Page 8 of River Justice

He realized that even if Holden did tell Charlotte about the DNA results being sent to him, that didn’t mean she would say anything. Brand was sure she would happily keep on pretending his conception with Holden had never happened—just as they had obviously done for years.

He’d never been impulsive and he regretted his recent impetuous behavior, as he told himself nothing would come of it. He had bigger things to worry about. Birdie Malone had followed him home last night. She’d also had the audacity to come into their house and sleep in one of their bedrooms.

He had a feeling that Birdie Malone was a loose cannon. Who knew what she would do next?

He decided that the best thing he could do was avoid her. Just give her a wide berth if and when he ever saw her again. No more drinking in town. He would just stay on the ranch, work and put all of this behind him.

Unfortunately, he reminded himself, he was also avoiding his mother. He had no idea what he wanted to say to her—if anything. But by now, she could have heard about the DNA results.

That was enough to convince him to leave the house. Wouldn’t hurt to go into town and have some lunch. Wasn’t the café having the pulled pork sandwich special today? He realized that Birdie was probably staying in town, maybe at the hotel. Maybe she’d rented a place, intending to stay as long as it took to find her father’s killer.

Powder Crossing was so small, he was bound to run into her. He tried to scoff at the idea that Birdie could find evidence after all this time that would implicate his mother—let alone the person who’d helped her—if she was indeed guilty. While certainly capable of murder, Charlotte Stafford might be innocent. Brand had to believe that—even if no one else did.

Even though he’d just met the young woman, he was pretty sure that nothing could convince Birdie Malone she was wrong about his mother. Not that he had any intention of trying. It wasn’t like she’d found any proof that his mother was a killer, right?

At least not yet, he thought with a groan.

He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. Both the DNA fiasco and Birdie Malone’s threats would blow over. In the meantime, he would keep his head down and hope for the best.

It had been the way he’d survived growing up in this family. No reason to change now—even if he could.

“WHATISIT?” Holden demanded, clearly having the same trouble Stuart had understanding what was printed on the sheet of paper—at first.

“It’s DNA results,” Stuart said as he watched the rancher frown.

“I don’t understand.”

“It appears to be the DNA results for Brand Stafford and your son Cooper. Brand and Cooper share the same DNA.”

Holden’s eyes widened.

“Brand’s my son? That’s what this DNA report says?” Holden asked.

“It would indicate that, yes.”

A variety of emotions swept across the rancher’s face. Confusion. Shock. Disappointment. And finally, disbelief followed quickly by anger.

“It’s not possible.” But even as Holden said it, Stuart saw realization dawn before the rancher swore.

“You didn’t know,” the sheriff said, stating the obvious. “I have to ask. Do you think this could have something to do with Holly Jo?”

The rancher looked up and frowned. “What? I can’t see how one has anything to do with the other.”

Neither could Stuart. But the timing bothered him.

The rancher threw down the report. “She never told me. Why would Charlotte keep something like this from me?” He looked up. “How could I have not known?”

The sheriff’s cell phone rang. It was his office. Thinking it might be about Holly Jo, he took the call as Elaine returned with coffee for the two of them. He saw Holden pick up the DNA results again, fold the sheet and stuff the paper into his shirt pocket before accepting the cup of coffee. Elaine appeared to have sensed the tension in the room. She was studying Holden, looking even more worried.

Stuart watched the two of them as he listened to the dispatcher informing him that Joe Gardner was calling about a disturbance at his house on the Montgomery Ranch. He started to tell her to let a deputy handle it, when she mentioned it had something to do with Holly Jo and Duffy McKenna.

“Duffy?” Stuart said, making Holden look up expectantly. “That was Duffy I saw leaving on my way in, right?” he asked the rancher. All the McKenna offspring resembled each other, taking after their father.

The rancher nodded. “Duffy said some boy was giving Holly Jo a hard time at school. Gus Gardner.”

“Put Joe through,” the sheriff told the dispatcher. “Joe, what seems to be the problem?” he asked as he stepped out of the room. He listened for a few minutes, then said, “Put Duffy on the phone, please.”

An obviously angry Duffy McKenna came on the line. “Listen to me,” Stuart said, reminded of all the times Cooper’s kid brother had tagged along, just being a pain in their asses. “You apologize and get the hell out of there before I have to arrest you for interfering in this investigation.” Duffy started to argue. “Duffy, damn it, you have no idea what you’re doing. We need you back here at the ranch. Now.”

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