Dustin wasn’t sure what to do. Mackenzie had been wandering around the house for several days now, not talking much and eating less. He looked at his mom when she said his name. Hugging her, just wrapping himself around his mom, made him feel a good deal better than he had before.
“Is she doing any better?” He shook his head. “I’ve come to talk to her, and I’ll get rough with her. I want you to go with your dad. He’s out in the truck. He and Colin are going vehicle shopping, and you need to get your wife one too.”
“I don’t want to leave her.” She pulled away from him, and he could see the other two women in his family. “Don’t hurt her. She’s grieving in a way that I can’t reach.”
“No, she’s not grieving, Dustin. She killed someone.” Frowning at Lauren, he told her that he didn’t understand the statement. Death was death. “It’s her duty to heal, not kill. Like mine was to kill, not heal. She’s not grieving for his death, but that she did it.”
“Will she come out on the other side of this?” Reese smiled at him. “Don’t hurt her, please? Whatever is going on, she’s in pain and it’s killing me.”
“We’ll take care of her.” He wasn’t sure that he should leave her in the hands of these women. He loved them to pieces, but he was terrified of them. He looked at his mom as she continued speaking to him. “Go…go with your brothers and your dad. I won’t let these girls hurt her. Only in that they’ll talk and she’ll listen.”
He went to the truck and was surprised to see that his other brothers were there as well. Getting in the one his dad was in, he didn’t feel any better about going than he had a few minutes ago. Before he could get out and return to his home, Colin started the truck and left the drive. They were on the road when he turned to his dad.
“She’s hurting so badly. It’s like a blanket around her.” Dad said that he understood that. “I don’t. She needs me, and I don’t know what to do for her. And I’m worried that she’s not eating well. It’s like she doesn’t care.”
“You’re helping her by doing this right now.” He nodded at his dad. “Right before your mom and I were to be married, she was feeling a little down. Her mom had passed the week before, and I think she didn’t want to go through with the wedding, it being a celebration and all. But my mom—not a nice person, by the way—she bullied her into doing it. I think she told her something along the lines of not to do it. Your mom was so mad about the conversation that I think she married me for spite. Don’t care how it happened, but I’m sure glad it did.”
“That does sound like Grandma.” Colin laughed as he continued. “I think she did the same thing to me about playing football. Told me it was a girly sport and that I’d be better off being a cheerleader than playing such a stupid game. I played my heart out that year, and she patted me on the cheek when I made the state team. Like she’d been responsible for it.”
“She was. And if you had asked her about it, she’d go on about how it was all her idea too. Damned woman.” Dad rarely cursed, and to hear him now made Dustin laugh. “There’s my boy. Yes, she was a tyrant, but she was smart about stuff. Like her slick way of making others do what they didn’t want to.”
“She gave me the ring that I asked Mackenzie to marry me with.” Dad said that he had seen that. “I don’t know what to do with Mac, Dad. I love her, and her being in this sort of pain is beyond what I know how to fix. And I need to.”
“Sometimes—and this is from your mom—sometimes you can’t fix it the right way. You have to go about it from behind and fix it. I wasn’t sure what she meant, but then, I rarely do anymore. Durn woman is driving me batty with all her—” Colin cleared his throat. “Oh yeah. Anyway, she said that you have to get the person to realize that what they did wasn’t wrong by telling them how badly they messed up. I’m thinking she might be right, but I won’t tell her that. She’s got a big enough head as it is. Love her to pieces, but she sure can be hard on a man sometimes.”
He wasn’t sure that she’d done a thing wrong. Defending herself shouldn’t make her feel bad. But he supposed, too, that he could see Lauren’s point. Mackenzie was a doctor first and foremost.
Dustin got out of the truck when they stopped. He watched his dad make a beeline right to the bigger trucks and had to laugh. For a man who didn’t want a new one, he sure had his eye on the biggest in the lot. And it was bright red too.
“Dad is gonna crap a brick when he figures out that I already bought him that.” He looked over at Colin and asked him if he was serious. “Yes. Lauren picked it out yesterday. She said that it was perfect for Dad, and that she could see him driving the kids around in it since it has the extended cab”
“What will Mom say?” He pointed to the large SUV next to it, equally large and just as red. “You’ll have to let me know how hard she hits you then hugs you for it. I’m thinking that you’re going to be a hero and a bad boy all at once.”
“I can take it. By the way, we all bought it. If you want to, that is?” He said that he’d love to help out. “Good. I already put your name on the cards. When you have children, you’ll want them to be safe too. I’m terrified every time Dad goes out with one of them. Their car isn’t much better than the company truck.”
He had to agree with him on that. Just yesterday he’d had to replace the floorboard with another piece of cardboard for his dad so he’d not lose the nails he’d picked up for them at the hardware store. Then last week he’d helped his mom set the emergency brake so her car wouldn’t roll down the little hill at the high school she was working at.
They could afford better, and could certainly have something that wasn’t constantly falling apart, but he, like his parents, used things until they were nearly ready to be dust before spending money on new. At least it was like that until he’d met Mackenzie. Now he wanted her to have the best of everything. He caught himself looking at the SUVs on the lot.
“That one will get her around in the winter.” He asked Boyd how much traveling they did in the winter months. “Don’t know yet, but I can see us needing something like that to get around in. I got me one just last weekend. I had it outfitted with some extras too. Like I have a refrigerated container in the back for meds should I need them, as well as a kit that hangs on the back of the seat so I can have whatever I need even if I don’t have my own bag.”
“Can they do that here? I mean, should she need it?” He said that she would and that they did. “Okay, I’ll do that then. What color is yours? You know what? Never mind. I might as well get me something too. In the event that I have to travel with the kids.”
“You will need something better than what you have, yes.” He nodded and waited for his brother to continue. “She’s going to be all right.”
“I hope so. I’ve never dealt with this before. Have you?” When he didn’t answer, Dustin looked at his brother. “Have you, Boyd?”
“Yes, my first patient. It was when I was still in med school, and I might have quit then but for Mom. She got me on the right path and I did better after that.” Dustin said she was bothered by killing that man. “Yes, so was I. I hadn’t meant to. And had I been out of my first year, I might have been kicked out of school. But my teacher left me alone on a shift, and a bad accident brought in too many for me not to be put to work. I overdosed a patient. It might have happened to anyone. I hadn’t any idea that he was already on drugs and wasn’t told, or it might not have happened. But it did, and he died. You and Mom are the only ones that know. Unless she told Dad, which I wouldn’t doubt.”
Neither would Dustin. Mates, he’d come to realize early in life, told each other everything. And not only that, they were truthful about it as well. No sugar coating when they spoke, just plain hard facts.
Dustin ordered Mackenzie the all-terrain vehicle, and let Boyd tell them what he wanted done to the back of it. He had extra shocks put on it, as well as a tow hitch. Boyd was going to have the same thing done to his. By the time he was ready to leave, he had purchased two vehicles, and had asked for them to let him know when a camper came in. He thought that he and Mackenzie could enjoy a little getaway if they had one to just go with.
Twice he’d felt Mackenzie’s anger, and both times he asked her if she was all right. She said she was fine, but didn’t elaborate. He didn’t ask either when she told him she was going to kill his family. He thought that was better left to them to deal with, as he was afraid that she might follow through on her threat when this was done. He, his brothers, and dad went to dinner. Dustin thought it was going to be a long night.
~~~
Mackenzie didn’t talk to them when they all arrived en masse. She did watch them as they talked amongst themselves. Her heart wasn’t into being social today. She’d murdered a man, and that was something that she never thought she’d have to deal with.
Having them die while she was taking care of them was normal, she thought. And having someone die on the operating table was something that she’d dealt with several times in her career. But she’d made her hand into a weapon, a long sharp blade, and had sliced it across Walton’s throat, like he was nothing more than a pesky fly that she had to deal with.
When she’d been a large cat, Mackenzie had enjoyed the power that it had given her. She also knew that she was dangerous, as well as heavier than her human self. Dustin told her she was beautiful, had commented on how she’d gone from person to cat very easily. But then Walton had shot her and she’d fought back.
You going to let every little thing bother you? You have never struck me as a whiny person. Nor a pussy. She knew whose voice was in her head. Hawk had been talking to her for several hours now. Mostly she’d been able to ignore him, but with the others there, she was having a hard time concentrating on one thing. You do know that had you not killed him when you did, that he would have hurt Dustin and anyone else that was nearby when he was released? Also, and I’m sure you’re aware of this, you killed him because he’d left you no choice in the matter. It was kill him or someone else would have been killed, another human or a child. Simple as that.
Go away. His laughter did not have a bit of humor in it. I don’t like you, remember? You and I are enemies. Go about your business and leave me to mine.
No. We’re a lot alike if you ask me. Stubborn as hell. Meaner than a rattlesnake when cornered or not. I think I’m just mean, but then my momma loves me. Mackenzie didn’t know how he’d come up with that, so said nothing. Also, and you’re going to find this very hard to believe, but you impressed me.
How so? She shifted on her seat and all the women turned and looked at her. I feel as if I’m on trial or something. But instead of being found guilty of a crime, your family, the women in it, are trying their best to make me see that I did nothing wrong. I want them to go the fuck away and leave me to my grief. Not grief, but something.
You didn’t do anything wrong. She snorted at him. I have a story or two to tell you. One that you’re not going to care for, but I’m telling you anyway. It’s about the other women in my family. Lauren for example. Did you know that she lived in a house that had no running water or any heat? And that she lived with her parents, who would beat her and each other to the point of near death? And that she had a single coat and a pair of shoes that she had to turn in each day after coming home, and wouldn’t get them until the next school day? When she left home, she was barefoot and coatless because she was terrified to ask for them. Before that she had saved up pop cans, and filled them with sand and dirt that she found after digging out a hole to hide in. The Burchers took her in when she made her way to their home one cold winter night.
Where are her parents now? Hawk said they were dead, thankfully. Did she do it? I don’t know why I think this, but she’d never hurt them. Someone else killed them for her. I know that she’s killed before—I’d have to be a fool not to know that—but she didn’t kill her flesh and blood. She’s not like that. So, who did it for her?
No, she’d not do that, you’re right in that. Victoria. The reason that they’re friends, good friends. Victoria was being hurt by them. Tied to a barn wall and left there to meet the sun. Lauren helped her escape, and in return—or perhaps she didn’t know this at the time—Victoria killed them. The Burchers, her adoptive parents, have never treated her as anything but their blood child. She said nothing, but felt her anger get the better of her. You’re scaring Dustin. He thinks that my mom and the others are pissing you off.
After telling Dustin she was fine, Mackenzie asked about Reese. I know that she’s had a hard time of it, and that she used to be a trucker.
Yes, she helped Jon escape from the lab that he was in. They did things to him, most of which we’ll never know about, and made him what he is today. Mackenzie told him that she was like him in some ways. That the blood that they shared had changed her in ways she wasn’t sure of yet. I know. So am I. It’s what I’m doing today, trying to figure out what happened to me when you and he saved my life.
I didn’t do anything that anyone else wouldn’t have done for you. He laughed and she felt her face heat up. What about Reese? You said she had a time of it.
Yes, she did. For a few years she kept Jon safe all on her own, working odd jobs until the men from the lab found them. Driving sometimes as many as forty hours straight just to keep ahead of them. And in all that time, it never occurred to her that she could just quit. It was in her heart to save him. No matter the cost. Mackenzie looked at the other women in the family. You might want to know a bit about my mom too, but that’s her story to tell. I will let you in on something that she doesn’t know I know. My mom is terrified of guns. She can use one, thanks to Lauren, but she is terrified that she’s going to fire on the wrong person and kill them.
I would be as well. He told her that her cat and the things that were now a part of her body were no different. I can’t put a safety on my body, Hawk. I’m dangerous.
No, not dangerous, but aware. She asked him what he meant. A dangerous person is one that doesn’t care if they harm anyone when they’re upset. An aware person keeps those he loves safe, beyond anything that might happen to them. You did that the other day. And I for one think you should get over yourself and talk to the others. You’re scaring them. My mom thinks you’ll leave her all alone. Not that she doesn’t have the rest of us, but she’s taken a shine to you.
Your mom is a sweetheart with the heart of a lion. Or a bear. Hawk agreed with her. I don’t know what to do, Hawk. I want to be glad that I killed him, but I killed him.
You did. And you should know that had you not killed him, he would have tried to kill you and Dustin. I’m not just saying that, but Jon told me. It was in his head to end your life, and that of your mate, simply because he could. She stared at the wall, not really seeing it when Hawk continued. I just figured out that I can hear the thoughts of a fucking tree.
Laughter burbled from her mouth. The others stared at her and smiled. She felt better now. Mackenzie had no idea why, but she did. She told them that she was talking to Hawk about what she’d done.
“I’m sure that he had plenty of insight on this sort of thing. However, you should know that none of us feel that you’ve done anything wrong. Why, any one of us could have been hurt had you not done what you did. And when he shot at you...well, I nearly had a heart attack myself.” Bea sat beside her after moving to the trolley that was filled with fruit and cupcakes. “You should eat something, dear. I know that Dustin is very worried for your health.”
Mackenzie ate the offered cookies and cupcake, feeling like she’d not eaten in several days. She supposed that she hadn’t. Depression had hit her hard. Just as she was ready to admit that she’d been silly in all this, Lauren started talking.
“You do know that no one cares that he’s dead, don’t you? I mean, I suppose you might a little. He was your husband for a little while. But now? I don’t think so.” Mackenzie agreed that there wasn’t anyone to mourn his passing. “And you did what you had to do.”
“Yes, I understand that now. I don’t like the fact that I killed him, but I do know he left me no choice. But, that doesn’t mean that I can’t be upset over it.” Lauren nodded. “Walton wasn’t a nice person, and he’d not been in my heart for a long time. But as you said, we were married, and in...something. I’m not sure now that it was love, but we were happy for a little while.”
“What happened? I mean, if you don’t mind sharing with us. I, for one, would like to know what turned him into a turd.” They all laughed at Bea, who grinned with them. “I don’t usually curse. I find it to be sort of scary for me. And something I’m not terribly good at. But you girls, you sure have a handle on it.”
“You are right about that.” Lauren kissed Bea on the cheek, then ate two cookies. “But share away. I knew him. Not well, but I knew the kind of man he was.”
“No, he wasn’t a good soldier, nor was he a good person. Especially after he got a taste for drugs. Nothing bad at first, but when he was hurt they prescribed him some hefty pain killers. I wouldn’t have, but then I wasn’t in charge of his care.” She told them what he was taking. “Anyway, after that, he thought that I could make sure that he had enough drugs to sell. And that was when he started knocking me around. He had it in his head to be a drug lord in the service. It, like a lot of his plans, never panned out.”
“When he put you in the hospital, why wasn’t he discharged the first time?” Mackenzie should have known that Lauren would have found out everything about her time in the service. “I’m sorry. I know that he hit you several times before you reported it.”
“Yes, I was a fool. The first time…well, as some women do, I felt that it was my fault. Of course I know better now, but the second time he did it he was high, and while that isn’t an excuse, I did give him one more chance. The third time was the final straw. He beat me badly enough that I was put in the hospital for several days. When he was arrested and put in irons, I filed for and got my divorce. That didn’t stop him from beating me to shit, but it did get him away from me when the military found out about it.” She thought of something and turned to Reese. “You said that someone was looking into the insurance policy that he had. What ever happened about that?”
“We don’t know who he hired, and he more than likely killed the person that collected on it. An elderly woman is all we know for sure. The policy, of course, has been nullified, but since he had nothing and is dead, it doesn’t look like anyone is going to be able to collect it back.” Mackenzie asked if they’d come after her for it. “No, they can’t. You two were divorced before the policy was taken out, and they’re sort of at fault on their own for not checking to see if she was living.”
“That’s sad. I’m assuming that everyone is thinking that the woman is dead, like you said. Hopefully she didn’t have family that is looking for her or wondering where she is.” Reese nodded and said that it was very sad. “And what about the other man? The one that he used to fake his death?”
“He was a homeless man. I can’t remember his name right now, but he was hired to take the car to that point and wait for his return ride back to town. It, of course, never came, and his body was determined to have been Walton’s simply because it was in the car registered to him. As for the paperwork that was misfiled as well as incomplete, that’s been taken care of as well. We know that a woman Walton was seeing let him in one night to have sex on her desk. The recordings of it show Walton taking her key after he drugged her, and then changing out the needed documents. He was pretty slick about it. The woman has been fired and charged with all kinds of shit that she deserved.” Mackenzie thought of all the lives that Walton had fucked up in his quest for money. “Men and women both have done more for less. You should know that too.”
“I do, but it makes it no less depressing, don’t you think?” She sat and talked to them for another hour. It was getting dark now, and she just wanted to go to sleep. It had been a long few days and her body was aching with exhaustion. At some point, she supposed, she had fallen asleep, because the next thing she knew, Dustin was carrying her up to bed.