Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

To add more stress to the already crappy day, Jay had Henry to deal with, and it was only after Nate and Luke left that he realized the interview time was soon. Marcus was absolutely steadfast in the decision that Henry was going to be here for the rest of the season and palmed off the job of talking to Henry to Jay. Helping Nate to orgasm was going to be Jay's most successful part of the day. He'd fought off his temper talking to Lewis, and next he had to settle himself into management mode to speak to Henry.

"You wanted to see me?" Henry said from the door.

Jay shuffled to one side the new photos that he'd printed in draft, and he pulled out his notebook.

"I did, Henry. Please sit. Thank you for taking the time to visit."

"I follow orders," Henry said abruptly. "This ain't no social visit. Guessin' you got things to say." He folded his arms across his chest and sat bolt upright in the chair. His lips were tight and he looked like he was expecting trouble.

"I was working with some of our previous guests in order to create a full flow of information and feedback. I wanted to know what worked and what didn't, and I had discussions with a few who mentioned your name."

Henry said nothing. He only sat as still as stone. Nothing in his expression betrayed his emotions past an apparent disdain.

Jay continued. "I understand this is your last year with us." Henry still remained silent, so Jay forged on. "It's not my position to hire or fire here, but after discussions with Marcus, it was made very clear to me that I should talk to you about a couple of incidents that stood out in my research."

"Marcus says so, He should be here," Henry snapped.

"He wanted to be, but I didn't mean to put you in the position of answering questions that may make you uncomfortable. One couple complained, on three separate occasions, that you made comments about them that were offensive. Mr. and Mr. McAllister." Jay deliberately put the two Mr.'s at the beginning so that he could bring up the same-sex issue without actually mentioning the word.

"Ain't right," Henry said with a sneer. "Marrying two men, it's against God."

"Okay." Jay tried for patience. "That is your opinion. However, it certainly isn't the view of Crooked Tree."

"Bible says one man, one woman."

Jay blinked at the words. What the hell? "I'm sorry?"

"Saw 'em kissing like it was normal. You don't see Nate kissing men in public. He knows he should keep it inside and not let anyone know. What goes on behind closed doors is their decision, but doing it in public? Wrong."

Jay bit his lip to hold back the simmering temper left over from his encounter with Lewis. "For the record, the use of any homophobic language is not tolerated at Crooked Tree. Consider this your warning. Your opinions are yours and yours alone. That brings me to the Miller family. Do you recall them?"

"Can't say as I do," Henry drawled. He'd dropped his arms from being crossed on his chest and his hands were clenched into fists in his lap.

"They had two sons and a daughter. The sons, Bryan and Tommy, had special needs."

"Ah…," Henry said, "the retarded boys. I remember 'em. Didn't want the horses to scare 'em."

Jay couldn't find the words at first. "‘Retard' is another word you should be keeping to yourself. Crooked Tree does not tolerate any kind of hate words or bullying. These two cases are just the tip of an iceberg."

"What can I say, then?" Henry asked. "Seems to me that these days you can't say shit."

"Get it off your chest," Jay said immediately.

Henry looked genuinely puzzled and abruptly Jay's temper died a death. Henry really didn't seem to know what he was doing wrong. Was that Henry's fault? Or was it because of his age? He'd been on the ranch a long time, and what was considered acceptable had certainly changed since he was a young man.

Jay counted back from ten. "Tell me all the words that you want to say, so you won't need to say hate words around the guests."

"Hate words?" Henry huffed. "The world ain't the same." He shook his head and lowered his gaze.

"Can you just stop and think about what you're saying?" Jay considered suggesting some kind of training course that Henry could go on. Maybe to educate him as to what was right and not. Immediately he realized it was actually up to the younger staff to set Henry right. "You have to stop because I don't want to have to ask you to move on."

"Move on where?" Henry asked. His eyes filled with horror, then sadness, and Jay sat back in his chair.

Jay didn't quite understand the question. Henry was surely at retirement age, he'd probably want to potter in his garden and read the papers? Or whatever it was retired folks did.

"To your home?" Jay suggested.

"Since Maggie died I ain't got no home." Henry's voice was thick with emotion. He straightened in his seat. "You do your worst, but if I do something that ain't sitting right, you'll be taking me off this land in a coffin when my times up, 'cause I ain't going otherwise."

Henry's words slammed into Jay with enough force to steal his breath. "Henry, I didn't mean it to sound like I was forcing you out," he said quickly. After being fired himself, he knew exactly how that felt.

"Is that all?" Henry stood up and walked to the door.

"Henry…."

Henry turned, and there was a suspicious sheen in his eyes. "I'll keep my mouth shut from now on. I only need to be told once."

"Henry. Please." Jay stood. What could he do next? The damn man had more or less said that he was thinking of suicide or something. Christ. Marcus needed to know this. Jay followed him out and came face to face with Josh and Lewis. Great, no chance to pull Henry to one side and talk. Gabe was standing by the bridge, but that was far enough away that suddenly Jay was alone and facing his nemesis. With far too many witnesses to deck the bastard.

"We'll talk later, Henry," Jay called after the retreating figure.

Henry waved a hand and ambled toward the horses.

"Problem?" Lewis asked.

He'd made it sound like he was laughing as he asked and Jay immediately tensed up.

Josh grabbed his hand. "Uncle Jay, Dad said I could go visit him in the city if I want. Isn't that great? He said we can go see the Yankees an' everything."

Jay stared right at Lewis, who smirked. Words piled up inside Jay, but he couldn't say half of it until he had some alone time with Lewis. Preferably one-on-one at the top of a mountain so that he could shove the bastard off.

"That's wonderful, Josh," Jay lied. "Go get some cookies from your mom. Sophie asked for them." Jay added another lie, and Josh, being Josh, didn't question Jay at all.

Josh ran down the path and over the bridge, and Gabe went with him. That left Lewis and Jay standing toe to toe.

"He won't be visiting you," Jay said evenly.

"He will when I've finished overturning the order."

Jay crossed his arms over his chest. "One look at the pictures of Ashley covered in bruises and Josh's hospital report, and you'll be getting nothing, you fucking bastard." Jay took a step closer and was pleased when Lewis immediately stepped back.

Lewis held a hand up, and far too soon the smug expression was back on his face. "I'll call for an inquiry. Seems to me we could look at her brother for what happened to Josh."

They hadn't called Josh as a witness; the abuse against Ashley had been enough to persuade a judge and jury that Lewis was guilty.

"All they'll do is look back at what you did to Ashley," Jay hissed. He took another step closer, his hands clenched into fists at his side. The need to wipe the smug grin from Lewis's face was overwhelming.

This time Lewis didn't move back, he stood his ground and leaned in. "You gays are all the same—pussies. It's my duty to teach my wife where she stands with me."

Jay's fist moved of its own accord, but something stopped the swing and he stared down uselessly at the tanned hand gripping his arm.

"Cool your jets," Henry murmured. He faced down Lewis. "You been hitting on a woman?"

Jay hadn't heard Henry walk up to them, but clearly he'd been standing long enough to hear Jay's words.

Lewis sneered. "Fuck off, old man," he spat. "None of your business what I do in my own house."

"You hit on Josh too?" Henry continued. "That little boy is a dream, and you caused him pain?"

Henry took a step closer and Jay held up a hand. The last thing he wanted was his two worlds colliding. Seemed as if Henry had a different idea.

"All kids need a lesson, like their mommas," Lewis said evenly.

He punctuated the words with a smile, and Jay never saw Henry move. The blur of movement ended up with Lewis sprawled on the floor, cursing loudly, and Henry rubbing one fist with his other hand.

"Seems to me nothing is sacred in this world, and hell, some adults need lessons as well."

"I'll sue you," Lewis said with a grin, then winced as the cut on his lip dribbled blood.

"What for? You can't sue a horse for backing into you."

"What horse?"

"I saw a horse back into you." Henry shrugged in punctuation. "Jay, didn't you see a horse?"

Jay nodded seriously. "I saw a horse, Henry."

Henry left as quietly as he'd arrived, walking down the same way Josh had gone. Jay looked down at Lewis, then up at the sky. He'd wanted to hit the man, but he shouldn't. If he had succeeded, it would have made everything worse. Only Henry's intervention had saved him from making things more than they should be.

Lewis stood and brushed himself down. His face creased in a snarl and he clenched his hands into fists. Jay steadied himself for a fight. He wasn't going to be the first to throw a punch, but he would certainly hold his corner. Lewis shook his head, then pivoted to walk away.

Seemed like he was happy to hit on his wife and kids, but didn't want to fight grown men.

Jay figured him for the coward he was.