Page 66 of Colorado Bride

“Since the day he was born.Your father insisted on being with her, with Ava, when the baby came.But he returned to me and he denied that the child was his.I made him.It was the only way I’d take him back and he didn’t want a divorce.He was so easy to manipulate because of his pride.”

Emily had stopped just before entering the kitchen.She saw the color rise in Ben’s face along with his anger.He looked at his mother with complete hatred.

“You old witch.You let me believe he wasn’t my brother when we could have had a good relationship.Now he’s in jail for wanting part of what was his all along.”

Emily walked in and put her hand on his arm.

“Ben.You can still right it.Nothing was done that can’t be undone.Rory didn’t harm me, he only wanted the money so he could leave and start over somewhere else.”

Ben ran both hands through his hair.

“But what about him kidnapping you?”

“He didn’t hurt me and he could have.He was very courteous with me.The only damage I had was from the cheap rope.”

He put his arms around her.

“Are you sure?I have so much to make up for with Rory.”

“Rory isn’t the problem and you should try to have a good relationship with your little brother.Melissa is the one who’s the problem.She is the one who ordered my death.”

“If you’re sure.I’ll talk to Rory about coming on board as part owner of the ranch with me.”

She laid her head on his chest and hugged him tight.

“That’s the right thing to do.I’m sure Rory has had a hard life since your father passed away.”

“Why do you say since Father passed away?”

“I’m guessing based on the kind of man you are Ben, but I would imagine that your father took care of him and his mother, financially, while he was alive.After he died, I’m sure Doris stopped all payments.”

Doris moved toward the door.

Ben moved to stand in front of his mother.

“Is that true, Mother?Was Father helping them and did you stop when he died?”

The older woman stood with her hands fisted at her sides, the expression on her face mutinous.

“Why should I pay that bitch and her whelp?I told her to get out of town while the getting was good.Ava refused.Said this was her home, and the ranch was her boy’s birthright.Never.As long as I live, this ranch is mine and you’ll do what I say.”

“You’re wrong, Mother.Father’s will gave the ranch to me and Jane in equal shares.You don’t own a thing.”

Doris’s eyes widened and she collapsed in a chair at the table.

“No.I refuse to believe that.His will is not correct.Someone changed it.He wouldn’t do that to me.No.”

“I guess Father had the last say after all.He wantedallhis children to be taken care of and knew I would make that happen.”

Emily pulled out of Ben’s arms.

“Why didn’t your father give Rory a share in his will?”

Doris spoke.“He couldn’t.He couldn’t acknowledge the boy in any way or I’d have divorced him.That would have embarrassed him and he was all about how things looked to others.That belief was your father’s flaw and the only thing that kept him from divorcing me.I know what a harridan I’ve become.I didn’t feel I had any choice.Your father and Ava made it perfectly clear that Joseph no longer had any feelings for me.I was a witch even before Rory came along and only got worse afterwards.”

Doris’s voice sounded broken.

Ben turned toward his mother and took Emily’s hand.“Your treachery is your downfall, Mother.I can’t have you anywhere near Emily or our child.”