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She laughed, leaning against the doorjamb as she studied him. “Talk about the pot calling the kettle names. You’re paying someone to spy on me? Someone on the McKenna Ranch? Let me guess. Rusty Malone. I hope you’re paying him enough.”
“I don’t know what you thought you heard but—”
“I heard plenty and I’ve seen plenty. You don’t fool me, CJ. You never have. Maybe Mother’s in the dark, but I’m not.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but wait until I tell Mother that you’re seeing Duffy McKenna.”
She shrugged. “Not half as appalling as when she finds out that you’re only pretending to be paralyzed.”
“Have—have you lost your mind?” He slammed a hand down on the arm of the wheelchair, his voice rising dangerously. “You think I would pretend to be in this?”
“Oh, I definitely think you would. I think you’d milk this for all it’s worth if you thought it would keep you out of jail.”
He shook his head, wheeling the chair around as if he was going somewhere but quickly wheeling back to glare at her. “Tell Mother and see where that gets you.”
She smiled. “You’ve always lied to get out of trouble. But this time you’ve really stooped low. I saw you standing in the window earlier. Now I’m wondering how long you’ve been lying about everything, especially why you shot me.”
“You’re delusional.” But he looked away when he said it, making her even more convinced he was lying about all of it.
“I have to wonder why you would stay in that chair, though, if you don’t have to. Bet once the charges are dropped, you will miraculously rise to your feet. What a moment that will be.”
“Get out of my room. I can’t stand the sight of you.”
“At least we have that in common, even though I’ve never shotyou. But there is always a first.” She shoved off the door frame. “But I promise I’m going to find out not only why you really shot me, but also what you’re still up to. I’m watching you, CJ, the way you’re apparently spying on me.” With that she turned and walked back down the hall.
She heard him throw something that shattered against the wall and smiled to herself. She hadn’t been wrong. CJ was lying about everything.
But how far should she keep pushing? Far enough that he made a mistake.
*
HOLDENWISHEDHEand Lottie could do business like reasonable ranch owners and sit down at a table and hash this out. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible, he knew as he rode up into the meadow and reined in his horse at the sight of her.
He’d known he would find her here. She sat on a large rock that the sun had bared of snow. The past few days they’d gotten a break from winter. He loved it when the days began to get longer, the sun stronger. But spring was still a long way off. Days like this, bright and almost warm under a cloudless sky made winter in Montana bearable.
But he wasn’t fooled. The weather could change in a heartbeat. Snow could start falling and keep falling until everything was blanketed in deep cold white, and spring seemed like it would never come.
Holden dismounted and approached Lottie slowly. It had been a while since she’d taken a bullwhip to him. She’d threatened to shoot him the next time he rode up on the spot where they used to make love. He often wondered why she came here if it caused her so much pain.
He thought he knew what she was doing here today. Even from a distance, he could see worry lining her face as she turned up to the sun’s rays. CJ was her firstborn son. Of course she would be heartbroken over what he’d done as well as his injury.
Worse, she was the type of woman who liked to believe that she had the power to fix anything. While she might be able to get CJ out of legal jeopardy, only God could get him out of that wheelchair if his injuries were as bad as Holden had heard. That alone had to be tearing her apart.
He cleared his voice. She turned her head slowly, not seeming at all surprised to see him.
“What took you so long?” She sounded tired and defeated, as if she didn’t have the energy to rise from the rock where she sat, let alone fight with him.
Holden wasn’t fooled as he walked slowly toward her. Her own horse was a good distance away in the trees, but that didn’t mean that she wasn’t armed. He stopped a few yards away.
“I’m so sorry.”
“About anything in particular or just generally?” she asked in that same almost bored tone.
“About CJ. I know how hard that must be for you.”
Her lips bowed a little as if amused. “It would be for any parent.”
“You’re not just any parent.” He met her gaze and, for a moment, thought he saw the shine of tears before she blinked and turned her head away.
