Seemed odd anyone would be looking for him now. “Did he say who’d hired him?”

  Tick shook his head. “I noticed that a lot of people clammed up in the bar. I heard Tilly’s name mentioned. Got the impression everyone liked her. Just thought she should know.”

  “Thanks,” Cooper said. Tick didn’t seem like such a jerk when he wasn’t drinking. “I’ll let her know.” He wondered if Rusty knew anything about this. Rusty and Dixon Malone were shirttail relatives. He’d never understood exactly how they were related, but maybe he’d better find out. He couldn’t imagine Rusty hiring a PI after all these years to investigate what might have happened to Dixon, though.

  * * *

  STUART KNEW THAT he couldn’t send a deputy out to the Stafford Ranch to pick up CJ. He was going to have to do this himself. He hoped CJ wouldn’t put up a fight and would simply come along peacefully. Maybe he should have brought a couple of deputies with him, he thought as he left town.

  What he couldn’t understand was why CJ would have shot his sister. Once he had, why hadn’t he come forward? He had to know that he would be found out.

  Then again, Stuart had found most suspects didn’t turn themselves in. They waited, hoping they’d get away with it, right up until they were caught.

  As he drove out to the Stafford Ranch, he was still having trouble believing CJ had shot Oakley. He kept telling himself there had to be a mistake. He’d been so sure it had been someone from the McKenna Ranch who’d taken a potshot at her. Someone like that hothead Rusty Malone.

  But the evidence didn’t lie. Oakley had been shot by a 270 rifle belonging to her brother. CJ’s fingerprints were still on it. Now all Stuart needed was a confession, and he could wrap up at least this case.

  He still had the meth lab to deal with. The Feds were out there combing through the ashes. With luck, they would come up with something that led them to the culprits. They wouldn’t even need the sheriff’s help.

  After the past week, he was ready to take off his badge and hang up his gun. Problem was, what would he do? Leave Powder Crossing? He chuckled. Cooper had been right. He was never leaving here. His boots were covered with too much of the red dirt from these hills. He couldn’t leave, even if he wanted to.

  Just as he couldn’t quit the one job he’d thought he’d been pretty good at and maybe could be again.

  Pulling through the gate, he drove up to the sprawling house and got out. All on one level, the house had been added on again and again from the original small one that John and Ruth Carson had lived in with their only child, Charlotte. But after they passed and Charlotte married Rake Stafford, a man seventeen years her senior, the family had grown and so had the house. She’d gotten pregnant with five children in less than eight years. Rake had been her age now, fifty-two, when he’d died from a fall from his horse, hitting his head on a rock.

  After Rake died, Charlotte had added more rooms as her children required more space, with rooms going off in different directions until the original house was part of a sprawling complex of glass and wood and rock.

  Stuart had always wanted to see inside the house, but had never been invited in. While he and Tilly were dating, he’d hinted a few times, but it was clear he wasn’t going to get an invitation. He didn’t take it personally since, from what he’d heard, Charlotte Stafford practically lived as a recluse.

  He walked up to the door again thinking he should have brought at least one deputy with him. He knocked and waited, then knocked again.

  Ryder Stafford opened the door, brushing back a lock of long blond hair out of his green eyes. “Yes?” Behind him, Stuart got a glimpse of the living room with its rock fireplace, worn wood floors covered with equally worn Native American rugs and worn leather furniture. A bear rug hung on one wall next to a large whitetail deer head. “Yes?”

  “I need to see CJ. Is he around?”

  “He and Tilly left about five, ten minutes ago.”

  CJ and Tilly? That struck him as odd since the two were always at odds with each other. “Do you know where they were headed? Because I didn’t pass them on the county road into town.”

  Ryder shook his head, but then seemed to remember. “I thought I overheard Tilly say she had to get to the hospital to bring Oakley something.”

  “Is there anyone else home who might know? It’s important.” Stuart couldn’t shake the sliver of dread that had embedded itself just under his skin.

  Ryder turned back to the empty room for a minute. “Sorry. My mother’s gone for a ride. Brand’s been gone with the ranch hands checking cattle since early this morning. I could ask our cook, though I really doubt they told her where they were going.”

  “It’s okay. If you see either of them, would you give me a call?”

  “Sure,” Ryder said, and closed the door.

  As Stuart walked back to his patrol SUV, he called Tilly. Her phone went straight to voice mail. He left a message. “I know who shot Oakley. Get hold of me right away and don’t say anything to CJ.”

  *

  “WHO’S THAT? COOPER?” CJ snapped as Tilly quickly put her phone away.

  Don’t say anything to CJ? Stuart knew who had shot Oakley. Her heart was pounding. All her instincts were on alert—just as they’d been when CJ had insisted he drive her into town to the hospital in one of the ranch trucks.

  She’d argued that it wasn’t necessary, that she was more than able to drive herself into town. She didn’t mention that she was taking Oakley her list of passwords. She hadn’t looked at them as she’d kind of promised. Frankly, she didn’t care. But she knew her sister was waiting for them.

  That was why she couldn’t understand why CJ had insisted on taking a back road. She’d been thinking, Does he have to drive so fast? when she’d gotten the message from the sheriff.

  “CJ, where are you taking me?” she asked as she looked up and realized he’d turned off on yet another road. They were now headed not for Powder Crossing but for Miles City. “I told you, I need to get to the hospital.” He was starting to scare her—especially after Stuart’s cryptic message.

  “We’re going to Billings.”

  “What?” Tilly had her sister’s password cheat sheet in her pocket. She took it out. “CJ, Oakley’s waiting for this. I promised her—”

  “Forget about Oakley!” he yelled. “This is all her fault!”

  She stared at him, seeing how tightly he was holding the wheel. The set of his jaw was worse. “What is all her fault?” she asked quietly, her heart in her throat.

  All his anger seemed to burn out as quickly as it had flared up. He scrubbed his arm over his face and looked away from her. “She just wouldn’t listen.”

  Her pulse drummed in her ears, and she felt dizzy as she watched her brother driving too fast on the narrow dirt road. “CJ, pull over.” He shook his head. She glanced down at the paper in her hand and realized that Oakley had written her password list on CH4 notepaper. How many of these notepads were floating around?

  One of the passwords jumped out at her. Buttercup? It was one of Oakley’s passwords? For what?

  CJ sped up, taking a curve in the narrow dirt road too fast and throwing her against her door.

  “I can’t go to Billings. I have to see Oakley.”

  “I told you to forget about her. She’s fine.” He glanced over at her, tears swimming in his green eyes. “I have to get out of town, out of the state, maybe out of the country.”

  Tilly swallowed, suddenly even more afraid at the emotion she heard in her brother’s voice. Her pulse thundered in her ears at the expression on his face. When she spoke, her voice came out in a whisper. “What did you do?”

  He wagged his head, looking miserable. “I warned her and warned her. She just wouldn’t listen. Someone had to stop her.”

  Realization struck like a slap, stinging and sharp, bringing tears to her own eyes. “Oh, tell me you didn’t.”

  He looked at her, swallowed, and the words poured out of him. “I saw her go into that ravine. I waited for her. When she came out...I thought she was headed for their house. I meant to fire just a warning shot...” He broke down, no longer capable of talking through his sobs.

  “It was an accident,” she said quickly, noticing that he seemed to be driving even faster and more recklessly. “Oakley’s fine. She’s going to be fine. Once you tell the sheriff what happened—”

  “No.” It came out a growl. He wiped his sleeve over his face again and regained control of his emotions, but he was driving more dangerously. The pickup lifted off the road as he hit a bump and came down hard, making him fight to keep the vehicle on the road. “I can’t go to the sheriff.” He shot her a look. “Mother can never know.”

  “She will know, CJ. It’s going to come out. You can’t run from this.”

  He didn’t answer, his knuckles white on the wheel as he gave the pickup even more gas.

  Tilly looked at the road ahead. He was driving recklessly, not in his right mind. She had to stop him before he killed them both.

  * * *

  STUART JUMPED BACK into his patrol SUV. If CJ and Tilly left only five or ten minutes ago, he should have passed them on the main county road—unless CJ turned off on one of the cut-across roads that would take him to Miles City and the interstate and several major airports.

  In which case, he wasn’t headed into town to the hospital. He was making a run for it.

  He alerted his deputies as he roared out of the ranch road onto the county one. He hadn’t gone far when he saw Cooper’s pickup coming down the road toward him. He made the decision in an instant. Whirring down his window, he waved him down.

  “CJ was the shooter. It was his rifle. He has Tilly in one of the ranch pickups. I think he’s headed for the interstate—I just don’t know which crossroad he took. He’s only about ten minutes ahead of us.”

  Cooper didn’t hesitate. “I’ll take Little Bear Skull Creek Road.”

  “Okay, I’ll take Castle Rock, but, Coop, don’t try to take him by yourself. Call me. You should be able to get cell phone coverage out there.”

  Stuart took off to the next road that would cross over to Highway 59 and take CJ to Miles City and the interstate. They had to stop him before he reached there. He called his deputies, told them to head to Highway 59 and set up a roadblock for a Stafford Ranch pickup headed north.

  Behind him, he saw Cooper turn around in the middle of the county road. He lost sight of him, dust boiling up behind his SUV. As he passed Little Bear Skull Creek Road, he saw Cooper turn. He questioned getting his friend involved. Cooper wasn’t the law. But CJ had Tilly. If he ran across them, he might be able to talk some sense into CJ. Or at least get Tilly away from her brother.

  That was what had him worried. Why had CJ taken Tilly with him? Why not just jump into a ranch truck and make a run for it alone?

  Because he was planning to use her as a hostage to help him get away?

  Stuart swore as he made the turn onto Castle Rock Road. He couldn’t bear to think of how badly this could end.

  * * *

  CJ HAD TILLY. Cooper raced down the narrow windy dirt road without any thought to his own safety. All he could think about was getting Tilly away from her brother.

  CJ had shot Oakley. It made no sense. Why would he do that? He was a loose cannon, no doubt about that, and he had one hell of a chip on his shoulder. But shoot your own sister?

  He watched the road ahead, telling himself that if he was CJ, this was the road he would have taken—the first one to the west. The county road got little traffic. This one even less. Cooper wasn’t worried about running into anyone as he took the curves at breakneck speed. He figured CJ would be doing the same thing.

  Hadn’t the cowboy realized that once the lab ran a test on his rifle he would be caught? Had he been trying to buy time? Or had he just been afraid and didn’t know what to do?

  That sounded more like it. Now he was on the run—with Tilly. He certainly hadn’t thought this out—or maybe he had by taking a hostage with him.

  Tilly. He felt such a rush of fear. If he lost her now... He pushed the thought away, but the fear stayed. He should have kissed her more, he should have told her what he was feeling, he should have made love to her so she knew how much she was loved.

  But CJ was the perfect example of why he’d been afraid that if he and Tilly went any further, they would only get their hearts broken when they were forced apart. Holden wanted peace between the families. But he also had to know what an uphill battle it would be. It might make things worse. Tilly’s family might disown her. If CJ had shot his own sister because she was on McKenna land...

  Cooper fought to control his temper, half-afraid of what he would do if he caught up with them. When he caught up with them, he told himself. He’d want to strangle CJ with his bare hands. He’d have to because Stuart hadn’t given him back his guns yet. That wasn’t a welcome thought.

  As he came over a rise, he saw something ahead that sent his heart thundering. Dust. There was another vehicle on the road about a quarter mile ahead. He pushed down on the gas, flying around the curves and dips in the road.

  Cooper just needed to see if it was them. It had to be, he told himself. He came over a rise and spotted the pickup ahead, getting a good look at it as CJ made a turn to the right. Cooper could see the Stafford Ranch logo on the side. He started to make the call to the sheriff.

  His desire to get his hands on CJ without any interference from Stuart made him hesitate, although he had no idea what he was going to do when he caught up to them.

  With a curse, he made the call. “He’s in front of me,” he told Stuart. “We’re almost to a connecting road to the north. You should be able to catch us there if you come south.”

  “Got it. Follow, but don’t confront. You hear me, Coop?”

  “Loud and clear.” But he made no promises.

  * * *

  STUART HOPED HE hadn’t made a mistake enlisting Cooper’s help. When he reached the dirt road south, he turned, hoping to see CJ and Tilly headed for him. He’d radioed his deputies. They were on their way. He figured CJ would be armed. The eldest Stafford male was always a little dangerous. Now, with CJ on the run, it was going to take a very careful, calm approach, which was one reason he didn’t want Cooper confronting CJ.

  He hoped Cooper hadn’t gone rogue and tried to stop CJ. There was no telling what the cowboy might do if confronted. Stuart feared CJ had taken Tilly for that very reason. Would he really use his sister as a shield? As a hostage?

  The sheriff reminded himself that CJ had shot his younger sister. Whether it had been an accident or not, he’d almost killed her.

  He tried to relax, but he still hadn’t seen the Stafford Ranch pickup and he was almost to the turnoff that would connect with the road both CJ and Cooper were traversing. His anxiety was growing by the minute. What had happened? He hated to think. Damn it, Cooper, he thought. We already have one out-of-control cowboy. We don’t need another one.

  As he came to the turnoff, he didn’t see either Cooper or CJ. What if CJ had turned and headed south instead of north? He slowed, debating what to do. Cooper said he had spotted them. He knew this area better than anyone. If CJ had gone south, Coop would have called.

  Unless, he thought with a groan, he’d let his feelings for Tilly overrule his common sense.

  * * *

  TILLY CAUGHT A flash of light in her side mirror. The sun reflected off a vehicle’s windshield on the road behind them. Cooper?

  She couldn’t believe her eyes. But then the pickup dropped down over a rise and disappeared. The pickup was the same color as Cooper’s, but how could he...?

  “CJ, please,” Tilly said. “Stop and let’s talk about this.”

  “It’s too late.” He shook his head.

  “Well, at least slow down. We can figure this out.” She checked her mirror. No sign of the pickup. Had she merely imagined it? Wished it and Cooper into being right now when she needed him the most? “You just have to tell the truth. You weren’t trying to hurt Oakley. It was an accident.”

  He seemed to drive even faster. “When Mother finds out...”

  “You think she hasn’t made mistakes in her life?” Tilly demanded. “She’ll understand. Everyone will understand. It was an accident. It wasn’t your fault.”

  He looked over at her as if he couldn’t believe what she was saying. The front tire on his side of the pickup dropped into the shallow barrow pit and pulled hard to the left. The tires dug into the loose dirt at the edge of the road, and the pickup began to fishtail. CJ fought to regain control of the truck but he was going too fast.

  Tilly hung on, too scared to even scream as the pickup began to roll.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  COOPER FELT HIS heart drop to his feet as he came around a curve in the road and saw the Stafford Ranch pickup. He stared in horror as he slammed on his brakes and jumped out of his vehicle to run toward the truck now resting in the middle of a field beside the road. Windows broken, the cab top crushed, the truck looked as if it had rolled numerous times before it had finally come to rest sitting on its tires.

  He fell to his knees beside the passenger side of the cab and bent to look inside, terrified of what he would find.

  Blood. It seemed to be everywhere.

  Tilly’s blond hair was streaked with it, her body still. With trembling fingers, he reached in to carefully ease her hair away from her face. She was breathing. His fingers rested on her temple. He felt a pulse. He could hear a vehicle coming. The sheriff? He pulled out his phone and called 911.