Wait for Me (15 page)

He angled the jeep along the graveled drive and caught sight of another of the estates tan jeep’s used for inspecting the lands and along with Jonathan, Kenya, Seamus, Sophie, and Jamie. His son held the woman around the waist as he called in his prize falcon, Red. Had several farmers and stable owners out with their prize pony’s trotting around for the American to see.

The farmers were enamored by Jonathan’s woman, could see the other county women setting out platters of bread and cheeses, and trays of meat and fish over a long table, covered in long white cloth. They were already treating her as if she were Ireland’s queen.

Morgan joined him, together they crossed the drive and watched the family go still as Kenya, standing between Sophie and Seamus, recognized her sister.

“I see everyone’s met my family,” Brian called out to the homeowners.

“Blakemore, good to have your son back in the country," the man said, genuinely happy while unaware of the feud between father and son. “Good to have all the Blakemore’s back where they belong.”

Brian eyed Sophie then Jonathan before introducing Morgan.

“Everyone I’d like to introduce my fiancée, Morgan Claiborne.”

“Morgan!” Kenya barked, furrows creasing her forehead from frowning so hard. Brian watched the face pale seeing Kenya's sister by his side. Precisely the expression he wanted. He went for shocker number two and grasped Morgan's hand and kissing the diamond ring on her left hand.

"Engaged, you sick bastard," Jamie said. "She's young enough to be your daughter."

Brian held Morgan's waist as she stepped forward, her attention on Kenya. She said, "Kenya ran my father away. Didn’t you, sister? Right after you killed my mother." 

Killed.
Brian took a second look at his secret weapon. Her animosity had a cause. He wouldn’t have to push her to do his dirty work. She was eager to hurt Kenya. He set his stare on his wife and knew she saw the estate slipping from her grasp and she had no cards left to play. The estate was as good as his. Brian ducked his head, kissing Morgan along her neck. He'll have to look into keeping her past the two months he'd planned. She could be fun to have around, he thought, licking her lips. Sophie and Seamus would pay for the rest of their lives for trying to take what's should be his.

“Brian, you were always the lowest man out, but this is repugnant even for you. This woman is yer son’s girlfriend’s sister,” Sophie’s voice a tight groan. Brian watched Sophie regarding their son, then Seamus. They all knew what day was around the corner, their anniversary date and she will have forfeited the contract. “Is there any wonder why I could not live with you all those years, Brian, you’re evil.”

Brian knew neither of them wanted the marriage their families contracted together, but he waited all these years and now the estate would be his in a month. The estate and the land including the vault and its priceless collection he can convert into the money maker his ancestors envisioned. Morgan agreeing to marry him and give him an heir will automatically have Seamus’s shares going to the child of the woman he’s married to at the time. Seamus’s original conditions were Sophie needed to remain his wife which she voided living apart from him all these years. 

“My controlling shares are going to me first grandson, Brian,” Seamus groaned. “I doona care what woman you sashay across this land. I’m not handing it over to watch you drain this family of its money and heritage.”

“Be careful, old man. Once the estate is mine, none of you will be allowed on the grounds. Remember the contract your father constructed. Sophie must be my wife.”

“Sophie is your wife, Brian,” Seamus said between clinched teeth.

“Bringing this woman here is a rogue move even by yer underhanded standards, Brian. Kenya's yer son’s girlfriend's sister for glory sakes," Sophie criticized.

Brian ushered Morgan around to the farmers and their wives. He couldn't allow Jonathan to gain favor over him. Some of the farmers were shareholders in the estate.

Tension filled the air as the people milling around. Morgan and Kenya kept close tabs on one another as the local people shared meals, recipes, and conversations. Brian sauntered Morgan from table to table meeting and greeting everyone. He didn’t care that his family stood on Jonathan's side. This estate should be his and he would make certain he got what he deserved no matter who he had to take out in the end. With the accountant tucked away, Jonathan will have a hard time proving he wasn't embezzling from his own company, and if the American doesn't keep him busy for the next two days, she'll be brought up on charges.
Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars doesn't just show up in your bank account, Ms. Claiborne. No matter how stellar your record is. No one will vote for Jonathan with a sullied track record.
 

Brian could feel his plans coming together, and soon, the estate will be his.

In front of the barn, families bundled food away and broke down folding tables faster than Kenya could say goodbye to the women she’d met. People scattered. Cars sped away. Horses were led into trailers ushered away from the pending fiasco.

With Jonathan at her side, she gripped his hand for support. Shuffling her foot through the dry grass on the edge of the path, Kenya fisted her free hand along her thigh. Stunned by Morgan’s revelation, she averted her eyes when it landed on Morgan’s greedy hands stroking over Brian’s chest. It made her stomach lurch because this was three times more deceitful than anything she's ever seen from Morgan.

Jonathan cleared his throat, tugging Kenya in close to his side. “You okay, babe?”

Threading their fingers together gave her a moment to digest everything happening without having to say a word. She turned away soaking in the view over the pasture up the berm to where the sheep grazed and let the country air move through her inhaling deep. Even manure smelled sweet compared to what Morgan shoveled at her feet.

Kenya admired the countryside and the rich history. The pulse in her temple wouldn’t stop. Her coming into Jonathan's life brought this down on Sophie. She’d brought shame to her family and now the threat of Sophie losing all of this because her sister can't stand for her to have anything. If her birth mother had lived and seen what's become of her sister it would kill her.

"You can nae account for the greed of others, Kenya," Seamus said, touching her face and bringing her attention around to see his warm eyes. "You know I'm fond of ye, right? Ye bring a smile to me grandson's heart, so doona let me son and his foolishness make such a pretty face sad."

"This would break my father's heart. They took us in when our mother died and Father couldn't take care of us. Raised us as they're own children. She's done this all my life. Now I've brought, whatever this is she's doing, on your family. I'm so embarrassed and ashamed. Sophie, I don’t have words for this, I'm so sorry."

Jonathan’s mouth brushed over her hair. She accepted his strength and grouped his arms around her waist. "Mo ru’n," Jonathan breathed over and over in her hair and she could feel the fire and anger in his body for Brian's actions.

Sophie moved in beside Kenya, slipping her hand around her waist adding her arm over Jonathan’s. “Kenya, the sod has no scruples. I’m sorry you got dragged into this mess.” Kenya could almost laugh at the absurdity of all this. Morgan had as little scruples as Brian, a perfect dysfunctional match. Her sister slept with the enemy. 

Her sister’s gall plotting behind her back with Jonathan’s father and interfering in Kenya’s life stopped today. Morgan’s hunger for the Blakemore money threw dirt in the face of the way they were raised. Kenya stepped forward intending to pull Morgan off to the side. Morgan threw out a punch nearly catching Kenya in her face had she not ducked in time, but her nails scratched the edge of her cheek. A streak burned down over Kenya’s cheek. Stumbling, she righted herself. Touching her face, she came back with blood on her fingers. The sight sent her back to their childhood when Morgan would hit her for playing with her toys. Done being Morgan’s punching bag she lost it. Lunging for her sister, Kenya plowed a fist into Morgan’s face and felt it lance off to the side. Shaking her hand in the air, she flexed her fingers and bounced on her toes expecting Morgan to charge her. Instead, Brian stood holding her in his arms, blood smeared over her cheek. In a split second, she would swear he cared about Morgan. She couldn't afford the distraction and nearly caught a fist in her jaw. 

Kenya blocked Morgan’s hand shoving her back away from her face. Morgan tripped getting her balance on the uneven ground. At that moment, Jonathan's body crushed against hers and Kenya's legs left the ground when he yanked her from the mayhem. 

“You fucking bitch," Kenya snarled at her sister. She fought at Jonathan’s hold around her waist. Years of hurt and anger fueled the words flying from her mouth faster than she could register that she'd said them. The words finally reached her heart and Kenya stop fighting, struggling for each labored breath. Sophie was by her side coaxing her to calm down. The sight of them fighting like animals, broke her down, and opened a hole in her heart. She couldn't save her sister.

"Let her go," Morgan barked her voice thick with anger. "You should have stayed like I told you to and none of this would’ve happened. You just can't stand to see me get the attention. Doesn't feel good, does it, Kenya?" Her sister threw those words out as if they held a bitter taste.

They weren't little kids fighting over lunch money; Morgan truly hated her for just being alive. "Are you that shallow, Morgan? You hate me so much that you followed me to Ireland and hook up with that…that, piece of trash.” Pointing to Brian, practically spewing spittle with her angered words, she accused him, “That punk offered me money to roll on his son and when I didn’t, you were right there, ready and willing. And you wonder why your husband left you.” Kenya wiped blood off her cheek then looked at her hand before wiping it on her jeans. She couldn't believe her sister hit her. “We were raised better than that, Morgan,” she shouted. "You need professional help."

“Jonathan, control your woman or I will,” Brian warned, his arm around Morgan’s waist.

“Don’t play a hand you don’t have, Brian.”

“You can still have your precious, Jonathan, but you can’t have Blakemore Estates,” Morgan taunted. Kenya burst out and smacked Morgan across the face. Brian’s hand came at her seconds before she felt Jonathan shoving her behind his body. Seamus caught her. When she straightened in Seamus's embrace, saliva threatened to strangle her as bile moved up her throat. Jonathan held a gun to Brian’s temple.

“It only takes
one
bullet.”

Kenya caught the glint of metal in Brian's hand and followed it to rest on Jonathan's stomach. Her body went rigid.

“It goes both ways, son. Remember ye brought this fight on yourself,” Brian said. Everything became milky following the sound of a gun’s hammer clicking.

Chapter Eight

Voices filled the air as men spilled out from the surrounding barns and sheds. The men were closing in tighter to Kenya. She lost sight of Jonathan in the mayhem of farmers and ranchers coming out of every crack in the woods. Bodies hit the ground as men fought and snorts and vile curses rang through the now dusty air.

She sucked in a breath as large strong hands wrapped around her waist, swung her away from the battle, breaking out wild and furious. Everything went black as someone drew a blindfold over her eyes and with her arms binded to their chest, she couldn't use her hands to push the material away. Jostled over a muscled shoulder, her head bounced through the air as the person took off running with her up the hill. His breathing changed. Kenya struggled against the hands wrapped around her thighs. Kenya could hear cracks and thumps of fists hitting flesh behind her. The mayhem escalated to a bar brawl and she was being rushed away from the scene. Grabbing at the man's chest was the only place she could reach. Her stomach banged against his shoulder with each pounding step. She thought she’d throw up. Breaking free of his hold on her hands, she reached wildly around to untie whatever they covered her head with, but her fingers kept bumping off the knot.

Her feet hit the ground, seconds later the removal of her mask left her disoriented. She found herself facing the side of a barn and Carl from the pub. Whirling around, she searched for Jonathan. Thinking the man that had bundled her away was on her side of the fight, she scrambled to run back into the open field. Carl caught her shoulders, preventing her from running.

"Please, Kenya. Jonathan knew his father would show up like this and told me to get you out if something happened."

She wiped a hand across her mouth, eyes darting glances in the direction of the trees where the sheep’s were baaing like crazy over up the hill.

"Where's Jonathan?" she screamed, grabbing Carl's sweater, fisting it beneath her grip. "Where's Jonathan, tell me, now!" She had to find him.

"He'll find you. I have to get you out of here," he said and she couldn't help struggling against his hands on her arm.

"Jonathan!" A gun shot rang out…then another followed by a barrage of shots being fired. "No!!" She fought wild, felt the jaw muscles when she hit the young man in the face, and his hands dropped from her arms. She tore off down the hill with Carl on her heels. The air became hard to inhale and she fought the scream lodged in her chest as she processed more gunshots. 

"Hell," Carl forced and scooped her up and ran up into the woods with Kenya pounding over his shoulder.

As branches scratched along her arms, she fought to get down screaming out, "Jonathan…"

At the mouth of the lake Carl set her on her feet, the moment his hands left her body she sprinted down the hill, sliding through the dry grass. No time to worry about herself, she had to help Jonathan before Brian killed him. 

Bumping her foot on a large rock sticking out of the ground, she cried out. Pain shot up through her ankle and splintered around her calf. Felt as if it had torn open, but she couldn't stop. Carl’s huffing breath told her he was just a pace behind her. If not for all the low hanging branches, he'd be on her.