Page 7 of Cold Case Murder Mystery

All sorts of domestic bliss Zeke preferred to keep his distance from.

“I didn’t ask if youwantedto. I told you to come.”

“I’m busy.” He looked pointedly at Brooke. “Someone’s following her.”

“Did you go to the cops?” Carlyle asked Brooke.

She shook her head. “It’s... complicated.”

“Ah, well, maybesheshould stay with the Hudsons then. It’s got better security than this place. You can both come for dinner and stay.”

The denial was immediately on the tip of his tongue. It wasn’t asmartdenial, but there and knee-jerk all the same.

Brooke spoke before he could find the right words to get Carlyle to back off.

“I know what I mean to the Hudsons,” Brooke said.

Her voice was cool and calm, but Zeke hated that hint of vulnerability he could see in her eyes. Because she’d always been the girl who didn’t quite fit in. Things he never should have let her tell him about herself.

“I don’t think I’d be welcome,” Brooke said as if it didn’t bother her, but Zeke would lay money on the fact it did.

“You gave them answers,” Carlyle said with about as much gentleness as his sister gave anyone. “I know you’d be welcome.”

“I examined the skeletal remains of their parents. I’m sure they’re grateful for the positive ID. Sheriff Hudson has told me as much, but... no one wants to be reminded of that, and my presencewouldbe a reminder. Even if they were kind enough to not want it to be.”

Carlyle was silent a moment then shook her head. “I’m sorry, you’re way too sweet and calm and, like, smart-sounding to stay with this Neanderthal.”

It was clearly an attempt to lighten the mood and he knew Brooke was good at that. Going along with the attempts people wanted.

“I don’t doubt it. Luckily, I’m not staying with him. I’m just... seeking his counsel on how to proceed.”

Zeke’s scowl settled deeper. Like hell she wasn’t staying with him when she was incleardanger. “Yeah, and thatcounselis going to keep me busy tonight. I’ll come up to the ranch some other night.” He started ushering Carlyle out of the kitchen, into the living room,almostto the front door.

“You messed her up, didn’t you?” she asked.

“Goodbye, Car.” Before he could effectively usher his sister out of his house, she stopped him with a very simple sentence.

“I think Cash and I are going to get married.”

It shouldn’t be any kind of shock and yet... “Huh?”

“He asked me to. And I said yes. So, barring end-of-the-world-type stuff brought on by the Daniels clan settling down, I guess it’ll happen.” She opened the front door herself, stepped out onto the rickety porch. “Anyway, that’s what we were going to announce at dinner.”

“I’m not settling down.” That was perhaps not how he should respond to the news his baby sister was getting married. To a guy he happened to like. But Zeke was who he was.

Carlyle gestured at his house. The one he’dbought. He did not allow himself to include Brooke in her gesture. “Sure you’re not. Remind me the last time you stayed in one place for more than three months, let alone a year, and—oh, yeah—bought land.”

“It doesn’t mean I’m...” He shook his head. “Congrats, Car. I’m glad. Cash’ll keep you in line.” He’d only said that to piss her off, because they were whotheywere.

Yet she didn’t fume. She didn’t even laugh. She studied him with those careful eyes. She didn’t trot that out too often, especially now that she wasn’t keeping secrets from him and their other brother.

“It doesn’t hurt, you know.”

“What doesn’t?”

“Building something you decide to keep forever.”

Since he didn’t want to touchthatwith a ten-foot pole, he offered his own version of emotional honesty that would ideally get her running. “They’re lucky to have you, Car.”

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