“What about Ben?” asked Jackson Brewer. “He want to come along?”
Remington shook his head and turned his horse to come abreast of the sheriff. “I asked him when I was saddling Bullet. He thinks it’s better if he stays here with Phoebe. She’s more worried about people in Liberty Junction than she is about herself, so I agree with him. It’s probably best.” Remington had other reasons for thinking so, but he did not share these now. “Thaddeus needs the help around the ranch as well.”
“Your father was ready to join us. I had to talk him out of it. I did that while you were speaking to Phoebe. Fiona helped me there. She did not favor the idea of him leaving.”
“It’s not often that she and I are of a like mind. In fact, I don’t know that it’s ever happened, but I can stomach it this time.”
Brewer knuckled the coarse salt-and-pepper stubble on his jaw. “No love lost there. I see Thad’s right about that.”
“I don’t suppose I’ve hidden it well. It’s mutual.”
“He told me that, too. Pains him some.”
Remington merely nodded.
Brewer said, “I get the impression that maybe you feel different about her sister.”
“Your impression, huh?”
“Thad might’ve given me reason to think so.”
“Phoebe’s special.” He looked over at the sheriff. “And I like her just fine.”
“Subject’s closed, then.”
“That’s right. Subject’s closed.”
“I got another one. Subject, that is. How do you think Ellie’s going to take hearing about Blue’s murder?”
“You don’t know? You didn’t tell her?”
He shook his head, shrugged a little helplessly. “She didn’t come out on the porch while I was there. Thought it was odd, her generally being so welcoming and all.”
Remington found it odd, too. Ellie greeted all comers, not only because she was friendly, but also because she was curious. She was the person at Twin Star most likely to know something about everything. “Maybe she heard you talking to Thaddeus from inside the house and retreated to her room.”
“Could be. Thad said he’d talk to her. Preferred it that way, in fact. I know Blue had feelings for her, but I can’t say that I ever thought they were returned in the same way.”
“You’re right, but she showed him some special attention when he was out here last. I think she enjoyed his company, and God knows, he enjoyed hers.” He sighed inaudibly. “The branding. That was not a week ago yet.”
“I know. Hard to believe.”
They rode ahead in silence, Blue a presence for each of them. Jackson Brewer was grieving. Remington Frost was grim.
• • •
Fiona sat at the piano in the front room and ran her fingertips up and down the keys. Occasionally she depressed one enough to make a sound, but that was by accident, not by intent. She did not know how to play. No one at Twin Star did. The piano had been Mary’s, and Thaddeus could not bring himself to part with it. She understood his attachment to the instrument, to the memories it invoked. She did not fault him for wanting to keep it, but his refusal to have it tuned bothered her. Jackson Brewer’s wife gave lessons, and Fiona had expressed an interest in learning, but Thaddeus showed no inclination to support it. He never said that he could not bear to hear it played again; that was her interpretation.
She moved down the bench and patted the space beside her when Phoebe approached. “It is terribly sad about Deputy Armstrong,” she said. “I keep thinking about him at thebranding. I believe he ate an entire apple pie.” Her smile was pensive. “And talked to Ellie almost exclusively. I don’t think she minded. Was that your impression?”
“Yes. Yes, it was. I went to her once, thinking she might need rescuing, but that wasn’t the case at all. Where is she? I don’t hear her in the kitchen.”
“She was in her room for a while. Thaddeus spoke to her, and she retired there, but then he went outside and she went out soon after.”
Phoebe’s eyes narrowed. There was something more that Fiona was not saying. “She probably went in search of Ben.”
“Yes. That’s probably what she did. They’re close.”
Phoebe found Fiona’s agreement unconvincing. She laid one hand over Fiona’s, stilling the movement of her fingers over the keys. “Since she’s out, and very likely grieving, we should make dinner. What do you think about that?”
