Killian (The Sons of Dusty Walker Book 3) (8 page)

“Watching out the window, were you?” He took a fortifying sip of the dark brew.

“I’m a light sleeper.” Without asking, she pulled out a chair and sat down at the table with him. “Lou and me can never sleep until all the chicks are in the barn.”

Killian laughed. “I think you’re mixing your metaphors a little, Marliss. And I hardly think I could be classified as a chick.”

“You’re Dusty’s chick. That’s what counts.”

“Yeah? Didn’t count for much for a long time, did it?”

Marliss slammed her hand down on the table. “I won’t let you speak ill of the man. He loved all you boys, and your mamas.”

Killian quirked an eyebrow. “And his wife, too?”

Lou set a plate of bacon and eggs in front of Killian, along with a basket of biscuits. “Dusty and the missus made a good marriage out of what they had. They knew what they was getting from the gitgo, and they forged ahead.”

Killian swallowed a bite of egg and bit off a piece of bacon. “I don’t understand how they could stay together if they didn’t love each other. What kind of marriage is that?”

“The kind they could both live with,” Marliss told him. “She wanted Dusty at any price, and he wanted in on the oil and minerals. He was always respectful of her.”

“Respectful.” Killian snorted. He took a moment to butter a biscuit. “You call it respectful for a man to have four women on the side like he did?”

Marliss leaned toward him. “He loved every one of those women, including your mama, and he did right by them, and you boys.”

Killian ate more egg, more bacon, a little biscuit, taking his time so he didn’t blurt out something in anger.

“Well?” she prodded. “Nothing to say?”

He chewed slowly, sipped a little more coffee. “What I have to say is, my mother is one of the most gracious women on the face of the earth. I cannot begin to imagine what she saw in Dusty or how she put up with his bullshit all these years, and that was before she knew there were three more women just like her.”

“He took good care of her,” Marliss insisted.

“With visits every few weeks, a few crumbs of his presence, a few smooth words now and then? You call that taking care of someone?”

Lou refilled his coffee mug. “He loved your mother,” he told Killian. “He talked about her all the time. And you.”

“And all the others, I’ll bet.”

“You were the oldest,” Marliss reminded him. “The first born. You and your mama held a special place in his heart.”

“Not special enough to keep him away from three more situations like mine.”

“Okay, enough.” Lou brought his own cup of coffee and sat down at the table. “Dusty Walker made a lot of mistakes. He was the first one to admit it. But there was a lot of good in the man, too. And a lot of love.”

“He sure was good at spreading it around,” Killian said stubbornly.

“He was a man with a big heart,” the cook insisted. “He wanted kids something fierce. It was a sad thing his wife couldn’t have them, and it gave both of them a lot of sorrow. I’m not saying the way he chose was the right one, but he lived up to his obligations with everyone. And he did it willingly.”

“I’m gonna show you something.” Marliss pushed her chair back from the table. “You sit right there.”

“Where’s she going, Lou?” Killian asked.

The big man shrugged. “Probably to get something.”

“Well, that tells me a whole hell of a lot.”

He ate in silence for a few minutes until Marliss came scurrying back into the room. She carried a big book and slammed it on the table next to Killian.

“Go on,” she told him. “Take a look.”

The book was covered in heavy, embossed leather and in the center, in script, was the letter K. What the hell was this? A scrapbook? What kind of scrapbook could Dusty have been keeping? He continued eating in silence, preparing himself for whatever he was going to see, while Marliss and Lou gave him what he called the deadeye stare. Finally, he pushed his plate away, wiped his mouth, and opened the book.

And stared. His jaw actually dropped as he turned the pages slowly, stunned at what he was seeing. His mother must have sent every picture of him she’d ever taken to Dusty, along with all the articles in the local paper about his awards in school. Academic honors. Athletic awards. Even pictures of him working at Hart Brothers Ranch.
What the fuck?
He stared at Lou and Marliss.

“What the hell is this?”

“He had one for each of you boys,” Marliss explained. “He knew it was impossible for him to be as much of a constant in your lives as he wanted to, but he didn’t want to miss out on everything, either.”

“One of these for each of us?” he repeated. He was having a lot of trouble absorbing this.

“He made sure each of you boys and your mamas were well taken care of,” Lou reminded him. “Bought good homes for y’all. Made sure each of you had everything you needed, though he couldn’t be there all the time.
Especially
since he couldn’t be there all the time.”

Killian went back to the beginning of the book. This time, when he turned over the first page, he saw a small sheet of paper had been folded lengthwise and tucked into the crease. His hands shaking slightly, he unfolded it and smoothed it out.

Dear Killian,

If you are reading this, it means I am gone to whatever reward God has chosen for me. There are so many things I wanted to say to you whenever we were together, but the time was never right.

By now, you and your brothers have all the details of the story. I’m sorry this was a big shock to you. It’s important for you to know, however, I loved your mother unconditionally and you always held a special place in my heart. I know you have grown up to be a fine young man and do me very proud.

I hope you and your brothers will decide to give D. Walker Minerals a chance in your lives, as well as the town of Red Creek. There are many great rewards to be had, and I’m not just discussing money.

Anyway, the last thing I want to say is I love you, son. I have passed on to you the only heritage I have, and I hope you’ll find a place in your heart for it.

I love you, Son.

Your dad,

Dusty Walker

Killian stared at the note then he turned the pages again, this time more slowly. There were many pictures of him with his mother. Dusty had devoted special pages to those particular shots. It astounded him his mother looked so happy in each of them. Had she really been so satisfied with her part-time relationship with Dusty Walker? What was he missing here?

And did a few pictures and a wad of cash really make up for the mess of a situation Dusty had created. Again Killian worried those genes had passed down to him, leaving him unable to give any woman the kind of relationship she wanted and deserved.

“He used to talk about you all the time,” Lou said, breaking into his thoughts. “All of you. I sometimes thought if he could have found a way, he’d have brought all of you, boys and mamas, here to live with him.”

Killian actually laughed. “That would have been an interesting situation. Would have given the town a lot of fodder for gossip.”

“This town loved Dusty,” Marliss said, ignoring what Killian implied. “He gave back to it at every opportunity.”

“When someone lost a job,” Lou added, “Dusty always stepped in to make sure they had a roof over their head, food to eat, and walking around money until they got hired again. He was a big sponsor for the school district carnival every year, raising money for extracurricular and after-school programs.”

“And,” Marliss picked up, “there’s hardly a person in the county he hasn’t touched in some way.”

“He worked his ass off, building his company up to the multimillion dollar business it is so he could provide security for everyone.” Killian frowned. “I thought the gas and mineral business was his lifelong dream.”

“It was.” Lou nodded. “But then, beyond the excitement of finding those mineral deposits and negotiating those leases and royalty payments, he found a way to be able to take care of people. He liked doing it. Seemed like he made the whole town his family.”

Marliss nodded. “I’d say Lou’s right. He was very family oriented. That’s kinda how he got into the situation he did.”

“You know,” Lou said in his slow drawl, “he really wanted you boys to get to know each other. To bond with each other. Really be the brothers you were. Be connected.”

Killian made a rude noise. “I’m sure. Is that why he gave us all the same buckle? Like we’re in some kind of special club?” He swallowed the bitter taste surging in his mouth. “Did he think that was going to make us all hug and kiss?”

“Or maybe take some pride in being his sons.”

“Pride? Ha! After what he’s done, to all of us?”

Marliss gave a half-smile. “I know you feel all kinds of bitter and betrayed, but talk to the folks in town, Killian. Get their take on him. They’ll give you a real feel for the kind of person he was. It might change your opinion.”

“She’s right,” Lou agreed. “While you’re learning the business, maybe you could learn about your daddy, too.”

“And speaking of people in town,” Marliss put in, “am I right in figuring you were out with Lexie Choate again last night?”

Killian couldn’t decide if she was glad he was spending time with Lexie or about to chew him out and ask his intentions. He fiddled with his coffee mug, choosing his words carefully.

“I took her to dinner.” He shrugged. “A very nice dinner, by the way.”

“And the night before,” Lou put in. He winked. “Right in front of everyone in Red Creek.”

“Damn!” Killian sat up straight. “I don’t think quite everyone was there, Lou. But don’t people have anything else to talk about around here?”

“’Course they do. But everyone knows Dusty’s story, and they loved him despite his flaws. Now they’re all taking the measure of his sons. Not to mention their curiosity’s at an all-time high.”

“That Lexie’s a real sweet girl,” the housekeeper told him.

“She is damn sure that.”

“So, Killian.” Lou’s skewering look made him squirm. “We know you’re only here for a week.”

“And one more at the end of the month,” he reminded them.

“Still, I expect you’ll be kicking the dust of Red Creek from your heels when you’re done here.”

“For more reasons than you know.” Even if he was tempted, how could he enter into a long-term relationship with a woman like Lexie Choate when his heritage was a philanderer like Dusty Walker? What if it was in his genes to be unfaithful? They’d start off with one big strike against them, and he’d never do that to her.

“Those look like some big heavy thoughts,” Lou commented.

Killian rubbed his cheek. “If only you knew.”

“Maybe not as heavy as you think if you haul them out in the daylight.” Marliss frowned. “Too bad we can’t convince one of you yahoos to stay around and run the company, the way Dusty wanted.”

Killian studied them both. “What did my…the others say?”

“I think y’all will find out at the end of the month. But I want to get back to Lexie.” She glared at him the way his mother had when he screwed something up. “I’d hate for someone to do that young lady wrong.”

Killian forced himself not to squirm in his seat, feeling his neck redden. “Lexie knows I’m only here for a week,” he assured them. “We’ve talked about it and decided there’s no reason why we can’t enjoy each other’s company for the short haul.”

“Short haul?” Marliss sniffed. “Don’t you dally with her emotions, Killian Walker. She’s had enough grief.”

He wrinkled his forehead. “Grief? What kind of grief?”

“That’s for me to know and her to tell you if she wants. Just keep this in mind. Lou and me will be looking over your shoulder.”

He shook his head. “You sound like you’re my mother.”

“Just watching out for everyone.” She rose from the table. “Hadn’t you best be getting on to work?”

He grinned. “Yes, Mom. I’m on my way.”

“You might want to carve out a little time to check out this piece of property,” Lou suggested. “It’s got the best view in the county, not to mention a lot of plusses you ain’t discovered yet.”

“I’ll do that. Thanks for pointing it out.”

“I mean, if this got to be my piece of property, I’d want to know about every blade of grass.”

“I hear you,” he called as he hurried out of the kitchen.

Grabbing his Stetson from the peg in the front hall, he headed out to the garage. He was anxious to get out of there before the old couple found a few more things to throw at him. But as he headed down the driveway in the silver SUV, he drove slowly, glancing left and right. Osprey Lake sparkled in the morning sunlight and, beyond, the property stretched in both directions. Completely unbidden, a question popped into his brain.

I wonder if you can raise horses out here?

*****

Despite how little sleep she’d gotten, Lexie was up at her usual predawn hour to begin her baking. Killian kept her company for a little while, but then he insisted on leaving. He told her he didn’t want to subject her to the gossip if people saw him leaving in the daylight hours.

“I don’t care,” she kept telling him.

“But I do.” He’d kissed her on the tip of her nose. “There’ll be enough tongues wagging as it is. Hell, I’d stand in your window nude with a sign saying
Lexie Rocks
if I didn’t know what the fallout would be. I’m thinking of you, darlin’.”

She wanted to tell him she was tired of being such a good girl. It was boring. Maybe boring was what she’d wanted when she first came home and opened the coffee shop, but she was ready for a little spice. And Killian Walker was definitely her choice from the spice rack, even if he would be gone by the end of the week.

But what if I can get him to change his mind?

She gave herself a mental smack. Trying to nail him to Red Creek was a sure path to disaster. She could tell, not just from what he said but from the things he didn’t say. At least, this way, when he left, it would be with great memories of her and, hopefully, a desire for more. Sometime. Someplace.