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He crowned the lie by telling her that he could never love her.
Just saying those words had made his heart wrench apart. And the lies had eaten at him, day and night, for the last week. Remembering the stark pain in her eyes made it a thousand times worse.
But maybe there was something he could do about it.
Robert Maxwell had been controlling the lives of people in Garrett Bluff for too long. The old man had been home from the hospital for a week now. He was surely ready for a little visit.
Settling his cap lower on his head, Matt stalked to his pickup, climbed inside, slammed the door.
And headed for Walking Stones Ranch.
MANDY BRACED HERlower back with one hand as she walked slowly down Main toward the courthouse. The ache nagged at her, and she felt more tired than she ever had before. Carrying what seemed to be a two-ton baby wasn’t much fun, day after day after day.
Shading her eyes against the late-afternoon sun, she looked up at the First Montana Bank clock. The walk—more like a waddle—was taking a whole lot longer than she’d expected, but she still had enough time.
Jolie had gone to the cabin for picnic supplies, but Mandy had told her that she’d rather just stay in town. Later, they were meeting Cassie, Zak, and Thea at the reservoir for supper.
The familiar sound of a creaky old truck came up Main Street as she neared the courthouse.Dad?But he wouldn’t bother her here, not on Main Street. Maybe he wouldn’t even see her, with the after-school crowd filling the sidewalk.
Some twenty feet ahead of her the truck squealed to a stop, then took a sharp left at the next corner, backfiring as it accelerated.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she entered the courthouse and found the deputy’s office. A small waiting area led to a hallway with several rooms. Sounds of vacuuming came from down the hall. “Hello? Is Rafe here?
A cleaning lady stepped out of the first door, the vacuum still in her hands.
“I’m cleaning his office. He’s not here,” she said over the whirring noise of the vacuum.
“When will he come back? There’s something here—I’ve got to see it.”
“I should have locked that front door.” The woman frowned at her, clearly irritated. “He’s not here. You can wait outside in the hallway.”
At a deep twinge Mandy closed her eyes. “Oh,my.”
The vacuum cleaner stopped. “You okay, miss? You need to sit down?”
“Yes...please.” She sank into one of the waiting area chairs. “I...don’t feel so good.”
The woman surveyed her head to foot. “You having that baby soon?”
“Not for a good three weeks.”
Clucking her tongue, the woman shook her head. “I had four, and babies don’t come when you think.”
“Um...I had a long walk here, and have a long walk back. Could I get some water?”
“The restroom is at the end of the hall.” The woman gestured toward the door of the deputy’s office. Then she heaved a sigh. “I’ll get it. I remember how it was, being tired and sore.”
Rafe might not return for hours. Maybe not until morning. And the walk had been so long.
Mandy watched the cleaning woman step out into the hallway. Counted to five. Then lumbered to her feet and headed for Rafe’s office.
What were the charges for trespassinghere?She could only imagine.
But ever since Jolie had told her about the doll, an image had been racing around in Mandy’s mind.It couldn’t be, could it? Please, don’t let it be true...
She peered into Rafe’s office, disappointment rising in her chest at the clean desk, orderly rows of books on the banks of shelves lining two walls.
Piles of manila file folders were stacked on top of the file cabinets lining a third wall, but there were no cardboard boxes in sight that might contain Bonnie.
