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I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. “A lot of people own that caliber of pistol.” There was no reason for me to defend him, but there I was…doing exactly that.
“We both know he ain’t supposed to have it, Beth. Just get the gun and bring it to me. Then, we can have a beer, talk about how crappy this is, and life can move on.”
“Okay.” I squeezed my eyes shut, spinning around and trekking back across the yard. Blaze followed me, staying hot on my heels as I climbed the back porch steps. Mom was at the door as I entered, avoiding eye contact.
“What’s wrong?” Her voice called from behind me.
“Nothing. I just have to get something for Blaze.” I glanced back at the cowboy, still in his sheriff’s uniform.
“I think I’ll come along,” he said, meeting my gaze.
But my mom’s hand stopped him from coming in. “Whatever it is, you can wait here.”
I smiled to myself at her innate tendency to protect me, even with knowing I had undisclosed secrets. My boots thudded up the stairs to my room, and I swung open the door. I reached under the bed, grabbing the .45 Smith and Wesson.
And then I did something I knew was wrong.
I wiped the gun down with my shirt. Thoroughly.
Then, I headed back downstairs, gripping it by the hem of my T-shirt. My mom looked bewildered as I reappeared, gun in hand.
“Here.” I handed it over to him as soon as I reached the door. “There ya go.”
Blaze narrowed his eyes, pulling out a pair of latex gloves to take it from me. “Thanks for giving it up. You want to have that beer now?”
I shook my head. “Not tonight, Blaze. I have some things to do.”
“Well then, have a good night.”
Mom shut the door, and then spun around to face me. “Well?”
“Well, what?”
“Why did you just walk down here with a pistol and give it to Blaze? I’m not an idiot.Tellme what’s going on. I can’t help you, if I don’t know what’s going on.”
I chose the truth. “Garrett gave it to me, and before you say something,no,I don’t know anything more—other than my feelings aresomessed up right now.” My voice cracked as I met her gaze. “He swears he didn’t do anything, and Iwantto believe him.”
“You and Garrett are a lot closer than I thought,” Mom said, her voice soft. “I knew the two of you were… Well, I had my suspicions when you were a senior in high school. Your dad once caught the two of you out on the bridge sitting together.”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed, nostalgia bringing unwanted tears. “I thought we were sneaky back then.”
She smiled, though it was solemn. “I don’t know how Sam didn’t know, but he was oblivious to a lot of things, unfortunately. He didn’t realize the damage he was doing to himself with all his partying.”
“Maybe, I just know I want answers…about Garrett.”
“If you believe him, then you have to trust him.”
I sighed, shaking my head as the phone came back to mind. “I think I’m going to go for a drive if that’s okay. I’ll be back in a little while.”
Mom gave me a funny look. “To see Garrett?”
“No,” I shook my head. “There’s just been a lot going on since I came home. Losing Dad was hard enough, but all this with Sarah... I don’t know. I just think I need to get some air for a while.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “Just be careful, okay?”
My heart squeezed. “Always. You don’t have to worry.”
“I will anyway. It seems like everyone in the whole town has lost their minds. I saw in the paper that they’re wanting to change the curfew for the young people to be home by ten instead of eleven.”
