Page 15 of River Strong

But only if his sister didn’t remember.

She and their mother were glaring at each other in a standoff. He felt sick to his stomach as he focused on his sister. Oakley was a ticking time bomb. She could remember and go off at any time. Hadn’t the doctor said she probably would never remember those lost forty-eight hours because of the concussion after falling from her horse on the hard-pack of the road—after he’d shot her?

But there was always a chance, the doctor had said, that her memory might return. And that was the hell CJ had been living with, was still living with, waiting for the explosion that would destroy his life.

He blamed her for all of it, especially the pickup accident that had him in this wheelchair. He wouldn’t have been running from the law if she hadn’t butted into his business and he’d had to shoot her. She’d brought it on herself. He’d warned her to stay out of his business.

The only thing he regretted was that his aim had been off. At least dead, she would never have been able to tell what she’d seen that day and he wouldn’t be waiting and worrying about her remembering.

Oakley had always been a pain, even when they were kids, he thought as he tuned out his mother and Oakley arguing. She was the one who stood up to him, tattled on him, fought him at every turn. Their younger brothers, Brand and Ryder, were smart enough to stay out of his way. Tilly had tried to mother him for a while, but had lost interest when he wasn’t the sweet boy she’d thought he was.

Speaking of Tilly, he thought as a vehicle pulled up outside. “Well, look who’s here,” CJ said, making both his mother and Oakley turn to look. Another traitor. It amused him that Tilly was about to fall from grace. Once their mother heard what she’d been up to, getting engaged to Cooper McKenna, that would be the last of her. Another burr under his saddle would be gone from the ranch.

He glanced at Oakley, who had moved to the window to peer out.You’re next. Soon, both sisters would be out of this house. He still needed Brand and Ryder to work the ranch, but Tilly and Oakley wouldn’t be missed.

CHAPTER SIX

OAKLEYSAWHERsister pull up in one of the ranch trucks. She couldn’t be already back from Oregon, could she? She must have changed her mind and not gone for some reason. Oakley watched as their ranch manager, Boyle Wilson, came out of the barn with two ranch hands to help unload the supplies Tilly had brought from town.

As her sister started for the house, Oakley saw her look at the van parked out front, then at the ramps up the front of the house. Their mother thought they were temporary, but Oakley couldn’t help wondering if even her mother’s determination could make CJ ever walk again.

She realized that Tilly could have been told about their mother and CJ arriving today. Which meant that their mother must have sent her a summons as well. Which meant that their mother already knew about the engagement. As her sister approached, Oakley saw her hesitate. Had Tilly had time to prepare for their mother’s and CJ’s return? Like her, Tilly must have conflicting feelings toward their brother. He’d almost killed her, too.

“I thought you were anxious to go change?” her mother said, suddenly beside Oakley.

Not a chance, she thought. Tilly was going to need all the support she could get. Oakley didn’t move.

Her mother’s voice grew sharper. “I said—”

“I heard you.” She stepped to open the door, giving her sister a warning look. Oakley saw that Tilly was wearing the engagement ring Cooper McKenna had given her. Given the way Charlotte hated Holden McKenna, Oakley was worried for her sister.

“Mother and CJ are back,” she said as if Tilly hadn’t already heard, let alone figured that out. She saw trepidation in her sister’s features for a moment before she straightened her back and determination took its place.

“Oakley was just leaving to go upstairs to change,” her mother said from behind her. “She’s done enough damage to this family.”

Oakley spun around. “You aren’t seriously blaming me for what CJ did, are you?”

“Your brother would have never been there, never had his rifle misfire, if you hadn’t been on the McKenna Ranch,” her mother said, green eyes hard with anger. “Your brother wouldn’t be in that wheelchair, facing possible jail time. You brought this on our family.”

Oakley had promised herself that she was going to bide her time. She didn’t want to show her true intentions. She’d been determined not to let her mother or brother know that she wasn’t taking this lying down.

But all that changed in an instant. Her mother had always made excuses for CJ. Not this time. “This is probably a good time to tell you that I intend to find out the truth,” Oakley said, looking past her mother to where CJ sat looking smug. “I’m going to find out why CJ really shot me—I know it wasn’t an accident, except for the part where he missed and didn’t kill me—and when I do, your precious son is going to prison.”

“That’s enough. Either go upstairs or leave,” her mother said. “I need to speak to your sister alone.”

“It’s okay, Oakley,” Tilly said. “I need to talk to Mother.”

Oakley feared for her sister. Big sister Tilly liked to believe that she could handle anything. She also liked to believe that there was good in everyone. Oakley knew better as she let her gaze move from her mother to CJ. She pointed her finger at him and mouthed, “I’m coming for you.” He paled, that smug look gone.

She turned toward the door, not wanting to spend another moment in this house for fear of what she would do. “I’ll borrow something to wear from Amy when I get to town,” she said over her shoulder. As she passed her sister, she squeezed her arm. “Good luck. Call if you need me.”

“YOUAREN’TSERIOUSLYsuggesting that Oakley is responsible for her own shooting,” Tilly said as Oakley left and she turned to her mother. “Remember he almost killed me, too, when he took me hostage and rolled the truck.”

Her mother waved away her words as if they were pesty flies. “That’s all water under the bridge. We have other matters to discuss. CJ, please leave us.”

He shot Tilly a self-righteous look that told her exactly how this discussion was going to go as he slowly turned and wheeled back down the hallway.

She felt her stomach roil as she looked at her seething mother. She had almost talked herself into believing that she could reason with her about the engagement and upcoming marriage. What had she been thinking? Clearly, she’d been daydreaming. That her mother blamed Oakley for getting shot and CJ getting injured told her exactly how this was going to go.

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