Page 71 of Homicide in Water Creek

“Promise me we’re not over,” King whispered. “I don’t want us to be over. Are we over, Jacks?”

Those four words held so much pain, angst, fear, guilt, and love that they brought tears to her eyes. “We’ll never be over, King,” she said, shaking her head. “I know you needed time, considering what we’d been through. That’s not what I held against you. It was how you did it. Maybe I’m wrong, and maybe you were just shell-shocked and didn’t realize how much it would hurt me to watch you walk away. If that’s the case, I’m sorry for making you think it was over. There’s been so much thrown at me over the last 24 hours that just trying to keep up is a full-time job.”

Sitting on the mattress beside her, he cradled her face in his hands. “I understand, and I should have been here for you. You’re absolutely right on both counts. I was shell-shocked and didn’t realize how much it would hurt you. By the time I did, I was afraid it was too late. I also know you’re overwhelmed and feel like you’re going through this alone, but you’re not. You’re mourning your hopes and dreams for your life, but they aren’t dead, baby. I won’t let them die. I love you too much.”

She rested her forehead against his chest and took a shaky breath. “I love you too.”

Carefully, King scooped her into his arms, sat on the bed, and rested her on his lap, tucking a pillow under her right thigh to support the heavy brace.

“We’re going to be okay,” she whispered, more to herself than to anyone else.

“We’re going to be better than okay.” His voice was stronger now. Almost as if reminding each other that their love remained had strengthened him.

“What about Vonita?” she asked. “We know she and Parenti were an item, but that doesn’t explain why she was coming here with contracts to purchase the land.”

“I woke up one of the partners at the law firm this morning,” he said. “Or rather, the task force did. They wanted more information, even though Parenti admitted he killed her and I had it on my body cam. According to them, the will stands as written. The whole one-dollar-to-any-heir-who-comes-forward clause?”

“Yeah, what was that about? Did she have a child she put up for adoption?”

“Close,” he said, cuddling her. “It turns out she was an egg donor when she first moved to California. Apparently, it’s a lucrative business. It’s how she managed to survive. She could have a lot of kids out there.”

“You could have a lot of half-siblings you don’t even know about,” she gasped, her hand on his chest. “That hadn’t crossed my mind.”

“It’s absolutely mind-bending to think about. You always hear about it when men donate sperm, but you rarely hear about women donating eggs. Her lawyer said the records are sealed, so it’s unlikely anyone will ever come forward. Not that I care about the money. They can have it, as far as I’m concerned, but I guess knowing I have a sibling out there wouldn’t be such a bad thing, right?”

Jacks brushed a kiss across his lips. “It wouldn’t be a bad thing at all, King. Family is family.”

He nodded, then shrugged. “After we spoke with them, they faxed over a letter she had instructed them not to include with the will. She suspected that if she were dead, I would contact them, and she was right.”

“What did it say?”

“I’ll read it to you?” he asked, and she nodded as he pulled a piece of paper from his back pocket. “Dean, I hope this letter finds you well. I suppose it’s a proverbial, if you’re reading this letter, I’m dead kind of thing. I don’t regret my choice to leave you when you were a baby. It was so hard, but it was better than leaving you when you were old enough to know who I was. I wasn’t ready to be a mother, but Keene and your daddy insisted I was. Once you were born, I loved you instantly, but I also knew that if I stuck around, I’d screw you up more. I wanted to give you half a chance, and disappearing was the only way to do that. In hindsight, I’m sure that made it hard for you, especially after your daddy died. If I could do it over, I would probably still leave, but I would do it differently. I’d do it in a way that would at least let us still know each other at the end of my life.”

“That leads us here. You found the contracts, and you want to know why I was trying to buy Keene and Jackson’s ranches. It was to protect them, Dean, and now it’s up to you. I’ve left you every last penny I have to make sure of it. I made a big mistake by trusting the wrong man. I fell in love with a man I thought was the one who finally understood me, but I was so, so wrong. Palatino Parenti was using me. He wanted Keene and Jackson’s land after he discovered the minerals there. I overheard a conversation he had while he thought I was asleep, and that was when the pieces came together for me. This was the only way I could think of to protect you and Keene. It was my fault since I told Parenti about the ranches, and I had to do everything in my power to protect you.”

“If I’m dead, he killed me, and he’s coming for you next. He will send someone, then someone else, and someone else until that property is his or he’s dead. That’s how Palatino does business. As I write this letter, I know they are looking for me.”

“I’m not proud of a lot of the things I’ve done in this world, Dean. But the one thing I am proud of is the kind of man you’ve become. I know I had nothing to do with that, but I’ve watched you grow from afar into a fine lawman and an even better man. I accept that my contribution was to leave you in Water Creek to be their protector and to take care of your granddaddy. Take care of him now, the way he took care of you when I couldn’t. All my love, Vonita.”

“King,” Jacks whispered. “That’s brutal.”

“In a way,” he agreed. “But reading it was cathartic, too. I got her side of the story, you know?”

Jacks nodded. “Makes you feel less like it was your fault that she left?”

“It helped me understand that she was always going to leave. Water Creek was not for her, and I know my granddaddy and daddy were strong, opinionated men. They probably thought that with enough time, she’d change her mind and stay. In a way, I’m glad she didn’t. She lived her life, even if it ended terribly. At least her fortune will do good.”

“You’re a good man, Dean King,” she said, snuggling deeper into his chest after adjusting the pillow under her thigh. “I had no doubt you’d find a cause to use it for.”

“Part of that cause is to better fund the department. That will allow me to hire more deputies. I want more time with you, and Maverick could use fewer hours, too.”

“That’s a good idea. At least the money goes to a purpose that protects the whole town, which is what Vonita was trying to do.”

He smiled and kissed her gently, the emotion behind it telling her heart to calm down. He wasn’t going anywhere. “I agree. I’m sure I can find a thousand ways to use the money to benefit this town, which is exactly what I plan to do. I don’t want that kind of money changing who we are. Do you know what I mean?”

“Oh, yeah. Money can destroy people if you don’t use it for good. Parenti is the perfect example. There’s only so much you need before it becomes all about how you spend it. People think it brings happiness, but the opposite is true; it steals your happiness. Look at how miserable we’ve been since this started with Parenti. No, thank you.”

“I couldn’t agree more. Though I do plan to use some of it to raze the old house on the ranch and build a new one. I want to start fresh, which means destroying any memories of that night.”