Landon, on the other hand, had to believe.The alternative was too fucking bleak.And he’d once trudged through bleak every damn day.But not anymore.
He stepped into the kitchen, Cal trailing behind.Aly was humming over the stove like she so often was in the mornings after his predawn chores.She’d always handled coffee, and occasionally had made breakfast for everyone, but since Cal had come home after being shot, she’d spent every morning making big, hearty breakfasts in the hopes it helped his recovery.
Landon thought it certainly hadn’t hurt.Cal had been losing weight even before the shooting but eating well and physical therapy was putting some muscle back on.He was on a physical upswing.
And everything was starting to feel settled.Real.Waking up to Aly every morning.Sometimes being struck by the fact she wore his grandmother’s ring on her finger.And that come spring she planned on saying vows to him—vows he knew neither of them would break.
It wasn’t who they were.
He liked to think whatever they were building here swept out all the bad left behind by Benjamin Bennet.Because the Bennet Ranch had not always stood for bad.Or maybe it had, and Landon hadn’t known, hadn’t seen it.
But it never would again.
Aly looked over her shoulder and smiled at the both of them.“Morning, gentlemen,” she greeted cheerfully.“Did you tell him about the lawyer coming out this afternoon?”she asked, scooping oatmeal into bowls.
Landon nodded.He went to the coffee machine, brushing his mouth across her temple on the way.He poured three mugs of coffee while Aly divvied up the omelet she’d made to go with the oatmeal and orange sections.
Like a well-oiled machine, they took everything to the table—not letting Cal help.So he sat at the dining room table scowling at them.Landon figured it was for more than just not letting him help.
“You know, they said I was good to go at my last physical therapy appointment.”
“That’s great news,” Aly said, purposefully missing the point of what he was saying.
“Yeah, great.Just in time for the trial.Lucky me,” Cal grumbled, grabbing his mug and taking a sip of coffee.
“What are the chances he isn’t convicted?”Aly asked, straight out.
“Slim,” Cal said firmly.Any of the questions in his eyes outside carefully hidden away for Aly.“Unless the defense finds some groundbreaking kind of evidence or an alibi, it’s a pretty airtight case.”
But Landon didn’t think Aly missed the way Cal pushed his food around on his plate and didn’t eat any more than Landon did.
Because they’d all lived with the things Benjamin Bennet could get away with.And until his father was permanently behind bars, no matter how confident he was that they’d done everything they could, Landon still had a little seed of worry.
He was pretty sure they all did.
Chapter Three
Honor’s Edge Investigations Office
Nate had hopedthe meeting with the lawyer would steady him, but he hadn’t been able to concentrate.And he knew Mr.Vanderbilt had gotten frustrated with his lack of concentration when the trial startedtomorrow.
But how could Nate just push away that some guy who looked like a Bennet justhappenedupon Honor’s Edge Investigations the day before a murder trial?Could he really accept that as some kind of coincidence?
“Mr.Bennet.”
Nate turned his attention back to the lawyer who sat across from him in the diner booth.The man’s expression was one of annoyance.Nate could hardly blame him.
“Sorry.I know I’m not doing a very good job answering your questions.Work threw me for a loop this morning, but we’ve been over this before.You know where I stand, and I know what you need from me, Mr.Vanderbilt.I’ll deliver.”
The lawyer made a disapproving kind of noise, but didn’t argue with Nate.“Well, I’m heading up to your ranch to meet with your brother and Ms.Cartwright this afternoon.Maybe you could meet me up there?I thought meeting with you all separately would allow for clearer answers.”His gaze was disapproving.“Apparently not.”
Nate sighed.“I’ll try to rearrange my schedule.Get this… work thing situated.Be more dialed in this afternoon.”
“I’d appreciate it.The four of you might not be on the stand the first day, but we need to be ready.”
Nate nodded, got to his feet.Hewasin the middle of an Honor’s Edge case but was waiting on a few things before he could move forward with that.He’d hoped to be done before the trial, but unless the Livingston police called him back today, or the surveillance footage came through, he couldn’t really press forward, so meeting with the lawyer up at the ranch wouldn’t interfere.
Maybe being around Landon and Cal would help him concentrate.Or would he obsess even more about a man who looked like himandhis brothers?
