“You’re slowing down,” Joel called as he came up behind me.
I hadn’t even recognized that my thoughts strayed to the woman I’d left behind on the porch with my cousin’s wife. My speed decreased because I’d left Brandi at a loss as to my wants, as my thoughts drifted.
“What do you know about Tom Walker?” I finally asked my father as he came up beside me.
“He committed suicide, didn’t he?”
I shook my head. “Jodi doesn’t think so.”
“And you?”
“Neither do I.” I told my father about what I’d found out so far. The rest of the family continued on their horses, racing ahead of us. Ace pulled out the guns my father kept at his house, using cans that’d been set up for target practice.
Joel sighed and looked out into the distance, leaning forward on his horse. “Yeah, wasn’t certain I believed it was suicide when I first heard of his death. As far as I know, Tom wasn’t into any funny shit.”
Lifting an eyebrow, I stared at him.
“I mean, if that girl went missing ’cause somebody took her, I doubt he was responsible for it.”
I nodded, understanding his meaning. Early on, I’d wondered if Jodi finding the girl’s ring in her grandfather’s possession was an indication that he’d been a part of her disappearance. From the way Jodi spoke about him, I got the sense that he would be the last person to do something like that. Family members often had a one-sided view of their loved ones. It precluded them from seeing the truth, many times. But, my mind wouldn’t allow me to place that same conclusion on Jodi.
“Do you trust her?”
I peered over at my father. “I do.” There wasn’t a doubt in my mind. She was genuine.
“I’ll tell you this … The last time I saw Tom was down at the sheriff’s station about a month before he died.”
I frowned. “What were you doing there?”
Joel made a noise at the back of his throat.
I knew he did his best to stay away from law enforcement. He couldn’t stand them. He was pissed when I moved back from college and entered training to become a trooper.
“Fuckers had given me a ticket. Then said I didn’t pay it.”
“Probably because you didn’t.”
He chuckled. “I didn’t. Anyway, I went down there to straighten it out. I saw Tom. He said he was down there to try to speak with a deputy about a matter. Was real scant on the details, and I wasn’t looking to be in the sheriff’s department longer than I needed to be. Told him I’d catch him later.”
I sat back, looking out into the distance. “About a month before he died?”
“That’s what I said.”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
“You tell that woman of yours if she has any other questions let me know.”
My gaze cut over to his. He was wearing a knowing smirk. I wanted to wipe it off his face, but something in me wouldn’t let me say that Jodi wasn’t my woman. We’d known each other less than a handful of weeks, but for the past seven days, there was one word that came to mind when I thought about Jodi.Mine.
“I’m heading back,” I said to Joel, giving no further explanation. I suddenly had the biggest urge to see Jodi. I could often spend hours out on the ranch with my brothers and father, but not that day. I had other plans in mind.
As I guided Brandi toward the back of the house, which was about a half a mile in the distance, I heard another horse coming up behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to find Aaron trotting along on Sheila. His stare was fixed straight ahead, in the same direction I headed. Somehow I knew his intent.
“You couldn’t stay away either, huh?”
He turned, giving me a hard stare before answering with, “Not for too long.”
I didn’t say anything, but I nodded.I know the feeling.
