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“But—”
“No buts, little girl.” Wyatt’s tone was firm. “Whatever trouble you’re in, we’ll get through it together.”
Landon, Sienna’s younger brother, tugged on her foot covered by the sheet. His hair was cropped close to his scalp and his skin tanned from hours spent outside. He grinned. “Don’t bother arguing, sis. It won’t do any good.” He lifted a shoulder. “Besides, the old folks are right.”
Wyatt lightly punched his son’s shoulder. “Watch who you’re calling old.”
Sienna laughed as her brother rolled his eyes. Her family had been through a lot with Harper’s death, but the tragedy had driven them closer. It was comforting to think of going home, but her father’s recent heart attack wasn’t something she could ignore. The mirth slid from her expression as she focused on her dad. “The doctors ordered you to rest and relax.”
“Sienna Marie Evans, do you think I’ll get a wink of sleep if you’re not under my roof?” He crossed his arms over his broad chest. “And your mother will be up all night pacing a groove in the floorboards, worrying herself sick. Now no more arguments. The matter is settled.” He glanced at Eli and paused before extending his hand. “The police chief explained what you did for Sienna tonight. Thank you.”
“No thanks necessary, sir. Although, I wouldn’t say no to a spare bed, if one’s available where the farm hands sleep. I’d like to stick close to Sienna.”
“I’ll do you one better. You can have the guest room in our house.”
A momentary panic fluttered in Sienna’s chest as she suddenly realized how close Eli would be. Sleeping down the hall, working together during the day, eating meals at the same table. There wouldn’t be a break. Sienna wanted to believe her heart could withstand it. But after the way Eli rescued her from a killer… the tender way he’d brushed the hair from her forehead…
Now she wasn’t so sure.
SEVEN
The Evans farm was nestled in a beautiful swatch of land on the outskirts of Sandalwood. Greenhouses lined the left side of the property. A barn was protected by an orchard of pecan trees. Horses grazed in a back pasture. To the right, land stretched out far and wide toward the horizon. In the fall, it would be high with corn crops, but now the fields were desolate. Soon tilling would begin for spring planting.
Eli leaned against the porch railing, morning sunshine warming his shoulders as he guzzled coffee. He’d been up every few hours to patrol the property throughout the night. Fortunately, there’d been no sign of Sienna’s attacker. The lack of sleep and the soreness in his body from escaping the fire was catching up to him though. It’d been easy in his twenties to work long hours on barely any shut-eye. Hitting thirty-five had changed matters.
He felt old. Jaded. And weary. It didn’t help that he was standing several feet away from his friend and colleague, Texas Ranger Cole Donnelly. Twenty-eight and full of endless energy, Cole was the newest member of Company A. He’d joined their team last May after working as a detective for the Criminal Investigation Division of the state police for six years. Eli had taken the younger man under his wing and a solid friendship had formed as a result. They differed in their approach to cases—Eli was rigid, relying on his training to guide him, whereas Cole was more flexible and analytical—but they both shared a deep commitment to truth and justice.
Cole extended a set of photographs toward Eli. “Meet Luis and Tony Greer. Albert’s delinquent cousins.”
Eli set his coffee mug down on the railing and took the mug shots. Luis was older by several years, his face square like a Lego man, eyes small and hard. Tony shared his brother’s crooked nose and bushy brows, but he maintained some semblance of his youth in rounded cheeks and a soft jawline.
“Their rap sheets are as long as my arm.” Cole untwisted the cap on a bottle of water. “Petty stuff in their youth, like stealing cars for joyriding, but in recent years, they’ve upgraded to illegal drug distribution. I’ve been investigating them for some time in connection with a surge of opioids in this area, but haven’t gotten enough evidence to make a case yet.”
“Are you sure they’re involved?”
“Yep. I’ve had a few witnesses tell me as much. Unfortunately, those witnesses are drug users. The State’s attorney won’t take their word for it without more evidence. I’ve had Luis and Tony tailed by state troopers, we’ve searched their homes, and brought them in for questioning. Our efforts haven’t yielded anything solid though.” Cole's expression darkened. “I’ve also had witnesses disappear. Drug users are notorious for taking off, but it’s happened enough times I suspect Luis and Tony are taking matters into their own hands. Not that I can prove it.”
Eli frowned. “What do you know about Luis and Tony’s relationship with their cousin?”
“Albert kept his nose clean, for the most part, but the family is tight. Long story short, Chief Ramirez is right. Either Luis or Tony could be the man responsible for the attack on Sienna last night. I know you only saw one assailant, but it’s still possible the brothers are working together.”
Eli nodded, his gaze drifting over the property. Sienna’s parents had left early in the morning for follow-up doctor appointments. Her brother, Landon, was working on an old truck near the barn. A Labrador slept peacefully in the grass nearby.
It was terrifying to think that two criminals might do something to harm this family in order to get to Sienna. He prayed for God’s help in protecting them. “Chief Ramirez was certain Luis and Tony would do what was necessary to get revenge and would go underground afterward until the dust settled.”
“I agree with him. These boys are criminals, but they aren’t stupid.” Cole studied him for a moment. “How much has Sienna shared with you about what happened on the night Albert was murdered?”
“Everything.” Eli quickly went through what Sienna had told him. “The evidence supports her version of events. It’s something Chief Ramirez should take seriously, but he won’t. He’s made up his mind that she’s guilty.”
“Is there a chance he’s right?” Cole lifted up his hands in the classic sign of surrender. “Don’t bite my head off. I wouldn’t be a friend if I didn’t ask. Sienna doesn’t have the best reputation with law enforcement in these parts. She’s been known to push boundaries and omit pieces of the story to get what she wants. I understand there’s history between you two, and admittedly I don’t know the full story, but I’d hate for you to invest in someone who isn’t telling you the whole truth.”
An irrational anger sparked heat in Eli’s chest as his protective instincts flared. He met Cole’s gaze dead on. “Sienna is innocent. End of story.” He lifted the mug shots. “Thanks for the update. And for talking to the chief. I’ll take it from here.”
Cole opened his mouth and then closed it before seeming to wrestle with his words. Then he sighed. “I have to say this. Tread lightly, Eli. Chief Ramirez can’t fire you, but a complaint lodge with Lieutenant Rodriguez will have to be taken seriously. It could mean a sanction, or depending on the offense, something worse.”
The warning was fair. Their boss, Lieutenant Vikki Rodriguez, was a straight shooter who ran Company A by the book. She gave grace when appropriate but didn’t suffer fools. If the chief filed a complaint alleging that Eli was interfering with a police investigation, he’d end up in a lot of hot water. He could even be fired.
It was a risk he would have to take. Based on the conversation with Chief Ramirez yesterday, Sienna wasn’t going to get a fair shake with the police department. Eli couldn’t stand by and do nothing.
