Page 48 of Texas-Sized Secrets

She ignored him, braking to a halt, the truck skidding in the gravel.

Before she could shift into drive, he grabbed the door handle, flung it open and threw himself onto the passenger seat.

Her foot hit the accelerator before his door was closed, the truck fishtailing down the driveway. She was hell-bent on getting herself killed and taking everyone down who stood in the way.

Reed slammed his door and buckled his seat belt. He was in for a helluva ride.

Chapter Twelve

Mona slammed her hand against the steering wheel, the truck veering onto the shoulder before she straightened it. “How could I be so blind?”

“You trust people.” Reed held on to the handle above the door, his gaze flicking from the road to her. “There’s no crime in trusting people.”

“Apparently there is.” Despite her anger, Mona was glad he’d insisted on coming with her. “For that matter, why should I trust you?” She glared at him.

“You probably shouldn’t.” His sad smile did nothing to calm her.

In fact it made her madder. How could he sit in that seat looking so damn handsome she could barely keep her eyes on the road? “Why are you still working for me? Other men would have quit at the first sign of trouble. What makes you different?”

“I guess you could say I have a habit of sticking up for the underdog.”

“Now you’re comparing me to a dog?” She laughed, only the sound came out as more of a snort. “I’m flattered.”

“Slow down and, while you’re at it, quit twisting my words.” He tightened his grip on the handle, all evidence of his smile wiped away when she took the turn off the ranch road onto the pavement too fast.

If not for the seat belt, he’d have been slung across the seat into her. Mona almost regretted the fully functional seat belts.

“By the way, where are we going?” he asked.

“Dusty’s place. I have a bone to pick with the man.”

“Oh no you’re not.” Before she could pick up speed, Reed reached over and switched the ignition key to the off position.

How dare he? Mona shifted the truck into neutral and switched it back on. “Don’t do that. You could have gotten us killed.”

“And you could get us killed. If Dusty is the one who dragged Jesse around the central pasture and shot the Mexican at the granary, you could be walking into an explosive situation.”

“I have a baby to think about. I won’t do anything stupid.” She stared across at Reed. “I have to know.”

“Why don’t you take it to the sheriff?”

Mona snorted. “He’s as worthless as teats on a billy goat.”

Reed laughed out loud. “I’ve never heard Parker referred to as…well, anyway. If you can’t take it to Parker, let me handle it.”

“I won’t stand by and let him get away with hurting the people I care about, damn it.” Were those tears blurring her vision? She swiped at her eyes. “Damn hormones. Really, I never cry. In fact, I’ve never thought like a female before in my life.”

“I believe you. Maybe now’s the time you should. Your baby needs your love and protection. Pull over.”

They’d already reached the outskirts of Prairie Rock where the density of the houses was greater the farther into town they drove.

Should she let him handle it? Mona slowed and turned right on Third Street. “Too late, we’re here.”

The dingy white clapboard house was almost as small as the shed out back of Mona’s ranch house. The screen door hung lopsided on one hinge and the paint curled off the wooden door frame. Old metal chairs littered the front yard, along with worn tires and a pair of broken sawhorses. In the gravel driveway sat the old truck Mona recognized as the one Dusty drove to her house every day. No lights shone from inside and the tattered blinds were drawn.

“Suppose he’s home?” She sat behind the wheel, not at all anxious to get out, now that they were here. What would she say to Dusty when she confronted him?Did you kill the Mexican? Did you almost kill Jesse? Are you stealing my cattle?What did she expect as an answer? He’d deny everything and where would that leave her? Accusing him of something she couldn’t prove. “We need evidence.”

“Of what?”

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