Page 21 of River Strong

“I’d be careful if I were you,” CJ said. “You shouldn’t go around making accusations without any evidence.”

She felt her scar pull with another warning. But that didn’t stop her. “Evidence? I know you meant to kill me and when I remember what we were both doing there that day, you’re going to be spending the rest of your miserable life behind bars.” She caught a satisfying glint of worry dim his gaze before she shoved from the wheelchair to walk away from him.

She could feel his gaze boring into her back. She couldn’t help thinking that turning her back on him was probably a mistake since last time he’d shot her when she had.

“I doubt anyone would believe you since you don’t remember anything about that day,” he said, attempting to sound unconcerned. “Our lawyer would say that you’re making it up because you’re angry at me for the accident.”

She turned slowly to smile at him. “Got it all figured out, have you? One problem. My memory is already starting to come back and when it does, I’ll know exactly why you are so terrified that I will remember. Then I’ll be coming for you because we both know the truth, even if you don’t have the guts to admit it to my face.” She put her hand over the scar so close to her heart.

With that, she turned and walked out. Behind her she heard him crash his wheelchair into the coffee table as he tried to come after her.

Just before she slammed the door, she heard him yell, “Next time I won’t miss!”

She was shaking by the time she reached her pickup. He’d confirmed what she already knew, but hearing the words come out of his mouth... As she started the engine, she glanced back at the house. She’d poked the bear, and everyone knew how dangerous that can be.

As she stared at the living room windows, she thought again of what she’d glimpsed in the guest room—what appeared to be her brother standing in front of the window. She knew from experience to expect the worst from her oldest brother. But if he’d recovered from his injuries, why would he be pretending he hadn’t? she asked herself as she drove away.

Not even CJ would stoop so low as to fake an injury that had him trapped in a wheelchair. Or would he?

CHAPTER NINE

CHARLOTTEDROVEINTOPowder Crossing determined she would talk to Inez Turner. The moment she drove up, though, the woman’s son came out and stood next to her car.

“No reason to get out of your car, Charlotte,” Bob said as she put down her window. “I know why you’re here, but you won’t be seeing my mother.”

“I’m sure Inez will see me.” She started to open her door, but he closed it again.

“Bob,” she said with more patience than she felt. “Your mother and I have known each other for years.”

“Everyone knows you, Charlotte.”

She gritted her teeth at what he was insinuating, but planted a smile on her face. “I know she must be worried about what will happen to her ranch once she’s gone.”

“Not really. We’ve discussed it at length.”

“Come on, Bob. I know you’re in a position where you have to sell the ranch. Your wife doesn’t want to live here, and you don’t, either. Not only that, think of what you can do for your family with that money. I’m offering more than the ranch’s value so you can avoid the hassle and expense of a real estate agent.”

“You really need to leave, Charlotte.” He turned on his heel, walking away, even as she was getting out of the car.

She started to follow him, but when he reached the front door, he made a show of locking it behind him.

Her face flushed with anger. What a fool. He couldn’t treat her like this. If she didn’t need that piece of property, she would walk away and not come back.

Climbing into her SUV, she sat for a moment, fuming. Bob had always been a wuss. Inez had been the strong one. There had to be a way to get around him to his mother.

A thought struck her. What about that new nurse in town? Brand had kind of been interested in her until it became clear that she was only interested in the sheriff. What was her name? It started with an A, an old name like Angela. Abby. Abigail. That was it.

But getting to Inez before she kicked off wasn’t the only problem. There’d been so many unforeseen expenses with Oakley’s accident and then CJ’s. The specialists for his care were costly enough, not even counting the lawyers she’d had to hire to keep him out of jail and attempts to get the case against him thrown out. Plus installing the ramps and other construction costs for the additions that had been made to accommodate his injury. CJ owed her big time.

Because of all of it, she was going to have trouble making an offer larger than Holden McKenna’s. But she’d be damned if she wouldn’t hock everything, including the ranch if it came to that. She had to have the Montana 360 Ranch. Realizing that Inez could go at any time, she had to contact that nurse.

With a start, she’d forgotten that there was one sure-fired way to get more money and quickly. She’d move forward with drilling more coalbed methane wells on the ranch as CJ had been encouraging her to do.

As a passing thought, she briefly considered how the rest of what was left of her family would take the news—especially Oakley. Then she reminded herself that she was running this ranch and she would run it as she saw fit. She put in a call to Douglas Burton to contract more wells before she went looking for Abigail.

The nurse wasn’t working at the small hospital today. In fact, they said she wasn’t working for the next few days unless there was an emergency.

It didn’t take much after that to find out where she was living. The house was small, tucked behind the hospital on the edge of town. Luck was with her. The nurse’s car was parked next to the house. But when Charlotte knocked, it seemed to take longer than it should have to get the woman to answer the door. Not that she was about to give up until she talked to her.

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