Love Unclaimed by Jennifer Benson Read Free Book Online Page A

punch his father right in the mouth.
    “Father, please don’t speak ill of Audree. She is a nice girl, and it was Mom’s wish for her to have the parcel. Please just let it be,” he pleaded.
    “Your mother had no right to give that girl anything. She has enough of her own family’s land. There was no reason for her to give her any of ours,” he said, raising his voice.
    “It was Mom’s family’s land, and she wanted Audree to have it.” Gavin raised his voice, which he tried to control around his father, but when he spoke about Audree, his control was limited.
    “Bullshit! It was land that belonged to her own children … and don’t raise your voice at me boy. I’m still your father!”
    “Is that what you were discussing in town with her yesterday? On her birthday?” Gavin sighed in frustration.
    “I simply told her that I would be getting that land back into my family one way or another, as well as procuring even more. The girl is a spoiled child. Spencer and Talia spoiled her and she has no respect for her own land.”
    “You couldn’t be any more wrong about Audree or her parents.” Gavin could feel himself getting angrier and angrier.
    “How dare you defend that girl in my house !”
    “Do you know why you haven’t seen me in almost a year, Father?” Gavin stood up. “It is because I cannot stand to be here anymore. I cannot stand to be in this house.”
    “How dare you!”
    “This stopped being any type of home when Mom died. Hell, even before that. She was at least here. Did you know that Travis has not lived in this house in almost a year and that he graduated high school almost a month ago?”
    “I would have…”
    “You should have known. You didn’t even show up, but do you know who was there to support him? The Edwards. They were there to support their daughter and your son.” Gavin took a step closer to his father’s desk, and for the first time looked him right in the eye and pointed his finger at him. “Audree knows more about ranching and farming first-hand than you will ever hope to know. Her family taught her what it takes to be a rancher and a farmer. She could run her whole family’s farm by herself while you sit here behind your desk judging a girl you don’t even know. Did you know not only did she receive full ownership of Mom’s parcel, but that her parents have already given her and Clint deeds to their share of their land too? You will never get your hands on any of her land ever !”
    “Who the fuck do you think you are talking to?” His father jumped out of his chair and was around the desk in seconds.
    “I’m talking to the man who I will do everything in my power to keep off the Edwards’ land.” Gavin turned and was now face to face with his father. Malcolm Montgomery had only about an inch or so of height over his son, but Gavin had bulk from his days of working the Edwards’ farm and working out at school.
    “So did you fuck her before or after the birthday cake?”
    “Are you out of your fucking mind?” This was the second time Gavin had ever raised his voice to his father, let alone cursed at him. He wished he had done it years ago, like when his mother was beginning to feel ill and his father told her it was nothing. It had taken her being so sick that she ended up in the hospital for a month to get it through his thick, stupid, selfish head that his wife was really sick and, in fact, dying.
    “Don’t act all innocent with me, boy. I know you have been sniffing around her as much as she has been sniffing around you since you were little.” He took a step back and laughed. “She would have dropped her panties for you in a heartbeat if only you’d asked.” He wiggled his finger at Gavin. “But after all, you are your mother’s son.” He laughed again. “You would have waited until she was of age out of respect for her family, which was last night, so I am simply asking if you waited until before or after the cake.” He moved back behind