Page 54 of River Wild

Stuart quickly called his deputy, asked about a small gas can, then hung up. “It was there,” he told Bailey. “Which means we might have gotten lucky,” he said, hoping it was true.

WHENPICKETTSPOTTEDthe remains of a pregnancy test in the trash that morning, he felt instant heartbreak. If the pregnancy test had told Oakley what they both wanted to hear, she could have told him before she left earlier, saying something about the last-minute preparations for the baby shower.

Why did Oakley put herself through this constantly? Put him through it? If only she could just give it time and relax. He had no doubt that it would happen. He wanted children as much as she did, maybe more. He’d been an only child. He couldn’t wait for the patter of little feet racing through the home they were building. He had to believe that they would conceive.

Not that he’d proven to be very good in the parenting department. He’d certainly bombed out with at least one thirteen-year-old he knew. Holly Jo wasn’t quite as mad at him after he gave her the phone, but when he reached the arena, he found her horse still out to pasture and no sign of her.

“She must have forgotten,” Elaine had told him when he stopped up at the house and found out she wasn’t home. “Or it skipped her mind since she’s gone with her friends to decorate the gym for the dance tonight.”

It hadn’t been all that long ago that trick riding was the only thing Holly Jo was interested in. Now it was Buck Savage and a dance. He tried not to take it personally, but he couldn’t help it. He and Holly Jo had been buddies. He’d loved working with her. She was a natural. He loved seeing her talent, enjoying her sense of humor, feeling like he had what it would take to be a dad.

“She’s mad at me because I told Holden about the boyfriend.”

“He’s glad you did. If it makes you feel better, she’s avoiding him too,” the housekeeper said.

It didn’t.

“Actually, she’s probably going to be much angrier with him than you. He went over to the Savages’ and told them what Buck had been up to.”

Pickett groaned. “I wish he hadn’t.”

“You aren’t the only one,” she said with a sigh. “It will blow over. At her age, things can change in an instant.”

That was what he was afraid of. “What about the dance? She sounded like she was really looking forward to it.”

Elaine nodded. “Holden said he would drive her to the school, then pick her up afterward. She declined in tears, and he relented and said Buck could pick her up and bring her home. But that if she missed curfew... I’m sure you know the rest.”

Pickett couldn’t help feeling somewhat responsible. Maybe he should have kept it just between him and Holly Jo. He was just a ranch hand on this spread, and she wasn’t his responsibility. But she was only thirteen. This boy was older. If she got into trouble, he didn’t think she’d call Holden or even Elaine. Pickett wanted her to know she could call him, because he remembered being a boy about that age.

BAILEYDROVEOUTto the Jones Ranch, hoping to talk to Norma alone. She was glad to see that the dark-colored SUV was parked in front of the house, but it appeared Ralph’s pickup was gone.

Getting out, she walked to the front door, not sure what kind of reception she was going to get. Norma was often as sweet as the fudge she made, too sweet for Bailey. But she’d definitely seen another side of Norma yesterday evening.

The woman who answered the door was wearing an apron over her house dress. Norma prided herself on being old school from her neatly trimmed nails to her perfectly coiffed helmet of brown hair. If she was surprised to see Bailey, she didn’t show it.

“You’re timing is perfect,” Norma said brightly. “I’m about to take rhubarb muffins from the oven, and I always have a pot of coffee on for unexpected guests.” She stepped back to let Bailey enter.

“Actually...” Bailey hesitated. She didn’t want muffins. All she wanted was to ask Norma if she’d seen the man who’d put the bundle in her SUV yesterday evening. But she found herself stepping into the house as the timer went off on the oven and Norma disappeared into the kitchen. She followed the scent of rhubarb muffins, coffee, and whatever perfume Norma was wearing.

As she did, Bailey couldn’t help but feel a sliver of concern. Had she convinced the woman that there had never been an affair between her and Ralph? Or was she going to come around the corner into the kitchen to find Norma armed with a butcher’s knife?

At the kitchen doorway, Bailey stopped short at the sight of Norma filling two cups of coffee. She’d already put a muffin on a plate along with a fork. She carried the cups of coffee over to a table. The table, Bailey noted, had a lace tablecloth on it, along with a vase filled with the last of the flowers from her garden, no doubt. It was no secret that Norma prided herself on making a cozy home for her hardworking husband. She taught a class on it at her church, stressing the part about honoring and obeying the man of the house.

“Sit,” Norma said as she motioned to a chair and took one across from Bailey. “Isn’t this nice.”

“I suppose you’re wondering why I came to see you,” she said.

“You must try the muffin while it’s still warm. Would you like butter on it?” She started to get up before Bailey told her no, it was fine as it was.

“It’s about yesterday evening in town,” Bailey said after humoring the woman by taking a bite.

“How is it?” Norma asked, leaning toward her. “That’s rhubarb from my garden.”

“Delicious.” She swallowed the bite, determined to get to the point. “I want to know if you might have seen someone put a package into my SUV.”

Norma frowned. “A package?”

“Actually, something bundled in a stained white towel.”

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