Page 85 of Meant for Her

“You’re right.” Malia turned to Luke. “You will have a slight limp, and rubbing your arm once or twice will be a nice touch.”

He touched a finger to his forehead. “Got it.” He held out his hand to Ryan. “Keys.”

Ryan handed them over and slid into the back seat. “If the sheriff speaks to Pete, he’ll say we both stopped over.”

“That’s okay. You were determined to see your old friend, even though it was painful.”

This sucked. “How long am I supposed to be wounded?”

“For a few more days.”

Luke turned on the truck. “Why will you say you’re with us? Are you planning on saying we’re dating?”

“I’ll say that after I spent a few nights with you both, tending to your wounds, I found you both attractive. There is no way we’d be having a three-way, given Ryan’s wounds, but that is none of the sheriff’s business.”

Luke looked over at her and smiled. “You’re right about that.”

Ryan leaned over the front seat. “Will we say that Mason learned where Pete lived? We need to get our story straight.”

Malia turned around. “Tell him the truth. After we discussed who could have taken your cattle, we legitimately thought that Pete might know who your father owed money to. That person would be a likely candidate to steal your cows.”

“I like it. Why again, did we ask Pete where he’d buried Dad?” Ryan asked.

“I’ll tell him why,” Luke said. “Dad was fifty-four. I’m not saying he ate the best, but as a werewolf—and yes, I’ll leave that part out—he should have lived a long life. I wasn’t buying that he died of natural causes.”

“I agree with you,” Ryan said, “but the medical examiner claimed he died of natural causes.”

“Anybody can be bought.”

He was good with that. Ryan sat back, mentally going over their story, hoping there wasn’t something in it that would cause a problem. Before he could figure it out, Luke pulled in front of the Midvale sheriff’s department.

“Show time, folks,” Luke said.

If he didn’t know better, his brother almost sounded happy.

Once they explained why they needed to speak with the sheriff, the receptionist escorted them back to his office.

It was difficult to remember to lean over a bit to indicate his side was still sore, but he’d try.Damn. Ryan had been shot in the wrist and yet there was no evidence of any scaring. He tugged down his jacket sleeve to cover the area. The receptionist opened the office door.

Sheriff Hanson stood. “I didn’t expect to see you here today. Did you find your cows?”

That would be a logical question. “No. We came to report a murder.”

That was a bit dramatic, but they needed to grab the sheriff’s attention.

“Please, sit down.”

Ryan wrapped his right arm around his body, blocking the view of his wrist, and hopefully showing his side was still bothering him.

“Ryan, I’m happy to see you’re up and around.”

“I wouldn’t be, but this is important, though I am improving daily.” He looked over at Malia. “I have a great nurse.”

The sheriff’s brows rose. When he didn’t say anything, it appeared as if he bought his story.

“You said there was a murder?”

“Yes,” Luke said. “My father.”

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