“What was the truth?”
“We graduated in May and worked all summer. The baby was due the first week in October, and we wanted to save enough money to rent an apartment in Austin. Before the baby was born, we planned to run away and get married.”
“Who knew about the plan?”
“No one. I didn’t even tell Hilary. We didn’t want Asa to find out.”
“Can you prove any of this?”
“Why do I need to prove anything?”
His eyes held hers. “Because it would mean your father didn’t have a motive.”
“My father didn’t know we were getting married,” she said rather tartly.
He pulled a pad and pen forward. “Did you get a marriage license?”
“Yes. In San Marcos.”
“Did you rent an apartment?”
“Yes. In Austin.” She gripped her hands again to keep the memories at bay. “Jared was killed the day before we were to leave.”
Complete silence followed her words, and she took a moment to gather her shattered composure. Memories of that day were still very real and painful. But it was only a prelude of the misery to come.
“Mr. Corbett...”
“Could you please call me Carson?” His green eyes held hers, waiting.
“I’d rather keep this formal.” She didn’t know why she was hesitating. She just didn’t want to be on friendly terms with him.
“Willow Creek is as informal as you can get.”
“But you and I are not friends. You and I will never be friends.”
“I see,” he said in a flat tone, and for a moment she felt a twinge of guilt. But it passed quickly. He made her feel weak and she hated that. She would never be weak again.
She reached for her purse and stood. “Dredging up the murders is not the reason I’m here. My child is the only reason I came back, and your father is the only one who has the answer. You’re stalling because you know I’m right.”
He stood, too, his green eyes turning dark. “I’ve asked before, and your answer wasn’t satisfactory. Why are you coming back now? Why not eight years ago? Five years? You’ve left it rather late to play the mother card.”
“How dare you! I don’t have to explain anything to you, and I’m not answering any more questions. You have until eight o’clock tonight to speak to your father. If I don’t hear from you, I’m calling my attorney.” She turned on her heel and walked out.
In the car she was trembling so badly she had to take several deep breaths. She’d known this wasn’t going to be easy, but she’d never counted on her emotions betraying her. There was an attraction between them, very subtle, but it was there. No way was she letting her heart get involved with the enemy. And that was who Carson Corbett was—her worst enemy.
* * *
CARSON RAN BOTH hands through his hair. Son of a bitch! What had just happened? They were having a normal conversation and the next minute she was tearing into him like a cornered bobcat.
He closed the folder and jammed it back into the storage box. She was right. Dredging up the past was pointless. He had to deal with the present.
His cell buzzed and he reached for it on his belt. It was his aunt.
“Carson, your father’s awake. He’s had a late breakfast and now he’s watching TV.”
“I’ll be right there.”
He locked up the office and headed for home. Driving down the winding road to the house, he glanced at his cows feeding on new coastal hay. It had taken him years, but he’d slowly built a good-size herd again. Yet the ranch was far from what it used to be. He couldn’t afford help, so when he wasn’t doing his constable job, he worked the ranch. His life ran at a grueling pace, but it kept him from thinking.
Parking at the garages, he took a moment and then went in through the sunroom. Aunt Fran was in the kitchen, loading the dishwasher.
She looked up, her face worried. “What’s this about, Carson?”
“It’s not good.” He told her about Jena Brooks’s allegations.
“That can’t be true.” She wiped her hands on a dish towel. “Asa wouldn’t do something like that.”
“I’m not so sure. He was out of his mind with grief.”
“I wish I could have gotten here sooner after Jared died, but I was in Australia and...”
“You know Pa. You couldn’t have changed a thing. Where is he?”
“In the den. Carson,” she called as he turned away. “Be patient.”
He nodded and walked into the large Western-style room with dark walnut paneling, leather sofas, horse sculptures and a brightly colored area rug. His father sat in his chair, watching TV, a remote in his unsteady hand.
Carson was reminded of the years he and Asa went head-to-head on just about everything. His father was a hard man, and his sons knew that better than anyone. Work was always on Asa’s mind, and he’d made sure his boys started working at an early age. Carson could remember pushing hay off the back of a truck to feed cows at six. After school, it was ranch work. Weekends were the same. Vacations were nonexistent. The only fun they’d had was hanging out with friends and playing sports. His father was the reason he’d joined the Marines. He’d had to get away to be his own man apart from his father’s insane views of life.
His father was also an unforgiving man. He could remember the time Asa beat Jared to within an inch of his life for leaving a gate open. Cows got out and Asa was furious. Carson jumped in and pulled Asa off his little brother. They’d slept in the barn that night, and the next day Asa acted as if nothing had happened. There were so many days like that. Yet through it all they’d loved their father.
But Jared’s murder had broken Asa. So much so that he’d allowed a worthless ranch hand to squander away everything he’d built. Carson shook the memories away.
“Hi, Pa.”
The chair buzzed as Asa turned it to face him.
“I need to talk to you.”
“About...what?” His robust voice was now a gravelly whisper.
There wasn’t any way to do this but to say the words. “Jena Brooks is back in town.”
“Bit-ch,” he spat, his leathery, lined face suffused with rage. “Killed...my...son. Bitch!”
“Lamar Brooks killed Jared.”
Asa heaved several deep breaths and drool ran out the corner of his mouth.
“Stay calm.” Carson handed him the washcloth on the arm of the chair.
Asa dabbed at his mouth.
“Pa, there’s more.” He hated to keep on, but if he didn’t an investigator from the sheriff’s office would. “You okay?”
Asa nodded.
Carson measured his next words. “Ms. Brooks says Minnie Voltree gave her something to induce labor in the basement of this house. That you then took her baby from her and told her to get out of town or you would kill her.”
There was no reaction on his father’s face, and Carson wondered if he’d heard what he’d said.
“Pa, she’s come back for her child.”