Page 26 of Setup In Montana

“And me, don’t forget,” Doc said sarcastically.

“Right, but let me ask you this. If the mother has O negative blood type, will her offspring have it?”

“Her children could have it,” the doctor said slowly, “But it’s not guaranteed. It would depend on the father’s blood type and other factors.”

“Did Mildred Wilson have any children?”

“Two sons. And before you ask, yes, they both live around here. Their mother was a resident at Shady Rest, but with their mother gone, why would they have reason to kill two elderly women at the rest home?”

“That’s a good question,” the sheriff said. “But first I need to know if either of them has type O negative blood.”

* * *

“WHERE ARE WE GOING?” Clancy asked as the terrain began to change. They had dropped out of the mountains and onto a more substantial road that was graveled. She could hear the thick mud flinging itself off the tires as he drove. If she was right and they were headed west, they should be hitting the highway soon.

“I know a place we can hide out,” Dub said and glanced over at her. “I’m not going to turn you in if that’s what you’re thinking. You need to trust me.”

“I do, but—”

He chuckled. “Trust doesn’t come easy for you, does it? Tell me why that is.”

She knew he was right, but she’d never thought about why. “I guess because I didn’t have a lot of stability growing up. My dad took off when I was eight. My mother had a lot of boyfriends after that. She finally married one when I was eighteen and left too.”

“That could do it,” Dub said. “I’m sorry. It must have been rough. Were you and your father close?”

She blinked rapidly as her eyes burned with tears. “I thought we were. He was killed a few months later in a car wreck.”

He shook his head. “Sorry doesn’t cut it,” Dub said without looking at her. “I wouldn’t be real trusting either, if I were you.”

Ahead, she could see a semi on the highway. She couldn’t help feeling anxious the closer they got to Grass Range. “I’m fine, better than a lot of people,” she said, sounding defensive. “My mother left me the small house I grew up in. My cousin Goldie owns the local diner. I survived just fine. I don’t need your sympathy.” It was the last thing she wanted. She wished she hadn’t told him so much about herself.

He shot a look at her. “Sorry, if you thought that’s what I was feeling. When I look at you, I see the remarkable woman you’ve become and so much more. Why do you think I tried so hard to get to know you?”

They reached the highway and as he started to turn north toward Grass Range, he quickly said, “We have to drive past Grass Range, but we aren’t stopping there, I promise. I know someone who has a guesthouse on his ranch north of town. We can stay there since he’s in Arizona until spring.” Clancy tried to relax but couldn’t as he turned north. “If you’re worried, you can bend down and stay out of sight as we fly past the convenience store.”

“I don’t mean to hurt your feelings. I do…trust you.”

He chuckled. “I see you trying. I get it. We haven’t known each other that long. Why trust me? I’m just another cowboy who might break your heart. Or might surprise you and be what you’ve been searching for.”

Clancy shook her head. “You are so arrogant. Worse, you think you have me all figured out, don’t you?”

“Not even close, but I want to get to know you, Clancy Roberts. Right now, though, you might want to stay down. A law enforcement vehicle just pulled out of the convenience store parking lot. It’s headed our way.”

* * *

AS CLANCY SLID down in the pickup seat, she held her breath. She knew she couldn’t keep running from the law. She especially couldn’t keep running from Max. He needed to find the killer and not spend time looking for her. She would call him once they got to the guesthouse Dub knew about.

“You’re safe now,” Dub said.

She sat up slowly and looked back. “Do you think he’s headed for your ranch?”

“It crossed my mind.”

“Now the law is going to be looking for you too,” she said. “Dub, I never wanted to drag anyone else into this, especially you.”

“I appreciate that. Don’t worry, we’re going to figure this out. It’s all going to be okay.”

She looked over at him, unable to hold back a smile because she believed that if he had anything to do with it, everything would be all right. This cowboy had gone through life convinced everything would turn out fine, while she’d always been waiting for the other shoe to drop and things to get worse. Studying his handsome face, she wished she could be more like him. She also wished that he was right, and he wouldn’t regret getting involved with her.