"Scott," "Thank you for wanting to ease my heart, but you know I speak the truth."
She squeezed his arm. "I appreciate what you're telling me, but you're leaving out the most important detail. Whom do you work for?"
"Do you trust me?"
A knot formed in the pit of her stomach. "Why?"
"I have to handle this on my terms. It's better if you know nothing."
One look in his hazel eyes and she knew he spoke the truth. "Is it the same person who called and sent me the rattlesnake? Is it the same person who burned my barn and house?" His facial expression showed her the answer and her heart ached for this man who was trying to do right by her and not anger his boss. "Yes, I trust you."
He grabbed his chest and feigned a heart attack. "Unbelievable. There's hope for you, yet." He left without another word.
Rachel raced outside and took Scott's place. "Are you all right, sweets?" she said, putting her arm around Caitlin's shoulders and pulling her close.
"Tell me life doesn't get more complicated."
"Oh sweets, this is only the beginning."
Her body slumped forward as the tears fell. Rachel massaged her back. "We'll handle this together." Though her grandmother meant well, Caitlin needed to be alone right now. Rest did not come. Nagging thoughts kept her awake. "Wasn't there a journal entry that mentioned the land fight?"
She rifled through each journal until she found the entry. October 10, 1970. We went to court today. I have never heard such blatant lies and foul language from egotistical men. Marshall sat straight, his head held high which told me he had nothing to hide, but the information of that August day has been kept from me. They argued about the land, WWII, Vietnam, and Forrester MacKay's wife. I guess she spoke with Marshall, and I do not know the matter of their conversation, but Forrester MacKay went off on a tirade. I trust Marshall, but what did this woman tell him? Please, someone, shower me with answers. Caitlin giggled as she had spoken those words many times regarding Scott MacKay. "Mackay? Are Forrester and Scott related?" she wondered. "Does his coming here have to do with this court date?" She continued reading.
I found Marshall standing under the oak tree staring up through the limbs. MacKay claims to be Thomas Chadwick's grandson. When I refused to turn over the land or sell, he turned his girlfriend on me. I could have her in exchange for the land. Of course I said no and left. The next day I'm pummeled for beating her up. I swear on my mama's grave, I never laid a finger on that woman. Now I'm beginning to believe this man is related to Thomas. Marshall's arm was tight, but I held on until it subsided. Who was this Thomas Chadwick he spoke about? The name had never been mentioned for as long as I knew Marshall. But now was not the time to ask any questions. He sat against the tree and patted the ground beside him. It's time I tell you something, he said, but it has to remain between us. I know Marshall would frown upon me writing this, but it is the best way I know to remove it from my thoughts. Remember the man who barged into our house and sent me to the hospital with broken bones, he said. He was my older brother, Thomas. We never had a strong, healthy relationship, because we were too different and the five-year age difference did not help either. He did not enjoy the outdoors or anything about the ranch, except the financial realm. When Thomas was sixteen, he went to a neighboring town to visit his fiancé. She was talking with another man, and his rage won and he beat him to death. Our father sent him away with strict instruction to never return to Valley View. All traces of Thomas were discarded, as if he never existed. When I returned from the war, Daddy deeded the ranch to me. I was now the oldest son. After Daddy died and Thomas realized he had nothing, he came to me. I was willing to have him stay and work beside me, eventually giving him part of the land. It was unacceptable. I tried, Em, to be a good brother. He held his head in his hands and for the first time I saw him cry. Forrester MacKay is very much like his father. When I asked Marshall how the name MacKay came to be, he shook his head. It's my guess that Thomas wanted a new start. We won the court case, but he won't stop fighting until he wins. How, when, and where will he strike? The book slammed shut and Caitlin now fully understood the magnitude of the situation. "He sent his son. Scott isn't following through on his orders. What happens to him when he doesn't do what his father wants? How do I stop him from fighting my battle?"