Page 59 of Texas-Sized Secrets

Blood rushed from Mona’s head, leaving her dizzy. “How?”

Her uncle swallowed. “Shot in the back of his head.”

Mona’s knees buckled. If not for the support of the man behind her, she’d have dropped to the floor in a miserable heap.

Though she’d fired him the day before, she didn’t wish ill on Dusty, even if he’d betrayed her. No one deserved death, especially a bullet to the back of his head.

Her uncle paced across the wood flooring of the living room and back. “I thought, at first, whoever killed him wanted it to look like I did it.”

Mona shook her head, the room hazy in her sight. Reed eased her toward the couch, urging her to sit. When she did, her head didn’t feel quite so fuzzy and she looked up at her uncle. “Why?”

“One of my guns was stolen from my gun cabinet. It was the same one used to kill Dusty. My fingerprints will be all over it because it’s the one I used most recently shooting at rabbits. The gun was left beside the body. Pretty obvious, if you ask me.” Her uncle shrugged. “I already reported it to the sheriff. I was surprised he didn’t haul me in to jail. Maybe he’s waiting for the state police to do the job.”

“What the hell’s going on?” When Mona leaned forward to push to her feet, a warm hand on her shoulder held her down.

Reed stood behind the couch, his hand firmly clamped on her. She wasn’t going anywhere.

Too tired to argue, she sat back in the seat and spread her hands wide. “That’s two men now. What’s going on? Why won’t this all stop?”

“What I’m more concerned about is that since they didn’t take me in, they might look at other suspects. Since you’ve already been arrested on one murder charge and you were out all last night in the same location, they might come after you.”

Mona closed her eyes and inhaled the lemony scent of furniture polish, wishing she could keep her eyes closed and ignore her world imploding around her. “When did you find the body?”

“Fernando found him around sunset and called me immediately.”

A stab of annoyance shot through Mona. Fernando had no reason to call her uncle. Any questions he had should have been directed to her. Then again, they might have been out of cell phone range, the reception being spotty at best out in the wide-open spaces of the Texas panhandle.

Reed squeezed her shoulder and let go. “I’ll be back in a minute.” He gave her a stern look. “Stay put.”

Mona glared at him, annoyance at his command and the entire situation making her testy. “I’ll do as I please.”

Her uncle plunked his hat on his head. “If you don’t mind, I’m headed home. Be on the watch for Sheriff Lee. He’s bound to come asking questions. I’m sorry this is all happening to you. You don’t deserve it.”

“Do I detect empathy?” Mona’s brows rose. “Why the change of heart?”

Her uncle’s feet shifted. “I never agreed with who your father married. That’s no secret.”

Mona opened her mouth to tell her uncle to get out, but he stopped her with his raised hand.

“After seeing how hard you’ve worked to keep this place afloat, I admit I was wrong. And since you’re the only family I have left, I don’t want to see you go under too. I’m sorry for all the grief I gave you and your father.” He spun on his cowboy booted heel and left.

Mona stared at the empty doorway, wishing her father was alive to witness his brother’s about-face. Too bad he hadn’t come to the same conclusion a year ago. Tom Grainger had never said a word about his brother, but Mona knew he grieved for the loss of the closeness they’d shared as children.

Mona wanted to crawl into the shower and then into bed to sleep until next week. Fat chance that would happen once Parker Lee sank his teeth into this murder. She’d probably end up accused of Dusty’s demise as well. Mona had had her fill of law enforcement officials, false accusations and mug shots.

Reed returned to the living room, carrying a plate with a sandwich on it. “Your uncle left?”

“Yeah.” Her stomach rumbling, Mona hadn’t realized how long it had been since she’d eaten. The thought of facing another Parker Lee inquisition almost made her refuse the offering, but her baby had to have nourishment. She stood, accepted the plate and turned toward her bedroom. “I’ll be in the shower. If anyone needs me, they’ll have to drag me out in handcuffs.” She hurried away before the dam burst.

Alone in her bedroom and even too tired to undress herself, Mona sat on the floor, biting into her sandwich. All of her troubles washed over her in endless waves until her eyes filled and her throat closed. She chewed, hoping eventually she could swallow again. Tears trickled down her cheeks, increasing in intensity until sobs shook her body. She dropped her sandwich on the plate and buried her face in her hands.

Too caught up in her misery to notice, she didn’t realize someone else had entered the room until Reed sat on the floor beside her and gathered her in his arms. Wordlessly, he held her, stroking her back and pushing limp strands of her long black hair out of her wet face.

When her tears were spent, she leaned her cheek against his chest, the warmth of his body seeping into her cool skin, the special scent of leather and soap filling her senses.

She could get used to leaning on Reed Bryson. But how long would that last? Hadn’t he said he would leave when her troubles were over?

With a work-roughened finger, he tipped her chin up. “All done?”

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