Page 44 of River Legacy (Powder River #5)
The man had been shaken at the airport, but Ryder figured it had worn off by now.
Forester was back in Powder Crossing, probably busy making plans for the Stafford Ranch.
Hadn’t Ryder heard that he had already contacted the methane gas company to start drilling wells on the property?
Vicky had been right about her father only wanting what he could get from the land.
He’d never had a real interest in the ranch except for what money he could make from it.
Everything felt on hold now until his mother’s wedding. He couldn’t help but wonder if any of this had changed Vicky’s mind about Montana, ranching or him.
Her smile said it hadn’t.
V ictoria wasn’t looking forward to seeing her father. She hadn’t seen or talked to him. In truth, she’d avoided him as much as he had her since the plane explosion. So much of this was his fault. She couldn’t believe everything that had happened since she’d flown into Billings for the weekend.
She couldn’t help but think about Claude as she went upstairs to her father’s hotel room.
He’d flown up here with her father with such high expectations, thanks to Wendell.
He’d had no idea how it would end. Claude had wanted what he’d been offered from his boss—her included.
He’d been a fool, yet her father had made him promises he couldn’t keep.
Worse, her father had worked with CJ to steal the Stafford Ranch. And now CJ was dead. How could her father not share in the blame?
Walking down the hallway, she felt sick at the thought that she might never be able to forgive her father. They’d often disagreed, but had she ever believed that he would really force her into a loveless marriage?
Victoria tapped lightly at her father’s door.
She heard footfalls on the other side, and a moment later the door opened.
Shock. It was the only emotion she felt at the sight of him.
She’d thought he’d be upset about the plane blowing up, but this was so much more.
His pale face was drawn, and there were bags under his eyes. It was as if he’d aged overnight.
“Are you all right?” she asked in alarm.
“Not really. Please, come in.” He held the door open wide. “I had the café bring up coffee. I thought you might want some.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
He motioned her into a chair as he set about pouring her a cup from the carafe sitting nearby. “How are you doing?” he asked as he handed it to her.
“I’m still shaken,” she admitted as he took the other chair.
“A hell of a thing. I spent the past few days talking to the FBI again. They finally know what happened.” He raked a hand through his hair, sounding breathless. “There was a bomb onboard. It was meant for me.”
“A bomb?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She’d wanted to believe it was an accident. This made it all the more horrible.
“My former bodyguard, Brice Schultz, planted it and, believing I was on that plane, detonated it.”
“Why would he do that?”
Her father looked contrite, almost hanging his head in shame. “He told the feds that I cheated his father out of some property, and the man took his own life.”
She didn’t know what to say. Hadn’t she known how her father operated? He saw something he wanted, and he went after it, no matter who got hurt—just as he had with the Stafford Ranch.
“Victoria, you could have been on that plane with me. You would have been, if Claude had had his way.”
“Claude,” she said, knowing that she didn’t have to say more.
“I know. It’s all my fault, all of it.” He shook his head. “When I saw Claude holding that gun on you and then later when the plane blew up, I knew I was responsible for all of it.”
Seeing how hard he was taking this she couldn’t help wanting to come to his defense. “You didn’t put the bomb on the plane.” But he didn’t seem to hear her.
“I didn’t mind the media and everyone else calling me names. But when I looked into your eyes and saw how disappointed you were in me, it was no longer a game I’d been playing.”
“You knew how I felt about Ryder, yet you worked with CJ to take away the ranch.”
“I didn’t think you were that serious, and I saw a way to get the ranch.
I’d told myself that I was building this dynasty for you.
But in truth, it was all about me and what I wanted, what I thought I needed.
” He leaned toward her, his gaze imploring.
“I kept thinking about how you looked at me when you were little. You used to think that there was nothing your father couldn’t do.
Maybe I was trying to prove that it was true. I’m so sorry.”
“I know there are things from your childhood that put this kind of drive to excel in you, but—”
“I always took it too far. That kind of power is intoxicating and dangerous. That’s why I wanted to see you before I left for Dallas. I wanted to apologize for the way I treated you and Ryder and so many other people. I’m going to try to make amends in the future.”
She hoped he was serious and that once the shock of what had happened wore off, he wouldn’t change his mind. “I need to go. Ryder is waiting for me out at the McKenna Ranch where we’re staying. I would imagine you’ve already started drilling for methane on his ranch.”
“No, I canceled the drilling. You really care about the ranch, don’t you?”
“I fell in love with it. This lifestyle, Ryder and his family.”
“I can see that. I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you. Will I see you before you leave for Texas?”
“Count on it,” he said.