Page 37 of Texas-Sized Secrets

“Kinda hard to run a ranch from the inside of a jail cell.”

Reed stood. “Look, you can’t put her in jail, she’s pr—”

“Leave it, Reed.” She stared hard at him, willing him to understand and not say anything about her pregnancy. Not now. The only people who knew were Fernando, Rosa, Catalina and now Reed. She’d never bothered to tell Jesse or Dusty, and she sure as hell didn’t want Parker Lee to know anything about the child growing in her belly. The man was vindictive and would use the knowledge against her.

Two portly, gray-haired men stepped into the sheriff’s office. One wore a short-sleeved pullover and khaki slacks, the other a wrinkled oxford cotton shirt rolled at the sleeves and gray suit slacks.

The man in the oxford shirt went straight to Mona and engulfed her in a hug. “Mona, Maria called as soon as she saw what was happening.”

“Oh, Mr. Wallendorf, I’m so glad you’re here.” Greg Wallendorf had gone to high school with her father, and had been one of his fishing and poker buddies for the past thirty years. He was also an attorney. She quickly gave him the lowdown.

“That’s pretty much what Maria said. I brought the judge with me to set bail.” He leaned into Mona and whispered, “You were in luck. It was our poker night.”

Mona didn’t feel so lucky, but given the circumstances, she counted her blessings.

“Judge Stevenson, glad you could make it.” Sheriff Lee held out his hand to the man, looking less than glad the judge was there. “Miss Grainger is the prime suspect in the murder of an illegal alien.”

“What kind of hooey is this?” Judge Stevenson had stood by while Mona gave her attorney the details. Now he moved around Sheriff Lee to stand in front of Mona.

Surely this man who’d been another of her father’s friends for years would see reason. Hope sprang in her chest. “Sir, I didn’t shoot the man.”

Parker Lee pulled Toby Braxton in from the outer offices. “Tell him what you saw.”

“I got a call from dispatch that gunshots were fired near the old granary. When I got there, I found her—” he poked his finger in Mona’s face “—holding a rifle standing over the dead man. She was the only one around holding a gun, the gun had been fired and the man was dead. I arrested her on suspicion of murder and read her the Miranda rights.”

Judge Stevenson turned to Mona. “I’m sorry. Based on the initial evidence, they had a right to arrest you.”

Sheriff Lee stepped forward. “We request that you don’t set bail. She could be dangerous to the community, possibly go out and shoot someone else.”

The judge snorted. “I have no doubt Miss Grainger didn’t shoot the man, but given the evidence, I’ll have to set bail at one hundred thousand dollars. Contact my secretary tomorrow to schedule the court hearing. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m late getting home.” With that, the judge left.

Bile rose in Mona’s throat. One hundred thousand dollars? She couldn’t come up with fifty thousand to save her ranch, how the heck was she going to post bail? Even though she knew she’d be cleared of the charges, how would the banks look at her credit application when she’d been arrested on suspicion of murder?

Parker’s smug smile grated on Mona’s last nerve. “Let Bryson go, Miss Grainger stays until bail is posted.”

Toby unlocked Reed’s cuffs, jerking them off his hand with more force than necessary. “Get out of here.”

“Not until I’ve talked with Miss Grainger.”

“Sorry, gotta lock her up.” Toby’s brows rose in challenge. “Unless you got one hundred thousand to bail her pretty little butt out.”

Reed stared across at Mona, the muscle in his jaw twitching. “I’ll get the money.”

“Uncle Arty is the only family I have left.” She’d sworn she’d never talk to her uncle, least of all beg him for money, after the way he’d treated her mother and father all these years. Unfortunately, Uncle Arty might be her last hope.

“I’ll get the money.” Reed turned to Parker Lee. “You hurt her and…”

“And what?” Parker sneered. “She’s a murderer. I might have to defend myself against her.”

Toby tugged her arm, propelling her to the back of the sheriff’s office where the jail cells were located.

Greg Wallendorf stared across the linoleum-tile floor of the sheriff’s office, first at Toby and then at the sheriff. “Either one of you hurt her, and I’ll have you both locked up so fast, you won’t know what hit you.”

The last Mona saw was the killing look Reed gave Sheriff Lee before he stormed out behind her attorney.

The metal clank of the bars being closed and locked behind her brought home the depth of her troubles. Mona sank to the cot, her knees no longer capable of holding her up.

Now what?

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