Page 81 of River Justice

“You have beautiful brown eyes, Mr. Yates.”

HOLLYJOWASglad to run into Gus one day in Powder Crossing. He was outside the feed store, kicking rocks in the alley, no doubt waiting on his father. She was waiting on Elaine, who was running errands.

“Hey,” she said as she approached him.

He brightened at once, then dipped his head shyly. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Being kidnapped was nothing.” She definitely didn’t want to talk about it. “So, how about you?”

Gus looked up and shrugged. “I was afraid Tana had taken you.”

She shook her head. “I would have gotten away from her without any trouble,” she boasted, hating that her kidnapping was going to be the subject everyone wanted to talk about. “You should ask your dad if you can come over to the ranch and ride horses with me sometime.”

“Sure,” he said, although he didn’t look like it was anything that was going to happen. He was peering at her now. She could feel the intensity of his gaze. “You seem different.”

“Different how?” she asked, sincerely curious.

“You always were crazy brave, but now...it’s like after what happened, you’re not afraid of anything.”

She wished that was true.

“No one is going to bully you ever again.” He kicked another rock. It skittered across the alley and came to rest next to the supply store. “Maybe I need to get kidnapped.”

She knew he was kidding, but she hated to hear him say it. “You’re great just like you are,” she told him. She didn’t think he believed her.

She wasn’t the only one who’d changed. Gus was getting taller. He looked stronger. She suspected he’d been working hard this summer at the ranch his dad managed. Soon he would be taller than his father.

On the way back to where Elaine had parked her SUV, Holly Jo spotted Tana and her group of friends coming up the sidewalk. For a moment, she panicked. She didn’t want to see them, not now, maybe not ever. But they’d already seen her, and she wasn’t about to let them think she was afraid of them.

Tana slowed as she approached, almost looking afraid to pass her on the street, even though her friends were with her. Holly Jo waited, unsure what was going to happen, feeling anxious, but almost curious.

To her surprise, the girl stopped and said, “Hi. Glad you’re okay.” Some of the others echoed her words in mumbles. “I like your short hair. It’s cute on you.”

Her hand went to her hair. She was still trying to get used to it. She realized it was the nicest thing Tana had ever said to her. “Thanks.”

“Guess we’ll see you in school. Summer is going way too fast. Sucks.” More agreement from her friends.

Holly Jo nodded. “Sucks.”

“Well, see ya around,” Tana said, and with a little wave, she and her group walked away.

She watched them go, feeling thrown off balance. She’d understood the old Tana. This one confused her. When Elaine came out of the post office, she asked, “Those girls weren’t giving you trouble, were they?”

“Nope.” With that, she climbed into the SUV, leaned back and just breathed. Gus was right. She was different. She wasn’t sure how she felt about it, but then realized she felt okay. The thought made her smile.

Elaine climbed behind the wheel, studied her for a moment, and then started the engine and headed out of town.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

THEFOURTHOFJULYparty was Holden’s idea. “I think we’re due a celebration after everything that has happened.”

Elaine looked skeptical. “It’s just that...” She shook her head. “Why not? You’re right.” Just as Holden had suspected, Elaine had gotten off with a fine, time served in jail and community service. Charlotte had gotten a lesser sentence and had been able to leave the county. Or maybe she’d left the country. Holden didn’t know.

When former Stafford Ranch manager Boyle Wilson had heard that Charlotte had been exonerated, he’d been furious and began to talk. While telling everything he knew about her, he’d mistakenly dug his own grave by admitting that he’d overheard her on the phone and beat her to the McKenna Ranch. There he found Dixon—bleeding but alive.

He thought he finally had Charlotte where he wanted her—but only if Dixon was dead. He couldn’t stand the man as it was, so he’d shot him, thinking that he would plant the .22 at her house if she ever crossed him—or, worse, tried to fire him.

“We could do it over Fourth of July weekend,” Holden said, determined to start over. “I’ll buy lots of fireworks.” She made a face. “Maybe not too many, given that we’ve just moved into the new house after the other one burned down.”

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