Texas Lonesome (30 page)

Both Sidney and Jock Jr. pulled away, their eyes wide.

Winston shook his head, his mouth twisted. “I figured his physical scars, as well as the guilt he had to carry, were punishment enough, so I never turned him in. He got what he deserved by his own hand.”

“How did you figure out the truth?” Dustin asked, amazed at this turn of events. He wanted to comfort Sidney, to take her into his arms, but he felt she might be uncomfortable with her father right there. He’d wait until they were alone.

“Jock had been throwing out to anyone who would listen that a Rim Rock brand was on the horse of his attacker. That was all a lie, to put suspicion on me, but I didn’t know that. I began questioning my men, to make sure none were involved in any way. I hadn’t orchestrated the ambush, but that didn’t mean someone from the ranch hadn’t had a hand in it. I interviewed the men separately.”

With hands on hips, Winston began to pace. “There was one man, Shorty Harris, who said he had a friend who worked for the Calhouns. Said if he heard anything, he’d let me know. Well, about a year later, he came into my office with a farfetched story, one I had no real proof was true until today. Jock Calhoun wanted the army contract so badly, he’d hired a gunman to make sure I never arrived at the fort. Shorty’s friend at the Calhoun ranch had gone out with Jock early one morning with a saddlebag full of cash. Jock had him wait at the end of a canyon while he rode in alone. When the day was well spent, the ranch hand went looking. Found Calhoun near beat to death.”

“Who said that?” Jock Jr. barked.

Winston stopped his pacing and shrugged. “Don’t know; Shorty wouldn’t say.” He looked at Sidney’s pa. “I guess you’re the only one who can fill in the blanks, Jock. I think we’re entitled.”

“Pa?” Sidney asked, her voice low. Every limb shook badly.

Her principles be damned, she needs someone at her side.
Dustin crossed the imaginary line separating the McCutcheons from the Calhouns and wrapped her in his arms.

She turned so she could see her father. “Is that true? What Mr. McCutcheon said? Was it you all along?”

Jock Calhoun just stood there, looking broken and old.

“Best to come clean, Jock,” Winston said. “If you do, you may have time left to repair the damage you’ve done to your family.”

Jock nodded. “Most of it.”

Winston’s face resembled a hard slab of granite. “I’ve kept your dirty little secret for all these years. I deserve to know.” He glanced at Dustin. “Dustin too. The truth is the least you owe us.”

“After the bushwhack, I was delirious for days, almost died. I must have spoken the McCutcheon name, because before I knew what had happened, word got out that a McCutcheon brand was on the attacker’s horse. I didn’t start the rumor.”

Anger clenched Dustin’s chest for all his father had endured. “But you could have stopped it!”

Jock nodded, his face tight. “The gunman I hired changed up the plan. Decided to take his payoff and skedaddle without doing the job, after he beat me to death, of course. My hate festered. Winning the contract meant you’d become the most powerful ranch in the territory. Every time I thought about coming clean, I couldn’t keep my anger and disgust for myself from growing. I was filled with hate, for myself and for your success.”

Sighing, Jock added, “As the years passed, I accepted that version as truth. Believed the lie with my whole heart. When my wife died during childbirth, to me, the tragedy was your fault, McCutcheon. And every other disappointing thing that’s happened to me since.”

Dustin turned to his father. “Why didn’t you tell me and Chaim?” he asked, still unable to understand that.

Winston shook his head. “I planned to when you were adults, but whenever I tried, the enormity of the betrayal stopped my words in my throat. I’m sorry.”

With a sob, Sidney pulled from Dustin’s arms and dashed down the street. Dustin started after her, but his father grabbed his arm.

“Give her a little time to absorb everything. We have other matters at hand that need attention. Like finding Noah Calhoun to see if he was the culprit who torched Knutson’s barn.”

S
idney paced across the rug in her room, sorting out everything she’d just heard. Her head ached with all the hurtful information rolling around inside, which came on top of last night, when her father and brother had relentlessly demanded she give up her disgraceful idea of marrying Dustin.
The enemy.
The son of the most hated double-crosser in Texas.

What a farce! And what a fool she’d been! How would she ever face Dustin after all the things she’d said about his father? Shame scalded her face.

And now Knutson’s barn had been burned to the ground. Had Noah finally had enough and extracted his revenge?

Tears born of embarrassment and shame leaked from her eyes. Her father—a liar! Willing to defame a man’s good name to cover his own misdeeds. How would she ever hold up her head again?

A soft knock sounded on her door.

Dustin?

She turned to stare at the barrier. Over an hour had passed since she’d learned the ugly truth.

Again, the knock. “Sidney, open the door.”

Dustin.

“Go away.” She couldn’t face him now . . . or ever. Had he just chuckled? There was absolutely nothing funny about today.

“I’m not going away, sweetheart. Please open up. I don’t think they’ll take kindly when I kick in this really nice door.”

He’ll do it too.
She crossed the room and then just stood, looking at the doorknob.

“Come on, darlin’, I have a hankerin’ to feel you in my arms.”

God help her, she couldn’t stop herself from needing that warm, languid voice. She pulled open the door. The moment she saw his face, everything gushed out of her in one earth-shattering cyclone of hurt.

Dustin scooped her up in his arms. He kicked the door closed with his boot, but she didn’t care. Let Rainey Knutson talk. Let all the Knutsons talk. Heck, why stop there? Let all of Rio Wells talk. All she cared about was the warmth of Dustin’s chest, the strength of his arms, and the love she felt seeping from his heart to hers.

“Shh,” he crooned. His hand ran down her hair that hung free. “Shh. Everything will be all right. Now, if you were leaving with your pa and brother and going back to Santa Fe, then I’d say you had something to cry over. But you’re not. And you don’t. Come Saturday, we’re getting married. I won’t take no for an answer.”

Dustin eyed the bed, pondering how much more comfortable laying her down would be, but worried she might think him forward. Closing the door was scandalous enough. Instead, he rocked her back and forth, and let her exorcise her grief so the past couldn’t hinder their relationship once he set things into motion.

“That’s only three days, honey. Three days, and you’ll be Mrs. Dustin McCutcheon.” He whistled. “I like the sound of that.”

“I can’t do it, Dustin,” she cried against the front of his shirt. “I can’t face your father, or your mother. Or Chaim, Madeline, and Becky. The ugly truth is all too hideous.”

“What your pa did has nothing to do with you. I won’t have you talking that way. Didn’t you hear what your future father-in-law said? He’d kept the information to himself to protect you. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.”

She looked up into his face, her eyes a watery mess. “What about Noah? I can’t bear any more bad news.”

“Well, good. Because I don’t have any. Noah didn’t do a thing. He actually went out to stop trouble before it struck.”

She wiped her eyes on his sleeve, making him smile. Having a wife of his own was going to be pretty darn nice. He was looking forward to it.

Somewhat mollified, Sidney pushed out of his embrace and stood facing him, her expression no-nonsense. “What do you mean?”

She looked so beautiful, he’d rather kiss her than talk, but he knew until this was put to bed, there’d be no sugar for him.

“Does the name Harry Brennon ring any bells?”

“Noah’s school friend?”

Dustin nodded.

“The one who started the trouble in San Antonio?”

“The one and the same. Seems that troublemaker followed Noah to Rio Wells. Thought he’d extract his own revenge on the hateful McCutcheons. Couple of days ago, Brennon sent a note to Noah when he was working with John, telling him to meet him in town last night in the Black Silk Garter. He had an idea. Fearful Brennon would do some horrible deed before he could stop him, Noah sneaked out of the bunkhouse and took a horse. Rode into Rio Wells alone. He found Harry Brennon in the saloon, all right, as drunk as a skunk and passed out on the floor.”

Dustin pulled her closer, enjoying the feel of her against him. “Brick, our ranch hand, was in the back of the barn when Noah went for a horse. Knowing I gave explicit orders that Calhoun wasn’t allowed out alone, Brick followed. He hoped to catch Noah breaking the law. Instead, he followed him into the saloon, where he found Noah reviving his friend with black coffee. All this happened before the fire. Brick and Noah actually buried the hatchet, got to sharing stories and drinking whiskey to commemorate the moment. They slept through the fire completely.”

He broke into a wide grin. “How’s that for good news?”

“The barn, Dustin! Who set the fire?”

He enjoyed how she was hanging on his every word, and how he had her complete attention. Did she have any idea what tonight meant? The truth had cleared the way for their love. She was hurt now, but he’d make sure she got past that, and soon.

“Dustin!”

“Little Rainey Knutson. Whatever made that hoyden sneak out of the house with a lantern at the crack of dawn has her parents mystified. She went into John’s barn, and a good-sized spider dropped onto her head from the loft. Terrified, she threw down the kerosene lantern, causing the place to burst into flames. She’s damn lucky to be alive. Let that be a lesson to her.”

“You found this all out in the few minutes we’ve been apart?”

“Few minutes? Almost an hour has passed, honey. That’s fifty minutes too long. When I know my girl’s hurting, I don’t mess around.”

She gazed up into his face. “I’ll remember that next time I’m feeling neglected.” She smiled, and a bolt of lightning scorched him all the way down to his boots.

“I’m waitin’.”

After bestowing a shy smile, she went up on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his.

Saturday Evening

“
W
ell, Mother, I guess you got what you were wishing for,” Dustin said, his arm possessively placed around the back of his gorgeous wife, keeping her clamped next to his side. They stood together in the Lillian Russell Room, where every table was occupied with wedding guests, drinking wine and eating cake.

Sidney wore a lemon-yellow gown borrowed from someone that fit her figure in a most enticing way. Her hair was piled seductively on top of her head, just begging for him to extract a few pins so the weighty mass could fall down around her shoulders. Dustin’s thoughts kept straying upstairs to the room they’d share tonight.

“Sidney and I will be living at the ranch for the time being until we decide what we want to do. I hope you’re happy.”

“Your father and I are delighted beyond measure,” his mother replied. The huge smile that had begun with the first note of the piano when Sidney came down the aisle to meet him was still in place. No tears for this mother. She was thrilled her oldest would finally begin propagating. “The more in the house, the merrier, I like to say. And now I have three daughters. What could be better?”

She smiled at Sidney, who was conspicuously quiet. Dinner had ended over an hour ago, and the quartet now played. They’d danced and talked with friends until time to make the toasts, which Chaim had accomplished with great aplomb.

Dustin glanced at his brother, who’d received word from Emmeline yesterday. He still hadn’t had a chance to have a good heart-to-heart with Chaim, but he’d learned Emmeline wasn’t returning to Rio Wells.

When the music started up again, Winston came over and extended a hand to his new daughter-in-law. “May I have this dance, Sidney?”

She blushed and stepped toward him. “Of course.”

For a few minutes, Dustin watched them, marveling how fate had come full circle. He glanced over to the table where her kin sat. They’d been subdued since the truth had been exposed, pretty much staying in their hotel room most of the time.

Dustin was glad they had stuck around. With everything that had happened, their presence meant a lot to Sidney, even if many things needed to be worked through. She even asked her father to walk her down the aisle. Other than that, not much contact had happened between them.

Noah sat with Martha and Louise Brown, and Candy as well. The four looked to be having a time to remember.

“Will you please excuse me, Mother?”

“Of course, Dustin.” She rubbed his arm, the tells of her sentimentality blossoming on her face. Wobbly lips, crunched forehead, watery eyes. “I’m so proud and happy for you. Sidney is the perfect match for you, and will keep you in line. I couldn’t love her any more than I already do.”

Dustin kissed her cheek and headed for Chaim, who relaxed against the back wall, watching the dancers. They stood together a few moments in silence and just enjoyed the view of Sidney waltzing in their father’s arms.

“So, how ya doing?” Dustin asked. Even though Chaim tried to hide his pain, the reality was the devastation was written all over him, for all to see.

“Congratulations, brother,” he replied. “She’s a beautiful bride. You’re a lucky man.”

“That I am, but that’s not what I asked. You received word from Emmeline yesterday. What’re your plans?”

He rubbed a hand across his face and let go a long sigh. “Plans?”

“I know you, Chaim, so stop with the riddles. I’m feeling your pain, and I see a faraway look in your eyes.”

He nodded. “You do. I’m leaving for a spell. Tonight, as a matter of fact. When this shindig is over.”

Dustin sucked in a breath. He hadn’t thought Chaim would do something so drastic. “You can’t leave. We need you at the ranch.”

“You have plenty of help with the new hand.” He shook his head. “I won’t be missed. Not really.”

“Noah won’t be here forever.”

Chaim turned and looked Dustin square in the eye. “I’m not talking about
him
.” He motioned across the expanse of tables to Sidney and their father on the dance floor.

The laugh that came from his mouth eased a little of the pain left in Dustin’s heart. Chaim might have lost Emmeline, but not his sense of humor.

“And it’s not like I’m going for good,” Chaim added. “I’ll be back sooner or later. Maybe I’ll head up to Montana. See Y Knot for myself.”

All the way to Montana?
Dustin bit out a curse. “Don’t do this, Chaim!”

“I lost her, Dustin,” he whispered. “Tell me you’d just sit around here doing business as usual if Sidney had gone back to Santa Fe. Somehow, I don’t see that happening.”

Chaim had a point. A good one. But so soon? Tonight? Dustin wasn’t ready to lose his little brother. Protectiveness welled up inside him.

“What was her reasoning?”

“Does it matter?”

Not really
.

He shook his head. “Guess not. But I’ll go with you. Sidney and I both will,” he quickly amended when he realized how silly that sounded.

“Your destiny is here, making Ma and Pa happy with all the little ones you’ll have. They’ve been waiting mighty long for grandbabies. You can’t be following me over hill and dale.”

No swaying his brother, but Dustin totally understood. “Have you told ’em yet?”

“No. Didn’t want to spoil their time.”

A heavy stone landed in the pit of Dustin’s stomach. He didn’t want Chaim to go. Without warning, he pulled his brother into an embrace.

“You be careful.” He almost choked on his words as a burning heat stung the back of his eyes. “Don’t get yourself hurt, or worse.”

When he noted John and Lily on their way over to where he and Chaim stood, he pulled away and wiped his eyes. He was going to miss Chaim; he certainly would.