Page 13 of Dead Man's Alibi

“Is there anything we can do?”Aly asked earnestly.

“Not really.Not yet.I wouldn’t even try to talk to Sam about it until things settle a little.I’ve never seen her quite so…”

Cal trailed off, couldn’t seem to come up with a word, and Landon didn’t understand how life could change so completely that he might feel somesympathyfor Samantha Price.

“I’ve got to go.Thanks for lunch, Al.If you guys have any questions, text me.If Hayes or anyone from the police department approaches you or anyone here, call me.Otherwise?Just… live your lives, I guess.”

Landon watched with some amusement as Aly forced Cal to take two sandwiches with him before he left.Like the man hadn’t lived on his own for nearly a decade, no doubt occasionally having to make himself a sandwich.

But Aly took care on a good day.Add in a murder, and it wasn’t a good day.

Landon had calves to check on though, cows to monitor, and Aly hadn’t been feeling well enough this morning to help out.She seemed fine now, but he didn’t want to push.She never begged off ranch work unless she had a good reason.

Once Cal left the kitchen, Landon started to move for the mudroom.“I have to get back.And I’ll probably be in late for dinner.”He didn’t want to tell her how crazy things were and have her feeling bad for needing a day off, but he didn’t want her worrying if he didn’t come in on time.

Quite the conundrum, trying to take care of somebody.

Aly only shook her head.She was still looking at where Cal had disappeared.She didn’t say anything until the echo of the front door being closed reached them.

Then she turned to him, hands still wringing together.“Don’t go just yet,” she said to him.

She had an odd expression on her face.One that didn’t look like worry or concern at all.

Still, he had so much work to do and just enough hands with him involved to do it.“I know you’re worried about Sam, but if Cal thinks we should keep our distance—”

“No.”She blew out a breath.“I mean, Iamworried, but this isn’t about that.”She reached out and grabbed him by the arms, smiled up at him.“You know how I was going to wait a few more days to take a test?”

At the wordtest, something inside of him seized.Landon didn’t know what else to call the feeling exceptsheer terror.He wanted a family with Aly, but…

Well, he had a few hangups.And maybe he’d learned to share his hangups with his wife, but this one… Some things a man had to keep to himself.He figured his father issues got to be one of them.

He’d been utterly relieved last month when she’d gotten a negative result on that test.Even more relieved when she’d said it could take some time.If it took some time, he could get to the point where he felt excitement instead of dread.

“I couldn’t wait.”Her eyes were shiny, but she was smiling.Which could only mean…

She shook his arms, grinning from ear to ear.“Landon, we’re going to be parents.”

His breath left his body in a whoosh.It felt like a blow, and he knew it shouldn’t.He wanted kids.He wanted a family.He’dagreedto all this.

But damn if he felt ready in the reality ofwe’re going to be parents.

Aly peered up at him, seeing far too much.Her smile faded.“Landon…”

He pulled her into a hug, mostly so she couldn’t see his face and read the things he didn’t want her to.“You caught me off guard,” he said, holding her tight.“I wasn’t expecting it.You’ve been telling me it’s normal to take a long time.I was looking forward to lots more months of trying.”

She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him back.“I guess we’re just exceptional.”

It made him laugh, and her arms around him eased some of that dread-fueled tension.

Maybe he had hangups, but none about her.She’d be a great mom.Better than great.So he pulled back, made sure to impartthatinstead of his own shit.

He cupped her face with his hands.“Do you feel okay?Do you need Jill to come down and help out?You shouldn’t overdo it.”

She beamed up at him, arms still around his neck.“I feel fine.I feel great.”Her expression faltered a bit.“Well, except for this whole murder thing.”

“Cal said it’s going to be fine, so it’s going to be fine.”He gave her a squeeze and her expression softened again.

“Look at you, Mr.Optimism.”She studied his face, no doubt looking for all that doubt he’d tried to hide away.“You’re happy, right?”