The Last to Know

by Michel Prince

  Peering into the living room his brother sat lost in thought.

  Walt’s hand was stroking on his chin as he looked absently at his children playing on the floor while a cartoon sang a song

  Clay had the song seared in his brain thanks to his niece Nessa.

  Tina held a plate of food in front of his nose and he looked down at the five two hippie who’d stole his brother’s heart. With skin the color of honey and hair twisted in a way to make it bounce when she laughed, he couldn’t help having love for his sister-in-law.

  “How long has he been like that?” he asked.

  “You weren’t the only Long to skip dinner.” Tina sighed and retrieved the plate. “I thought I wouldn’t be losing dinner guests when you moved out and Sunny took your place. He’s always with Mel and…” Her eyes became lost as she stared broken hearted at Walter Sr. “Well, he’s been checked out lately.”

  “Where’s dad?”

  “He brought some of my cobbler down to MeMaw,” Tina explained as they sat across from each other at the table. “Brought Quinten down, so I could have a break. I swear that child crawls at ninety miles an hour.”

  “Not quite like Junior.”

  Tina turned to spy her seven year old who was guarding his coloring book like a prisoner ate his food.

  Junior was curled over the top with his arms surrounding the book. Nessa had a tendency to join in on the activity without asking. Nothing worse then a crime fighting superhero in neon pink. Even when she had her own books, his was more interesting. Thankfully, she was distracted with the big song and dance number as she recited in her broken three-year-old speech.

  “He tell you?” Clay asked as he sliced off a bite of roast and nodded his head toward his brother.

  “No, he’s been this way for a week almost.”

  The lamp cast a shadow, making Walt look older with fallen in cheeks.

  Tina sighed. “There’s a meeting next week with Federated Gas. Why don’t you pull rank and get it out of him?”

  “Exactly how do I outrank you?” Clay questioned with his hand covering his mouth. “You’re kinda at the top of the list.”

  “Not when it comes to ranch business.”

  “I’d call BS, but there are kids present.”

  “Clay, I’m scared.” Tina’s forehead furrowed. “Really scared. I don’t want my kids to be pincushions, but I’m scared of any change in behavior.”

  “You’ve got the filters, and we brought in outside dirt for your garden.”

  “I’m afraid to have them play outside.” Tears teetered on the edge of her eyes threatening to escape. “Then I think this whole house needs to be scrubbed down and gone over with a Geiger counter.”

  Reaching across the table, Clay covered her hand with his. “You’re not going to leave again, are you?”

  Again, she turned to gaze into the living room.

  “Tina, if you think he’s lost now, you should have seen him when you left with the kids.”

  “I didn’t leave him.”

  “This ranch is him. It’s all of us.”

  “JT left,” she reasoned.

  “I doubt he would have if Betsy still worked in El Paso.”

  “You suggesting I get a job somewhere else? I could you know.”

  “I have no doubt.”

  Between Tina’s degree, brains and drive all of the Long’s were nervous she would leave Walt out of a need to do more with her life. Yet she stayed and never complained until now. Poisoned land put a strain on more than wallets.

  “Quinten’s so little. His immune system…” Tina pulled back her hand and dabbed at her eyes.

  “He’s fine,” Walt bit out, making them all turn to see him as he pulled a chair out with a loud screech. “You got a plate for me?”

  “In the oven.” Tina jumped up as if she’d been caught doing something bad and placed his still warm plate in front of him. Tension chilled the whole room.

  “Heard there’s a meeting coming up,” Clay said as he stared at his brother across the table.

  “Nothing for you to worry about.” Gruff tone and no eye contact.

  Clay knew when he was being shut out. Babies of the family tended to be the last to know any and everything. Theirs was the first generation with so many kids and his father and uncle didn’t know how to deal with the corporation the Long Ranch had become. The feudal system had been the Long way for generations. Children were heir to the throne only this generation six heirs created a serf system. Between Clay, Monty and Melody the discussion of overthrowing the king happened more often then Miles and Walt even knew. Only JT broke his bonds and went on his own.

  As Clay watched, his brother seemed to age before him.

  After Tina set the plate before Walt, she placed her hand on his shoulder. His arm went around her waist giving her a little squeeze.

  Clayton flashed to his own parents and the same actions. Now, he understood the apology and body language shared between them.

  * * * *

  Savannah stood by her car with her arms resting on the roof. According to Aunt Teddy, the whole family would be arriving over the next few hours. Even a grandmother who’d walked away from the family years ago, but recently reconnected. The sun was setting behind the barns as purple, dusky pinks and just a few rays of yellow colored the skies. This was a tranquil place, almost to the point Savannah’s skin itched for action. Her phone chimed in her pocket and she retrieved it to see her mother’s number.

  “Hey ma,” she answered and turned to hop on the hood of her car.

  “Savannah, I went to the Discount Mart and they said you were fired,” her mother complained.

  Dang, what day was it? Could it be Wednesday already?

  Her mother continued, “How are you going to pay your rent, and don’t give me some line about picking up shifts at one of those bars. Where are you now?”

  Savannah scanned the horizon, unsure if she should tell her mother about her latest adventure. For some reason, she expected Savannah to never leave a ten mile radius. “Mom do you know a Conrad Winston?” Sure this conversation should have taken place before she left for New Mexico. Maybe right after the visit from the suit at the Discount Mart, but Savannah knew her mother’s least favorite subject was her father. Although raised Catholic, she wasn’t going to ever believe she was immaculately conceived no matter how many times it was brought up.

  “Where did you hear that name?” her mother asked in a hushed whisper.

  “You know him then?”

  “No.”

  “Did you know him for at least five minutes at one time in your life?”

  “Savannah Marie, how dare you speak to me like that! ” Her mother was never one to pull the ‘I’m your mom’ card out. They’d always been more like sisters than mother and daughter, but there were a few times when this card got played and not once had it been when Savannah had crossed a line. It only came out when her mother was caught.

  “Is he my father?”

  “I told you I never want to talk about that sperm donor.”

  “I’m in Tender Root. Conrad Winston has been killed. He set up a trust naming me as his daughter.”

  Mumbling came from the other end of the phone as she heard her mother saying prayers to herself.

  “Ma, was he my father?”

  “Killed? Did you say killed?”

  “One of his ranch hands is accused, at least that’s what I’ve heard.” Savannah gazed at the ground as her feet dangled off the side of her car. The journey had been more about getting the hell out of town for a few days, not some cathartic venture to obtain understanding for the family she never had. The only person she would ever believe when it came to who fathered her was her mother and her silence right now, spoke more than a thousand DNA tests. “He was my dad.”

  “We were young and drunk,” her mom confessed. “I didn’t remember his name. He never called me after that night. Savannah he ran into me about six months ago—if I would of known…He wan
ted me to introduce you to him when I told him about you.”

  “Why is this the first I’m hearing about him?” Savannah snapped. “Six months and nothing. We’ll ignore the twenty odd years when I asked repeatedly for a nugget of info on him. Really? Mom—”

  “It’s not like it is for you now. We couldn’t just push our phones together and be connected on twenty different sites. I gave him my number…at least I think I did, either way he never called. All I knew was his name was Connie and even that was fuzzy. If I hadn’t of gotten pregnant I might of convinced myself I was a lesbian for a few hours.”

  “I never knew my father because you were too good to get his number.”

  “Good, tipsy, whatever. Look, I ran into him and instantly, we sparked again—”

  “Let me guess in a few months I might have a sibling.”

  “Not like that…well a little like that, but Savannah, I’m a different person, he’s a different…he was different. I barely recognized him. He’d aged so much. What were you saying about Tender Root? What’s that? Please say you’re not working in a new bar.”

  “Tender Root, New Mexico, I thought you might of known where he was from.”

  “Not a clue. I thought I lost him in Dallas. Why are you there? Did you say something about a trust?”

  “He set up a living trust for me and I’ve been told I get his ranch.”

  “Oh, my God,” her mother shrieked. “Was he some rich cattle baron or something?”

  “Not by the looks of it.” Savannah scanned the property again, as the sun leaked enough light to create a silhouette of the buildings. Her mind flickered through old westerns and pictures of ghost towns. Dangling shingles and loose boards stuck out what would be a smooth landscape. “Maybe when you knew him.” Savannah had a need to validate her mother who’d raised her on her own. It wasn’t as if Savannah didn’t know she was the result of a lack of birth control, but at least her mother could know Conrad Winston wasn’t a loser that ended up in jail.

  Savannah turned after the sound of rocks spitting from under a vehicle caught her attention and she saw dust rising in the air as a newer silver SUV tore down the road before turning into the driveway. “Mom I have to go.”

  “Savannah, please call me back. I want to know everything. Do you need me there? I should be there?” Her mother spoke without taking a breath. “Savannah are you okay?”

  “Mom, I’ll be fine.”

  “New Mexico? That’s another state,” her mother continued to ramble.

  Savannah barely listened as she saw a man watching her from behind the wheel of his car and her heart started to thump in her ears. Uncle Patty she assumed. The woman in the passenger seat had her hand over her mouth as tears flowed down her cheeks.

  “Savannah. Savannah. Savannah!” her mother yelled over the phone.

  “Mom I’m fine, I’ll be fine, Conrad had family, lots of it.”

  “Then why would he give you a farm?”

  “Ranch, and by family I meant brothers and sisters, not kids.”

  “I’m coming there now. Tell me the name of the town again.”

  “Mom, no.”

  “They’re going to tear you apart, I’ve seen it happen before. Family’s and money don’t mix.”

  “There’s no money.”

  “There’s land, land is money. You’re too young to understand.”

  “And obviously, you’re too old to listen.”

  “Savannah Marie Georgio.” Full name, never a good sign.

  “Mom I really need to go,” Savannah said. “I love you.” She quickly hung up before her mom could protest more, maybe she should take out the battery before her mom contacted the police to turn on the GPS tracker. She wouldn’t though…Savannah tried to convince herself that was the case, but with her mother anything was a possibility.

  A woman in a long peasant skirt with varying shades of peach stepped out of the van. With slouched cowboy boots and a thin tunic top with intricate stitching, all Savannah saw was an old hippie still living the dream. At least she knew who she could score weed off of. Not really the grandma she imagined. Only the silver hair and wrinkled tan skin showed her spot in the hierarchy of the clan Winston.

  “Savannah,” she exclaimed giving Savannah a tight hug.

  One that Savannah didn’t know how to return.

  She smiled then stepped back while keeping her hands on her upper arms. “Let me look at you my darling child. Such horrible news about your father, but I can see him deep in your eyes.”

  “You can?” she asked still not a hundred percent her assumptions were right.

  “Grandma Dorothy. My goodness, all my other grandchildren are so young compared to you. I feel ninety just looking at you. My Connie was full of secrets, never would I have believed you were one of them.”

  “He didn’t know. At least my mom told me, he only found out a few months ago.”

  “Convenient to say the least,” Uncle Patty said before spitting on the ground by the tire. “Mighty convenient you showing up after he’s dead.”

  A chill ran down Savannah’s spine and Grandma Dorothy reacted instantly as she rubbed away the chill bumps on Savannah’s arms. “Hush now Patty, this child is your blood.”

  “Yet to be proven.” His piercing blue eyes bit at her from under his cowboy hat. “I don’t know what scam your mama was running on Connie, but dipping his wick don’t mean something sticks.” Spitting more of the chaw from his mouth at the tire he crossed to her, the warmth and acceptance from Aunt Teddy was not reflected in all the members of the Winston’s. “My daddy bought this ranch for us—”

  “Then you should have stayed and worked it, instead of leaving everything to Connie,” his mother scolded. “I swear, the men and their allegiance to a plot of dirt not worth more than a human being and yet…” Dorothy made a fist and held it to her lips as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, today should be a happy day.” Taking Savannah’s hand in hers she pulled her inside the house. “It’s getting dark and no matter what they tell me, I’m not about to be eaten by a coyote.”

  “Mom I swear—” Patty began.

  “Not in front of me.” Dorothy turned and faced her son dead on. At five eight with long silver hair to his six three and thick black hair she should have been intimidated, but she was his mother.

  Then instead of continuing his rant, he silenced and held the door open for the two women.

  “Teddy. Teddy please tell me there’s food, I’m famished.”

  “I did make a salad for you. The rest of us will eat real food,” Teddy said as she gave her mother a hug and kiss on her cheek. “I suppose I should of checked with you. You’re not a vegan are you? Allergies?”

  “The only PETA card I have is for the People Eating Tasty Animals society.”

  “Good.” Teddy smiled. “Burgers all around.”

  Chapter Three

  Waking in a strange bed was nothing new to Savannah, not from sleeping around, but lack of a permanent residence. Making rent was the least of her problems. Security deposits and no desire for roommates, her mother included, had made her a vagabond. She had friends, well acquaintances really, who were good for a place to crash for a day or two. Excuses abounded as she found ways to never really say why she needed a place on their sofa. Although, a full bed was a nice change, fresh sheets courtesy of Aunt Teddy was also something she might have to think about in the future.

  Never one to snoop, she got up to find coffee already percolating and her grandmother looking out the kitchen window.

  “This view hasn’t changed in forty years. You’d think something would have,” her grandma mused. “I like change, a bit too much.”

  “Guess that’s why you had five kids.” Savannah yawned and poured herself a cup of coffee.

  “Not one the same.” Her grandma turned to look at her.

  Savannah suddenly felt a bit self conscious as she released her hair, then pulled it back up into a slightly less bed head bun.

>   “Your father for instance, maybe because he was the oldest, reminded me of Jack, your grandfather.”

  “How so?”

  “Dependable to a fault. Probably why he wanted to provide for you after so many years. I’m sure it killed him to not have known you when you were younger.” Grandma Dorothy freshened her cup of coffee. “You had a good childhood right?”

  “Yes,” Savannah lied a bit. She was raised well and not until she was older did she learn that people didn’t move from apartment to apartment all their life. All low income housing, though her mother tried to get in when the apartments were new and move out as soon as they started to go down in safety and quality. She knew her mother had only half portions of food most days and skipped lunches until she got the job at the grocer. Then overnight, their fridge was full and her mother no longer looked like a waif, but that wasn’t what a grandma wanted to hear. Especially, not this one.

  “Good to know. I had called Connie soon after he found out about you. Just to check in, not anything more, probably our best conversation to date.” She smiled at Savannah. “Thanks to you. A little fighting, which was par for the course, then understanding. I never wanted to leave my kids, but I had no choice.”

  Who divulges personal info to a practical stranger? Savannah felt the same uncomfortable gut tightening she always felt when people reached out to her. Outside of her mother, she didn’t care about people. Investing in them had backfired enough times in the past that she wasn’t about to get burned again.

  “You think you’ll stay here?” Grandma Dorothy asked capturing Savannah who hadn’t even realized she’d began backing out of the kitchen. “Or sell it outright?”

  “When’s your DNA test scheduled for?” Patty asked as he stormed into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. “You don’t think we’re just going to give away our family’s home?”

  “Patrick,” Grandma Dorothy scolded. “You may have any thought you want, but tell it to the cows.”