Page 68 of The Cowboy’s Reckoning

“Why?”

“Things have changed between the two of you. Obviously,” she added. “His life would have been easier if we’d done that. Our cow would be alive. And you guys could have, I don’t know, done what you’re doing without all the accompanying drama.”

Lil turned off the highway without answering.

“I would move, you know. If it came to that.” Meg continued to fiddle with the folds of her skirt. “I’d hate it, but, you know, if necessary …” Her voice trailed and then she sighed.

Lil wanted to say that she wouldn’t move, but at this point she simply didn’t know what she would do. Her feelings for Jordan were shifting her perspective.

Meg accepted her silence without prodding at the matter and might have even been nodding off when a thunking noise at the front end of the truck jerked her upright.

“Shit.” Lil pulled to the edge of the road and pushed open her door.

Meg also got out and came around the hood to stand beside her as she inspected the driver’s side front tire.

“I’ll get the jack,” she said.

Lil looked down at her favorite dress, which was probably going to be covered in black rubber stains and dirt, then figured that was what detergent was for.

*

Jordan had barely tapped out the text that he suspected Lil would not welcome—“Everything OK?”—when a flash of headlights in the aspen grove showed through the trailer window and his shoulders sagged with relief.

It was only a little after one o’clock and for all he knew, Lil and Meg may have chosen to stay in town. It wasn’t his business where they were, but that hadn’t kept him from being concerned. Shit had gone down on this ranch.

He deleted the text and put the phone back on the table then opened the trailer door as they pulled to a stop near the barn.

“Hey, Jordan,” Meg called before heading toward the house.

Betty ambled out of the dog door in the barn and followed her.

Jordan felt a little stupid standing in the driveway in his sweats, like he’d been waiting up for them, but he did have news to impart. Lil moved closer and when she stepped into the light cast from the yard lamp, he did a double take. Dark muddy stains covered the front of her dress.

“What happened to you?” Was he going to have to hurt someone?

“Flat tire. The spare was covered with dirt and mag chloride.” The stuff used to keep dust down on gravel roads.

“Hell of a way to end a night,” he said, moving closer. “Maybe I should have come.”

Lil put her hands side by side on his chest and he took a light hold of her shoulders, glad that she was home. “I’m good with a jack. Tell me that you didn’t wait up for us?”

She didn’t need or want a keeper. He was aware, but he had a hard time tamping down his protective instincts.

“Couldn’t sleep. Libby Weston contacted me.” Lil’s hand fell away from his chest and she blinked at him. “We have a meeting tomorrow morning in Livingston. Connery’s office.”

“Sunday?”

“I believe she wants to settle this once and for all.”

“How?” she asked softly.

“Damned if I know. That’s why I can’t sleep.” That and wondering where Lil was.

How she was.

She pressed her lips together briefly as if considering next moves. Then she said, “Meg and I talked.”

“Yeah?” He folded his arms over his chest, sensing this was something he wasn’t going to like.