Epilogue
Claudia put her hand on the teenager’s shoulder, and held a finger to her lips. They backed away. She slipped the door closed, giving Auggie and Cal some much-needed privacy. “We’ll go grab something to drink in the cafeteria, okay?”
She’d somehow ended up with January after breakfast. Auggie had insisted on staying at the hospital with Cal. Cadell had stayed as well—in case either of them had needed anything. January had been upset—she’d needed to see Auggie. To make sure she was okay.
Claudia had understood. She wanted to see them herself—and she was a full-grown adult.
Now, here they were. They’d sent Cadell home to shower and get some real rest. Almost everyone had remained at the hospital until almost two a.m., when Cal had been taken into recovery.
Some of Auggie’s family had shown up to get the girls and take them back to Gil’s.
Claudia had ended up there, too. She hadn’t wanted to be alone at her place, and Cal’s house was now a crime scene.
Clancy, too, had ended up at Gil’s, with Em and Junie.
And a steady stream of Tyler cousins in and out.
Claudia was now ninety-nine percent certain she was engaged to Derrick Tyler.
She was going to have to figure that out later.
Cloe had stayed at the hospital, too. It had been a chaotic night for all of them. One she would never forget.
When they were in the cafeteria, January looked at her. Sometimes, it was like hopping back in time, to look at her. Even the way she tilted her head was Auggie all over again. “Auggie really loves him?”
“I think she does. It scares her, the idea of it, I think. I really don’t think she was planning to get involved with anyone until you kids were older.
” She was always honest with January. The girl saw through lies better than anyone Claudia had ever met.
“She didn’t think it was fair to split her attention that way. ”
“Like…because there are so many of us and she doesn’t think there is time?”
“No. More like…she felt she was devoting a part of herself to raising you girls and she didn’t know if there was room to devote herself to being the woman Cal needed as well. Romantic relationships can be very complicated.”
“It isn’t really fair that she has to take care of us, is it? Even though no one ever really asked her. She just kinda has to now. He didn’t. He didn’t care who took care of us after him.”
“No. I don’t think Bruce does. He is very selfish. But Auggie loves you girls and loves taking care of all of you. She didn’t even hesitate when the social workers asked her if she wanted to take you girls, baby. She just also loves Cal, too.”
“It’s scary. How do you know when you should trust a man?”
“I don’t know—it’s more of a feeling that it is right. That you are safer than you have ever been. You know…he loves you enough. He’d do anything to take care of you—because he loves you.”
“Have you ever felt that with a man?”
“No. Not yet. But that’s what my mother told me when I asked her. Cal loves Auggie enough to do whatever it takes to take care of her. And because of that, he will do whatever it takes to take care of her sisters. Because…love. It can be very powerful. Magical.”
She had seen that before. Her father and mother had loved each other just that deeply. No matter what had happened with her father, he had loved her mother completely.
January just looked at her, from those eyes that had seen too much. “Do you think they’ll get married?”
“Probably. Eventually. Cal has always been the serious type. A bit traditional, too. He is the kind of man who will be a wonderful father. He…always was before. My mom was really sick, Jan. From before Clancy was born. Especially after she was born. My dad was working long hours to pay the bills, and mom was in and out of the hospital. Cal…took care of us. Especially after about the time Clancy entered kindergarten. Cal…filled the gap. I always knew he loved us and would be there. Now, he takes it a bit overboard. He hovers like an old woman at times. But we love him.”
“So he and Auggie are both that way. Does she make him happy? Does he make her?”
“I think they really do.”
“Okay. So would he move in with us?”
She hesitated there. That was one she didn’t have the answer to. The girls were established and comfortable at the ranch. Both houses were big enough for a family of that size, but…she didn’t see them uprooting the girls. “I am not sure. Auggie and Cal will have to work that out.”
“Would he tell us what to do? And get mad at us if we messed up?”
“He will tell you what to do, I’m sure. Trust me, Cal is good at that.
And even if he was angry…” Claudia paused.
“Look at me, Jan. Cal will never do anything to physically hurt you, the girls, Em, Junie, or Auggie. I promise. Cal has never once physically hurt me or Clancy or Cloe. Or Cadell. People who love each other, don’t hurt each other. Promise me you’ll remember that.”
She would have said more, but someone said her name.
She turned.
Her stomach dropped.
Him. Great.
Way to ruin an already stressful day. “Commander Weatherby, don’t you have good cops to harass out there somewhere?”
“Now, you know that’s how I spend my weekdays.
Today is Saturday. I have a few more questions for your brother.
I was just about to go upstairs when I saw you.
” He was dressed in casual clothes—it was a weekend, after all.
The soft sweatshirt made his shoulders look perfect.
Damn him. He was too pretty to be such an ass.
“No. You are not. Any questions for Cal or Auggie will be going through our attorneys. Dane Masterson or Lawe Hodson.”
“Don’t be difficult. I’m not accusing your damned brother of anything.” He started to say something else, but January slipped her hand into Claudia’s. She pulled the little girl close.
“Look, Grady, can I please have a moment of your time?” he asked in a sugary sweet voice. “Alone?”
“Aunt Claudia? Are you okay?”
Claudia wanted to kick that butthead for scaring her again. “I’m good, sweetie. I’m just going to reeducate Commander Weatherby here. Again. Weatherbys are difficult trolls by nature.”
“I know. Jules’s date did not go well. Ricky turned out to be such a real toad.”
“Yes, I agree. We’ll talk more in a minute.” Claudia nodded to the two nurses that had just entered. “Go over to Aunt Pam and Dixie for a few minutes, okay?”
Claudia followed Weatherby out into the hall. When they were alone, she fought the urge to hiss and snarl and scratch. This man just did something to her, every time they were within range. “I hope you are happy; you seriously interrupted a very important conversation.”
“Sorry about that. And I didn’t mean to. I have a few questions about some things. I was hoping your brother could help me figure them out.”
“Like what?”
“First question—why is my precious only nephew a toad?”
“Jules, age ten. Apparently, Ricky asked her to the party and to be his girlfriend, but then spent most of the night talking to her boy cousins about video games and totally ignoring her. So then she ended up dancing with a twelve-year-old boy from the middle school baseball team, and it made Ricky really mad because Jules was his girlfriend. Jules has a very strong opinion about being a possession, as she put it. So they got into a fight. She may or may not have spilled his soda down his favorite shirt deliberately when she dumped him. Details on that aren’t very clear.
You need to teach that nephew how to treat a lady, Weatherby.
If you possibly can. Maybe Rex should do it?
” Claudia had heard all of the details that morning.
Jules had needed advice on how to deal with this new boy.
She’d already put Ricky behind her, apparently.
Smart girl—only go where she is respected.
“I see. I promise I’ll have a talk with him when I can. He’s a good kid, though. She should give him another chance?”
“Hardly. Jules is a girl who knows how she should be treated now. I talked with her myself this morning about what someone deserves from the person they are involved with. Respect. What are you really after?”
“That gun Jacob Neilson used last night. Serial number led to an old report of a gun that was stolen. More than fifteen years ago. Ballistics are still out. But…I was wanting to ask if your brother or Kameron Neilson knew anything about it.”
“I don’t know why they would. Other than pleasantries in passing, if you could call them that, Cal didn’t associate with Jacob. None of us did. Guy is a real creep.”
“How long have you known the Neilsons?” He’d shifted closer as a member of the custodial team pushed a loaded cart by them. She could smell the woodsy scent of him. Damn it. He was far too hot to be such a toad. What a waste.
“Since…forever. Kam and Cal were friends before I was born, I think. Preschool. Kameron is a good man, so if you think he’s involved in something shady, you’re wrong. Why are you even on this one?”
“Just helping out. I know things are a bit pressed with you related to the victim, and with Masterson and Deputy Tyler, too.”
“Sure. Out of the goodness of the heart. Why are you always involved in anything that comes close to me? Explain that? What are you looking for from me?”
His hand wrapped around her arm. She froze.
She did not like it when anyone touched her now.
Especially men. Large, forceful, intense men like him.
She looked up at him. And waited. She didn’t dare pull away.
She wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.
She was shaking in his hold—she couldn’t stop it. And he knew she was.
“You’ll find out eventually. Tell me what you know about Jacob.”
“Not much that isn’t already out there. He’d tag along with Kam to our house occasionally.
My mom banned him permanently when he was around eleven, and I was not quite thirteen.
She caught him watching me in the shower.
Guy’s personality hasn’t improved since.
Cloe had run-ins with him, though. He harassed her for a month or so at school.
Until Auggie’s cousin Holton rearranged his face.
Lots of girls had problems with him—but Clive Gunderson just laughed it off as ‘boys will be boys’.
Go back to the gun. Where did he get it? ”
“Haven’t found out yet. Guy’s still unconscious. Will be for a while. All I know is that one interesting name popped when the serial was run. It was reported stolen seventeen years ago. Right here in Masterson County. So why has it resurfaced now?”
“Who was the original owner?”
“I’m still waiting on confirmation of that.”
And he wasn’t about to share. Figured.
“Then I’m not going to help you find the answers.”
Claudia yanked her arm from his and turned away.
“Grady. One more thing.”
She turned and just looked at him. “What?”
“You aren’t going to be able to avoid me forever. I’m going to find out your secrets. You can count on that.”
Claudia turned away and just kept on walking. Secrets? What secrets was he after? She hadn’t done anything wrong. She knew it. So why was he so hellbent on proving otherwise?
What had she ever done to him?
Enough was enough. She was going to find out.