Deadly Inheritance (completed)

Chapter 27

My eyes widen knowing all eyes are on Charlie and I. We are both being scrutinized by everyone especially Baxter and Layton. Pops sees what's wrong and comes to us as only a father would for his daughters. Scooping both of us to his arms he guides us away from the barn and to the house. He knows there's something here he doesn't know about.

"It's alright now girls. We'll have a drink of some hot tea to calm down and then we'll celebrate our wedding without the likes of him." Pops says moving us along and up the stairs to the house.

I need something much stronger than tea right now. I glance over my shoulder and see Ryan still going after Layton while Baxter looks back at us. That's a look on his face I've never seen before. But the more I watch him the more I realize what the expression is. It's then I notice it's not me he's watching, it's Charlie. Baxter is in love with my best friend and brothers wife?

Baxter

What did Layton do to Charlie and Nat? Charlie is still having nightmares. She tries to hide her trauma but the dark circles and jumpiness has made it clear. I know Natalie has been upset ever since we got back from New York but I thought it was at me. The look on Charlie's face when she saw Layton I can't shake. Then I realize Nat has the same look. I literally watched the color drain from her beautiful face. I don't know if she thought she was seeing a ghost or a monster. It shook me to see her that way. Charlie is one of the strongest people I know. Natalie had the same expression as Charlie. I've known her all my life and I've never seen her like that.

It took an hour before we finally got rid of Layton. He's a tough fucker! In the end, the cops came out to drag him away but not before Ryan and I got a few good hits into the guy. I get Ryan is upset, the asshole disrupted his wedding, but what I saw in Ryan's eyes when Pops got the girls into the house was lethal. I really thought if he had the chance, he'd kill Layton. I was right there with him.

We stood at the makeshift bar we set up and threw back several shots of tequila before we spoke. We watched the ranch hands fix chairs and bring out tables to celebrate the wedding. Women bustling around us with food and drink, flowers and a setup for music and dancing. Ryan is examining his knuckles and icing down the welt on his face. There's no remorse and no emotions there, just ice in his eyes.

"What happened to Nat? In New York when Layton had her, what did he do to her?" Ryan asks me through a low guttural growl. He thought I knew something and didn't tell him about his sister.

"She didn't tell me, Ryan. She's been different since we got back. She's been pushing me away. I thought she was mad at me but now..." My voice trails off as I look towards the house.

"Is she having nightmares like Charlie is?" Ryan sounds like he's in pain. This is killing him. "Charlie won't talk to me about it, but I wake up to her nightmares every night. I know more happened to them than what either one of them are telling me... us, telling us."

"I talk to Charlie but she blew it off on the baby and I haven't been with Nat since we got back. She didn't want me there and I didn't push her. I know she had a couple nightmares as soon as we got back. I thought that was normal but now... She was petrified of Layton, they both were. What the hell happened to them, Ryan?" I ask him as I take my next shot and wave the bartender for another.

Ryan took the bottle from the bartender and slapped some money on the bar top. Looks like we're finishing the bottle just the two of us  "I don't know, but it's bad. Charlie let me in right away but she's been through this before, Natalie hasn't. If that fucker ... to either of them..."

I understand more than he knows about the feelings raging around inside him. "I'll tie the fucker up and hold your jacket so you can have a go at him. Hell, I'll bring the shovels and dig the grave myself for what he did to Charlie."