by Jamie Begley
“I’ll make an exception this time,” he said solemnly.
Pouring syrup on his pancakes, Dustin told him about dropping out of school and why he and Samantha eloped.
“Some things I’m about to tell you are going to be hard for you to hear, but I want them coming from me.”
“Okay.” Logan set his fork down as he listened.
“We decided to get married when Samantha told me she was pregnant with you. We sneaked off one night and went to Lexington. When we came back to Treepoint, she told me she wanted to go home to tell her father, and after she did, we’d leave town. We knew we couldn’t stay here. Her father—your grandfather—was too big in this town. He would have made trouble for Tate, Greer, and Rachel if we stayed.”
“You were going to leave town to protect them?”
“You never get off scot-free when you break the law, Logan. You have to look over your shoulder for the rest of your life, even if you’re caught. Samantha’s father would have made sure that Tate and Greer went to prison, and Rachel was taken away from Tate. She was still in high school, and Tate had custody of her. That’s why we were going to leave town.
“I kept expecting Samantha to call. I drove by her house a few times and saw no one was home. I called her a thousand times, and she didn’t answer. When she finally called two days later, she told me that she had a miscarriage the day she went home, and she asked her father to help her get an annulment.
“I tried to talk her into meeting me, but she wouldn’t. She disappeared for about six months before coming back to town. I never knew she had you. I took her at her word, Logan. If I’d known she was still pregnant with you, I would have never signed the annulment papers. I wanted you more than you’ll ever know.”
“I believe you. Did …? Did she want me?”
It was the question only Sam could answer, yet she wasn’t here, so he could only tell Logan what he believed.
“I think she did, Logan. I just don’t think she was willing to take the chance that I could protect her and you against your grandfather.” Dustin moved his plate of uneaten food away, his appetite gone.
“When she came back, Sam stayed as far away as she could get from me. I had no suspicion that she had you nor did anyone in town. Then I found out about you when Sam got in trouble and she wasn’t able to keep you a secret anymore. I went to see her, she wasn’t expecting me and was angry that I was there, asking her questions she didn’t want to answer. She shoved me, and I pushed her back, and she fell and hit her head. I didn’t even shove her that hard, Logan, I swear.” Dustin pleaded with his eyes for his son to believe him. “I’ve never touched a woman in anger my whole life, but I couldn’t wake her up. I called an ambulance and ran. I don’t know why I ran. I was young and stupid and didn’t know what to do.”
“I believe you.”
At Logan’s words, Dustin had to lower his head, trying to hide the unmanly tears that were threatening to spill over. He still felt the same regret now as much as he did the day it had happened.
His father had raised him to hide everything from the law, so when he should have reported what had happened, it had been ingrained in him to go against it.
“Thank you, Logan. But I’m not finished.
“Instead of being the man my ma raised me to be, I didn’t own up to what had happened. I even broke into Diamond’s office to cover it up, but she figured it out and made me own up to it. That was the only right decision I made—listening to her. She told me that it wasn’t my fault that Sam died. She suffered from kidney failure and didn’t know it. That’s how we also found out that you had the same problem. And that’s why Holly and I watch everything you eat so you won’t get sick again.”
Dustin watched his son, his chest aching as he saw the myriad of expressions cross Logan’s face.
“I want you to know the truth, because you’re getting older, and I didn’t want Silas or anyone telling you I killed Samantha without you hearing the truth from me.”
“It was an accident. You couldn’t kill anyone.”
Dustin raked his teeth over his bottom lip. As much as he wanted to let Logan believe that, it would be a lie. And if things took a wrong turn, he wanted Logan to see him through eyes that saw not only the good in him but the flaws.
“I don’t like killing, but I have. I learned a hard lesson when I was younger that my father taught me, and I’m teaching it to you now. Protecting your family has to always come first, despite having to do what you don’t want to do. When your family is safe and can’t be hurt, then you can help and protect others. But your family has to come first, second, and last. When you’re protecting your family, there can’t be any options off the table, because when someone is trying to hurt you or yours, they ain’t going to have the same hesitation.”
“When I get big, I’m going to protect them just like you.”
“Son, you can’t wait to protect them until you’re older. You have to protect them now.”
When Logan paled as if he expected Dustin to ask him to do something he didn’t want to do, Dustin gave him a reassuring smile. “I don’t want you to ever do anything you don’t want to do. The only thing I’m asking for you to do is what Holly and I have asked of you before.
“You can’t tell anyone about Uncle Greer’s and Aunt Rachel’s gifts, or your own. Especially yours. I want to protect you, Logan, but you’re getting older, and I won’t be around you all the time to shield you from someone finding your pictures or from hearing you say something and them putting two and two together and finding out about your gifts. You have to start protecting yourself and the rest of the family now, because if you’re not careful, then not only could you pay the price but one of them could, too.”
Logan started chewing on his bottom lip. “Should I stop drawing?”
“No. From now on, just let me see the pictures. Don’t draw at school or anywhere else. Just at home.”
“Sometimes, the teacher asks us to draw at school for an assignment or our free time.”
“If you need to do it during school, do patterns of things, like stars, dots, shapes.”
“I can do that.”
“I’m not saying not to draw what you want to, just do it at home. Give me all your pictures when you’re done with them.”
“I will. I promise.”
Dustin looked at the clock on the wall. “Are you finished? You’re late. I’m going to have to go inside and sign you in.”
“Can’t I just miss?”
“Nope. But how about if I ask Rachel if we can come over for dinner and fish while she’s getting it ready?”
“I’d rather miss school.”
Dustin picked up the ticket. “I’m already going to get in trouble with Holly because you’re late. You playing hooky for the rest of the day isn’t going to happen.”
“Did you ever play hooky when you went to school?”
Dustin didn’t feel any compunction about lying to his son on that score. “Nope, I never did.”
Logan hurried to eat the last bite of his pancakes and finish his juice before sliding out of the booth. “When we go to Aunt Rachel’s tonight, I’m going to ask her if you played hooky.”
“Go ahead. She’ll tell you I didn’t.” He unashamedly planned to text his sister after he took Logan to school.
“Dad, you’re going to text Aunt Rachel, aren’t you?”
Dustin paid the ticket, reaching for the candy jar that was next to the register to snatch out two pieces. Taking one for himself, he gave the other one to Logan.
“Son, another lesson my father taught me is: don’t lie.” Tearing the plastic wrap off the peppermint candy, Dustin popped it into his mouth. “But when you do, then never, ever admit it. I ain’t admitting a damn thing.”
After signing Logan into school, Dustin drove to his office. He needed to finish Drake’s paperwork for the investment he had suggested.
Making sure that all the signatures were finalized, he texted Drake, letting h
im know he now owned a percentage in the company he recommended. Filing the paperwork, he was locking the bottom drawer of his desk when he heard the ping of a text coming through.
Charles was cancelling their lunch.
Not surprised, Dustin texted him back that they could catch each other the next time he was in town and asked if he was still planning to leave tomorrow. When he read the reply, Dustin stood up from his desk, deciding to go home and change before picking Logan up from school so that they could go to Rachel’s afterward.
Locking his office door, he stopped by Diamond’s office to say hi to Holly and tell her of his and Logan’s plans for the evening.
Afterward, he drove home and changed out of his clothes, putting on a pair of crisp denim jeans and one of his better long-sleeved T-shirts. He then went into Greer’s room, opening the gun safe.
Looking over the assortment that was within, he chose one of his favorites. Loading it, he tucked it behind his back before closing and locking the safe door.
He was putting on his denim jacket when he heard the sound of the alarm, telling him that someone was coming up the driveway. He had already texted Tate and Greer that he’d been expecting company.
Putting his phone in his pocket, he went outside, taking a seat on the top step that led to the porch, waiting for the car to come up the driveway.
When the car stopped, the man got out, slamming his car door and coming to stop in front of him.
“Hey, Dixon. I’ve been expecting you.”
31
Dustin imperturbably stared up at Dixon Well’s commanding body. For an older man, he remained in good shape.
“What can I do for you?” he asked.
“You can stay away from my son. I told you when you two were in high school that Charles doesn’t need you trying to sell that Devil’s root to him. You’re going to Hell for your sins. You’re not going to get the chance to drag my son down with you.” The deacon and local businessman who everyone admired was practically foaming at the mouth he was so angry.
“Whooee! Dixon, I asked Charles to lunch at the diner. I wasn’t planning to carry him off to Sodom and Gomorrah. Chill. At your age, you should watch your blood pressure. You look like you’re about to have a heart attack.”
“Don’t talk down to me. I’m not one of the sluts you charm with that serpent tongue of yours, nor am I one of them fools who trust you with their money. I see you for what you are, and I plan to keep Charles as far away from you as I can. He’s on his way back to Lexington, and he won’t be coming back anytime soon.
“I bet you were planning to talk him into that Ponzi scheme you’ve been trying to get any dumbass with a wallet into investing in. You won’t be pocketing a dime of my money.” He snorted. “I’m too smart to believe a thing coming from a piece of trash like you.”
“Yeah, you’re a fucking genius, ain’t you?”
“Smart enough not to believe a man who should have been put in jail a long time ago. I feel sorry for that son of yours. He doesn’t stand a chance.”
Dustin almost lost his temper and killed the arrogant asshole then and there. Pressing his lips into a thin line, Dustin wanted to shoot the sanctimonious idiot.
“The only person who could talk Charles into doing something he didn’t want to do is you. You’ve kept a tight fist on that chain you wrapped around his neck the moment he sprung from his mama’s womb. Don’t you think it’s time to let him wipe his own ass instead of you doing it for him?”
“You’re trash. I don’t know why I’m still talking to you. I’ve said my piece. Ignore it, and you’ll be sorry.”
Dustin got to his feet to follow Dixon Wells to his expensive car. “That sure is a pretty car. I bet that cost you a pretty penny.” He put his hands in his jacket pockets as he walked around the car.
Dixon ignored his movements, opening his car door.
Dustin paused at the bad bumper. “Damn, you get that scratch coming up the driveway?” He frowned laconically at the scratch.
Dixon left his car door open as he strode to the back of his car. “If there’s a scratch, you’re going to pay for it,” he threatened.
Dustin took a step back, letting the man examine his car.
“I want the money to get it fixed. If you had regular jobs, you could afford to get that driveway paved,” he blustered, standing upright again.
“Hey, I’d be glad to get it fixed for you. What mechanic shop do you like to use in town?”
Dixon gave him a withering glance. “I don’t take my car to a shop in town. I take it to the dealership in Lexington.”
“Damn.” Dustin scratched the side of his head, moving to block Dixon from getting in the car. “You just took it to Lexington a few weeks ago to get new tires, and now you’re going to have to make the four-hour drive just because of a scratch?”
Dixon walked toward him from the back of the car. “Move. I need to get back to work.”
“Sorry,” Dustin apologized, still not moving. “Here I am, keeping you from your respectable job, shooting the shit. If I were as busy as you, I damn sure wouldn’t be taking the time to make a four-hour drive just to switch the tires out when they were less than four months old.”
Dustin noticed the wariness enter Dixon’s eyes.
“How’d you know I went to Lexington to get a new set of tires?”
“You know the best part of being an accountant? I can tell how sons of bitches like you operate. By the way, I could have saved you the forty thousand if you had hired me. You should fire Day and start a new day.” Dustin winced at his own joke. Maybe Jessie was right. He did tell lousy jokes.
“Those are confidential records.”
“Are they? Did I say I saw them? It was a guesstimate.”
“Move.”
“What’s your hurry, Dixon? Oh, that’s right. You’re busy with that restaurant of yours. Just tell me before you go … Why’d you kill that poor woman?”
Dixon’s face turned red with fury as the man grabbed him by the front of his jacket to try to move him away from the door so he could get inside.
Dustin put his hand on the open door, refusing to be budged.
“I didn’t kill Miranda.”
“Bullshit. You killed her and tried to kill Jessie. What I want to know is: Why?”
“I didn’t—”
“My son can lie better than you can. Greer works for the sheriff’s office. I saw the pictures and castings of the tire tracks that Knox made of the car that dumped Miranda out in that cow pasture. You left her to fucking rot on cow shit, you sorry excuse for a man. You also left tire tracks where you threw Jessie off that mountain. All I had to do was fucking call the dealership and buy the used tires you were stupid enough to let them keep. They faxed me a picture of them. It was a fucking match, so don’t fucking stand there and keep lying to me that you didn’t do it when I know you did.”
“How much do you want?”
Dustin had never wanted to kill a man more than he did at that moment. “Tell me why, and I’ll give you my price.”
“Miranda came to my home to see me and my wife. The slut wanted us to know that that son of hers she had been passing off as Jackson’s was Charles’. She wanted us to know we had a grandchild, and she was going to divorce Jackson. She was going to tell Jackson that she was leaving him for Charles, and that bastard of hers was his. We got in an argument, and then she left, so I went after her. I couldn’t have that. No, I couldn’t. I couldn’t have her drag my name through the mud like that, could I? I have a reputation to uphold, and she was going to smear it with the gossip that she was going to spread about my son. Do you think the elders would have let me stay on, knowing how hurt Jackson would be having to see anyone connected to Charles?”
Dustin was flabbergasted by the deranged confession.
“I saw her pulling into her sister’s apartment building and tried to talk to her, but she wouldn’t hear me out. I hit her, and she told me she was going to call the sheriff on me
. That slut was going to call the police on me! I couldn’t let her jeopardize everything I worked and saved my whole life for because she had an attack of conscience. Where was her conscience before she lied to Jackson?
“When I tried to calm her down, she took off running. I caught up to her in the laundry room. I knew she would tell Jessie that I hit her, so I lost it. I don’t even remember hitting them. I was just so mad that she wouldn’t listen to me.”
Dustin wanted to pull the gun from behind his back and pull the damn trigger instead of listening to the lunatic for another minute. He needed to hear the whole story for Jessie to have the closure she would need.
“You couldn’t have lost it too bad to be smart enough to dump Miranda and Jessie around the county to throw everyone off track.”
“I didn’t know what I was doing.”
Dustin believed it where that was concerned. The man was as fucking crazy as a loony bird.
“Why did you rape Jessie?”
“To throw everyone off my track! Who would believe I raped her? I didn’t want to involve her, but I had no choice, did I? It was Miranda’s fault. If she had just kept her mouth shut, none of this would have happened. I asked God to forgive my sins, and He has.”
“I wouldn’t be expecting any forgiveness from Jackson or Jessie anytime soon.”
“I can pay you anything you want. You need a new driveway, you’ll have one by tomorrow evening. Here’re my keys. You can have my car. You want clients? You’ll have to get a new office because of all the business I’ll send your way.”
Dustin didn’t make a move to take the car keys from him. “I don’t need a driveway, I have more clients than I can handle now, and you can take those keys and shove them up your ass. Because, you sorry sack of shit, I’m going to buy a bullhorn and drive up and down the streets, telling everyone in Treepoint you killed Miranda and raped Jessie. You won’t have a business to worry about, because there won’t be a person who will walk in there after they find out what you did. Even Charles will disown you, and the church will take down that expensive sign you paid to put up when the thrift store opened.”