Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders #15)(111)

She leapt to her feet. “My pity? That’s why you think I’m crying? Because I feel sorry for you? That’s not it. Not even f*cking close.”


“Then why?”


“It’s because of guilt! From the time we were kids I knew that your dad was hurting you.”


Dalton winced.


“I did nothing, Dalton. Nothing. I could’ve told my mom or one of your brothers or even your mom but I didn’t. And to find out he’s still f*cking with you? He’s still bent on reducing you to that scared little kid? It kills me. It kills me and enrages me and if that man were in this room right now I’d tear him to pieces. So I’m back to crying. That’s all I’ve been able to do for you is to weep like some helpless little girl. Then and now.”


“Baby. Please. Stop.”


“I can’t. You’ve deserved better from everyone around you including me. How you can even look at me…”


Dalton’s hands framed her face. “I look at you because I love you. That you’re crying for me shreds me inside. To know that crazy wild friend, a tough girl who refused to cry after you sliced open your knee, cried for me all those years ago? That grabs me by the throat and makes it hard to breathe.”


“You were always so tough, McKay. I didn’t want you to think I was a wussy girl so you’d stop coming around.”


“Nothin’ would’ve stopped me from coming around. I acted tough. A front I kept up for years. Probably why I picked so goddamn many fights. I had to prove I was tough enough to win. And if I couldn’t win, then I showed them I was tough enough to take whatever was dished out.


“Nothin’ you would’ve done back then could’ve changed anything. Do you hear me? I stood there every single time he brought out the strap. Until the day I didn’t.” His thumbs wicked away her tears. “You were there that day. I was so damn proud of myself.”


“The beatings stopped. But that mean mouth of his didn’t, did it?”


“No. And it’ll always be like that with him.”


“So are you done with him? Has sharing the truth with your brothers about what an unforgiveable * Casper McKay is freed you to walk away from him?”


“It freed me years ago. But knowing that past history between him and me, can you see why it was so easy for me to believe his claim that I wasn’t his son?”


Rory’s eyes searched his. “That’s the question, isn’t it? Do you think you’re his son?”


“Either way, I don’t care. I spent the last three years comin’ to terms with who I am. Not as a McKay, not as a rancher, not as a gambler, but as a man on my own. Once I liked that guy staring back at me in the mirror every morning, I knew it didn’t matter.”


Dalton took a step back.


That’s when she noticed a half-packed suitcase behind him. “Dalton? Why is your suitcase out?”


A guilty look crossed his face. “I was heading to Montana this weekend. There’s some stuff I need to get.”



“And you also want to avoid your brothers, don’t you?”


He jammed his hand through his hair. “Yeah, that was part of it.”


Rory marched up to him. “You dropped this on them tonight and then you run off the next day? How is that fair? Maybe you’ve had years to come to terms with the idea you’re not Casper’s son, but they haven’t.”


“Which means it’ll take them more than a few hours to process it, Rory. Me goin’ away for a couple of days ain’t gonna matter.”


“You don’t know that. You’re assuming a lot.”


“So are you.”


“Are you telling me to butt out?”


Dalton touched her face. “No, baby, I’m not. I’d never do that. This affects you too. It affects us.”


“Then when did you plan to tell me you were leaving?” When he looked away from her, she knew. “On your way out of town.” Despite her fury, she kept her tone icy. “You say you’ve changed? Bullshit. You’re still running away.”


“I’m not!”


“Yes, you are.”


“Goddammit, I’m not.”


Was he trying to convince her? Or himself?


Rory got right in his face. “Don’t do this. Stay here and deal with it. Stay here with me and let me help you deal with it.”


“Rory—”


“You say you love me? Prove it. Don’t go.” She wrapped herself around him. “Stay. Please. Grab that suitcase and come home with me. Let me take care of you.”


He hugged her so tight she couldn’t breathe. “Okay.”


Chapter Twenty-Six


Dalton hadn’t seen much of his brothers in the week that’d passed since his…confession or whatever the hell it was. He’d talked to them both on the phone. That’d been easier than a face-to-face meeting, especially since Brandt and Tell were still in shock. He understood it wasn’t that his brothers didn’t believe him; they just didn’t want to believe it.