Page 16 of Dark Side of the River

“Doesn’t that seem suspicious to you?” she demanded.

“It’s not that unusual since they are doing business here.”

“That plane was flying over the McKenna Ranch.”

“That isn’t restricted airspace.”

Her eyes widened. “Aren’t you going to at least ask the pilot if he saw something?”

“Of course I am. Tilly, what are you doing?”

“I’m trying to find out who shot my sister!”

“So am I, only I have the badge, I’m an officer of the law. It’s my job. I don’t want you investigating on your own, especially with Cooper.”

She drew back. “I beg your pardon?”

“He’s a McKenna, you’re a Stafford. I’m doing my best to keep a lid on this, but I shouldn’t have to tell you how your brothers would feel about your attempts to track down a possible killer with the man who found Oakley.”

She looked as if steam might come out of her ears. “What are you saying? You can’t believe that Cooper had anything to do with—”

“Of course not.” He held up his hands. “We already checked his guns. He doesn’t even own a 270, so he definitely did not shoot Oakley.”

“She was shot with a 270?”

He swore. “I misspoke. That information cannot get out.” He sighed. “Do we really have to talk about this tonight? I’ll talk to the pilot, see if he saw anything. I know what I’m doing.” Her look questioned that. He took a step toward her. “Tilly.”

She took a step back. “I can’t do this. Not tonight.” With that, she walked out, leaving him mentally kicking himself for getting into it with her. Was it Cooper he was angry with for coming back or for getting Tilly involved in the investigation? Right now? Both.

HOLDENCLEAREDHISthroat as he got to his feet. He’d gathered the family in his den. His daughter, Bailey, was staring at her phone screen. His youngest son, Duffy, was squirming after mumbling, “Let’s make it quick. I have a date.” Treyton had refused to sit and was now standing next to the fireplace, tapping the fingers of one hand impatiently on the mantel. Cooper was slumped in one of the chairs, fiddling with his Stetson balanced on one knee of his crossed legs, his mind clearly elsewhere.

His family, Holden thought, aware of the mistakes he’d made as a father. Worse, he feared he was about to make a huge one right now.

“I have some news,” he said, raising his voice to make sure he had all of their attentions. The problem was that he didn’t know how to say it, so he just blurted it out. “We’re going to have a new member in the family.”

Well, the blunt statement worked. They frowned at him, shared questioning glances at each other, then moved from him to Cooper.

“Who’d you knock up?” Treyton demanded of his brother.

“It isn’t one of you,” Holden said quickly, which brought their gazes back to him. Treyton swore and started to walk out. “It isn’t me either,” he said. He was doing a terrible job of this.

“Her name is Holly Jo Robinson. She’s twelve and she’s going to be living with us.”

“Why?” Bailey asked, glancing up from her phone. “Is she an exchange student or something?”

“Tell me she speaks English,” Treyton said.

“Too bad she isn’t old enough to date,” Duffy joked.

Holden had thought about telling them everything. He knew he was covering his bets by keeping the truth to himself until he saw how this was going to work out. That he was even thinking that filled him with shame. He’d made a promise years ago, one that he now questioned but, come hell or high water, he was bound to keep.

“Holly Jo lost her father, a man I knew, and now her mother has died. I promised years ago that I would help any way I could if I was ever needed.”

“Do you really think bringing her here to live on the ranch is the best way to help?” Treyton demanded.

“It’s what I’ve decided. I want you all to make her feel at home. I’ll be bringing her back here tomorrow. I’m depending on all of you to make this adjustment easy for her. Keep in mind, she’s lost both of her parents. Maybe we could show her a little compassion?”

“Sounds like a bad idea,” Treyton said. “But whatever. Shouldn’t we talk about Oakley Stafford?”

---