Sly returned from the meeting with Haggerty in good spirits. The engineer had recently built a new home and needed help with the landscaping. He’d agreed to drastically reduce his fee for the drainage system if Sly would lay down sod and fence the frontand backyards. Sly also promised to provide Haggerty with a free side of beef every year for the next ten years. The large quantity of meat would feed Haggerty’s family for months.
In a few weeks, the engineer would start work on the new system. By then, Sly figured he’d be finished with the man’s yard, and he and his crew could do some of the grunt work on the new drainage.
He was finishing dinner when Carpenter called. “Get your butt over here,” he said. “I have great news to share.”
Anticipating a celebration, Sly had grabbed a couple of cold beers. Then, for the second time that day, he headed for the Lazy C. As he rolled up the driveway, he spotted Lana’s light green sedan next to Tim’s truck. He braked to a stop. What was she doing here?
He’d bet the ranch Carpenter had no idea that he and Lana knew each other. As curious as he was about her reasons for being here, he was in no mood to face her. He almost turned around and left. But he was no coward. Besides, Carpenter was expecting him.
He was about to start up the front steps when he noted the door was cracked open. In the still twilight air, Lana’s voice carried easily.
Sly paused where he was, knowing he should announce his presence. But something made him keep quiet. He silently placed the beers on the second step and eavesdropped.
“Sly would never poison your cattle,” she said.
What the hell? Sly frowned.
“You’re friends with Pettit?” Tim asked, sounding puzzled.
“I met him before I heard about his lawsuit against you.”
“You never said anything, not even when I came to your folks’ for Sunday dinner last month.”
“I was afraid of how they’d react, and even more scared of you. But I’m not anymore.” Despite her brave words, Sly heardher swallow hard. “I just came from my parents’ house, and I told them exactly what I’m telling you—Sly and I have been seeing each other.”
She’d talked to her parents. He could only imagine how difficult that must have been for her.
“You mean dating?” her cousin said.
“Something like that.” Her voice seemed to grow stronger with each word. “You’re my cousin and you’re family, and that means a lot. But I can’t sit by quietly and let you countersue Sly. He’s a good man, an honest man. He values all cattle too much to harm them.” Sly was so surprised he had to sit down. He joined the beers on the step.
“For you to vouch for him this way, you must know him pretty well,” Tim said.
“I do. Besides my dad, Sly Pettit is the best man I’ve ever met. I would trust him with my life.”
Realizing his jaw had dropped open, Sly shut his mouth.
“That’s quite a statement,” Tim said.
“It’s the truth. I wouldn’t fall for a man I couldn’t trust.”
“You’re in love with Sly Pettit.” Carpenter sounded shocked. “Is he aware of this?”
“Not yet. I know in my very bones that he would never poison an animal. Well, maybe a mouse or a rat. I’m asking you to please drop your counter lawsuit.”
“You’d side with him against me?” Gruff Tim Carpenter sounded like a hurt kid.
“I’m not siding with anyone,” she said. “I don’t believe you poisoned his cows, either. Sly would realize that, too, if you’d just sit down with him and talk. Before he sued you, he tried to do that, but you wouldn’t give him the time of day.”
“Pettit never wanted to talk. From the get-go, he came at me with accusations.”
“Then it’s all the more important for the two of you to talk now. The sooner, the better. Otherwise, you’ll never get to the bottom of this mess.”
“You’re comin’ at me with a damn lecture, just like Michele. Don’t get me wrong, I love your mother, but her lectures give me a headache.”
“I’m not my mother, and I’m not lecturing you.” Lana sounded indignant. After a pause she said, “Well, maybe I am. I’ll think about that later. What matters is that I’m here for a good reason. You and Sly are both hardheaded, and this lawsuit business is out of control. Someone levelheaded has to intervene. That would be me.”
Him, stubborn? Sly barely stifled a loud snort.
