by Blu, Cora
Katherine said, “I think he's worried more about placing a blemish on his wife's financial reputation if he doesn’t go through the legal system the way anyone else would and prove his character to back his actions to save the lives of his wife and unborn child.” Kenya bounced her attention from her father to Jamie. That she hadn’t thought about.
The passing landscape through the window of the Jeep filled her view and held her attention. There was nothing but grassland up and down the shoreline. It was a perfect spot for tourist coming in off the Atlantic to have a direct route to the castle. This was the landscape expected when visiting Ireland. Kenya rested her chin on her fist; her shoulder pressed into the seat and prepared her mind to address the town’s people.
Jamie said, “My father, Calder, says Brian's always craved respect and as a teen dreamed of making Blakemore a feared name throughout Ireland. Grandfather saw that too, it's why he assigned Jonathan as his heir for the castle.” Jamie tilted a stare around Kenya, slowed and drove the Jeep down a slightly steep pitched dirt driveway. She caught everyone grasping onto their seats as the Jeep found every bump in the road. She clamped a hand over Jamie's shoulder, her stomach pitching behind every bump. He tossed her a glance over her stomach and grimaced. “Sorry,” he apologized, then his gaze slid past her out the window then back over the hood of the Jeep. Gripping the steering wheel, knuckles bleeding out to white, Jamie squinted out down the road.
Had sheep or deer run onto the road? “Can you grip the steering wheel any tighter? What's wrong?” He kept his attention on the road and she trailed his attention out over the hood, the Jeep bumping along and could only see the pits and dips in the ground.
“Someone's been out here...on the road,” he suggested the muscles in his jaw bunched tight behind his words.
Marcus leaned over the seat following Jamie's concerned with an expectant look in his eyes. “Why do you say that?” Marcus asked behind deep furrows above his eyebrows when he spared a look between the two of them. “Most country roads are bumpy, so what are we not seeing?”
Jamie shot a quick glance to Marcus before jerking his chin up indicating the road. “The bumpy road… Glasgow keeps his land smooth. He’s anal about running his ponies over pitted ground he would nae chance breaking a leg on one of his ponies,” his brogue thick with a line of anger running through the center creasing the skin around his lips with each word. “He would nae allow his roads to be in such disrepair.”
“Jonathan warned me against walking on uneven grounds out in the field said to take you or Carl with me. Uneven ground is normal. Why should that be a flag?” His hand slapped over her knee and tension flared up through her skin when he told everyone to hold on and the Jeep careened sharply to the right off the road. The other two trucks following did the same just as overly bright lights came barreling for the Jeep bouncing down the road. Tearing up the ground, it swung into their path. Jamie masterfully with one hand worked the steering wheel keeping a hand on her knee. The pressure from his hand kept her from sliding off the seat. The other truck missed tearing off the front left panel, clipping the lights instead. Kenya braced a hand to the dashboard, screaming for her parents to hold on.
Jamie grappled with the steering wheel keeping the truck on all four wheels dodging two more trucks now without its lights on bumping over the road.
“Mother fuck,” multiple expletives hit the air as Jamie masterfully maneuvered the jeep, its wheels spitting out grass and earth, eluding small out cropping’s of boulders sticking up out of the ground. Kenya grabbed the bar on the door seconds before her head hit the window her legs bouncing up off the seat under the jostling of the Jeep. Lord her baby wasn't gonna survive this attack. Panic crushed down on her mind worried they were gonna be killed.
She caught a glimpse of Katherine starting to pray in the back and Marcus cursing holding his wife to his heart.
When the dirt settled and the Jeep stopped rocking, axles squeaking, Jamie pulled onto smoother ground but never stopped, but managed to get the Jeep out of sight of the road.
“Someone does nae want us to make it to the barn,” Jamie rasped breathing ragged as he checked the mirrors for the rest of their party following close behind. She caught his hand absently brushing her stomach. “You okay? The bairn?” Jamie was the least inhibited man she knew. He did whatever he liked no questions asked.
“I—I guess,” Kenya stuttered running a hand between her legs terrified she’d feel something wet. When her hand came away dry she blew out her relief on her next words, “Momma, daddy, you okay?”
Marcus pulled out his cell, started dialing. Kenya’s stomach lurched.
“Daddy, don’t. We don’t need that. Violence won’t get Jonathan home it’ll just put you behind bars and i can't take another one of my men in prison,” she let her fear choke the air unable to go through this again, fighting to free another family member.
“Marcus, Jamie got us on a clean road, let’s just concentrate on getting off the road into the barn.”
“This is Jonathan’s father?” he questioned bitterly, holding his hand out indicating the road they were nearly killed on seconds ago.
“Mr. Claiborne, Brian is spiteful. If you retaliate and he has your daughter, Morgan you’ll never see her again. Trust me.”
“Daddy let’s do this the way we planned. Morgan and I may never see eye to eye, but don’t throw her away by angering Brian.” She touched Katherine’s hand on her shoulder.“Why won’t that man give us any peace?”
“Because you have his future growing inside you,” Marcus said angrily flipping his phone back and forth from one hand to the other. “This is the kind of shit the family meetings were formed for. You don't go around terrorizing your family.”
Katherine eased her husband's hand down taking his phone and setting it in her purse to tuck in behind her hips. “Marcus, Kenya wants to do this her way. This is her home now. We can't possy up and bust down doors until we find this guy. She needs the respect of these people not their fear, because the minute someone scarier comes along they'll turn on her.”
Kenya watched her mother calm her father with a hooded stare. Marcus said, “This is why I married you,” patting her hand on his chest, Marcus dipped back kissing her face.
Jamie held up a hand, then said, “No one mention this in the barn. It'll scare everyone and we don't know whose working for Brian. I'm certain those were his men sent to run us off the road.”
Jamie said, “I'll mention it to Glasgow and we'll get someone out here in the morning to get a better look at the grounds.”
Kenya pulled out her little device and jotted down what happened to keep the details fresh in her head. Something told her she'd see them again. Brian doesn't back off that easily.
After twenty minutes, the drive was a bit smoother thankfully and the heat rolling off everyone had cooled. Kenya listened to Jamie speaking to Michael in the second Jeep then Steve on his earpiece, then continued on to the barn.
Kenya found Jamie's fingers closing over hers on the seat between them and could see the pain etching along his compressed lips. The same look when Jonathan told her about the young boy's funeral. It was best just to let him work through it without bringing it to everybody's attention.
“It never made any sense,” he continued,” His scheming always centered on Seamus or Jonathan. Why make Jonathan appear to be harming the estate when everyone knows Brian's been here all these years. As you mentioned Kenya, his inheritance is enough to build whatever he wants on the other end of the estate. There's four hundred fifty square miles of land through the forest including the river.”
“His pride is bruised,” Kenya said grasping a hand over her fathers on her shoulder. “He's not targeting anyone with power. It's a smear campaign to get the shareholders to vote Jonathan out.”
Marcus agreed. “That's what I'm seeing, little girl.”
“In court, the evidence will prove Jonathan's an upstanding businessman and citizen, and what too
k place in the parking lot was self-defense, he'll be exonerated. Brian's reputation will be his downfall bringing suspicion back on him. Sure, he's building the permanent market for the farmers to sell their goods, but he's not telling them the hike in their rent paid for that.”
Kenya sat forward. It made sense. Sully your enemy in the eyes of those they carry the most influence over.
Inside the stable, Kenya walked proudly alongside Jamie, his hand on her back feeding her a sense of acceptance. This was a hard group she faced, seeing, as she was the reason Jonathan was in prison in the eyes of those that didn't know her.
The sound of the other two-car motor's idling down the dirt drive behind them outside the barn brought her attention to the tall wooden doors. One pulled in under the trees closest to the stables then another by its back wheels. The weather had cooled since they arrived and the damp air forecast a rainy evening ahead. She bobbed from foot to foot looking at the beautiful land surrounding the stables. Folding her arms under her breast the sight of the person exiting the truck made her mouth go slack. She had no idea Gretchen was in one of the Jeeps, wrapped in a long wool trench coat. Jamie ran out of the barn gathered her into his arms and carried her inside, setting her beside Kenya.
Jamie's brow creased behind a serious frown. “Blakemore women are gonna be the death of me,” he said setting his wicked eyes on Kenya. They both had to be thinking the same thing that they could've lost Gretchen back there and Brian just became enemy number one.
Sophie marched over to Kenya, eyes blazing a fiery blue cursing Brian in a language she'd never heard before. “Are ye okay, Kenya? Ye can go and lie down in the main house and I can run the party with Jamie? You and the bairn have been through too much. The little one won't take much more.” Kenya hugged her letting her know she was okay.
“I'll only pace wondering what's going on if I go up to the house, Sophie. I feel safer here with my family. Let's just pretend nothing happened and get what we came for and free Jonathan.”
“Ye did nae sign on for this when ye married me son, lass.”
No she hadn't. But you can't screen the entire family before you fall in love. It doesn't work that way or half the world would never get together.
“Gretchen,” Kenya called turning back to slip an arm around the woman's shoulders and help her into the stables. The outside air held a hint of moisture and with the barn stable doors wide open it lit a fire to the ripe scents around her. Kenya tried not to notice or complain being the outsider, but the fact that Gretchen came out in this weather gave her pause. “Seamus? Is he okay?”
She patted Kenya’s hand. “No change, lass. But you're out here with me great bairn and I'll see no harm comes to this child.” She started ranting about Brian, but Kenya stopped her explaining how they didn't want to tip off anyone who may be reporting back to Brian and that they suspect he's behind that attack.
Kenya smiled and joined the other guests.
Jamie helped Gretchen to a chair and made introductions. “Mr. Glasgow, meet Mr. and Mrs. Claiborne, Kenya's adoptive parents. And this is her biological father, Steve Erickson and her brother, Michael Claiborne.”
She wasn't surprised by the stares. It was still new to her too.
“Aye, nice to meet you.” Glasgow leaned in sharing handshakes with everyone.
“Is this your farm?” Mr. Claiborne asked turning around a hand extended out over the stables. Kenya brought her hands down protectively when three large ponies approached the stable doors reminded of Jonathan's prized horse Max.
“The largest on the west end,” Glasgow commented chest poked out as his pride reddened his cheeks. He turned to Kenya his attention on her hands cradling her stomach. “Are ye okay, lass?” Glasgow's thick brows rose his stare following her hand concealing her belly, sort of. “Has Jonathan left ye with a wee present, lass?” Kenya dropped her hands propping one on her hip, uncertain if this was the time to reveal her secret? “Ye can nae hide it much longer, soon you'll be ripe as a pumpkin in October. Country bairn grow big and strong fast,” Glasgow's jovial tone said she has his approval.
“I’m Fine,” she assured him a hand on his arm where bulging muscles screamed of years of hard work, while she nodded toward the big horses. “They remind me of Jonathan's favorite horse, Max.”
He smiled then beamed when he proudly said, “Sired from Gunther, that big boy in the far stable.” Kenya looked past the long table in the center of the stables to see a whitish-gray horse's head above a stable wall. It appeared strong enough to drag a barn around, but it was evident his best years were behind him. The hairs around his muzzle were grayer than his coat a sign of aging. She shuffled through the hay scattered on the floor to get closer to the stalls and held a hand to the small horses the way Jonathan had shown her before they'd gotten into the argument about her not telling him about Brian's blackmail attempt over two months when she was here last. The horse dipped his nose down and Kenya found herself stroking his face lovingly, embracing the feel of power behind each breath he took through his nostrils.
“He's beautiful,” she praised caressing the big animal watching his coat shiver under her easy strokes.
“Yer did nae come across as a farming lass, Ms. Claiborne,” Glasgow told her coming up alongside her where he took the reins of the horse, leading him to the lower portion of the wall, so Kenya could pet his back.
“He's magnificent,” bubbling with praise she ran her hands up over the tough, stiff mane. “I know they're working horses, but do you ever braid their manes? Not for fun, but the same way they groom show horses. Tourists would love to have their pictures taken with a Connemara pony.”
Glasgow grinned and it met his eyes opening his face allowing his kind heart to surface. Kenya was winning them over. “Aye, yer city girl's showing Ms. Claiborne,” he admitted. “Me groomers make certain they stay brushed out. We run treks through the mountains and beach rides for the tourists.” He slapped a hand down the horse’s neck rubbing vigorously. “They're good strong horses, best in the breed.”
Turning her attention up to his face, she made a suggestion, “Try braiding them sometimes, their manes, adds a small charge to be photographed with them. Just a couple dollars and the children will be begging their parents to let them take a picture with the horses. Then if you want, do like Jonathan and put the money back into the community. Maybe computer paper for the schools or provide other school supplies.”
“Aye, ye do know our Jonathan don't ye lass.” His big grin warmed her heart.
“I like to think so, Glasgow. Jonathan impressed me a long time ago, proving he's a man worth fighting for.”
“My daughter has affection for animals, Mr. Glasgow,” Mr. Claiborne announced. She'd almost forgotten how much she liked animals as a child. She stepped back and crossed over to the bottle of hand sanitizer on the half-chewed shelf beside the door. Squirting a dollop on her palm, she rubbed her hands together until they were dry and the alcohol burned, but she felt cleaner.
“Me wife put that out here. Dinna think anyone would use it, but me stable hands are pansies when it comes to germs.”
She fed him her best smile. “Nothing wrong with good hygiene, Glasgow,” wrinkling her nose she moved over to the table. It was time to get the meeting started.
Kenya allowed Jamie to hold out a chair and she sat watching the others do the same. Thirty-five, forty women, some farmers some fishermen, sat around or stood along the buffet table. Manila folders lay filled with papers across the center of the table.
“Are these the testimonials for the judge?” she asked pulling them in front of her.
“Yes,” another of the farmer's agreed as she flipped through the contents, excited to see so many positive testimonials in the folder. It was refreshing to know that the people were behind Jonathan. She raised her head and took in the faces around the table.
“These are wonderful.” She couldn't believe the testimonials, the praises, and Kenya ran a finger along one of the sheets
of paper and looked up at Jamie. “Jonathan will be out in no time with these. I can't tell you how much we appreciate you standing by Jonathan like this. He's a good, good man. All he wants is the best for West Ireland.”
“Kenya,” Jamie said getting her attention. “The people surrounding the Galway and Twelve Bens mountain range are a proud people and would never want Brian in the castle. Any one of them would tell you that Jonathan supports the community.”
Kenya shot a quick look at her mother across the barn and pride welled in her heart. Katherine was proud of her smiling bright.
A woman with mousy brown hair, eyed Kenya and she recognized her as one of the Shoppe owners. Sophie leaned in and whispered the woman looked familiar, but Kenya knew her from the Shoppe and dismissed her concern. Kenya sensed the weight of the other woman's slightly skeptical stare. “I hear Jonathan chose, you, an African American woman to bring in the Nigerian tourist dollar. Whose interest are you fighting for?”
Conversations filter off. “I didn't catch your name,” Kenya said.
“Moreen Flannery,” she replied.
“Moreen Flannery,” she repeated folding her arms under her breasts giving the woman a knowing stare. “You own, Needles Down, by the Shoreline Inn in Kerry town.” The woman blanched at Kenya knowing her. “If my being a black woman attracts more ethnic visitors, exposing your store to a bigger customer base, then I would think you'd be ecstatic as the hand knit sweaters in your Shoppe are quite expensive. I should know I purchased two on my last visit to Ireland.” She nodded toward, Marcus who held his arms out showcasing the cream sweater she bought. The crowd laughed and some gave Moreen a sad stare. Kenya continued, “As far as my husband choosing me as a financial move, because I'm black,” rubbing her neck she tilted her head down to think of the most polite way to address that. “As a lady, there's no polite way for me to answer that with my parents in the room.” The woman was a jerk.