“I came alone.”
“What, no driver? No lawyers and aides and press people? Tell me you didn’t leave the house without your royal ass-wiper!”
Richard shoved his hands into his pockets and stared at his shoes. This little get-together was going nowhere, and if he couldn’t find a way to defuse the old guy’s rage, then the trip would have been a waste of time. It might even make things worse.
Richard raised his gaze to Charlie’s reddened face. “I chose Christina over my career and reputation. Her safety was so important to me that I went public with my paternity, though it might very well cost me my political future and my marriage.”
Charlie tipped his chin, frowning. “Is that why you’re here? To tell me how inconvenient it’s been for you since you stole my granddaughter?”
“I was alluding to the fact that the media exposure has been tremendous already, and I am optimistic we’re close to finding her.”
“Ayuh, I have a TV, Wahlman. I saw how they’re tracking down Evelyn like some kind of terrorist, and I caught your little dog and pony show, too.”
“Please, Mr. McGuinness.” Richard made his voice as soothing and understanding as he could. “I only came to check on you.”
“Check on me?”
“Yes, I was concerned about how you’re holding up. I know you must be worried sick about her. I know I am. I can barely sleep.”
It happened fast—Charlie planted a left to his gut and right cross to his cheekbone. Richard hit the hard-packed dirt with a thud. He lay there stunned, mute, trying to get his lungs to work again.
“I’ve had the idea of doing that since the day we got served with your paternity claim, you slimy bastard!”
Richard opened one eye to see the old farmer staring down, nostrils flaring. He looked as if he were about to kick him just for the hell of it.
“You come up here from away, pushin’ your case through like you did, runnin’ us over before we knew what hit us, with your high-priced lawyers and your demands, just like you were king of the hill! You should be ashamed of yourself!”
Richard tried to speak but he couldn’t get enough air.
Charlie pointed down at him. “How am I holding up? Are you joking, man? Look at me!” He waved his arm around the barn. “I have lost every single member of my family! I am by myself in this world and my heart has broken! My neighbors and friends feel so sorry for me that my house is stacked to the rafters with floral arrangements and casseroles!” Charlie’s face twisted with pain and his chin bunched up. The old man began to cry. “All my girls are gone.”
“I—”
“By God, man, shut up and listen for once!” He rubbed his eyes, trying to pull himself together. “Losing Ginny nearly killed me, but I had my two daughters to live for, and we made a happy life. And then four years ago, I was blessed enough to become a grandfather. Do you know Christina looks just like my wife?”
“No. I—”
“Of course you don’t! You don’t know anything about my beautiful family, and that’s the worst part of it all. You are just some stranger who’s walked in and destroyed our lives—first you hurt my dear Amanda, and now you’ve put Evelyn and Christina in a horrible, unfair position. Damn ya!”
Charlie spun on his work boots and marched off, leaving Richard on his back in the dirt. He turned his face enough to watch Charlie disappear down the slope of the hill, and tried to assess the damage. That crusty old lobster had the strength of a man half his age. Richard brushed his fingertips along his cheekbone and pulled back with a gasp. It hurt like hell, and might even be broken. As for the rest of his body, he was most worried about the stitches from his bypass surgery. He was essentially healed, but his doctor hadn’t yet given him clearance to play squash, let alone engage in hand-to-hand combat.