“How’s the assignment?” Rae Lynn asks, her tonesoftening.
“Not finished, when it needs to be.”
She’s quiet for a second and I’m already dreading the lecture. “Are you going to call her?”
“She doesn’t have a phone.”
Rae Lynn laughs at me. “You can call her on this phone, idiot.”
“It’s best if I don’t.”
After an exaggerated sigh, my sister, tsks at me. “You’re fucking up, D.”
“No.” I clear the acid-covered gravel from my throat. “I’m doing the right thing.”
“I hope so.”
“Do what you can to keep her safe and keep her busy.”
The screen door creaks in the background. “There are six men here. I don’t need to do anything to keep her safe. If anything I need to tell them to leave the poor woman alone.”
Rae Lynn’s small frame appears on the camera as she steps onto the porch steps. When she looks up at the camera, she flips me off. “I know you’re watching.”
“I know that finger’s going to get you in trouble.”
She grins, turning to look toward the barn. “River’s staying busy. She’s fierce, I tell you. There’s no way in hell anyone’s outshining her at the rodeo this weekend.”
“You going?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. I’m going to be cheering the loudest. I like her and since your ass won’t be there, someone’s got to show up for her.”
Somebody pull the fucking dagger out of my heart.
“I need to go. I’ll be in touch when this is done.”
She turns to face the camera. This time serious. “Stay safe, brother. There aren’t any replacements for you. Even if you’re a total pain in the ass.”
I hang up the call and sprawl in the ancient hotel room chair. Every bone in my body aches, the muscles so tense theycould snap something any second. Darkness can’t come fast enough.
But I’ll use the hours wisely. Studying the image of the sniper. Reviewing all the notes Sheriff Baker provided. Watching traffic cameras. Reviewing satellite images.
“You’re mine, motherfucker.”
CHAPTER 21
Three Days Later
Rae Lynn leans against the hotel room wall, fidgeting with her wide silver bracelet. “Girl, you’re gonna wear that mirror out.”
Ugh. I jam my pink shirt one more time into the new jeans Dee Dee picked for me, tugging on the fabric trying to get it to hang like the ads show. “It’s not right.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “Are you always this uptight at these things?”
“No.” I huff, “Usually I’m staying in my horse trailer, so there’s no full-length mirror.”
Somehow in the past few days, Rae Lynn has wormed her way into my life. Not pushy, just solid and present. But really it feels like we’ve known each other forever. She’s a no BSgirl. Runs a tight ship at the ranch, and gives the LSS guards hell every chance she gets.
With her jewelry clanging, the tiny dynamo saunters over to the bed where she perches on the edge.
