Page 35 of Loving Justice

“Justice, can I speak with you?”

Jinx gave a startle, but Justice almost jumped out of her clothes at the sound of her daddy’s booming voice from the open doorway. “For goodness sake’s, Daddy! You probably woke the dead ten miles away.”

Sam Rose stood at about six-foot-three, two hundred pounds of lean frame, and wore an expression that could have sent a giant running. Added to that, he didn’t seem the least bit happy.

Chapter Ten

Justice was sitting in the chair in front of Sam’s desk as he settled himself on the corner. Worried lines had etched deep crevices in his leathered skin. He didn’t look like himself. He looked tired. Preoccupied. Irritated. Had he even lost weight?

“Daddy? What’s wrong?” She wondered why he appeared angry and unsettled.

His gaze narrowed and he waved a gnarled hand in the air. “I’ve been meaning to discuss something with you.”

She crossed her legs. “Whatever it is it’s certainly bothering you.”

“Over the years I’ve tried to do my best. To give you and your sisters the guidance you need. I know I’ve failed in many ways.” His gray eyes turned a shade lighter.

Acid rose in the back of her throat. “All parents fail. So do children,” she said softly.

He slid off the desk and went to a drawer, reaching for something. He dropped it on the desk in front of her.

Her spine tightened. It was a photo of her sitting with Kent. The day she met with him at the restaurant because he’d requested to see her. She’d stormed out after realizing he’d wanted to see her only to convince her to come back to him. “Who took this?”

“Doesn’t matter. Won’t change the outcome.”

“Daddy, I—”

“Have some explaining to do?” He poured himself a drink.

Had Kent sent him the photo? How could he be so ruthless?

Gathering and preparing for what she’d say, Sam was back on the corner of the desk, eyeing her with a grim expression. “That snake Downs would do anything to get his hands on this land. Looks like he found the weak link.”

She cringed deeper into the plush cushion of the chair like she’d time-traveled back into her childhood. He’d never been a mean father, but he always had high expectations. “You’re speaking like you think I betrayed the family,” she said when she finally found her voice.

“If you were sitting with that bastard,” Sam stabbed the photo with his forefinger. “then you betrayed this family.”

“Are you interested in my explanation?” She found a sliver of hidden bravery. For some time, she’d anticipated this moment. Now that it was here, she wanted the earth to engulf her.

“I’m afraid to hear the truth. Somehow, I think this is worse than I can handle.” He swallowed the contents of his glass in two gulps and slammed his glass down on the desk.

There was no way around the truth. “Kent and I were seeing each other for a short time—”

Sam’s groan came out like a disgruntled bear’s growl. “What has gone wrong in this picture? Out of all the men of Sagebrush Pine, in the world, you pick the slimiest rat in Wyoming?” More agitation appeared in his weathered features.

“Daddy, I know how this must look—”

“Can you? Can you?” He shook his head. “I’m not looking for an explanation.” His shoulders slumped. “I've done everything I know to do as a father, and I know it hasn’t been enough. I don’t know how often I’ve swept in and cleaned up a mess.”

“There’s no mess to clean up. I’m taking care of this one myself,” she said firmly.

“Is this your idea of cleaning up a mess?” He swiped up the picture, crumbled it in his hand, and tossed it into her lap.

“I know it looks bad, but Kent and I never talked of the ranch, or you. He’s only trying to ruffle your feathers by sending you this photo.”

“It worked.” He inhaled, his chest rose and fell like he’d run a marathon. “It’s time for each of you girls to start putting the needs of this ranch ahead of your personal needs. Sometimes I think you all enjoy seeing how many grey hairs you can put on my head.”

There were so many things that she could have said, but she didn’t. “I’ll take care of this,” she said in a soft voice.

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