Getting out of his car, he turned as a pretty young woman with auburn hair greeted him.
“Hi. What can I do for you?” She smiled at him as he walked toward her. The closer he got, the better he could see her. Matthew stopped and stared as the past came rushing forward. For one second, he thought he was staring at his mother. Young and vibrant, she was a joy to be around, but he knew it wasn’t her. This was his daughter. There was no mistaking it. She was the spitting image of his mother. “Do I know you, Mister?”
“My name is Matthew Jenkins. I am looking for an Emma McKenzie.” The words left his mouth automatically. Some things would never change. He was an attorney first, and as such, he followed the protocol he learned. He felt stupid asking the question when he could obviously tell it was her. Hell, he had her picture in his breast pocket. He had looked at it so many times it was starting to wear.
“That’s me. What can I do for you?”
“Is there somewhere where we can talk in private?” he asked politely.
“Depends on what you have to say.”
He smiled. She had spunk he liked that. “It’s of a personal nature.”
“Fine, come on in. I will put on a pot of coffee,” she offered, leading the way into the house. He still couldn’t believe after all these years he was in the presence of his daughter. There hadn’t been a day that had gone by that thoughts of her hadn’t filled his mind. He wanted to ask her so many questions. Where had she been? What was she doing? Was she happy? Was she safe? Just being in her presence was starting to make him feel scared yet protective. He never expected to meet her, let alone to be standing before her.
What he didn’t expect was to get that phone call from Ms. Anne a week ago, telling him that all of his hopes were false and that his daughter was in some serious trouble.
Regardless, he did what he needed to do, and high-tailed it out of California, to make sure no harm would come to her. He hadn’t planned anything, just packed a bag and headed home. Hoping to shed some light on her troubles and sneak out of town before anyone knew he was home, Matthew tried to get down to business, but apparently, his daughter wasn’t going to hear of it.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Jenkins. I know this is going to sound cliché, but you look extremely familiar, like I have met you before.” Matthew wanted to groan. Yeah, he got that a lot. Having a younger brother who could pass for his twin didn’t make things any better. The first couple of months away from home, he learned that he liked being his own person. There was no one to follow him around, no one hanging on his coat tails, and definitely no one who shared his same face. There were only ten months between him and Andy, and when they were younger, he thought it was neat to have a brother to pal around with, but as they grew up, not so much. He loved his brother, but sometimes, he just wanted to be accepted for him and not the great, amazing Andrew Jenkins, the boy wonder of Treasure Cove.
She offered him a seat at the table as she went to start a fresh pot of coffee. He couldn’t get over how much she looked like his mother. His mind was a mass of chaos. He couldn’t focus. So much of the past, and what he gave up, assaulted him. Feelings and emotions he long forgot about filtered through him. He needed to get back to where he belonged. He needed to focus on the task at hand, and leave.
“You probably know my brother, Andrew.”
“Andrew?” She turned, questioning him.
“The town doctor. I believe they call him Doc Jenkins,” he replied sarcastically. God, his brother was such a goober. He would also bet that his brother was balding, with a beer gut. He always did prefer the softer side of life. He was probably also married with a couple of grandkids running around. Of course he would probably know more if he picked up the phone and called him.
“Oh God, you’re Doc’s brother! Well, that explains why you look familiar.” She smiled as went to hit the start button on the coffeemaker. Sitting at the table, she made herself comfortable. “So, what can I do for you?”
“Please call me Matthew. I am an attorney from California. I have been looking for you for a very long time, Emma. You, young lady, are hard to keep tabs on,” he stated, placing his briefcase on the table before him.
Laughing, Emma responded, “Why? Am I wanted for something, Matthew?”
He smiled. “No. I have some documents, which were given to me a while back, for your safekeeping. When you came of age, I was to hand them over to you and explain. However, you kept moving around, and eventually I lost track of you. If it wasn’t for the sheriff running your name through the database, I probably would never have found you.”
“Well, you found me. What documents?”
“Yeah… What documents, and who the fuck are you?” a stern voice said behind him, making him jump. Turning, he swore he was looking at Stephen Quinn, but he knew that was impossible. His friend had died years ago. He didn’t even get the chance to say good-bye.
Damn, I need to get the hell out of here.
Clearing his head, he could only assume the men were Stephen’s sons, Travis, Tucker, and Tate. They looked like strong, upstanding men. All expect for the guns they had drawn on him.
Fuck, some things never change.
“Boys, put your damn guns away. This is Matthew Jenkins, Doc’s brother. He came all the way from California to see me. Now sit! And don’t embarrass me,” his daughter said angrily at them.
Shit! I need to stop saying that.
“Sorry about that, Matthew. They have been a little jumpy lately.”
“Jumpy! Woman, someone is trying to kill you, and you go and let a complete stranger into this house. I ought to take you over my knee and spank your ass till it’s bright red!” Travis shouted, moving closer to her.
Matthew respected that. There was no way any of them could remember him. They were just toddlers when he left. Now that they were grown men, he was happy to see that they took an active interest in protecting Emma. Though the thought of them spanking her didn’t sit well with him, he chose not to mention it. He was only here to deliver information, not to uproot her life. How she chose to live her life was up to her. He gave up his chance to voice an opinion long ago. There was no going back. He could only move forward.
“Now, Travis, that’s not for company’s ears,” she scolded.
“Excuse me a minute, gentlemen. Emma, who’s trying to kill you?” Matthew asked, concerned. Was he too late? Had there already been an incident? Shit, he should have come sooner. He partially blamed himself, but mainly he blamed Andrew. He was here. He should have known when she returned, it was his responsibility to protect her, and it looked like he failed.
“We don’t know. I can’t remember much about him,” she whispered, looking for Tate.
He was there instantly, wrapping his arms around her, soothing her. “It’s all right, baby. You will remember. It’s just gonna take some time,” he said, kissing her forehead.
Matthew would have given anything if he could have been the one to soothe his daughter. He never got to hold her, touch her, to see her grow up. That was his fault, and he knew it. He chose to leave. He could have stayed, but he got scared and ran. Part of him wanted to run now. Just being back home brought back all those unwanted memories. A life he never got to have. “Is my brother aware of the situation?” Matthew asked, getting to his feet, pulling his phone out of his breast pocket. If he was going to be here, he needed to know all the facts and quick. The sooner he delivered his message, the quicker he could leave.
“Yeah, those who need to know are aware. Why?” one of the Quinn brothers asked skeptically.
Matthew quickly dialed a number he knew by heart and waited. The moment the line picked up, he started yelling, “You son of a bitch! When were you going to tell me what the hell was going on around here…? Don’t give me that shit… It was your job to watch her…I don’t give a damn about what you have been through…What! When…? And when were you going to tell me that, on my deathbed? You are such a fuckup! I wonder how you ever made it through medi
cal school…Yes. I am in town. You honestly think I would be this fucking pissed if I was back in California? Well, I am going to! So if you want to be here, I suggest you get off your ass and get here quick!”
Hanging up the phone, Matthew tried to calm himself. It had been years since he last talked to his brother. Typically, their chosen method of communication was a monthly e-mail, which he never read. However, after so long not hearing his brother’s voice, Matthew felt awful. He hadn’t verbally talked to Andy in years, and when he finally did, he yelled at him. God, he was such a fuckup.
He knew deep down it wasn’t Andy’s fault, none of this was. Hell, it wasn’t anyone’s fault. They were all just fucking pawns in some sadistic asshole’s game. A game that started long ago, before he was even born. The only difference was now the game was in play, and the rules were starting to change.
“Would you like some coffee? I am sure it is done.”
He didn’t even hear her walk up to him, but when he looked into her eyes, he felt like weeping. He did this to her. He caused all this chaos in her life. She didn’t ask for any of this shit to happen. She was just caught in the middle. He wished he could have been brave enough to do things differently, and then just maybe, she would have had a wonderful life. Instead, she had some asshole hunting her, and she really didn’t know why. He knew. He knew it all. That was why he was here.
“Have a seat, Matthew, and I’ll get you something stronger,” she whispered.
Doing as she suggested, he sat. She moved about the room, graceful and stunning. He had so many questions to ask her. He wanted to know everything. He didn’t know how long he sat in that chair watching her, but when he heard car tires screeching to a halt, he knew the real drama was about to begin.
Before he could get to his feet, his brother walked in and started shouting. “You piece of cow crap! How dare you come home and tell her. She has been through enough, and she doesn’t need this right now. So just pack your Louis Vuitton crap and head out.”
Damn, baby brother hadn’t changed a bit. Still strong and determined as ever, and from what he could see, he still had all his hair and he still worked out, some. Damn, that reminded him he needed to get back to the gym. Returning to the task, Matthew replied, “Not happenin’, Andy. I am here to fix what you fucked up.”
“Watch your mouth. Tabitha is home from school!”
“Who in the hell is Tabitha?” Matthew shouted, and right on cue, a little ball of energy barreled down the hallway into the kitchen, right into his brother.
“Doc! I gonna be a turkey in the shanksgiving play!”
Andy leaned over, picked up the small girl, and hugged her. “That’s real good, Tabby, but it’s the Thanksgiving play.”
“Momma said you’d be there. Are you’d gonna be there, Doc?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world, Tabby,” Andy said, kissing her cheek before setting her back on her own two feet.
Matthew couldn’t take his eyes off the small child. A perfect mix of her mother and fathers. There was no mistaking this little one belonged to his daughter and the Quinn brothers.
“You look like Doc. Did you come to see him?” Tabitha asked, smiling at him.
Matthew squatted down and looked the little girl in the eye. “Yes, my name is Matthew Jenkins. I am Doc’s older brother. I came all the way from California to see your mother.”
“Wow! That’s where the specific ocean is!” Everyone laughed as Tabitha turned back to his brother and asked, “Is he tellin’ the truth?”
Matthew couldn’t contain his laughter even if he tried. This little sprite was just too precious. He wanted to hug the little darling but instead watched as one of the Quinn brothers grabbed their daughter around the waist. “All right, Alex Trebek, enough questions. Go find Rusty and have him take you for a ride. Adults are talkin’.”
“Someone wanna start explaining?” Travis said, getting to the point as soon as Tabitha left the house, yelling for Rusty.
“Yes, please, enlighten all of us, Dads.”
The room got eerily quiet as Matthew looked at his brother. Matthew knew his daughter was a smart cookie. He knew that from her school grades, when he was still able to keep tabs on her. Moreover, apparently even after all that had been happening in her life, she was still capable of figuring things out quickly.
The rules were simple in Treasure Cove. He knew that and so did his brother, who was boring holes into him with his gaze. Once Matthew said the words, there was no going back. Everything would change. Though he wanted to protect her, he knew there was no way he was going to be able to leave this house and walk away from his daughter and granddaughter, again. He had given up so much already in his life, and though he desperately wanted to leave and go back to the life he had, he refused to give her up. He just couldn’t.
If he claimed her, there would be no going back. She would be his and everything that entailed. His legacy would be hers. She would not only have the protection of the Quinn brothers, but the backing and prominence of her fathers. The Jenkins family had been in Treasure Cove from the start. They may not have all been ranchers, but what they did own, he could give to his daughter, and eventually their granddaughter.
After going through the file Isabella gave him, he refused to allow the town to get their hands on his family land, and they would if he didn’t speak up. He knew Andrew wouldn’t say it. He wasn’t the oldest. It was his right to say the words. Looking at his brother, and then at his daughter, something broke free within him. He wanted to say the words, needed her to know the truth. He was tired. He wasn’t getting any younger, and if there was a chance he could have a relationship with his daughter and Tabby, then by God, he was going to be selfish.
Matthew looked at his brother, and when Andrew’s shoulders slumped, he nodded. The decision was made. God, help them all, because all their lives were about to change.
“Someone better speak because she’s had it with lies, deceptions, and deceit. She needs the truth. She deserves it,” one of the Quinn brothers stated.
“You are our daughter, Emma, both mine and Andrew’s.”
Andrew quickly stood next to his brother, agreeing. “We loved your mother and wanted to marry her, but circumstances beyond our control and hers didn’t allow that to happen. We are so sorry for what you have had to deal with.”
“You’re sorry?” she seethed. “You’re sorry that you walked away from my mother. You’re sorry that you didn’t stop Glenn McKenzie from marrying my mother. You’re sorry that you allowed your biological daughter to live in a home with a drunk who scared the living shit out of her. You’re sorry that you abandoned your daughter and the woman you say you loved to live life in fear?” Emma whispered vehemently.
Emma headed to the screen door. He just stood there, wanting to say so much to ease the hurt he had just caused, but when she stopped and turned to look at him, the words failed to form.
“Go fuck yourselves…Dads.”
Matthew felt like the biggest piece of shit on the planet. He had come to ease her burden and help her, not cause her more pain. Turning away, he walked into the living room and looked out over the open range. He had missed so much. Too much time had gone by. Had he made a mistake in coming back? He knew he could have sent the papers to his brother, and Andy would have taken care of it. Nevertheless, he didn’t do that. He wanted to come home.
He missed this place. He missed his family, the town, and the happiness that surrounded it all.
“Matty, why did you come back?” Andrew asked.
“Because of this,” he said pulling a letter from his breast pocket. After handing it to his brother, he looked away. He knew what that letter said. He had read it a hundred times. All of this could have been avoided if Isa had told him the truth.
“Guess that’s it, then,” Andrew said, handing him back the letter. “You gonna tell her men the rest of the story? ’Cause we already claimed her. I can have old man Bellows draw up the papers this afternoon, si
gning everything over to her. She should have it, anyway. I’ve got no one, and I am guessing you’re not married either.”
“No, I never married,” he sighed.
“Then let Emma have it all. I am tired of all of this, Matty. I’m getting old, and I just want what time I have let on this earth to spend with my daughter and granddaughter.”
“We’re not that old, Andy. Hell, I am only forty-six.”
“And I am forty-five going on seventy. I’m tired, Matty. I’m tired of all the lies and deceit. Too many people are getting hurt, and my guess is now that you’re back and with what’s in Isa’s letter, you’re about to lower a big boom on this town, right?”
“It’s a lot bigger than we thought.”
“What do you mean?”
“Yeah, what do you mean?” Travis questioned, firmly interrupting them.
Sighing, Matthew turned and said, “Let’s go sit down, and I’ll explain.”
For the next half hour, Matthew laid out everything he knew about the town charter and the underwriter. He had been investigating the matter since his mother told him and his brother of their prearranged marriage. Of course, when they flat out refused to marry the woman, their parents did what they could to help them. However, their hands were tied thanks to the town charter.
Matthew knew that once the word got out, there was going to be many upset and angry families in this town. Since its inception, the town charter controlled everything. With everything finally becoming known, Matthew wanted to make sure nobody took what rightfully belonged to them and their family.
The slamming of the screen door interrupted his conversation as they all turned to see a man walk in, holding his head as blood dripped down his face.
“What the hell happened to you?” Travis shouted.
Matthew didn’t wait to find out. He and his brother Andrew were already on their feet. Something was wrong. He could feel it in his gut.
“Where’s Emma?” Travis asked.
Mastering Macie [The Men of Treasure Cove 7] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 3