Renegade (Tin Star K9 Series Book 1) by Jodi Burnett (literature books to read .txt) 📗

took a minute before he answered. “Even though you have my name listed as a suspect, you know I didn’t.”

“I don’t believe you did, but where were you during those unaccounted-for hours the night Wendy was killed?” Caitlyn stood next to Dylan, and they both studied the murder wall. “Did you drive down to Sundance to see her?” Dylan tilted his head and looked at her. “Sundance?”

Caitlyn released some of the tension she held in her bunched shoulders. “You didn’t know she was there?”

“The last time I saw Wendy was at the Tipsy Cow. I swear that’s true.”

“I believe you Dylan, but why won’t you tell anyone where you were after that?”

Again he was silent for a long moment. “I’ll tell you, Caitlyn, but you can’t share this information with anyone. Not even with Colt.”

“Why?”

Dylan walked to the front window and stood with his back to her. He stared out across her front yard. “When I left the Tipsy Cow, I ran into Heather Mansfield in the parking lot. You remember her from school, don’t you?” Caitlyn nodded. “Well, anyway, she was just getting there. She was upset, and frankly, so was I, so we decided to go have a drink together by ourselves to commiserate—I was with her.”

“Okay, that’s terrific news. Then Heather can give you an alibi. You’re off the hook!”

Dylan swung around to face her, his expression serious. “No. I mean… I was with her.”

Slowly it dawned on Caitlyn what her brother was saying. “But Dylan—she’s married.”

“Separated.”

“You’re splitting hairs.”

“I know. It was wrong. We’d both had too much to drink. We were feeling sorry for ourselves, and it just happened. The thing is, she wants to get back together with her husband. She loves him. So, I don’t want to drag her through the mud and ruin her chances.”

“For God’s sake, Dylan. This is your life we’re talking about. You’ve got to stop getting drunk and sleeping around. It doesn’t solve your problems.” Caitlyn was incredulous. “You could go to prison.”

“Well, it hasn’t gone that far yet. I didn’t kill Wendy—but somebody did. If the sheriff finds out who it was, I’ll be off the hook without wrecking things for Heather.”

“Dylan, the sheriff doesn’t care who actually killed Wendy. He just wants someone to blame, so he can look good for solving a crime. You can’t put your life in hands like that.”

Her brother shifted his gaze to the wall behind her. “You’re probably right. But I can trust you. Looks like you’re investigating the murder.” A soft smile peeked out from his dark beard. “God must have cut you from the same cloth as Logan. Our brother would be proud of you.”

A rush of emotion flooded through Caitlyn and clogged her throat. This was the most Dylan had said to her in almost nine months, and possibly the kindest words ever. Tears pricked the back of her eyes and she wanted to throw her arms around him. But Dylan wasn’t a demonstrative man. He was not the kind of guy who appreciated hugging, so she stayed where she was.

“Okay, Dyl. I’ll keep your secret unless it comes to a point when we need to disclose the information in order to save your life. Deal?”

Dylan looked her in the eye. “Let’s try not to let it get that far.”

Caitlyn nodded and pivoted so she stood next to him, both of them facing the murder wall. “I really appreciate you coming out here to check on me, Dylan. It means a lot.” Caitlyn leaned to her right and bumped his shoulder with hers.

“Just because I’m mad at you, doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.” They stood, not looking at each other while they spoke.

“Can we talk about why you’re angry with me?”

Dylan sighed from the depths of his being. He crossed his arms over his chest, then grunted and shook out his right hand “I’d rather not. It’s irreconcilable. There’s no fixing it and thinking about it just pisses me off all over again.”

“But can’t you understand, even a little, that I want to be out on my own?” Caitlyn pulled a chair from the dining table and sat. She spun her beer bottle around in wobbly circles, waiting for her brother to answer.

“That’s the only part I do understand.” Dylan also took a chair and angled himself to face her. “But why didn’t you talk to me about it? Instead, you went straight to Dad.”

“Dad is who I should have gone to. Don’t you think? His name is the one on the deed.” She took a swig of beer. “Either way, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

Dylan worked his jaw and picked at the paper label on his bottle. “This isn’t about hurting my feelings, Caitlyn. Dad’s name is on the deed, but that doesn’t mean he’s on top of the day-to-day running of the ranch.”

Caitlyn’s stomach balled up with concern. “What are you getting at?”

“Reed Ranch has been struggling financially for several years. We needed two or three years in a row of high cattle prices at the market to make up for it.”

“I gathered that, and I know Dad pulling my share of the ranch out in cash, made things tight. I’m sorry about that. It’s why instead of getting a job, I’ve been trying to work at the ranch. That way you don’t have to hire anyone.”

Dylan leveled his gaze at her for an uncomfortable moment. “It’s a lot worse than not being able to hire a ranch hand, Caitlyn.”

“How bad is it?”

He released another gust of air. “As you know, cattle prices have continued to drop this year. At this point, I can’t afford to buy enough grain to get the cows through ‘til market next fall.” Dylan scratched his chin under his beard and dropped his voice. “And, I’m not gonna be able to make the mortgage payment next month.” Their eyes met, searching for each other’s reaction in the silence.

“I had no idea. Why didn’t you say something before