Chapter 8

8

"I, uh, would've come sooner." Glen Stoddard, Kenzie's uncle and the identical twin brother of her father, spoke up, his voice carrying the weight of years of familial connection and shared experiences. As he addressed the group, his gaze swept over each person present, a mixture of fondness and concern evident in his expression. "I was out of town, fishing. Using that boat Kenzie's daddy and I used to always talk about."

"Great way to retire. Out on the water," Coy's grin widened, a gesture of genuine appreciation for the older man's time and his presence. Coy seemed to feel a sense of comfort and reassurance in a time of uncertainty. The warmth and appreciation Coy felt for the man must have clearly shown on his face as he noticed Glen's shoulders relaxed.

"Yeah. It was a great time, but it would have been better if my brother George and your daddy, Big Ben, were still alive and pretended they knew what they were doing out there, right along with me. Truth be told, I've yet to catch a single fish. Probably using the wrong bait or equipment or something, but the fish are just an excuse to get out there and relax –– away from the world and all its woes. One of these times, I'll have to get you boys out there with me." Glen grinned fondly at Coy and Nash.

"That sounds like a great plan." Nash said, "Especially after everything going on around here."

"Yeah, yeah… I heard it's been rough for y'all since Lilah's passing. I wish I had known. You have to know you can call me anytime, for anything… even things like this. I may not be the Sheriff anymore, but I still have ties to this community and influence. Let me help ya if ya need it." Glen shared. "Your Pop was mine and George's best friend. He and Lilah, as well as all of you, are like family to me."

"Appreciate that, Glen and the feeling is mutual. That's why you're on the list and got on the property easily. We didn't call because, truthfully, there wasn't a lot anyone could do. It's just been one hit after another, and we didn't want to drag anyone else into danger, especially not knowing where it's coming from." Coy said. "But, if you think you can shed light on our original problem, we welcome the information."

"I wish I could say I'm happy to share, but it honestly pains me that you're dealing with this. We spent… years trying to protect you children from the truth." Glen said.

Coy hung on Glen's every word, "So you know who those remains belonged to."

Glen nodded, "Ranch hand. Tommy was his name, and Ben gave him a job to help him get his life on track. Seemed he'd been wandering down a dark path, and your Pop was a sucker for a project. That was what Tommy was. Ben was determined to show that kid a better way of life."

"That sounds like Pop." Nash smiled.

"Oh, he was a good man, through and through. The best I've ever known, and sometimes, that was his biggest downfall too. He was too good and kind," Glen shared, "Tommy tended to find trouble, or trouble found him, anyway. He gave Ben a fair share to deal with."

"Such as?" Coy asked.

"Well, Ben bailed him out of jail more times than I can count –– drunk and disorderly mostly. It came to a point where there was no longer bail or charges. Tommy was thrown in the tank to sober up, and Ben was called to come get his ranch hand." Glen snorted, "Kid couldn't handle his liquor to save his life."

"Why did Pop keep him around? That sounds… frustrating, to say the least." Coy asked.

"He felt obligated. He didn't give up easily. You know your daddy was as stubborn as they came and liked a good challenge. This was that… a challenge." Glen paused as if lost in a moment of reminiscence, his mind wandering down memory lane. "He was looking out for the kid."

"At some point, enough has to be enough, though." Nash chimed in, sharing what everyone else had to be thinking by this point.

Coy nodded in agreement.

"Oh… That day came, too," Glen continued, his expression hinting at the pain of the memory. "It was branding season. Everyone in the county gathers, and we brand from one ranch to the next until everyone's herds are taken care of. It's as much good time as it is work. Everyone comes together like that, taking care of each other and helping one another succeed. So many memories back in those days. It isn't quite like that these days, with all the hobby farms and ranches, technology, and equipment making ranching more efficient. Now it's more of a festival and only a single weekend and for tradition's sake at best. This next generation doesn't do it like we used to."

"I remember the brandings back then. I think I caught the tail end before things started to change." Coy grinned, "Those were definitely different times. We looked forward to it. Different day, different ranch. Same fun people and good food."

"It usually ended here, on this ranch, every year. The biggest herd in all of Texas. We'd end the season with a bang." Glen went on. "It was one of the last seasons we had here before Ben hired out the work –– brought in a bunch of day workers to help get it done instead of being part of the town festivities."

"Uncle Glen?" Kenzie prodded gently when the older man fell silent once more, noticing the fleeting pain that crossed his weathered face.

"Sorry. I just haven't thought about that day in so long…" Glen continued. "It, uh, was late. Most people had already left, leaving just a few of us to linger and continue celebrating another successful season. We gathered around a bonfire, long before all this was built, enjoying a couple of drinks and indulging in the special desserts we knew Delilah always kept hidden away just for us."

"Lilah went inside to grab those treats for us. Brownies with marshmallows or something. Funny how the mind remembers something so insignificant like that for so long." He shook off the wandering thought, "Ben, he, uh, said he had a bad feeling. All of a sudden, like, ya know? Couldn't say exactly why… intuition maybe if you believe in all that."

"He went inside to check on Lilah –– she was pregnant with one of you little ones if I remember correctly… that's when he found Tommy… attacking your Mama in a way a man should never put hands on a woman, if you know what I mean?"

"Jesus." Coy leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his head bowed in disbelief.

"I'm sorry…" Glen said quietly, followed by a sniffle and swipe of a tear. "I never thought I'd have to tell this story, much less to Ben and Lilah's children. This isn't easy…"

"Please," Nash said. "Please tell us what happened. We need to know so we can understand what the hell has been going on around here, and this is the closest to answers we've gotten."

"I understand, son. I think George and I heard a scuffle of sorts and started toward the house –– broken glass or something. We didn't expect the gunshots that followed and ran when we heard Lilah's blood-curdling scream –– it was the kind that sends a chill down your spine, and you know what you're about to encounter is going to be bad. Nothing could've prepared us for what happened next, though."

Glen took a moment to gather his thoughts and wrangle his emotions, "Tommy was bleeding out –– Ben had shot him. That angry son of a bitch just kept on moving like nothing had happened to him. Maybe he was high on something, who knows, because, during the scuffle, Tommy managed to grab a knife and deliver a solid strike to Ben, who was bleeding profusely himself. There was a deep gash across his belly and arm. Tommy lunged, reaching for the gun your daddy had dropped during the altercation. Ben was hunched over, barely hanging on, clearly disoriented. I think he took a few blows to the head, but I can't be certain; he was pretty banged up, and there were pots and pans scattered about. I suppose anything was possible."

"That's when my brother drew his weapon and stopped Tommy dead in his tracks before he could get a shot off. George killed Tommy with a single gunshot right to the head. Saved Ben's life and probably Lilah's, too. You little ones were upstairs asleep, so no telling if the terror would've gone beyond that. We certainly wouldn't have if we had anything to do with it."

"We, uh, covered up by burying that garbage right out there, but you've probably already put that together. He was supposed to be under where that barn sets –– guess we were off a few feet."

"You and George were deputies. Why not just call it in? Do it by the book? Why hide it?" Coy asked honestly.

"To protect your daddy, son. No one saw what went on in that kitchen but him and your Mama. And your daddy had been drinking when he shot that man. Tommy likely would've died from the wounds your daddy inflicted alone, much less the bullet to the head. Ben Stone would've been facing murder charges. Things were different back then. It was harder to prove right and wrong. We didn't have cameras and technology recording everything. All a man had was his word and hopefully a real convincing lawyer."

"Self-defense," Coy argued. "He was protecting himself and Mama. She was the witness."

"For a self-defense plea, Lilah would've had to testify –– share, in detail, what had happened to her that night in front of the entire town. Not to mention, Lilah would have to prove what he'd done to her. She didn't want to go to the hospital, be subjected to all that after what she'd already been through. It isn't an easy process, proving that kind of assault, medically." Glen's eyes welled with emotion, "I sound like a broken record, but times were sure different back then. Especially for women in those kinds of cases. Her doctor was a personal friend, and she came out and checked Lilah over; that was good enough for your Mama."

"Poor Mama," Devyn spoke, her voice wavering, her lip trembling as she struggled to find the words.

"She was so devastated. You know we all grew up together. Ben was like a brother to me, and George and Lilah were like a sister. We were family and did what families do. We took care of each other. Ben took it hard. Felt responsible even though it wasn't his fault Tommy did what he ultimately did."

"That must be what Mama was writing about in those journals. Why she was so sad…" Devyn shared. "Why she was so worried about Pop."

"Journals?" Glen questioned.

Devyn grinned, "When we went through her things, we learned that she kept journals all these years."

"Journals, like a diary?" he asked, and the group nodded. Then you must already know all of this and who Tommy was."

"There was no mention –– just hints of emotional fallout that now makes more sense and…"

"What do you mean, who Tommy was?" Coy interrupted. "We were all really young back then."

"Son, there's a reason your father took special interest in Tommy and why he took the attack and death so hard. It's the main reason we covered up what happened that night."

"Glen, what aren't you telling us?" Coy pried, "Who is this guy, Tommy?"

Glen scanned the space, his gaze lingering on each face, contemplating how best to deliver the news that was bound to send shockwaves through them all. "Tommy Stone –– your daddy's brother."