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ChapterTen
I was watchingVanna turning letters that evening when Shep showed up. That brightened my night considerably.
He padded over, kissed me on the lips, and then sat down to sip at the large coffee he’d brought with him.
“I didn’t think I’d see you today. Did you happen to—”
“I bought you a new phone,” he replied before I could even finish the question. So we were at that stage of this mutual slaking then we were? Super. “Your other one had a cracked screen and had laid in a puddle of blood that seeped into the electronics.”
“Guess shoving it into a jar of rice doesn’t work for blood?” I enquired as he dug into his jacket pocket and produced a brand new iPhone. I whistled at the extravagance. “Damn, all I asked for was a new charger.”
“I couldn’t stand the thought of you using a phone that you’d bled on…into…whatever.” He waved a hand in the air, tugged off his Stetson and placed it on the bed.
“That’s fair enough. Can I set up a payment plan? Say ten bucks a week for the next twenty years?” I eyed the shiny new phone with appreciation. I bet it would make my bed if I asked it to.
“Consider it a gift. Clay has decided to free up my inheritance.” My eyes rounded as they flew from the cell to my lover. Partner. Boyfriend. Mutual slaker. Whatever. “Yeah, exactly.” He took a sip from the red and white Styrofoam cup. “Guess having to bury one brother has made him more accepting of his remaining queer one.”
“Wow. That’s good news. Right?” He didn’t look as overjoyed as he should be at becoming a millionaire.
He nodded. “It is. It means my life plan can go in a vastly different way than I’d been planning.” It took all I had not to ask him the big question. Whether if he stayed or if he left had to be his call. It was his life to lead now that he was free from the dictates of his family. Maybe he’d take his cameras and travel the world. If that was his choice, I’d not stand in his way.
“I’m glad he’s come around,” I earnestly said.
“Me too. We’re not going to be bosom buddies, but we might be able to be decent to each other on holidays.” He offered me his coffee. I sat up, muttered a curse, and sat back against the raised bed. Shep scooted closer, his smile tender. “I have news. Tomorrow we bury Morgan. Larger ceremony than I would have liked, but Clayton is firm on keeping up appearances. There will be a closed casket. He’ll be laid to rest beside our father and grandparents in the family cemetery out by the pond.”
“That’s a nice spot, I’m sure.”
“It is. Lots of McCrarys there. So I won’t be in to visit you until later in the day.”
“I understand. Maybe they’ll spring me tomorrow.”
“Doubtful. You were shot. You almost died. They’ll want to keep an eye on you for a while longer, I imagine.” I frowned at him and slurped down more of his coffee before passing it back. “Rest and heal. The ranch will be fine without you for a couple of weeks.” I thought to ask him if he’d be fine without me but kept that pathetic question to myself. “I spoke to Aaron Yellow Horse just a bit ago. Actually, he called me over to the Blue Ice to relay what he had gotten from his meeting with Don Great Bear’s girlfriend. Seems she was eager to talk to Aaron as well as the sheriff, in hopes of clearing her name.”
“So you’re back home?” I asked and he nodded. That sucked. “Dundee too?”
“Yes, of course. Clay asked me back so we could present a unified face to the community. He asked if what had taken place—‘the confrontation’ as he now likes to call it—could be kept as a family secret.” I sputtered. “I know, I know. I told him that our neighbors knew what had happened and that if it leaked out, that was on him. I haven’t told anyone. He wasn’t pleased that I’d mentioned it to you and the others but fuck him. The man who nearly caved in my ribs has little to say about who I told about the assault. He’s just lucky I didn’t press charges.”
“You still could I bet.”
“Probably but I won’t. Not now. Not with all that’s going to come to light about Morgan and Donnie. He’s Morgan’s son.”
I blinked a time or two. “Wait. Who is what and where?”
Shep sighed then took a sip of his far too sweet coffee. “Donnie. He’s Morgan’s son. His mother, Cynthia Fast Fox, was raped by my brother about fifteen years ago.”
Oh yes. I was well familiar with that occurrence. I’d found the poor young woman, clothes torn from the assault, wandering on our side of the river in a daze. She’d told me her name was Cindy Fast Fox. I had gotten the girl to the big house and then rode like a demon to the Hollow Wind Ranch, where I proceeded to beat the living shit out of Morgan McCrary in his own front drive. We’d both been young bucks, barely old enough to drive, but full of vinegar and dislike.
Papa McCrary had taken offense to me pounding his bastard boy into pudding. Legalities followed. As did a restraining order keeping me off Hollow Wind land forever and ever amen. Whatever. There hadn’t been a thing I was interested in over there. Now there was, but that was neither here nor there. Fancy lawyers had been called in and Cindy Fast Fox was given some hush money and made to sign an NDA. That was the last that I’d heard of the matter or the young woman.
“So Donnie Webb is…” Shep sadly nodded his head.
“Morgan’s son from the rape. Yes. And yes the young man is only fifteen.”
“That little shit lied on his application then.”
“He did. And he had help getting his false ID and paperwork. Seems Donald Great Bear’s woman works at the BIA Employment Office.”
“Well no shit.”
