Page 89 of Roaring Fork Wrangler

“I have to be the one who tells Buck.” Which meant I had to figure out how in the hell I’d get to Colorado and back within forty-eight hours. When I heard my cell go off again, I knew that, as much as I wanted to stay in this cottage with Juni and ignore the rest of the world, I couldn’t.

“We should go back to the main house,” I said.

Her cell pinged. “My uncle is here.”

I stood and held my hand out to her. She took it, and I pulled her into my arms.

“You and I still have a lot to talk about, Juni.”

“I’ll be ready,” sheresponded, winking.

We walked out of the cottage and saw Pete leaning against the police cruiser with his arms folded.

“How are you doing?” he asked when we got closer.

“To be honest, when it comes to all this shit, I don’t have a clue.” I squeezed Juni’s hand, hoping she knew I wasn’t talking about my feelings for her. I loved her, and right now, that felt like the only real thing in my life. When she squeezed back, I hoped it meant she got it.

“I’m sorry to say I’ve got more to tell you,” said Pete.

“Might as well get it all out in the open.”

We followed him up the steps and into the house. No one said a word even after we joined them at the table. It appeared they were as shell-shocked as I was. Sam, the first one to get up, walked over and hugged me.

“Thank you,” I whispered. I was so grateful to know her. That we were blood relation explained the kinship I’d felt from the moment we met.

She returned to her seat, and Juni and I sat in ours. Gray brought his uncle a chair, and he thanked him, but said he’d rather stand.

Decker got up too. “Pete, why don’t you fill us in on the parts you’re permitted to from your conversations with Joe Senior and Brianna?”

“There isn’t a whole lot that’s relevant.” He looked at Juni and winked. She smiled at what I figured was an inside joke. “Anyway, right before I concluded the conversation with Joe Senior, I received the message from Decker about Cord’s theory, which was as much of a revelation, if you ask me.”

“Did you run it by him?” I asked.

“Sure did. When I asked if he was aware Patricia Rooker was pregnant at the time they both graduated, he blanched. Clearly, he was not.”

“What about Brianna?” Decker asked.

“Oh, she knew. Not that she’d admit it. Her response was only one of many things I suspect she was untruthful about.”

Pete looked from me to Decker, who’d cleared his throat.

“As I said earlier, I strongly believe the link between the father, mother, and Patricia Rooker is the key to why this kid did what he did. However, it doesn’t give us a motive for his actions.”

“Why Cord, though?” Grayson asked.

“I have a theory, but that’s all it is presently,” Decker responded.

“What’s the next step?” I asked, thinking more about how soon I could travel to Colorado than the investigation into my attempted murder.

“I had to go up the chain of command farther than I expected to, but I was able to get authorization for Decker to interview both parents,” said Pete.

My eyes opened wide.

“But not the son. At least not yet,” he added.

“When are you talking to Joe Senior and Brianna?” I asked,

“As soon as we return to the station. I was able to convince both parents to stick around. Brianna was less willing than Joe was. However, we only have so much time before their patience runs out—Brianna’s especially. I want to keep Joe and Brianna separated until Decker has a chance to speak with both on their own.”

---