Page 89 of Deadly Revenge

“Nothing wrong with a healthy rivalry between brothers, but that’s not why I’d buy a dog.” This was the perfect opening to talk one-on-one. “Do you have time to talk to me about your dogs?”

“I always have time to talk dogs.”

“Good, but I’m sure the ladies aren’t interested. Why don’t we step outside?”

“Sounds good to me.”

Max caught Jenna’s eye. “I won’t be long.”

“I don’t know about that,” she said. “When Sam starts talking about his dogs, he doesn’t know when to stop. But it’ll give me time to visit with Granna.”

Without Sam’s interference—Max was pretty sure that’s what she was thinking. He followed the older man through the mudroom to the outside.

“Got one of my Brindle pups in the back of the truck if you want to see him.”

“I’d like that.”

“Wouldn’t have figured a city slicker like you to be interested in coon hunting.”

Max bristled at the label. “First of all, I don’t live in the city, and second, I grew up mucking stables and digging packed manure out of horse hooves.”

“Couldn’t tell it now.”

Max didn’t know whether to be offended or say thank you. Before he could respond either way, the air filled with a clamor of yelps from the back of Sam’s pickup.

“Quiet.” Sam’s command wasn’t loud, but it held authority.

Two of the dogs stopped immediately, but the third continued to bark. Sam grabbed a leash and opened the barker’s cage. “Still training him. He’s just a pup yet. Quiet, Watson.”

He snapped the leash on the dog’s collar and allowed him out of the cage. Watson danced in circles around Sam’s feet until he told him to sit. Dutifully the dog settled at his owner’s feet for about ten seconds and then he pranced again.

“Like I said, he’s still in training.”

The dog’s short coat was mostly brown with muted black stripes and a white diamond on his chest. Expressive amber eyes seemed to take everything in.

“He’s beautiful,” Max said. “When will he be fully trained?”

“Another couple of months.” Sam petted the dog’s head. “Taking him out for a training run with these other two tomorrow night ... if you want to come. There’ll be several other hunters with us—some of them I figure you want to talk to—they’re all former landowners who lost their land to the dam and reservoir.”

So Sam knew what they were investigating. What kind of cat-and-mouse game was he playing? “Okay if Jenna comes?”

This time Sam hesitated, then he gave a slow nod. “Just tell her not to find any more bodies.”

“Believe me, I don’t think that’s on her agenda.” Max eyed Jenna’s uncle. “Who do you think killed Paul Nelson?”

“It depends on what the motive is. Paul had a wandering eye when it came to the ladies, and it didn’t matter whether they were married or not. Some husbands might not take too kindly to that.

“On the other hand, he also was involved in a project that tookland that families had owned for generations. Anyone in those families could’ve killed him, me and Randy included.”

“Did you?”

Sam sat on the tailgate. “Nope. And Randy didn’t either.”

His voice hadn’t wavered, and his body language indicated he was telling the truth. Watson placed a paw on Max’s knee, and he knelt beside the dog and ran his hand over his back and sides. “Good muscle tone. How much you asking for him?”

“He’s not for sale, at least not yet. Just thought you might want to take a look at him for the future.”

“How much when he is ready?”

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