Page 40 of Dark Side of the River

“See you then.”

He disconnected, telling himself he was a damned fool. He didn’t like the way he and Stu had left things last night. He couldn’t let this escalate. Heading for his pickup, he decided that after tonight it was time to mend some of his own fences.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

COOPERFOUNDTHEsheriff just returning to his office. As Stuart got out of his patrol SUV, he took one look at Cooper, slammed his vehicle door and leaned against it, waiting.

“Just stopped by. You’d mentioned having a beer sometime, for old times’ sake,” Cooper said, walking toward him.

His friend looked up slowly. “A beer?”

“You used to like beer. Or have you switched to whiskey?”

Stu chuckled at that. When they were teenagers, Stu had gotten drunk on some hard-core whiskey he’d taken from his house. It had made him deathly ill. He swore he’d never touch the stuff again. “Think us having a drink would do any good?”

“Can’t see how a beer or two would hurt. We could come unarmed, if you think it’s nec—Oh, that’s right. You’re the sheriff—you’re always armed.” He smiled. “Then again, I remember that you always carried long before you went into law enforcement.”

“Maybe you should start.”

Cooper shook his head. “I don’t think there are that many people in the county who want me dead.”

“I wouldn’t bet on that.” But he smiled when he said it.

“It’s almost quitting time.”

“For bankers and lawyers,” Stu said. “I’ve got some things I have to do.”

“Just give me a holler when you’re free.”

“How about later tonight?” Stuart asked, an edge to his tone.

“Can’t tonight. Family meeting. Not sure how long it will run. You might have heard—we have a new family member. Holly Jo, age twelve. I’ll tell you about it over that drink. She’s going to turn my father every way but loose.”

“Soon, then,” Stu said as he headed inside the sheriff’s department.

Cooper climbed back into his pickup, wondering if he’d mended any fences or was about to burn down the barn tonight. The family meeting was true. It was what he planned to do after dinner, meeting Tilly for the Dirty Business event. He feared that if Stu found out, it could be the end of their friendship.

But as he drove back toward the ranch, he worried it might already be too late no matter what happened tonight.

HOLDENLOOKEDAROUNDthe table at his family. None of them appeared happy to be there. Normally, they didn’t have family suppers except on special occasions. He couldn’t think of a special-occasion meal that they’d had in months. Elaine always made unique meals for birthdays and holidays, but all sitting down together was unusual.

They were busy running a ranch, he would tell her when she complained. The truth was that his grown children had lives of their own. While they still lived on the ranch in the vast old house, they had little to say to each other. His sons knew what had to be done on the ranch and saw to it. The ranch hands were the same way. Especially with ranch manager Deacon Yates, who had been with the ranch for years and ran a tight ship.

The financial part of keeping the ranch afloat had fallen on Holden. That work didn’t need to be done from the back of a horse. It meant long hours in this office taking care of the bookwork or on the phone with accountants, bankers, stock buyers and sellers. He missed riding fence, rounding up the cattle, breaking in the new colts. He felt as if he’d lost that feeling of being part of the land.

“How was your day?” he asked Treyton, who merely grunted. “Cooper?”

“Fine.”

“Duffy?” His son shrugged. “Bailey?” He had to say her name again.

She quickly hid her phone. “What?”

“How was your day?”

“Fine. Why?”

“Holly Jo?” She had been frowning at her plate, which appeared to have only broccoli on it. He started to comment but stopped himself.

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