Page 53 of Deadly Revenge

Just as Max opened his truck door, Darby called out to him. “Make sure you have that girl’s back.”

Max half saluted. “Don’t worry, I will.”

Once he was in his truck, he watched the old man and dog until they rounded the curve. “Strange fellow.”

“I wish you could’ve known him before he withdrew from society,” Jenna said.

“That’s what I don’t understand. When I think of a hermit, I think of someone who hates being around people. That doesn’t exactly fit him—once we broke the ice, he was fairly sociable and seemed more wary than anything else.”

She slowly nodded. “And he does come in to town.”

“I think he knows a whole lot more than he’s telling about Carter.” Max had programmed Jenna’s address in his GPS and took a right when prompted. “He suggested we talk to your dad ... are you up for that?”

“Not today. And Alex told me to knock off early and get some rest.”

“I can drop you off at your house and talk to him myself.”

“No. I’d rather go with you—Dad has a tendency to talk too much sometimes. I would just as soon our suspicions didn’t become fodder for the gossips in Russell County,” she said.

Max trusted Jenna’s intuition, especially since he didn’t know her dad.

“Even better would be if we wait until tomorrow and stop by Granna’s. She’ll tell us more in a casual conversation than my father ever would, and she’ll keep it to herself. Besides, if she learns you’re in town and you didn’t stop by ...”

“I’d planned on stopping before I leave, but why can’t we stop now?”

She chuckled. “This is Tuesday afternoon. She plays bridge with the ladies in her church.”

“Then tomorrow it is.” He cast a side glance at Jenna. She’dleaned her head against the seat rest and closed her eyes. “You feeling okay?”

“Mm-hmm. Just resting my eyes.”

“How about your head? Still hurt?” She’d hit the floor this morning hard enough to raise a bump.

“It’s fine. Just missing my sleep from last night.”

“When we get to your house, you can nap while I dust for prints.”

“We won’t find anything. Whoever broke in was too smart to not wear gloves. Just let me relax a minute.”

Sometimes he didn’t know when to shut up. For the next fifteen minutes, the only sound in the truck was the automated voice of the GPS and Jenna’s even breathing. When he slowed to turn in her drive, she sat up and looked around.

“Are we here already?”

“Yep. Feeling better?”

“I am.” A text dinged on her phone. She checked it and groaned. “It’s from Kirk. Ace got out of his stall, and he won’t let Kirk catch him.”

“Who’s Kirk?”

“Bryan Bishop’s grandson. I board my horse at Bryan’s barn. This morning I asked the boy if he would feed and water Ace.” She looked at him. “You know, until after Saturday. I should’ve known better.”

“Can’t the grandfather—”

“No. He’s not in the best of health. My horse, my responsibility. There’s no need for you to hang around.” Jenna thumbed a text and then opened her door. “I’ll take care of this. Just have to grab my jeans and a T-shirt.”

“Jenna,” he said. “Going to the barn is the last thing you need to be doing.”

She jerked her head toward him, her eyes blazing.

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