While Castillo went to see his father, his second in command, Heavy Harry (his legal name as well), got to work to fight Bess's legal nonsense. He was also a ferociously shark like attorney who knew the legal system inside and out. He was also very good at poking holes in his opponents' arguments. So, naturally, as soon as he was handed my latest legal tangle, his eyes all but lit up with glee, and I could almost hear the cogs turning in his head. "Has she got a bill of ownership?" he asked me that sunny Sunday afternoon.
I shook my head. "I've never seen it," I said, "and I sure as hell don't plan to go back to Mountain View to find out. You and I both know Bess won't let me go."
"Then you won't go," Harry said. "But I do know a man who knows a man, who knows someone else."
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Harry's man, who knew a man, who knew someone else, returned two nerve-jangling days later with some good news. Using slick talk, he'd wheedled the truth out of Bess - all the while pretending to be on her side. After a couple of drinks, Bess had fessed up and admitted Potato wasn't even legally hers - she'd made that up to try and bring me to heel. Harry's man-who-knew-a-man-who-knew-someone-else made the appropriate sympathetic noises, told her he understood her completely, and offered to represent her so she could get the "official paperwork done". Bess leapt at the opportunity, and she happily handed over the necessary fee to get the deed done. Harry's man-who-knew-a-man-who-knew-someone-else then came home, and instead got an official bill of ownership with my name on it, using Bess's money to pay for the deed. I'd been able, in the meantime, to obtain veterinary records to prove I'd been the main - and sole - caretaker of Potato, so it wasn't hard to get the new bill of ownership drawn up and signed. Of course, it was just a bit of paper, but it was a very important piece of paper, and once I had it, I left one copy with Harry, and sent a second copy to Billy Bob back in Atlanta. I uploaded another copy to the cloud storage on my phone, Castillo's computer, and finally, locked the original copy in a fire safe I'd purchased in Richmond.
With the legal paperwork settled, we then sat back and waited for the fireworks.
We weren't disappointed.
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Returning to the circus a few days later, I sighed when I saw Hank's Buick parked right before the entrance, and the man himself, arguing furiously with Castillo. He didn't like it at all when Castillo produced the new bill of ownership, and when He saw me, his eyes almost seemed to catch fire as he came stalking over to me. "You're gonna pay big, girl," he warned, glaring down at me. "I oughta have shot you."
"Well, too bad, so sad," I said. "Potato is now mine in every sense of the word, so if you want to drive back to Mountain View in one piece, I suggest you leave."
Hank opened his mouth, and then shut it again as two of the strongmen approached. They didn't say anything, and they didn't need two - each of them made three of Hank, and they looked capable of snapping him in two like a twig. Hank wisely retreated to his Buick, but not without a parting gift; as he left, he gunned the engine, leaving us all coughing in the dust he left behind. "Asshole," I muttered, before giving Hans and Christopher a grateful nod. They smiled, nodded, and then strolled into the compound, talking eagerly about the latest knitting patterns their grandmother had sent over from the United Kingdom. I smiled as I walked over to Castillo, who nodded as he put the precious piece of paper away. "How'd the visit go?" I asked. 42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LSkUCOqBh
"We've reconciled," Castillo said, smiling sadly. "We had a difference of opinion over...hell, I can't even remember. Anyways, we sat and talked it out, and by the time I left, we were both sobbing like babies." He sighed. "At least now I won't have that hanging over my head when he finally kicks it. He's got about a week now, but he dies happy he reconciled with me, and I can rest knowing that we've mended fences."
I resisted the urge to put a hand on his arm, instead giving him a sympathetic look as we weaved our way through the crowds, all gawping at the sights that surrounded them. Potato whickered in greeting as we approached the wagon, and I smiled as I rubbed his back. "Hello to you too, spud," I said, laughing as Potato then imperiously butted Castillo's hand, tail swishing slightly in demand. Castillo smiled as he obliged, but the sadness was still present in his eyes, and Potato whickered sadly as he left, shoulders bowed. I sighed as I watched him go, wishing there was something I could do to ease his pain, knowing there was nothing I could do, not without exposing his identity. No one in the circus would betray us - it was the crowds of people streaming through and taking in all the sights that put me on edge. 42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2xr3AHivp
Potato butted me in the back, bringing me out of my reverie, and I sighed. "No," I said. "We've got to be careful, spud. I wouldn't put it past either of those assholes to have spies infiltrate the crowd."
Potato butted me again, harder, and I swung around to chastise him. The words died in my throat, however, when I saw Bess and Rob, and my face paled as they spied me. Their faces hardened, and Potato laid his ears back. Bess gave him a contemptuous look, and Rob sniffed. "Where's the ringmaster?" he demanded. "I've got business with him."
"Busy," I said. "You can leave a message and someone will pass it on."
Rob snorted. "Nice try," he said. "I need to speak with him personally. One of my old cronies had a visit this afternoon, and according to the gossip, they've made up after a falling out ten years ago, a falling out which ... caused the son to leave Orange and relocate to Mountain View."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6xF80Bj5c
I felt the blood run cold in my veins, and Rob smirked at my dismay. "We know his secret," he said, his voice as cold as the ice now shooting down my spine. "His father was most pleased that his son had decided to put their differences behind them, but, as you can imagine, that's put a spanner in my plans."
"Ah, Robert."
We all turned, and there was Castillo, arms folded as he glared daggers at Rob. Rob just glared back. "Do tell," Castillo went on, his voice dangerously soft, and I took the opportunity to scamper into my wagon, only for Bess to follow me. As she shut and latched the door, I heard Rob and Castillo's voices raise in furious argument, but Bess slammed the shutters closed, cutting the fight off.
"You don't need to hear that," she said coldly. "You and I have things to discuss, starting with that stupid horse of yours."
"If this is about the bill of ownership, forget it," I said angrily. "Potato is mine in every sense of the word. You can't take him from me now."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlFs4whzJV
"Oh, it's not Potato I want," Bess said. "You can keep the useless little spud for all of me. It's you I want."
"You're not dragging me back to Mountain View," I said. "I'd rather die than let myself fall into your hands again."
Bess chuckled. "Oh, you'll change your tune soon enough. In fact, you can change it now." Her eyes went to my belly, and I shivered as I instinctively covered it. The slight swell was a dead giveaway if you knew where to look, and Bess's eyes were hard and greedy as she looked back at me. "I guess Jesse doesn't fire blanks after all," she went on. "How far along are you?"
"That's for me to know and you not to find out," I said. "And besides, Castillo really does fire blanks. This baby is Harry's." It wasn't, but there was no need for Bess to know the truth. It wasn't like she could go and get Castillo tested. "But that's not your concern," I went on. "You're not getting your hands on my child, now or ever."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaOPO5RrmQ
"I did say I'd cut any brat you bred out of your belly," Bess warned. "I can do that now if I want, but ... well, Jesse would eviscerate me on the spot if I laid a hand on you. So here's what's going to happen. You're going to tell me the second you go into labor. And if you think of hiding in some backwoods village to give birth, forget it. I've got contacts in every major hospital, and they've all been instructed to keep their eyes out for you. Your description is being passed the length and breadth of the United States, and every doctor's office with a pretence to gyneacology is on the lookout for when you arrive. As soon as you show up, they'll let me know, and they'll make sure I have all your medical records, from the first ultrasound to the moment you spit that brat out. Then I'll take him or her home, and you will never lay eyes on them again, until they're all grown up."42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXx8mBuouPC
I knew she was bluffing; she didn't have the power to do as she'd just threatened. All our lives she'd used these grandiose threats to try and bring to heel, and I stiffened my spine. "No," I said. "Not happening. Not now, not ever. This is my baby, Bessie Jane. You want a baby so badly, go fuck your husband more often."
The door to the wagon crashed open, and I went pale when I saw Castillo standing there, his eyes dark with fury as he glared daggers at Bess. "Your husband is being carted out as we speak," he told her in a deathly quiet voice. "Go before I have you suffer the same fate."
Bess went white as a sheet and did as she was told. Castillo watched her go with a level, flat expression, before turning to me. "You, my wagon, now."
His tone brooked no argument, and I followed him out, heart pounding. He was Not Happy at all, and I shivered, wondering what sort of fresh hell I'd stumbled into.
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