Timtuk Canyon Ranch by Llewellyn A. J

Author:Llewellyn A. J. [Llewellyn A. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Tears sparked behind Smith’s eyes again. “My brother? He’s alive? How do you know him??”

Jones’ face clouded. “He’s alive. We’re just not sure where he is. Oh, I never meant to tell you this way. Come, sit with me in the library. I’ll keep it brief, because I have to run soon, literally. We’re still looking for him.”

Smith stumbled into the library and fell onto the sofa beside Jones.

Jones didn’t look at him as he said, “I’ve known your brother many years. Both of them, actually.”

Smith sat up straighter. “I have two brothers?”

Jones leaned forward, keeping his gaze on the floor. “Yes. Donatello and Rafferty.”

“Rafferty.” Smith snorted. “And she called me Smith.”

“I love the name personally.” Jones glanced at him with a small smile.

“But you don’t know where he is?”

Jones lifted his hands. “He went into hiding after there was an attempt on his life several months ago.”

Smith stared at him. “Why would somebody try to kill him?”

Jones got up then and paced the library. “Donatello is a powerful man. Many wish him harm.” He picked out a volume from the shelves, studied the spine a moment then returned it. “Donatello told me everything you just did. He, perhaps, has a slightly different perspective.”

“How so?”

“He thinks your mother is a saint.”

Smith couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Oh, yeah. She and Mother Theresa. Right up there, together.”

Jones looked at him as though his heart might break. “She left you with your father to protect you. From what I understand, he was abusing Donatello. You said so yourself. I can’t say much more now, but in spite of his terrible temper, your father loved you. He felt you could be molded into an image he could live with. He knew he couldn’t control Berlin or Donatello.”

My God. He knows my mother’s name. “Then she’s alive, too.”

Jones nodded. “She and Donatello stayed away from you all these years to protect you. Then, when your father started to lose his mind, Donatello thought he could reconnect with you, but then you met Hoss. And Donatello couldn’t reach you. Hoss made sure of it.”

“What? What does Hoss have anything to do with it?”

“I can’t say right now. But please, please trust me. I can and will protect you.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I have to go, but we’ll talk again in the morning.”

“But I have so many questions.”

Jones blinked. “Okay, ask me one.”

“How do you know my brother?”

Jones didn’t hesitate. “I work with him.”

“So he’s involved with animal rescue, too?”

“Very much so.”

Smith started to get it now. In the jungles he’d worked in over the years, he’d seen what people were capable of when they wanted to kidnap and resell endangered animals. They would kill wardens, volunteers, other animals... each other. The business of illegal wild animal trading involved a lot of money. And death.

“I really have to go.” Jones crossed the room and came back to him. “We’ll talk again.” He put his hand on Smith’s head. “What I really want to do, more than anything, is stay.

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