Page 12 of Deadly Revenge

“Thank you.” She’d never thought about the way other people viewed him. “He raised me after my mom died and can be somewhat of a micromanager ... bless his heart.”

Emma laughed. “That’s family for you. Joe is like ...” Her voice faltered. “My brother was like that as well.”

They arrived at the mailbox at the same time as her dad.

“I thought you might be here.” He turned his attention to Emma. “Mrs. Freeman, I’m so sorry about Joe and Katherine.”

He’d heard already? Cell phones must be buzzing in Russell County this morning.

Emma paled slightly. “Thank you,” she murmured and turned to Jenna. “If you don’t need me, I need to leave ... there’s so much to take care of.”

“Would you like their mail?” her dad asked.

“Oh yes, of course.”

He handed her a bundle of letters and advertisements. “If you’d like, I’ll leave their mail at your house until you decide what you want to do about it.”

“You’re so kind.” She turned to Jenna. “And you have been as well.”

A lump formed at the back of her throat, and she cleared it. “Thanks again for letting me into the garage. Someone will let you know if we need in again.”

Jenna waited until Emma was out of earshot before turning back to her dad. “How did you know?”

“Got a text that Joe Slater had a wreck. I didn’t know they’d died until I met the wrecker at the turnoff. The driver was making sure the SUV was tied down good. He told me, but I would’ve known anyway as bad as the Hummer looks.” A wince flashed across his face. “That’s a terrible way to go.”

“Yeah.” She started to ask him to run her down to her SUV, but his seats were full. Walking was good exercise, anyway. “How well did you know the Slaters?”

“Didn’t really know her, but I always thought Slater was a pretty good old boy when we coon hunted together. Of course, that was after we got past him voting for the dam project.”

“So you knew him pretty well?”

Her dad dipped his head. “I wouldn’t say well since it’s been a while. He quit hunting a couple of years ago and sold his dog. I would’ve bought the dog if I’d known he was for sale.” He shook his head. “He was a good dog.”

Her dad ought to know. Between him and his brother, Sam, they had the finest hunting dogs in the county and probably the state.

Her dad turned to Jenna. “Speaking of coon dogs, Sam and I have a young dog we’re training. Planning to run him up on Eagle Ridge tonight, if you want to tag along. There’ll be a couple of other dogs too.”

It’d been years since she’d gone with her dad and uncle to work their dogs. It’d been fun as a teenager, but now? Jenna wasn’t sure she wanted to trek through the woods half the night. Still, she might hear something about Joe Slater she wouldn’t learn knocking on doors. If it was like it used to be, gossip was one thing her dad and his hunting buddies excelled at. “What time?”

“Since we’re not hunting, we don’t have to wait all that late. We’ll leave the house about nine. Want me to drop by your place and pick you up?”

“No, I’ll drive to your place and follow you in my SUV,” she said. That way she wouldn’t be dependent on him for a ride home if the young dog didn’t come when called. She’d known of her dad staying out until daybreak tracking a dog in training.

Her dad nodded toward the house. “Can’t say I’m surprised to see you here.”

Jenna stilled. “Why’s that?”

Her dad shrugged. “I heard someone tried to run Harrison Carter off the road last week, and now this. Paul Nelson might want to watch his back.”

She frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“You wouldn’t remember, but the three of them did mighty well when that dam and reservoir went in.” He put his truck in gear. “Not everybody’s forgotten that.”

7

Max left the men talking about the Slaters and texted Alex that he was coming by. The information he’d learned about Slater, Carter, and Nelson piqued his interest even if it was from twenty years ago. He wanted to talk to Alex and anyone else who might have more information.

But mainly he wanted to see Jenna. He owed her a long overdue apology for that public kiss. The thought had gnawed at him ever since he’d seen her earlier today. But because he’d never tried to make it right, she might not accept his apology.

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