Page 24 of Dark Side of the River

“Related to Holden McKenna?”

“He’s my father.”

Tick nodded, his smile evaporating quickly before he turned to Tilly. “It’s been a pleasure. Can I buy you a drink?”

She declined. Tick returned to the redhead, and she and Cooper left.

“Well, that was fun,” he said as they reached their trucks. He looked over at her. “It’s been a pleasure,” he drawled.

She laughed as she watched him go to his pickup and leave. They’d learned little today, and yet it hadn’t felt wasted. She wondered if he would have agreed.

As she climbed behind the wheel, she looked in the Cattleman Café windows where they’d had breakfast. Like then, there were people looking in her direction. Hers and Cooper’s. She was sure the two of them were already the talk of the town. She could feel her ears burning as she started the engine, put the truck in gear and pulled away. What could they say other than that she and Cooper had been seen together? Big deal.

But she did wonder what Cooper’s father would have to say once the gossip reached him. Unfortunately, she knew exactly what her mother’s reaction would be, no matter how innocent their interaction had been.

THESHERIFFHADbeen down the street when he’d seen Tilly’s pickup go by with a large male shape in the passenger seat. He hadn’t seen Cooper’s face. He didn’t need to. It was him.

He’d sworn as Tilly had parked at the café next to Cooper’s truck. Stuart had seen Coop’s vehicle there first thing this morning. Which meant it had been there all morning. At the time, there’d been no sign of Tilly or her rig. He’d realized when he’d seen them returning from wherever they’d been that the two of them had been together this whole time.

Stuart had told himself, blood pressure rising, not to make a big deal out of it. He’d told himself to drive on past, wave if they spotted him. But he hadn’t been able to move from where he was parked. He’d sat, waiting for Cooper to get out of her pickup and go to his own. As sheriff, he was under so much pressure already that he didn’t need this. He didn’t have time to be worrying about Tilly. Not to mention Tilly and Cooper. What were they thinking? Right now he was trying hard to keep Oakley Stafford’s shooting from turning into all-out war between the families.

He’d had CJ in his office earlier, demanding to know if he’d caught the shooter. He’d also had Treyton bitching about the McKenna Ranch crawling with cops and him demanding to know when it was going to end.

With relief, he’d seen Cooper finally get out of Tilly’s pickup, but then she’d gotten out as well. He’d thought he would lose his mind as the two of them had walked across the street to the hotel. What the hell? He’d told himself to drive off, but he couldn’t. Instead, he’d glanced at his watch.

This couldn’t be what he thought it was. He was still mentally kicking himself for his argument with Tilly. He shouldn’t have brought up Cooper. Tilly had thought he was just being jealous. He wished that hadn’t been true. Tilly and Cooper. He kept thinking about that one time... Now the two had gone into the hotel together in broad daylight. What was he supposed to think? Was Tilly doing this to defy him or—

He’d checked his watch as the two came out of the hotel. They hadn’t had enough time to even register, let alone go up to a room. His relief had him nauseous. What had he been thinking?

Tilly had admitted that she and Cooper were doing some investigating into the case. That alone was maddening enough. Neither of them had any experience. What was it they thought they could uncover that he couldn’t?

But her hanging out with Cooper? He didn’t even think that she liked him.

Stu tried to tamp down his irritation and worry as, up the street, Cooper climbed into his truck with no more than a goodbye to Tilly. She got into her own, but sat there for a while. He could see her behind the wheel. He desperately wanted to know what she was thinking.

Down the street, he could still see the back of Cooper’s pickup. Was he headed back to the ranch or was Tilly giving him a head start before she met him somewhere? Stu hated the path his thoughts had taken. But Tilly and Cooper were making him think these things.

He shifted his patrol SUV into gear and drove down the street. As he passed Tilly, he didn’t even look in her direction. Instead, he wanted to find out where his old friend was going.

Cooper hadn’t gone far when he hit his brakes and turned into a parking space in front of the local real-estate office. Again, Stu pulled over down the street, his curiosity growing. Why would Cooper be interested in property? He was born into a huge ranch. That made no sense unless his father hadn’t let him return to the homestead. He watched his friend go inside Beckman’s Realty. Frowning, Stu couldn’t imagine why, until he noticed a McKenna Ranch pickup parked next to the building. Someone from the ranch was inside the realty office.

Now even more curious, he waited.

Cooper came out of the office followed quickly by his older brother, Treyton. Even from a distance, Stu could tell that they were arguing. What had Treyton been doing in there? Finding out what the ranch was worth? Or investing in more property? Times were tough and a lot of ranchers were selling out. Not Holden McKenna, but then the rancher couldn’t live forever, Stu thought as he watched Treyton and Cooper quarrel.

Whatever the reason, Cooper looked furious as he stormed off, got into his pickup and roared away.

Stu followed him at a distance, hoping his friend was upset enough that he wouldn’t notice he was being tailed.

CHAPTER EIGHT

TILLYDROVESTRAIGHTto the hospital. She’d ask her mother to let her know if there was any change in Oakley’s condition. That she hadn’t heard anything made her assume her sister was still unconscious. In the intensive-care area, she saw that Oakley was in the same room as yesterday, hooked up to all the equipment, eyes closed. She looked so pale and small in the bed that Tilly felt her heart drop.

She’d been telling herself that her sister was strong, that Oakley could overcome anything, that there was no way she would die. But now, seeing her like this, she had to face the truth. Oakley might not make it.

Tears rushed to her eyes, a sob rising in her throat as she moved to her sister’s bedside. Oakley’s hand was cool to the touch. Tilly watched her face, hoping she would open her eyes, hoping she would come back and tell them who’d done this.

“Where have you been?”

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