Page 34 of River Wild

Stuart nodded knowingly. Both the McKenna and the Stafford families’ oldest sons were trouble. CJ Stafford was behind bars and hopefully would remain there for a very long time. So far, Treyton McKenna had avoided arrest, but the sheriff figured it was just a matter of time before he ended up incarcerated.

“Got quite the place out here,” Stuart said as he glanced around. There were several old buildings that appeared to have been fixed up. “What do you do way out here?” he asked, looking past the buildings to the scrub pine and rough terrain beyond.

“There a reason you showed up when you did, Sheriff?”

He turned back to him. “Willow Branson.”

Treyton frowned. “What about her?”

“She’s dead.” He saw the man’s surprise. “You know anything about that?”

“No. What happened to her?” He sounded upset.

“She was murdered.”

Treyton blinked and shook his head. “That’s awful.”

“I was hoping since you knew her that you might have some idea who would have done that to her,” Stuart asked. “Maybe someone who hung around the hotel where she worked? Maybe someone in the hotel bar?”

The cowboy was still shaking his head, shock making him seem paler. “I... I don’t know.”

“You dated her, right?”

He let out a huff. “Not dated exactly. A lot of guys flirted with her.”

“Like who?” Stuart asked.

Treyton seemed to have to think about that. “A bunch of old ranchers who had crushes on her. I used to tease her about it.”

“Sounds like you were close. You ever tell her to change her hair color?”

He looked surprised. “Her hair color? No, I wouldn’t have changed anything about her.”

“There wasn’t one rancher she was closer to than others?”

Treyton shook his head. “I never paid much attention. She and I had a few laughs at the bar. That’s all it was. She wasn’t interested in me. I got the impression she was dating someone she was serious about.”

Dating someone? “You have some idea who?”

“Sorry. Like I said... I still can’t believe...” He shook his head again, sounding truly sorry to hear that she was dead. Maybe Treyton McKenna had a heart after all.

“You going to be okay if those men come back?” Stuart asked. “Because I’m betting they will.”

Treyton seemed to get over his earlier shock as he grinned and said, “Don’t worry about me, Sheriff. I can take care of myself.”

“If you say so.” Stuart touched the brim of his Stetson and walked to his patrol SUV. Climbing inside, he wondered again what Treyton did out here all alone. Whatever it was, he’d bet his favorite boots it wasn’t legal.

CHAPTER TWELVE

CJ STAFFORDFELTas if he could explode. His heart jackhammered in his chest, each beat like a blow to his chest. That damned Treyton McKenna. He’d kill him when he got out of here, he told himself as he pushed his way through the group waiting to use the prison phone.

After having to bribe and threaten and almost fistfight his way to get the phone, he called Ret. “What happened?” he demanded from between gritted teeth.

“The sheriff showed up when we were about to kick the crap out of Treyton.”

He gripped the phone hard. “The sherifffollowedyou?”

“No, why would he? Treyton seemed as surprised to see him as we were. Wasn’t even about us, Treyton said when I called him later. Something about some girl.”

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