Love Unclaimed (6 page)

“Father?” Gavin called from the front door of the very large great room in the house he grew up in. He didn’t refer to it as home; it stopped being home the day his mother died. She battled stage IV ovarian cancer the best she could, dying only five months after telling them. That was almost year ago.

Gavin and Travis never called their father Dad, like Audree and Clint called their father. He wouldn’t tolerate it and had told them it didn’t sound manly. So, from a very young age, they learned they had a ‘Father’ not a ‘Dad’. Gavin promised himself when he had his own children he would be a ‘Dad’.

“In the office, Son.” He never called the boys by their names. Sometimes, as a child, Gavin had thought his father didn’t even know his name, so it was safer just to call him ‘Son’.
Of course, you are in your office. Where else would you be on a sunny day on the farm?

“Hello, Father.” Gavin walked into the office and waited until his father told him to sit down. Even though he was twenty years old, he still knew the rules of
his father’s house
.

“Sit down.” He didn’t raise his head to look up from what appeared to be a balance sheet. “It is nice of you to finally show up. I had heard you came back into town last night to see the Edwards’ girl for her birthday,” he sneered. “She came into her parcel yesterday.” He sounded pissed.

“Yeah, I heard.” Gavin bit his tongue before he snapped at his father. He needed to stay calm; the man
was
still his father.

“I suppose you also heard about the scene in town when your brother came to her defense.” He closed the book on his desk and locked it back in the bottom drawer.

“No, actually I didn’t hear about it,” he lied. He had a lot of experience and was a good liar around his father. “What happened?”

“Well, you know I am still not happy about your mother willing that parcel to her,” he sighed and leaned back in his chair. “I have contacted my lawyer again to try to get it back, but to no avail. He said the only ways to get it back are to have her return, gift it back or even sell it back to me. He also suggested if she were to marry into the family and will it or gift it back.” He raised his eyes to Gavin and smiled. “I’m certainly not buying back my own land.”

“Not going to happen,” Gavin stated. As much as he would love to keep Audree as his own forever, he would never do it to please his father or just to get the parcel back in the family. “Travis won’t be marrying her either.” He stopped him before he could even try.

“No, your brother has better taste than that anyway.” He chuckled, and Gavin balled his hand in a fist so he didn’t leap over the desk and punch his father right in the mouth.

“Father, please don’t speak ill of Audree. She is a nice girl, and it was Mom’s wish for her to have the parcel. Please just let it be,” he pleaded.

“Your mother had no right to give that girl anything. She has enough of her own family’s land. There was no reason for her to give her any of ours,” he said, raising his voice.

“It was Mom’s family’s land, and she wanted Audree to have it.” Gavin raised his voice, which he tried to control around his father, but when he spoke about Audree, his control was limited.

“Bullshit! It was land that belonged to her own children … and don’t raise your voice at me boy. I’m still your father!”

“Is that what you were discussing in town with her yesterday? On her birthday?” Gavin sighed in frustration.

“I simply told her that I would be getting that land back into
my
family one way or another, as well as procuring even more. The girl is a spoiled child. Spencer and Talia spoiled her and she has no respect for her own land.”

“You couldn’t be any more wrong about Audree or her parents.” Gavin could feel himself getting angrier and angrier.

“How dare you defend that girl in
my house
!”

“Do you know why you haven’t seen me in almost a year, Father?” Gavin stood up. “It is because I cannot stand to be here anymore. I cannot stand to be in this house.”

“How dare you!”

“This stopped being any type of home when Mom died. Hell, even before that. She was at least here. Did you know that Travis has not lived in this house in almost a year and that he graduated high school almost a month ago?”

“I would have…”

“You should have known. You didn’t even show up, but do you know who was there to support him? The Edwards. They were there to support their daughter and
your
son.” Gavin took a step closer to his father’s desk, and for the first time looked him right in the eye and pointed his finger at him. “Audree knows more about ranching and farming first-hand than you will ever hope to know. Her family taught her what it takes to be a rancher and a farmer. She could run her whole family’s farm by herself while you sit here behind your desk judging a girl you don’t even know. Did you know not only did she receive full ownership of Mom’s parcel, but that her parents have already given her and Clint deeds to their share of their land too? You will never get your hands on any of
her land ever
!”

“Who the fuck do you think you are talking to?” His father jumped out of his chair and was around the desk in seconds.

“I’m talking to the man who I will do everything in my power to keep off the Edwards’ land.” Gavin turned and was now face to face with his father. Malcolm Montgomery had only about an inch or so of height over his son, but Gavin had bulk from his days of working the Edwards’ farm and working out at school.

“So did you fuck her before or after the birthday cake?”

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” This was the second time Gavin had ever raised his voice to his father, let alone cursed at him. He wished he had done it years ago, like when his mother was beginning to feel ill and his father told her it was nothing. It had taken her being so sick that she ended up in the hospital for a month to get it through his thick, stupid, selfish head that his wife was really sick and, in fact, dying.

“Don’t act all innocent with me, boy. I know you have been sniffing around her as much as she has been sniffing around you since you were little.” He took a step back and laughed. “She would have dropped her panties for you in a heartbeat if only you’d asked.” He wiggled his finger at Gavin. “But after all, you are your mother’s son.” He laughed again. “You would have waited until she was of age out of respect for her family, which was last night, so I am simply asking if you waited until before or after the cake.” He moved back behind his desk. “I want you to know that you have my permission to marry her.”

“I’m a grown ass man. I don’t need your permission to fuck anyone or marry anyone!” he screamed.

“I am the man who holds all of your money though.” He leaned back in his chair. “And your brother’s money as well.”

“I will make my own money.”

“I’m sure you will, but until then I am paying for your schooling as well as your brother’s.”

“Are you kidding me? It is always about the money with you.”

“Money makes the world go ‘round, Son.” He laughed as Gavin squirmed. Gavin knew his father could see the debate going on in his son’s head. “Then if you won’t marry the Edwards’ girl, I have a gentlemen’s agreement with Harlen Meager. He has a daughter.” He laughed when Gavin scoffed at him. “
She
is a nice girl. You should stop by and say hello. She is the same age as the Edwards’ girl.”

“What? What does Meager’s daughter have to do with anything?”

“She needs a husband. She is an only child. She will be the one to inherit all his land. We made an agreement that one of my boys would marry her when she was ready and of age. He will give me half the land after five years of the marriage and another twenty-five percent if a child was produced within the five. The rest of the land stays in her name to pass on.”

“You are fucking crazy!  You are out of you mind, old man.  I am not going to marry some girl so you can take over the fucking world. Arranged marriages for increasing one’s land ownership died out years ago.”

“Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but you will,” he sighed. “Or your brother will. This will happen. We have an agreement. If I don’t fulfill my end of the agreement,” he paused. “Well, it won’t be good if I don’t hold up my end.”

“Ha, a gentlemen’s agreement with you? That was his mistake to make an agreement with you, let alone a gentlemen’s one.” Gavin laughed and stood up shaking his head. “I don’t care what you lose or what you have to do, but neither Travis nor I will be marrying that girl,” Gavin said and stormed out of the house.

When he got back to Audree’s house, he went right to his room, shoved his stuff in his duffle and headed for the door.

“Gavin,” Audree called cheerfully from the living room as he made his way to the door. She carefully eyed the bag in his hand. “Where are you going? I thought you were staying for a couple of days?” He heard the sadness in her voice and he wanted to tell her, but he had to get out of here. He had to start his life and get to planning on how to take down his father.

“I have to go back today. There was a problem at work, and….” He watched her eyes well up with tears.
Shit! This is why I didn’t want to come back.
If it hadn’t been for his stuff, he would have just left. Fuck! Why did she have to be home? Why did he have to go to her last night?
Now he had to break her heart so soon after the best night of his life with her. All this was because his father was a monster. The rage returned to him. He had to protect Audree from his father and the only way to do that was to stay away from her. He also had to protect Travis, but there was no way he was telling him about this stupid plan of his father’s. Travis would do anything for that man if it would get him to be proud of him or show him any interest at all.

“I …”

“I’m not going to lie to you Audree.” He stepped in front of her and pulled her into his arms. “I had it out with my father and … and I cannot even begin to tell you…” he shook his head. “I have a feeling he is on the phone right now yanking my tuition and I need to take care of it.” He brushed a kiss to her cheek.

“So this isn’t because of last night?”

“God no, last night was...” He took her face in his hands. “Audree, last night was the best night of my life.” He kissed her lips. “But like I told you last night, that cannot happen again,” he sighed and pulled her into him again. “It really shouldn’t have happened to begin with, but I don’t regret it for a second.” He could feel her trembling against him, and wanted to tell her it would be okay, but he couldn’t. She was in love with him and he was walking out of her life. “I don’t want you to regret…”

“I don’t regret it at all.” She put her hand to his neck and kissed him with everything she had. She knew he would leave, but he was sure she had hoped to have more time to convince him to stay. “I will never regret being with you, ever.” He knew she was lying to him as much as to herself. She would regret it was only one night, and one night would never ever be enough.

“Audree, I have to go.” He pulled back from her, knowing that if he didn’t get away from her now, he wouldn’t, and everyone would be screwed in the end.

“Gavin,” she whispered.

“Don’t.” He put his fingers to her lips. “Save them for someone who deserves to hear them.” He dropped his head and headed for the door.

“I have always loved you,” she whispered and stood for a moment, waiting for him to respond. He didn’t, and just as he closed the door behind him, he heard her run up the stairs and slam her bedroom door.

FUCK!!!!!!

Eight years ago…

Clint and Gavin had been home for three days and were only staying a week. They had done nothing but party in town and sleep. This was the first time they would all be hanging out together since they had arrived. Audree and Ruby would be heading back to school to start their sophomore year. Ruby decided she would take some business courses with Audree, but was feeling the pull of culinary school. Travis had decided on Architecture and got an internship over the summer.

Gavin’s father had, in fact, pulled part of Gavin’s tuition last summer, and Gavin had to pick up another job along with going to school and working as a bouncer with Clint. Clint had gone back to school the following day, but was struggling with what direction he wanted to go with in his career. He confided in Audree during one of his many visits home that summer that he was looking into the military as an option after graduation. It scared Audree, but she knew Clint was a strong man and would make a great solider.

Gavin always had an excuse as to why he couldn’t make the time to come back with Clint, but Audree knew he was avoiding her again. Audree told herself
that night
she knew Gavin wouldn’t be back, but it didn’t stop her from feeling sick to her stomach every time Travis suggested they go hang at the lake. Audree always steered them to the barn to hang out and have parties there instead.

This week was the two-year anniversary of Lizzy Montgomery’s passing. It still broke Audree’s heart that Lizzy was gone. She had gone to see her a lot with Travis when Mr. Montgomery wasn’t home and her uncaring sister, Lara, had passed out from her morning of drinking. She had been widowed at a young age and never remarried. Lara was a heavy drinker, but Mr. Montgomery had said that family was the best to take care of his dying wife.  Sadly, she was not a tender or caring woman, packed her bags, and left right after Lizzy’s passing. Travis had told Audree that she never even contacted them or reached out in anyway once she had left.