Family Pride: Love and Challenges by Deborah A Bailey

Author:Deborah A Bailey [Bailey, Deborah A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bright Street Books
Published: 2015-06-12T04:00:00+00:00

*****

Up at the house, six other jeeps like Donny's were parked along the gravel-covered driveway. Security guards sat in their vehicles, watching as Mac parked on the grass in front of the house.

Normally their duties consisted of watching over the property, or guiding visitors looking for the winery. On much rarer occasions they kept the peace when disputes between pride members got heated.

As he strode towards the house, the guards acknowledged him by inclining their heads, showing their deference to him as the eldest son of the pride leader. It didn't matter that Mac had no interest in taking over, his position as a dominant male in the pecking order commanded respect.

Mac opened the light blue front door and stepped into the main foyer. It looked the same as he remembered. A crystal chandelier hung like a pendant above the grey marble floor. In front of him, a winding staircase led to the bedrooms. Next to the stairs, sat a shiny black Baby Grand piano. No one knew how to play the thing. But it had a dramatic look that no doubt impressed a lot of his parents' business friends.

His father's study was off to the right next to the piano. The room was dark, as was the sitting room across from it. Sometimes it was hard to believe he'd grown up in this ornate mansion with his brother and parents.

Back in Bristol Hills, his mountainside home seemed very small compared to this. The other pride members inhabited smaller homes on the property, and at times Mac had wished he'd lived in more modest surroundings.

"Dad? Mom?" he called. "Anybody here?" His voice echoed through the empty space.

"Mac?" His mother was at the top of the stairs. She slowly descended, her eyes never leaving his. "I didn't expect you to come!" Her blonde hair was pulled back in a perfect bun, and her sleeveless, white dress was simple but obviously from the most expensive store in town.

Ellen rushed towards him, her arms outstretched. "Mac, I'm so glad to see you." She gathered him into her embrace and hugged him tight.

"Why didn't Dad call me, Mom? Donny just told me about Eldon's challenge." Mac breathed in his mother's perfume. It was sweet and flowery, just like she always wore.

"Mac, please don't be mad with him," she said. "He feels he has to be the one to stand up to Eldon. He's the leader and he can't show fear." She released him, but kept her hand resting on his shoulder. "Your father is stubborn and thinks he's still twenty instead of sixty. With his bad knees and his gout, he's not in any condition to keep up with these young lions."

"I know he's got to look strong, but this is dangerous. He can't fight Eldon."

"He never expected to have to fight a challenge at all," Ellen said, not hiding her annoyance. "Your father never agreed with the old ways and all the feuds and challenges that tore the older prides apart. He never wanted this.

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