Page 67 of Deception

Madison rested her hand on her pistol. “I hadn’t thought about it, but if it bothers you, I’ll take it off.”

“I can as well,” Clayton said.

Her dad pinched the bridge of his nose. “No, I shouldn’t have said anything. How do you know each other?”

“We’re working a case together,” Madison said.

“Oh, good. For a minute there I thought...”

Madison hadn’t thought about it, but her dad would hate it if she married another ranger.

“I don’t think Madison has told me what you do ... sir.”

Hiding a smile, she turned to get cups for them. Clayton could hold his own with her father.

“I’m a corporate lawyer, and right now I’m representing a textile manufacturer who is thinking of opening a plant in Jackson.”

“That sounds good. We need the jobs in Mississippi,” Clayton said. He tapped the counter next to the caramel cake. “You did say we could cut this?”

“Yes.” She handed him three plates.

The pastor arrived not long after to pick up the food. Later the tension eased as her father warmed up to Clayton and his stories of speeders on the Trace, including hers. All too soon, Clayton rose to leave.

“Would you like for me to go with you to the funeral home in the morning?” he asked. “Unless Buddy or Joe is coming to help you.”

“I talked to my cousins earlier and they’re happy to let me handle everything.” For a blessed few minutes, she’d put all thoughts of the funeral from her mind. As well as the letter from her grandfather that she needed to read before she talked with Peebles. Madison had no idea whether she could even hold it together to make the arrangements, and she certainly didn’t want Clayton to see her come unglued again. “I’d rather go by myself.”

“I’ll accompany her.”

Her father’s words were like an iron fist clamping her lungs. “Why would you do that? You couldn’t stand Grandfather.” The thoughts in her head blurted from her mouth. She really needed to get a filter when it came to her father.

He had the decency to blush. “To make sure old man Peebles doesn’t take advantage of the situation like he did when your mother died.” He shook his head. “He way overcharged for his services.”

Her mother’s funeral had been a reflection of her personality. Quiet, beautiful, and tasteful. How would he even know what the service cost? She’d seen her grandfather write the check to Peebles without a complaint.

The thought of her father haggling over prices with Mr. Peebles ... Madison scratched a small welt on her arm. “I do not need or desire anyone’s help. It’s the last thing I’ll ever do for Grandfather.” She lifted her chin to look her father in the eye. “And I want to do it by myself.”

“I was only trying to help.”

“I know, but I’m a big girl now.” She shifted her gaze to Clayton, encouraged by the admiration in his eyes. “I appreciate both of your offers, but I can handle this.”

Clayton stopped at the door. “Call me if you need me.”

“Thanks. I’ll be busy the next few days, but keep me in the loop about Dani.”

“No problem.”

His favorite words. When the door closed behind him, the kitchen seemed empty, and she quickly cleared the bar of the plates and cups just to hear the noise. Which was ridiculous.

“If you don’t need anything else,” she said to her father, “I think I’ll go to bed.”

“Can we talk a minute before you do?”

“Can it wait? It’s been a very tiring day.”

“No, it can’t. Do you mind sitting back down?”

“Let me do something with these dishes first.” Madison used the time putting the stoneware in the dishwasher to calm her nerves. In the past, whenever her father wanted to “talk,” it never ended well.

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