Read Online Dinner with the Blakemores (The Blakemore Files Book 5) by Olivia Gaines - Free Book Online Page B

company.  I succeeded that to my brother, but the ranch … I am the heir to all of this….”
    His hand rubbed her stomach.
    Odessa understood it all. “And he is the heir apparent?”
    Saxton rarely discussed his family, or the details of why he left home.  She was never clear on what he was running from, but figured in time he would tell her. “Belva can’t have children,” he said softly.  There was something in his eyes that she could not read.
    “And Connard?  He will produce Blakemore heirs as well, right?” she asked him.
    Saxton shook his head no, then thought about it and shrugged.
    Odessa didn’t understand.
    “I thought he and his wife were planning to have some children this year?” Odessa said to her husband who had turned away.  He was pulling socks and undies from his chest of drawers, which meant he was shifting the energy in the room and closing the conversation.
    “Saxton, what are you not telling me?”
    He turned to her. “Well … his wife is his beard.”
    She knew it took a lot for him to admit that to her, as if he was breaking his brother’s confidence. Odessa moved the conversation on to another subject. “…And what are you not telling me about Dwight?”
    It wasn’t random. He knew it wasn’t random. “Your sister’s bullet didn’t kill him.”
    Odessa stood up from the bed. “Then who did?”
    “No one knows. His heart stopped.  Some people in the hospital mentioned a dude playing a guitar, but the funny thing is, no one can remember what he looks like,” Saxton told her.
    They both knew what it meant. A new player had entered the game and was cleaning up loose ends.  It was going to be important for Ryanne to start talking and tell them why she shot her husband. 
    What did she learn that she was also not telling them that could be the difference between life and a quick death?

     
    In the middle of the night, cries could be heard from down the hall.  Neither Odessa nor Saxton were heavy sleepers and both were up with weapons drawn, bullets seated in the chamber, as they tiptoed down the hall, following the muffled cries. Initially they both thought it was Ryanne finally letting go of the pain, but it came from the room her parents were sharing.
    Saxton tapped lightly at the door.  It was opened by a much-frazzled Dora, who looked like she had been put through the ringer. Odessa asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?”
    Dora pointed to Big Sarge who was prostrate on the bed, moaning. “Sir,” Saxton said. “Are you in pain?  Do I need to call for a doctor?”
    Big Sarge flopped over to his back. He had been crying.  In all her life, Odessa had never seen her father cry. He was rolling back and forth on the bed.
    “Daddy, please tell us what is wrong?” She begged of her father.  He wiped away his tears, as he struggled to sit up on the bed, but gave up and plopped back down.  “I stepped on a live mine coming down the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Nam. I took shrapnel in my side and still carried my buddy five miles, uphill both ways, to safety. And today I am going to die from a distended asshole from eating that woman’s chili!”
    Big Sarge grabbed at Saxton’s gun. He cried out, “Kill me.  Make this pain stop.”  A loud gurgle could be heard from his belly as he scrambled to get to his feet.  Saxton hoisted him off the bed and half carried the man to the bathroom door.
    “Dear Lawd!” They heard Big Sarge yell as his stomach gurgled while his bowels released a puff of methane followed by a sound that Odessa had experienced herself when she ate Grandma Patsy’s chili.
    Dora stared at the wall, mumbling, “I told that old fool not to eat that damned chili.  You know your father, he loves a challenge.”
    That was not the only challenge they were going to face in the next few days.

Chapter 14. Courage and grace …
     
    Wednesday morning was full of hustle and bustle. The baby shower was going to be at 1 pm and Lucy was barking orders like a mad woman.