She chewed her bottom lip, hating the unrest tormenting her insides. “If I left town, I’d be a coward.”
A low growl rumbled from Reid, and he guided the truck to the side of the road, parking before turning on his hazard lights.
“What are you doing?” she asked, frowning.
Shifting to face her, he extended his arm to rest on the back of her seat. His fingers dangled down and brushed against the top of her shoulder. “You’re no coward. You are strong and fierce and smart as hell. There’s no one way to play this. If you want to get out of town, hell, I’ll take you to a beach for the week and let someone else deal with this. Because this shouldn’t be on your shoulders, none of it. All you have to do is listen to your gut. Follow your instincts.”
An image of relaxing on a beach next to Reid heated her from the inside out. Maybe that wouldn’t be such a horrible idea. Too bad she had responsibilities she couldn’t ignore, people who depended on her.
“What’s that look for?”
Not wanting to admit she liked the idea of him in a bathing suit, she tilted her head and studied him. “Would you wear that cowboy hat on the beach?”
Grinning, he tipped the front of the cream-colored hat that was like another limb. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Then scratch that. Nobody wants to see a cowboy in the ocean. We better stick around here.”
All hints of amusement left his face, and his kind brown eyes bored into hers. As if challenging her to be truthful. “You sure?”
She nodded, even if she wasn’t sure of anything. “Yeah. I’ll get through this.”
He flashed a small smile and tapped his fist lightly against her shoulder before shifting back in his seat. “Yes, you will, and I’ll be right beside you while you do.”
Nerves tightened her gut as he glided back onto the road then made the turn toward the fairgrounds. Ready or not, it was time to go to the rodeo.
A sense of déjà vu warped Reid’s reality. Only yesterday he’d trekked the same path past the same shut-down vendors, around the same grandstands, toward the mini campground that housed the rodeo workers.
The memory made him gingerly touch his side, the stitches causing a slight irritation under his shirt.
But today the stakes were even higher.
Eve walked beside him, her arms crossed over her chest as if blocking out any external force. He hated that she was feeling anxiety and fear and hoped they could get enough answers today to give her a little peace of mind.
The gravel pathway melted into a narrow, dusty trail that wound back under the trees. A few people stood outside their trailers, but most of the temporary homes were quiet, the owners either inside getting ready or already starting their day elsewhere.
“Do you know where we’re going?” Eve asked, bouncing her gaze around the area.
Yellow tape still wove around the perimeter of the crime scene where he and Madden had spoken with the sheriff’s deputies yesterday. He pointed to the camper across the way. “There. The woman’s name is Sarah Campbell.”
He led the way across the small patch of grass and stopped in front of the narrow door. “Ready?”
Standing beside him, Eve nodded.
He fisted his hand and tapped on the flimsy barrier.
The door cracked open to reveal a twentysomething woman with tanned skin and wide eyes. Her dark hair was swept into a low ponytail. She half hid behind the frame. “Hello?”
“Mornin’, Ms. Campbell,” Reid said, touching the brim of his hat. “We spoke earlier. I’m Reid Sommers, and this is Eve Tilly.”
Eve gave a small wave. “Hi.”
Sarah swallowed hard and darted her gaze around them as if afraid of what others would think of her speaking with them. “Hello. Like I said, I’m not sure how I can help, but I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
“We appreciate that,” Eve said. “Would you be more comfortable speaking inside?”
Sarah’s pinched expression told Reid she wouldn’t be comfortable anywhere, but she took a step backward in silent invitation.
He waited for Eve to enter before stepping inside. A small counter and mini fridge took up one wall of the trailer with a table jutting out the other side that divided the space in half. Browns and avocado greens gave a ’70s vibe, but everything was clean and tidy.
