Roaring Fork Roughstock (Roaring Fork Ranch #2)

24. Cici

24

CICI

I f only I could cover my ears with my hands or tell Kaleb I didn’t want to hear whatever he was about to say, I would.

“While there is no evidence that your father killed Esteban Martinez, we did locate his body buried on Morris Ranch property. It’s been transported to the county morgue.”

“What happens now?” I asked.

“An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. Additionally, we’ll use DNA samples to confirm whether it’s a match to those collected from your aunt.”

“Her name was Constance. She was only twenty when she died. There was a bigger age gap between her and my dad than there is between Mav and me. One thing I did know is she lived here, on the ranch, with my parents after my grandparents both died within a few months of each other. She went to Western State like me.” I looked up when I realized I was rambling, but it had become important to me that we talked about her as a person, not as just my father’s sister who was murdered.

“I’m sorry, Ceec,” said Porter, squeezing my hand.

“I was a baby when it happened,” I added, looking into his eyes.

“I know.”

I looked up at Kaleb. “You said a match to the DNA collected from my aunt.”

He nodded.

“Had she been…?” I couldn’t bring myself to say the word, but when Kaleb nodded a second time, I took it to mean he understood what I was asking. “No wonder he killed him,” I said under my breath but uncaring whether anyone had heard me. “Does Juan know?”

“If you mean our suspicions, yes.”

“Did he before?”

Porter moved so his arm was around my shoulders.

“He said he did not.”

“Do you believe Juan’s father killed Constance?”

“I do.”

“He killed both my parents and tried to kill my brother and me, along with at least one of our horses. He threatened the welfare of an entire herd of cattle and caused thousands of dollars worth of damage.” The longer I talked, the louder my voice got. Finally, I stood, clenching my fists. “He burned down my fucking barn!” I shouted. “I should’ve killed him. I should’ve .”

Both my brother and Porter stood, then Kaleb did too.

“I understand why you feel that way,” he said.

“Do you?” I shouted at him. “Why did he do all this? Revenge? An eye for an eye? He said those exact words. Well, what about my aunt?” I shook my head hard. “How dare he seek revenge when his father raped and killed her?”

I couldn’t stand being in the room another second and stormed out of the house, coming face-to-face with Jack Shaw.

“Cici—”

Before he could say another word, I planted my fist in his face as hard as I could. “You knew , you bastard. You knew he lured my parents out there that night. How could you? Get the hell off my land! ”

He turned to walk away, then stopped but didn’t face me. “I didn’t know about the phone call until recently.”

“How recently?”

“Martinez let it slip that a call had come in that night about Mav being in an accident. That was the first I’d heard of it. I questioned him about it, and he said that was all he knew, that he couldn’t remember who’d told him. Then he added he thought it might’ve been Johnson, but when I asked him, he said that, like me, he’d never heard about a phone call.”

“You should’ve told me right away,” I shouted at him. “You should’ve—” I dissolved in tears and would’ve fallen to the ground had Shaw not caught me.

“I’m sorry, Cici. If I could go back and do it over, I would.”

“Jack, the sheriff wants to talk to you and Johnson,” said Porter, taking me in his arms when Shaw let go.

I clung to him as sobs racked my body. “He avenged the death of a rapist and murderer,” I cried.

“He did.” Porter stroked my hair, holding me until I could finally catch my breath.

“Thank you for not defending him,” I said, wiping my face with my shirtsleeve.

His eyes scrunched. “I never would. Whether he knew what his father had done or not is no justification.”

“My dad killed him.”

He nodded. “That’s very likely true. I’m not sure it will be proven, but…”

“I know he did. I’m sure Maverick does too.” I pointed to my chest. “In here.”

“I’m sure he felt justified,” Porter whispered, but I shook my head.

“Earlier, when I said I should’ve killed him when I had the chance, I know that if I had, it would’ve been something I never would’ve gotten over. Taking a life. I doubt my dad did, either.” I thought about his letter and how he’d said he made mistakes. I didn’t doubt Martinez’s death was what he was referring to.

I was facing the house and saw the sheriff step out onto the porch and shield his eyes from the sun.

When Porter noticed too, we walked toward him together.

“I wanted you to know as soon as I heard. The DNA was a match. There were also signs of trauma on Constance’s body that were consistent with someone of Esteban Martinez’s size. His hands in particular.”

“He strangled her?” I asked.

“Yes, and that was the cause of death.”

“How did he die?”

“Gunshot wound. According to the medical examiner, he was shot in the back.”

“Is there anything that proves my dad…?”

“No, Cici, unless there was a witness who hasn’t come forward.”

I looked beyond him to where Shaw and Johnson stood. “I wonder how much they really know.”

Kaleb nodded. “They’ve agreed to come to the office and give their statements. If I learn anything new, I’ll let you know right away.”

I thanked him, then said I wanted to check on Maverick. Porter stayed behind to talk to him, but said he’d be right behind me.

“Hey,” I said when my brother met me inside the door. “How are you doing with all this?”

He hung his head. “Honestly? I want a drink. More like a whole bottle.”

I nodded, keeping my eyes riveted to his, but unsure what to say.

“I’m gonna ask Porter if there’s a meeting.”

My eyes filled with tears, but I smiled. “I think that’s a very good idea.”

My little brother, who towered over me, pulled me into his arms. “I’m so sorry for all this, Ceec.”

“Me too.”

The door opened, and Porter stepped inside, closing it behind him. “Kaleb’s heading back to the office now. He said to give him a call if you needed anything.”

He was looking at me, so I motioned to my brother. “I think there’s something Mav wants to talk to you about.”

I went into the kitchen and picked up my dad’s coffee mug that had sat in the spot by the maker since the night he died. I washed and dried it, then put it in the cupboard where we kept the others, sliding it to the back. I wasn’t ready to get rid of it, and maybe I’d never be, but I didn’t feel bad putting it away now. Just like wiping away the coffee ring that was beneath it didn’t feel wrong.

“We’re gonna head into town,” said Porter. “Do you want to ride along?”

“I think I’ll stay here, maybe clean the house.”

“Ceec, I can do that,” Mav offered.

“I want to.” The truth was, I wanted to walk from room to room, remembering my parents without feeling as though I needed to look out the window or worry what horrible thing might happen next.

“If you go out?—”

“I’ll let Steel or Jagger know,” I assured Porter.

“We won’t be long.”

I nodded and kissed his cheek, then my brother’s, before going upstairs. I lay on the bed for a few minutes, which was where Porter found me over an hour later. I’d fallen asleep, and it had been peaceful.

When I opened my eyes and saw him beside me, I rolled closer. “I didn’t clean the house,” I confessed.

“There will be plenty of time for that later or tomorrow or the day after that.”

“I’m sorry you can’t go home, Porter.”

“Home? Isn’t that where I am?”

“It’s Morris Ranch, not the Roaring Fork.”

He shrugged. “I’ve been thinking that, rather than let them hang onto a roughstock program I developed, I should move it here. Once the north barn is rebuilt, that is.”

“Err, okay. I mean, can you do that?”

He shrugged. “Cord can’t leave New York until December, so he isn’t gonna care. I doubt Bridger or anyone else will miss the extra work.”

“I’m not sure what to say. I mean, if you’re asking me if it’s okay, it is.”

“I’m thinking we could partner, ya know?”

“Morris-Wheaton Roughstock Contracting?” I teased.

“You know what would sound better? Morris-Wheaton-Wheaton.”

My eyes scrunched, and we both laughed.

“Yeah, that sounds terrible. I’m sure we’ll be able to come up with something better after, you know, we’re married. That’s if you’ll marry me, Cici.”

I looked down at the ring I hadn’t noticed him take out of his pocket.

“Porter? Are you seriously…?”

“Proposing?”

I nodded.

“Should I get down on one knee? Am I doing it wrong?”

I held out my hand. “You won’t be once you slip that diamond ring on my finger.”

“I think you’re supposed to say yes first.”

“Yes!” I shouted, throwing my arms around him. “Yes, yes, yes!”

“Woohoo!” I heard my brother yell from right outside the bedroom door.

“Okay if he comes in?” Porter asked.

“Yes, but I need to ask you something first.”

The smile left his face, but his eyes remained riveted to mine. “Go ahead.”

“When you said Morris-Wheaton-Wheaton, did you mean Maverick would be the Morris?”

“I did. It’s his legacy too.”

“Do you think he’ll, you know, want to be a part of it?”

Porter smiled. “It was the only way he’d give me permission to marry you.”