my funeral, the mountain, and my possessions.
Finally, I want to introduce you to Conner.
I met his mother during a low point in my life, and I needed company.
I’ve never loved another woman like I did your mom.
Connie must’ve known, and a year after we enjoyed a one-night stand, she showed up on my doorstep with Conner and left the next day.
He’s mine. Most importantly, he’s a Wolfe.
Leslie agreed to care for him and will adopt him if you can’t find it in your heart to forgive an old man for his sins.
I’m hoping you’ll remember he’s a Wolfe too and won’t understand why his big brothers don’t want him.
He knows about each of you, and I’m hoping you’ll take him in. ”
“What the hell?” Owen exclaimed. “He wants me to care for his one-night stand’s kid? You got balls, Dad,” he muttered.
I can make all kinds of excuses, but in the end, it won’t bring your mother back.
I’m truly sorry for all the hurt I caused all of us.
Please bring our family back to Wolfe Mountain and show Conner what makes us special.
I lost sight of the most precious thing in my life.
I’ll go to my grave holding onto the pain and regret from my actions.
Don’t let it take you from one another. You’re the only one they’ll listen to. Don’t do it for me, do it for Mom.
I will always love you, son,
Dad
Owen set the letter aside and took a deep breath. His dad asked for a miracle. He didn’t know how he’d bring the assholes to Wolfe Mountain, but for Mom, he’d do his best.