AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Reed leaned against his truck and folded his arms, recalling his shock at seeing Lily again without any warning she had returned or would be handling last night’s event. A heads-up would have gone a long way in changing how the evening had gone. “Did you know John’s widow, Lily, was back in Casper and working again at Creative Events?”
Brett looked confused. “We saw her recently at Ina’s, and Trina mentioned once her assistant would return soon, so I assumed Lily was back at work there. What does...” Enlightenment dawned. At least his brother wasn’t in on Allie’s manipulations. “You’rethe one she talked into going last night in our place? All she told me was she didn’t feel well.”
“Yeah, me, too. Shedidn’tmention Lily though.” Reed straightened and tugged his hat back down. “Get in, and we’ll call for tires to be delivered tomorrow, which is about all we can do on a Sunday.”
“Aren’t you going to elaborate on last night?” Brett got into the truck and shut the passenger-side door.
Reed didn’t have to think twice about his answer. “No, and tell Allie to butt out. Please.”
“Oh, no worries there. I’ll even let you watch.”
Chuckling, he put the truck in gear and started for the stables, saying, “She would like that part.” As long as Brett was focused on Allie, she didn’t care who else was around, at least not when they were holding a private play party above Casey’s.
They arrived at the stable at the same time Slade pulled up astride his motorcycle. He removed his helmet and said, “I just saw your truck. What gives?”
“You must not have noticed the strip of nails responsible for the flats. Deliberate, we’re thinking.” Brett’s gaze cut to Evan and Jeff who were cleaning out the horse trough in the corral. “When did they get here this morning?”
Slade glowered. “Are you accusing them of something?”
Reed interjected. “No one’s accusing the kids of anything, but you never discovered who was responsible for the destroyed property last summer. And then there was the ruined feed incident in January.”
During a heavy snow pileup, someone had snuck into the large barn and ripped open the stored feed bags, spreading grain and shredded burlap all over the floor. That many destructive pranks weren’t a coincidence and reeked of an inside perpetrator. As senior manager of the Soaring Eagle Ranch, Slade was in charge of the hired hands and protective of the young college guys interning with him.
“It’s not teenage pranks,” Brett said, his tone softer.
“Maybe, but I’m not firing anyone on a suspicion.” Slade swung a leg around and got off the bike, raking his fingers through his hair. “Mom doesn’t like my bike, so I’m riding with you to dinner. William asked to grill fish, so I suggest we get out to the lake and back pronto if we want dinner this evening.”
Their mother, Andrea, had chosen well when she remarried. William doted on her and was faithful, two big pluses in all three of their eyes.
Brett nodded. “Allie’s making mac and cheese from scratch. Let’s stow our pissy moods and enjoy the day.”
“I’m good with that,” Reed agreed, striding toward the stable. “But I’m still going to have a word with her. After mac and cheese.”
They murmured quietly behind him as he went to Apollo’s stall, Slade’s louder response of, “Can I watch?” making him laugh.
****
The opportunity forthat word with Brett’s fiancée presented itself after Sunday dinner. Reed followed Allie out to the backyard while Brett and William were still engaged in legal talk and Slade was helping their mother with dishes. All through dinner, he continued to think about Lily’s peace of mind after last night, imagining her astonishment over her behavior and the shock of her response still lingered today. He continued to struggle with his actions and knew from experience he would have to check on her himself to settle his conscience, and planned to do so when he found her new address.
Andrea and William’s new puppy, a rambunctious Goldendoodle, ran circles around Allie where she stood in the yard laughing. Reed couldn’t help but find them both amusing and paused on the patio until Allie noticed him. She winced with a spasm of guilt then strolled toward him with a flirty grin.
“How mad are you?”
Reed fisted his hands on his hips and cocked his head as she stood before him. “On a scale of one to ten, six.”
“That’s not too bad. It must have gone okay.”
She didn’t sound the least bit remorseful, but that was Allie. She didn’t spare a second for regrets, calling it a waste of time. “Sweetheart, what were you trying to do, get us together? That’s not happening.”
“Why?” she returned bluntly.
Why?Because Lily had loved his friend and partner so much she had worked to save their marriage far longer and during the most painful of betrayals than anyone else would have. Most people would call her efforts ridiculous; some would say admirable. He only ever wanted her to be happy.
“Stay out of things you don’t understand.” He hesitated then added, “Please.”
“Okay.” Allie laid a hand on his cheek for a moment, her blue eyes now shining with compassion. “I just want Brett’s brothers to be as happy as he is, and I am.”
She dropped her hand and went inside, leaving him to brood alone until the back door opened again and his mother joined him. The puppy, Brandy, dashed over, and Andrea scooped her up then thrust the wriggling bundle of cinnamon curls into his arms.
