Colton's Secret Son. Carla Cassidy

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      “Why are you telling me all this?” Knox asked.

      “Because she has a good life here and I don’t want you to blow into town and screw things up for her before you leave once again and she has to pick up all the pieces.”

      “I have no intention of screwing anything up for her. I just want a relationship with my son,” Knox replied firmly. “Thorne, you have a great relationship with your father. You don’t know what it’s like not to have one in your life, but I do and I want better for Cody.”

      “Don’t be a father to him for as long as you’re back in town and then forget about him when you return to Ranger life,” Thorne advised.

      “I don’t want to be just a vacation father. I want to be in his life in a meaningful way until the day I die.” Knox’s heart swelled with love for the boy he had yet to really know.

      Thorne grinned. “Then congratulations, it’s a boy.”

      Knox laughed. “Thanks. I’m picking him up tomorrow and I thought I’d take him over to your father’s place. I figured maybe we could throw a couple of lines into the pond and do a little fishing.”

      “You know Dad would love to see you,” Thorne replied and stood. “I’m surprised Allison agreed to letting you take him.”

      “I threatened her with lawyers,” Knox admitted.

      “Whew, you must have been mad. And now I need to get back out to the barn. I’ve been cleaning tack all morning.” Knox stood as well and on impulse gave his half brother a quick man hug.

      “What was that for?” Thorne asked in surprise.

      “For the hard talk and good advice.”

      “Anytime,” Thorne replied and then he headed out the back door.

      Knox sank back down at the table, his thoughts on his younger half brother. Knox had been five when Thorne had been born, but it hadn’t taken him long to realize Thorne didn’t look exactly like him. Instead, Thorne had the same dark skin and curly hair as their African-American ranch foreman, Joseph “Mac” Mackenzie.

      Rumors had flown in the small town, and Livia, with her usual wicked machinations, had thrown her husband at the time under the bus. She’d transformed Wes Kingston, the father of her son River, from a dashing rancher to an abusive husband who eventually divorced her. Mac had stayed on as foreman at the ranch to be near his son. He’d even bought some of the land to ensure that he’d never be displaced.

      Wes Kingston hadn’t been the last of his mother’s lovers or husbands, and each one had left her financially better off until she was one of the wealthiest people in the area.

      Her last husband, Fabrizio Artero, had been a successful Argentine horse breeder. He’d been a decent stepfather and had doted on Jade until he’d been kicked in the head by a horse and died.

      Knox got up and moved to the window to stare out at the pastures in the distance, his thoughts still consumed by the woman who had given birth to him.

      Livia hadn’t made it into the inner society circles in Austin, but here in Shadow Creek she’d ruled as queen. She’d built a much-needed hospital, had funded most of the 4-H program and had thrown elaborate barbecues that had been the talk of the town.

      Nobody had known the depths of Livia’s deceptions until she was arrested and indicted on charges of human and drug trafficking, among other crimes. Nobody had known that she’d been a ruthless general working for an organized crime group. She’d even been found guilty of murder.

      She’d been under investigation by the FBI for years and they’d finally gained the evidence they needed to put her away forever. La Bonne Vie, the family’s beautiful mansion, their land and all the livestock had been confiscated by the authorities. The place had remained vacant since then.

      Knox could only hope the authorities would find Livia as quickly as possible and get her back behind bars where she deserved to spend the rest of her life. He hoped his mother didn’t even know that he was back in Shadow Creek.

      He turned away from the window and shoved thoughts of his mother out of his head. She wasn’t his problem anymore, other than the fact that her latest escapades had screwed up his job for now.

      He went down the hallway to the bedroom where he was staying and sat on the edge of the bed as thoughts of a different woman filled his mind.

      Allison Rafferty.

      His blood warmed as he thought of how the sun had sparked in her hair. For a moment he imagined he could smell the apple and spice scent she’d always worn, the fragrance that had once represented tangled sheets, sweet sighs and lovemaking.

      She’d been in his blood for years. She’d been his first lover and he’d once thought they would be together forever. There had been other women during the times they’d been broken apart, but none had touched him like she had.

      He jerked himself off the bed. He didn’t want to sit around and think about Allison and what they had once shared. She wasn’t the woman he’d once believed was good and pure. Hell, half the reason he’d left town in the first place was to shield her from any evil his mother might bring to her life.

      She was nothing more to him than a woman who had lied, who had kept the secret of his son for far too long. He’d have to deal with her because of Cody, but he would never, ever forgive her.

      * * *

      The next day, Allison watched the spring sunshine flood through one of the beautiful stained glass windows of the First Methodist Church of Shadow Creek. Reverend Johnson stood at the pulpit and droned on with his sermon about turning the other cheek and forgiveness, but Allison was too busy praying to pay much attention to what he had to say.

      In less than an hour Knox would pick up Cody and spend the day with him. She prayed that Knox would keep his promise and not tell Cody that he was his father. She hoped Knox was in this for the long term and she desperately prayed that he wouldn’t break her son’s heart.

      She’d never prayed as hard as she did now, with Cody wiggling in impatience next to her and a wealth of anxiety pressing tight in her chest.

      She should have told Knox no. She should have held her ground and not allowed him to spend any time with Cody. Now it was too late to go back on it because she’d already told Cody, who was excited about spending time with Knox.

      Normally after church she and Cody lingered and visited with friends and neighbors, but today they hurried to the car immediately after the service was over.

      “I can’t wait for Knox to pick me up,” Cody said as soon as she was on the road and headed home. “I’ve never been to Mr. Mackenzie’s ranch before. What do you think we’ll do there?”

      “I don’t know. But I’m sure whatever you do, you’ll have fun,” she replied. “And you know how nice Mr. Mackenzie is.”

      “Yeah, he’s cool. Knox is really cool, too. Did you know he’s a Texas Ranger?” Cody’s voice held all the excitement of a boy anticipating a brand-new adventure.

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