Page 27 of Dark Side of the River

He was old and his kindness made her hurt worse. He’d patted her head as if she were a child. She would be thirteen in a few months. She’d been told that she was tall for her age, wise beyond her years. She could pass for older once she got out of this place.

But in the meantime, this was her life, she said to herself as she looked around the room. She thought about unpacking her suitcase since she’d purposely brought only as much as she would be able to carry on her back once she left here. Just the thought of actually using the white wooden dresser next to the bed seemed like more than she could handle right now.

Her stomach growled. Maybe she would go downstairs and see if there was something to eat. She wasn’t looking forward to meeting Elaine, the woman who’d apparently decorated her room, as she left and went downstairs. She had no idea where the kitchen was. This place was so huge it should come with a map, she thought as she wandered around, peeking behind closed doors until she found a massive kitchen off the back of the house.

So far, it was her favorite room since it was light and airy, with large windows that looked out toward the mountains in the distance.

“You must be Holly Jo,” a voice said behind her, and she turned to see a small woman with bright blue eyes and a wide smile. “I’m Elaine. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

She really doubted that, but she smiled and used the manners she’d been taught since she had a feeling this woman could be an ally. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“I’m betting you’re hungry. I knew you were coming today, so I’ve been cooking all morning, but not knowing what you liked, I had to just make my favorites.” She gave what Holly Jo would have called a belly laugh. To her surprise, it made her smile. She thought she could like Elaine, in spite of everything.

“Is this her?” said a male voice after Holly Jo had put away some deviled eggs, a pint of yogurt and a half dozen chocolate chip cookies.

The cowboy who came up to the breakfast bar was tall, broad-shouldered and handsome with his short dark hair and chiseled features. But his smile didn’t reach his blue eyes. She knew at once that he wouldn’t be an ally.

“This is Treyton,” Elaine said. “He has no manners. This is Holly Jo.” Elaine slapped the man’s hand as he reached for one of the chocolate chip cookies on a small plate she’d said were for Holly Jo to take to her room. “Those aren’t for you, Treyton.”

Another cowboy came in laughing. “Don’t let him take your cookies, girl. Hi.” He had a great smile. “I’m Duffy.” This man was much cuter and nicer than Treyton. He had longer dark hair and blue eyes that twinkled with mischief. She liked him and wanted to tell her friends back home about him. They would be so jealous.

“Duffy is an odd name,” she said.

“He’s an odd young man,” Elaine said, but she was smiling. Holly Jo could tell that she liked Duffy better than Treyton. “Now you’ve met two of the McKenna men. You’ll meet Cooper later, I’m sure.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Treyton said. “He might have already left again for parts unknown.” He stormed out of the kitchen.

“I’m going to go get cleaned up,” Duffy said.

“Another hot date?” Elaine asked with a laugh.

“You know it,” he said, and winked at Holly Jo.

She’d made up her mind not to like anyone on the ranch. But she couldn’t help liking Elaine and Duffy. Not that she would be staying long. Even if she did, though, she doubted she would ever like Treyton.

Back in her room, she unpacked her suitcase, putting everything away even as she planned her escape. Her mother had told her about the ranch. After the long drive here, she knew it was in the middle of nowhere, far from any and everything.

She moved to her window and pushed aside the curtain. There were rugged-looking mountains, miles of prairie, huge trees next to a very lazy river. How was she going to get away? Then she saw the answer standing out in the field.

A horse.

CHAPTER NINE

“ITHINKWEshould ride up that ravine that Howie and Tick saw Oakley and the other rider coming out of.”

Cooper had been surprised that Tilly would call at all. When they’d left each other earlier, he’d thought for sure that was the last time he’d be hearing from her.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” He was driving to the ranch, getting fairly close to home, too aware that the sheriff had followed him partway out of town earlier. “I get the feeling Stuart doesn’t want us investigating.”

“Why? What happened?”

“He followed me out of town after I left you.”

“The sheriff’s just jealous. He doesn’t like me hanging out with you.”

He didn’t miss that she had called Stuart “the sheriff.” Distancing herself from her boyfriend? Or not wanting to remind Cooper that she was dating his best friend? “Another good reason not to keep getting involved in his investigation. It’s still a crime scene out there. Also, it could be dangerous.”

“Not with the sheriff’s deputies taking all our families’ rifles,” she said, and laughed. She did have a point. If it was someone from one of the two ranches.

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