Page 109 of Sheriff's City Girl

“And no one can account for his whereabouts,” Mason grunted, turning to Lucas while he held Jess. “That makes no sense.”

Lucas continued to shake his head as he wiped his face. “I don’t think you understand how much this damn ranch meant to that kid—he wouldn’t go setting the barn on fire. He’s not that kind of kid.”

“But he is troubled…” Mason reasoned, lowering his voice as the firefighters rushed past us. “He might be doing it for his dad…”

“But his dad isn’t in his life.” Lucas was glowering in the moment, his face bright red. “You just said that he was a good kid.”

“Maybe he’s just got us fooled,” Mason argued, his own voice growing frustrated. “Besides, we were just in that barn, Lucas. We were counting money, and had we not decided to take it up to the house, it all would’ve been burned up.”

“The fire started in the hay loft, not the office!” Lucas exploded. “I know Cody didn’t do it. I know he didn’t! Y’all are so caught up?—”

“Lucas,” Mason leveled with him. “He got caught with a gas can… It is what it is. If he didn’t set the fire, why did he have the gas can?”

“And when Jess asked him why he did it,” I added. “He said that he didn’t know.”

Lucas just shook his head at us and shoved past Mason. “Y’all can go. I’ll clean up the rest of this place on my own.” He stormed away, not even looking back as Mason stared on with his jaw on the ground.

“I don’t even know what to say…” Mason groaned, running his hands over his face. “We’ll have to wait and see if there was any accelerant used. Past that, I don’t know. It’s pretty cut and dry if Cody had a gas can.”

“Jackson said he did,” Jess sniffled, wiping the tears from her face. “I’m just glad none of the horses were in there. That would’ve been even worse.”

“Yeah,” Mason nodded. “But I think this fire was started in hopes of destroying the money that we raised tonight… Thankfully, that’s not what happened. Lucas will take the money to the bank first thing in the morning. He’ll pay them off and that will be that. This is all over. Cody was arrested, and he’ll just… He’ll just have to face the consequences of his actions.”

Jess stifled another sob. “I don’t… I don’t know why he did it. He doesn’t even like his family. He loves this ranch…”

“Sometimes things are just complicated,” I said softly, stroking her head as she hugged me again. However, the more I thought about it, the more all of the answers just… didn’t seem to add up. Had Cody really set the fire?

Or were we just missing something?

Chapter Forty-Eight

Mason

“Why the hell are you here?” Lucas demanded as I climbed out of my Bronco, taking in the sight of the leveled barn. I had heard that the fire had taken the whole thing… But I never imagined what was in front of my eyes now…

Which was just a leveled pile of steel and remnants of what was once a really nice barn.

“I’m just here to help you pick through it, and be here for you as a friend,” I said carefully, surprised that Lucas was still angry. “Have you taken the money to the bank yet?”

He shook his head. “I’ve been a little fucking busy, Mason.”

I winced at the sharpness in his tone, but continued to ignore it, stepping into the heaps of ashes. “I know. You gonna turn this one into insurance.”

“I don’t know if arson is covered,” he said, his voice falling and losing some of its edge. “I’m still waiting to hear from them, but I’ll take a damn burned barn over losing my ranch. At least that’s not gonna happen.”

I nodded, thankful for the positive outlook he had. “I think you’re right. I think that’s a positive side to this mess.”

“Okay, Dr. Phil,” Lucas chuckled, rolling his eyes at me. “Thanks for that affirmation.”

“You know… Even if Cody did this, there’s a chance that maybe he was just following orders from his dad or—” The sound of a vehicle pulling in cut me off, and both of us turned around to see a black SUV parking next to my Bronco.

“Great,” Lucas muttered. “I should’ve gone to the bank this morning.”

I didn’t understand what he meant until I saw Frank, the bank officer and none other than Brittany, climb out of the SUV. “What is she doing here?”

“She was the biggest offer on the ranch, so that’s probably what she’s doing here,” Lucas snapped at me, shaking his head as he went to greet them.

Well… this makes sense.

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