Taming Clay

by Raeann Blake

  Clay looked at him then down to Hailey, up at Laine, then to the door that Shack had disappeared through.

  “Isaac, I’m just beginning to figure out how lucky I’ve been all along,” Clay said and kept walking with Isaac following them.

  They had just reached the front walk when Yates followed them out still rubbing his throat. “I’ll sue that bastard. I’ll see him in jail. Isaac, you lock up the store. You can carry me down to the police station. I’m going in to file charges against that man.”

  Clay turned to look at him coldly then shifted his gaze to Isaac and held it steadily for several seconds.

  “Well, Isaac? You gonna carry him to the cops?” Clay asked.

  Isaac held Clay’s gaze for just a few seconds and let just the slightest grin tug at his lips before he turned and leveled a gaze at his father.

  “Huh,” he muttered then spat on the ground and turned back to Clay again.

  “I ain’t carryin’ that bastard anywhere,” he said evenly and held Clay’s gaze long enough to know that the long ago memory had resurfaced and he recognized the words. He smiled a little and lifted a hand in a wave.

  “See you, Clay.”

  Clay nodded slightly and said, “See you, Isaac.” He turned to go before Isaac spoke again.

  “Oh, Clay? I think I’m gonna be needin’ a new job. You wouldn’t happen to have a spot for a greenhorn that doesn’t know much about ranching or cattle would you?”

  Clay turned back to him with a smile when Yates started sputtering as he tried to get words past his lips that just wouldn’t come out.

  “I might. How’s your cookin’? Shack’s worked hard all his life. I think I might like to hire an assistant for him.”

  Isaac smiled broadly and said, “I happen to be an excellent cook. We’ll talk.”

  Clay nodded then turned and took Hailey’s hand in his and led her back to the truck. He found Laine in the driver’s seat, Shack in the passenger one. He helped Hailey into the back and waited until they were on the road before he leaned up and laid a hand on Shack’s shoulder without speaking. When Shack laid a hand over the top of his and patted it a couple of times before he let it go, he leaned back and slipped his arms around Hailey but turned his head to look out the window.

  Hailey’s heart was breaking for both of them. The night before when she had been looking at them she had just realized how very much they looked alike and wondered if they knew it. It wasn’t until she looked up and saw Shack’s eyes that the idea began to take root. But then she had dismissed it. Shack cared too much for Clay to have let him suffer through what he had suffered if it had been true. Still that look in his eyes then and the way he looked when Clay had asked about the rodeo pictures just wouldn’t let the suspicion die. Now she knew. And so did Clay.

  They had ridden home in silence. Isobell had met them at the front door and began gushing over the ring until she realized how quiet everybody was.

  “What’s wrong? What’s going on?”

  “Could I talk to Shack alone please?” Clay asked.

  “Sure, buddy. Hailey, you and Isobell come with me. Let’s go talk about wedding cakes and rings. I think Charlie might like to see this ring. Let’s go show him,” Laine said as he herded both women out the front door and closed it behind him.

  Clay waited until the door was closed before he looked back at Shack again and found him standing in the middle of the room, facing away from him with his head down.

  “Is it true?” Clay asked hoarsely.

  Shack drew in a ragged breath and nodded. “Yes,” he whispered.

  Clay hesitated for a few seconds then said, “I think I have a right to know all of it, Shack.”

  Shack finally turned to face him with the tears still on his face and nodded again. “I know. Come out back. I’m gonna need a cigarette.”

  Clay immediately followed him out then settled on the steps right beside him. He didn’t look at him at first but then turned to gaze at him silently and waited.

  “Leah was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. The minute he brought her to this ranch I knew she was special. She was so full of life. So bright and so happy. And…and I loved her the minute I saw her. I didn’t tell her. I couldn’t. She was the boss’ wife. But it didn’t take long for him to crush everything inside of her. That light went out. She didn’t smile. She didn’t laugh. But then she got pregnant with Kathy. She still didn’t smile a lot, but I’d see her sometimes sitting out back or somewhere around the ranch where he couldn’t see her. She was always rubbing her hand across her stomach and talking to Kathy. She kept telling her how wonderful it was going to be when she was born. She knew that just seeing her would change Clayton. That it would make him a better man, a soft man. I hoped she was right. But she wasn’t. He didn’t change. If anything he got worse.”

  Shack stopped and took a long drag off the cigarette and blew it back out before he went on. “It wasn’t long after that when Yates took a fancy to her. Maybe he always had since she got here, but he didn’t bother her until right after Kathy was born. Everywhere she went, he’d show up. He’d tell her about Clayton’s whores that he had. How many times a week he went down to that cathouse that was down south of town. I guess he thought that would shock her. She knew about them. He didn’t make it any secret. But he kept after her. But she wasn’t looking at him. Kathy was three months old the first time…I mean…I found her out behind the stables one day. She was sittin’ on the ground and crying. She had Kathy lying on a blanket beside her and she was just sobbing. I didn’t know what else to do. I went to her and knelt down in front of her. Asked her if I could help. She…she looked up at me with those big brown eyes she had and…I was just…I was lost. I picked her up and then sat down with her in my lap and let her cry. She was so pretty and so sweet. He never treated her right. I wanted to treat her right. She cried for a long time, but when she stopped, she didn’t move at first. And…when she did…she…she picked her head up and…she kissed me. And it was…the best feeling the world.”

  He ran a hand down his face to wipe away the tears then took another drag off the cigarette.

  “It was just a few days after that when we…the first time for us. I asked her more than once to get Kathy and let’s just get out of here. But she wouldn’t go. She said it wasn’t right to take Kathy away from her daddy. Said a little girl needed to know who her daddy was. And…then she said she was pregnant. I was just…man I was flying. She’d told me from the first that she wasn’t sleeping with Clayton anymore. That he had his whores and never came to her for that anymore. And I believed her. So I knew…I knew you were mine. But when I begged her again to go she said she couldn’t. We argued and I told her that it wasn’t right. I told her I wasn’t letting Clayton Cardell raise my child. And she…she said that you weren’t mine. She said she’d lied about not sleeping with Clayton. She said that you were his and she wasn’t going to see me anymore. Said she had to think about you and Kathy and she couldn’t be with me anymore.

  “Goddammit it hurt. It hurt to think she lied to me. It hurt to think that she was letting him touch her. It hurt most to think you weren’t mine. She didn’t even speak to me again until a few months after you were born. She came to me and admitted it…after Yates started talkin’ in Clayton’s ear and he figured it out. But I already knew it. I went to the hospital that night. I saw you. And I knew. I knew you were mine. I confronted her. I demanded that her and both of you kids come with me and leave. She wouldn’t hear of it. She wouldn’t even admit you were mine…until Clayton found out.

  “Clayton figured it out quick. You didn’t have to look around much to find the only blonde blue-eyed man on the place. Leah told me if I didn’t stop she was gonna let Clayton fire me like he wanted to and then I’d never see you. She said if I’d stop, that she wouldn’t let him and I could at least watch you grow up. She never would tell me what it was that she threatened him with to keep him from firing me. I can’t even imagine. You know yoursel
f that he wasn’t a man who would normally listen to anything a woman said. But, whatever it was, it kept me here…kept me close to you. But the longer it went…the things he did, the things he said, the way he treated you…I couldn’t take it. So I went to her one day and I threatened her. You were seven. I told her if she couldn’t stop what he was doing to you that I could. I gave her two choices. Either bring you kids and leave with me or I was gonna kill him. She finally gave in. And she…she held me again. After so long, it was the best thing just to be able to hold her again. She promised me that we would leave. Two days, she said. In two days.”

  When his voice broke he stopped again and looked down at the ground. “I got everything ready. I bought everything we might need for you kids. I had everything together. I saw her right before dark and she said she was ready. Clayton always went to bed around nine. She said we had to wait until midnight to make sure he was asleep. I didn’t move the truck up close to the house. I was afraid the engine would wake him up. So I went up at midnight and she met me outside with two suitcases she had packed for all of you. She said she was going back in to get the two of you and for me to carry those on to the truck. I only got about halfway there when I heard him and came back. He was shouting at her. I ran up the steps and in the door. I got there just in time to…to see him hit her. She…she fell and…her head hit…hit the coffee table. I knew. I knew it. Just from the way she fell I knew it. I ran to her and picked her up. And I was screaming at him to call an ambulance but he wouldn’t. He started talking to me, telling me I had to help him cover it up. It was an accident but I had to help him.”

  He stopped again when he heard Clay groan softly and glanced at him to see the tears running down his face. “I…I told him he was crazy. I told him I’d kill him. He just got this real cold look. The one he had so often. He…he said if I turned him in he’d tell them that I did it. And he said even if they didn’t believe him that I’d never see you again. If they believed him, I’d go to jail. If they didn’t he would and the State would take you and Kathy and I’d never know what happened to you. I…I couldn’t take the chance, Clay. I told him I’d help him, but only as long as I never had to leave this ranch. I told him I’d rather see you with the State than to let him have you without me here to watch out for you. He agreed to that as long as I never told you that I was your dad. I needed you, Clay. And I needed to be here for you. I couldn’t do anything else.”

  “That’s why he never could fire you. And that’s why you never called him my daddy. You always called him that bastard or just Cardell. You never called him my daddy. Shack, why didn’t you ever tell me? Why did you let me live with him not understanding why he hated me? Why didn’t you tell me?” Clay whispered.

  “I couldn’t, son. Not at first. I wanted to tell you. But he said if I did he’d tell the State that he could keep Kathy but he couldn’t manage two kids alone and he’d give you to them. I couldn’t let him do that. I couldn’t let him take you away. I came so close to killing him so many times. But I couldn’t let you go. And when you were older…I just…I was afraid you’d hate me if you found out. That’s why I took those pictures down when you started growing up. You look exactly like I did in those pictures. Clay, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. And I’m sorry you found out the way you did,” Shack said through an uneven breath.

  “You told me she didn’t leave us. I didn’t know if I could believe you. But you told me she didn’t,” Clay said quietly.

  “She loved you very much. She died trying to get you away from him. That’s how much she loved you.”

  When Clay didn’t speak for a long time, Shack finally turned his head to look at him warily and found him looking back with his chin quivering.

  “You’re…you really are my daddy?” Clay asked in a voice that sounded very much like a little boy.

  “Yes. And I love you very much,” Shack whispered then let out just a small sound himself when Clay fell into his arms and sobbed openly.

  “So many nights. So many nights I prayed that God would let you be my daddy and let me live with you.”

  Shack held on tight and whispered, “And now He’s answered it. Maybe He doesn’t answer our prayers as fast as we think He should or would like for Him to, but He’s answered it now, son.”

  As Shack held his son in his arms and let him cry against his shoulder, Laine and Charlie were dealing with tears of their own. Laine and Hailey together had explained to both of them everything that had happened. They started with what they had found out from Mitch and ended with what had happened at Yates’ store. Before it was over, both women were in tears.

  They had just managed to get them quieted when Clay spoke softly from the doorway and they both started up again as Hailey rushed to him and hugged him and then Shack tightly.

  “Sugar, I’d like to ask you something. I’ve got a court date in a couple of weeks for the divorce. It should be done then. But…to have your name changed you have to publish a notice in the paper for four weeks before you can go before the judge. Can we wait that long? Would you mind?” Clay asked softly.

  Hailey looked up at him in surprise then over to Shack where she could easily see the pride in his face.

  “Of course we can. But…I don’t think I know your last name. I did the payroll, but I don’t think I know your last name. I should know your last name if it’s going to be mine…right?”

  “Winslow,” Clay said then smiled at Shack and said it again.

  “Clay Winslow. Clay and Hailey Winslow. I like that. I like that a lot,” she said.

  Every man’s head dropped when that started both women sobbing again.

  “Girls, please stop crying. I have to tell you something else. I forgot to tell you why Kathy called. Timothy’s birthday is this Saturday. And he wants to have his party here. Twenty kids. Riding, cookout, birthday cake, camp out behind the house…all of it,” Clay said then stopped talking when Isobell’s head jerked up in surprise.

  “Saturday? Oh, Clay. How could you possibly forget to tell me something like that? I’ve got so much to do. Hailey, come help me. Birthday cake. Does he want something special on his birthday cake? Never mind. I’ll call Kathy. We need to plan the menu and get everything entered in the supply list before tomorrow, and…oh, my goodness. Presents…and party favors. There’s so much…”

  She stopped talking when Laine finally captured her gesturing hands in his and made her face him.

  “Calm down, Isobell. We’ll help you. You point and tell us where to go, we’ll go. Okay? Come on, we’ll go call Kathy right now,” he said then kissed her on the cheek and casually slipped his arm around her shoulders as they started for the door.

  Hailey managed to hide the smile against Clay’s chest until they were out the door but when Shack chuckled quietly she couldn’t help it.

  “What do you think, son? Think she’ll be wearing that necklace before your wedding?”

  “Oh, yeah. Guaranteed,” Clay said then kissed Hailey soundly before he lifted his head and gazed down as her.

  “Hailey, there’s somebody I’d like for you to meet. This is Henry David Winslow, better known as Shack. My father,” Clay said proudly as the smile grew across both men’s faces.

  “It’s my pleasure, Mr. Winslow. You raised a very fine son,” Hailey said with a wide smile as she extended her hand.

  Just as he took it but before he lifted it to his lips, Clay added, “Daddy…this is the girl I was telling about. This is Hailey. She’s the one who made me happy. She’s gonna marry me. And she’s gonna give you all those grandkids I promised you.”

  Shack and Hailey’s eyes both filled but Shack’s smile grew even wider as he pressed his lips against the backs of Hailey’s fingers.

  “The pleasure is mine…daughter,” Shack said softly.

  “Oh,” Hailey breathed as the tears finally spilled over and she threw her arms around Shack and held on.

  “Hey…think I could get on some of this?” Clay asked then l
aughed when Shack and Hailey both put one arm around him and pulled him into the hug.

  “You guys don’t mind me. I’ll just sit over here and mind my own business,” Charlie finally said.

  “Oh…Charlie. Forgot you were there, boy. Come on up to the house. We’ve got a lot to do before Saturday. We’re gonna need your help. Have you eaten? Let’s start something to eat and then we’ll talk. We’re gonna need twenty little sleeping bags, twenty or so volunteers to ride little boys and little girls around, and…”

  Shack and Hailey both laughed as Clay threw an arm around Charlie’s shoulder and drug him out the door with them.

  * * *

  Clay waited impatiently for the door to open. It had turned out to be six weeks before this day arrived, a very long six weeks. But now it was here. He shifted his eyes around the back yard. He stopped on Gage first. He had held on so tightly to Kathy as she worked through her own feelings about the things they had learned. But, no matter what, he knew she had been happy for him when he and Shack had sat down and explained everything to her. And it had been a bittersweet moment for her to learn that their mother really hadn’t just walked away. She and Gage had been out to stay several times over the last few weeks. Big plans were already in the works for Taylor’s party that they would have in just two more weeks. And although nothing was settled, she and Gage were at least discussing building a house there on the ranch.