He frowned and shook his head. “No, and we searched the grounds thoroughly, looking behind every tree and inside every bush. Whoever it was didn’t leave behind any evidence.”
“Not even bullet shells?”
“Especially not that.”
She frowned. “That scares me.”
He sat in the empty chair beside her. “It scares me, too. I don’t want to think of anything bad happening to my childhood friend.”
She gave him a smile and moved her hand out of the blanket to pat his arm. “You’re a good friend, Wall.”
He grasped her fingers and gave them a small squeeze. “I’ll find this shooter, Whitney. I promise you.”
Her heart softened from his kindness. “Wall, please don’t place yourself in harm’s way just for me. I’d never forgive myself if something terrible were to happen to you.”
Suddenly, his expression changed. His eyes widened as they darted around them as if he wanted to keep their conversation private.
“Whit,” he said in a lower voice, “I think I know who it is.”
She sucked in a quick breath and her heart stilled. “You do?”
He nodded. “Earlier, before the shooting, I saw Jim Craig going toward the trees with a rifle.”
She narrowed her gaze on him. “Who is Jim Craig?”
“You don’t remember him? He’s been with Joe for years. He’s about ten years older than us.”
She searched her mind, but the name wasn’t familiar at all. “I knew a Jim Bob, but—”
“Yes, that’s him. His last name is Craig.”
“Oh, yes. I remember Jim Bob. He always used to tease me, though.” Memories of the kid bullying her came to mind, none of them pleasant in the least. She never knew why the kid disliked her so much. “You think Jim Bob was shooting at Zack?”
“No.” Wallace leaned closer, so she also moved closer. “I think he was shooting atyou.”
Her blood turned ice-cold and she jerked back. Fear took on a different meaning, and bile rose to her throat. “Me?”
Wallace nodded. “I never wanted to say anything before,” his voice lowered, “but he felt threatened when you were around. Joe adored his new stepdaughter, and because you got all of the attention, Jim Bob was ignored.”
She scowled. “That’s just ridiculous. Joe was married to my mother. Of course, he’s going to treat me with more love and attention.”
“Yeah, but Jim Bob...” He glanced around them again. When he met Whitney’s stare, he tugged on her hand, making her lean closer. “There was a rumor going around that Jim Bob was Joe’s illegitimate son.”
This time when she gasped it was much louder. She snapped up straight and slapped a hand over her mouth. Slowly, shaking her head, she tried not to think of the shocking news, but everything made sense. Jim Bob had always treated her badly right after they first met. He was always glaring at her, and giving her mean looks. He’d accused her of being spoiled, like her mother. Whitney could never understand his resentment, but with this news... Yes, it made perfect sense.
“Oh, Wall,” she grasped his hand again. “How are we going to prove it?”
“I don’t know.” He released a sad sigh. “I’d said something to Joe earlier today about seeing Jim Bob going toward the woods, but when Joe asked him, he had an alibi.”
“Alibi or not, at least we have a suspect.” Whitney nodded sharply. “And believe me, I’m not going to take my eyes off that man until I’ve cleared him of the crime.”
“I’ll keep a close watch on him, too. I’ve never liked that guy.”
“Thanks, Wall. You’re a good friend.”
She gave him a light hug, and as she pulled away, Wallace jumped to his feet with his face aflame a fire red.
“I... um, I guess I should get the horse back to the stable.” He hurried to the horse and gathered the reins. “Please don’t tell Joe about the rumor I’d heard. I know Joe hates gossip.”
