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Adam.
I’d unearthed as many rocks as I’d been able to, including on my attorney, a man I’d thought I could trust. He’d been working with my father for years. I was surprised the son of a bitch was such a good actor, pretending he cared about my concerns. “You’re a real piece of work. Did you think I wouldn’t find out, or had you instructed Adam to wait as long as possible? Was it a game to see how long it took? Or were you hoping you’d drop by, announcing the ranch no longer belonged to me?”
My words were edgy, but I didn’t care. I was finished with our relationship, what little there had been.
“It’s not like that, son.”
“Bullshit!”
“You didn’t have any interest in following in your grandfather’s legacy and I have no interest in hanging on to an albatross. I thought it would be a win-win for the both of us. I thought you’d thank me.”
Oh, for the love of God. The man was delusional.
As the waning sun splashed across the sky in various colors, I was reminded how often I’d taken the ranch for granted. “And you didn’t have the courtesy to tell me.”
“You had your damn head in the clouds, son. You wouldn’t accept your responsibility in coming to work for me, so I was forced to take matters into my own hands.”
“By giving me no options? Is that what you were thinking? Do you honestly think I give a shit about the money or your company, Pops? Not in the least, but you refused to realize or accept that. Yeah, I admit I originally had no desire to return to Missoula and you know why.”
“A bunch of hogwash if you ask me.”
“A woman died on that mountain. I’m responsible. You shoved it under the rug to keep the Wentworth name out of the mud.”
He seemed flabbergasted. “I didn’t shove it under the rug, son. In case you need a lesson in the law, if the authorities would have pressed charges, all six of you would have likely spent time in prison. I had a lot of enemies back then, son. They were chomping at the bit to use the tragedy against both of us. I couldn’t allow that to happen. So I called in a few favors. If I hadn’t, your life and that of your friends would have been ruined.”
“Nice performance, Pops. It almost sounds like you give a damn.”
“Jesus Christ, Phoenix. I wanted the best for you.”
“And you wanted the best for you!” I snapped, closing my eyes to try to calm down. “Was selling the ranch punishment for tarnishing your life or was there another reason?”
“As I said, you’d shown no interest. What was I supposed to do? You would have made a hefty profit, allowing you to jump out of planes or whatever it is you do. I knew at some point you would come to your senses.”
Bristling, I wrapped my hand around the railing, trying to keep the rage from my voice. “My senses? I protect some of the most beautiful terrain on earth, Pops. Sometimes I save lives, which is what I did in serving our country. But you never gave a shit. You acted embarrassed by my choices.”
“That’s not true,” he said after a few seconds had passed. “I’m very proud of you. I want you to be happy.”
“Happy. You never ask about my personal life because you don’t care. Did you know I met a wonderful woman I asked to marry me? Did you know I also almost died in that fire? And did you know that my son, who you’ve refused to meet and likely don’t even remember his name, is a wonderful little boy who grieves for a mother who never loved him? Meanwhile, he has one set of grandparents who are trying to take him away from his own father and another who treats him as if he doesn’t exist. That’s my life, Pops. I own a ranch that I don’t want because you’re right, I’m not a goddamn rancher. That’s not me, but you tried to make me into a carbon copy of you. I have news for you, Pops. I’m not going to be forced off this land. It’s precious and beautiful. I’m going to turn it into something special.”
I don’t know why I bothered. He couldn’t care less. Laughing softly, I was ready to end the call.
“I’d love to meet Justin.”
The few little words shocked me. “I hope you will one day.”
“I will, son, and I’m very happy for you.”
“Then why, Pops? Why? Grandpops wanted me to have this place for a reason, one that I was never told. So now, I’m asking you for once in your life tell me the damn truth. Was this all about greed? Money? Or did you just want to spite your own father because he didn’t leave you the goddamn ranch in the first place?”
My father never seemed at a loss for words. Twice in one evening meant he’d been lying to me for years.
“Talk!” I demanded.
“It’s not what you think, son. Just hear me out. There are some things you need to know.”
* * *
I’d heard him, some of what he’d told me I’d anticipated.
