Page 83 of The Cowboy’s Reckoning

Chapter Seventeen

“I didn’t get out of my truck,” Burke said seriously. “Just like you asked.”

Lil and Jordan had driven to the sheriff’s office after dropping Trev at Hayes’s truck in the aspens. There they waited while Burke made his statement. Once he was released, they walked him to his truck, which was in amazingly good shape. Why Connery had done what he’d done was still a mystery, but at least he wouldn’t be doing it again.

“How did you manage to pin his truck against a tree?”

“It was kind of tricky. You see, he made a run at my truck. Like he was going to T-bone me.”

“And you were …”

“Stopped at a forty-five across the road with trees on both sides. No way could he get past me.” He demonstrated the angle with his hand. “Figured that if I could keep him from leaving, I should, then call you. I didn’t know there wasn’t much signal.”

The three of them stared at him, waiting for more.

“So he opens his window and yells ‘get outta my way’ and I yell ‘no’, because now I recognize him as that real estate guy. He yells again and, well, pretty soon he comes at me, but I’m not completely sideways. Like I said, I’m at a forty-five. So I gun it at the last minute, so he doesn’t T-bone me, but he clips the rear of the Power Wagon, spins me around and knocks his Ford into that tree.” He smiled. “After he hangs up, he hits the gas hard, but he can’t get traction, so I real quick back my truck against his door.” Burke gave a little laugh. “I didn’t stop until I felt the side of his truck give. Crimped the frame, but he mashed my rear quarter panel, so, fair’s fair.” Burke gave a satisfied nod at the memory. “You should have seen him beating on the windows trying to get out. Those don’t break as easy as you’d think.” He nodded sagely. “That’s why you should always have a tool in your cab. Sneakers just don’t do it.”

When he finished his story, Jordan cleared his throat. “I told you not to take chances,” he pointed out.

“I didn’t,” Burke said. “I stayed in my truck, and I kept him from leaving. I mean it was the real estate guy.”

Trev shrugged, because it was true, and Jordan had to agree.

“We appreciate it,” Jordan said.

“This guy will talk,” Burke assured him. “I’ve seen his kind. He’s a save-his-ass weasel guy.”

Jordan hoped so and he was looking forward to hearing the story. Would this make Libby Weston more likely to tell him? He doubted it.

“Burke saved the day,” Lil said as they walked to the truck, a good two feet of air separating them.

“He did. I just wish he hadn’t taken so many damned chances in the process.”

“Steer wrestler,” Lil replied.

“There’s no fixing that,” Jordan agreed.

Lil smiled wearily as he opened the truck door for her.

“I want to stay at your place until we have answers.”

She nodded instead of replying, so Jordan took a chance and reached for her hand, feeling a wash of relief when she linked her fingers with his.

“I’m tired,” she said. “I want to go home.”

The local fire chief was getting into his truck when Lil and Jordan arrived at the Willow Creek after a silent drive to the ranch. He got back out again as Jordan pulled to a stop. The cause of the fire wasn’t exactly a mystery. Connery had stunk of accelerant when the deputy and tow truck driver finally got him out of the squeezed truck cab, and the fire chief found a can that smelled of kerosene not far from the barn. The McAllens kept no kerosene on the property.

The question to be answered was why Connery had set the fire. Once Jordan knew that, then he would be in a position to make decisions, as tough as some of them may be.

“Do you want us to bring the trailer back?” Trev asked before he and Hayes headed to their truck.

“Not tonight.” He wasn’t leaving Lil.

“What are you going to do?” Trev asked. “Sleep in the barn?”

“The couch,” Lil said.

“Good,” Meg said. “In that case, Betty and I are going to bed.”