Page 90 of The Moment They Can't Forget

Tripp made apfftsound. JD shot him a look in the rearview mirror. He wore a white cowboy hat and red silk shirt with white tassels. Lately he’d started growing a moustache. It looked like a slug was sleeping on his upper lip.

“Strawberry is the best, Vi.”

That the man knew who she was didn’t surprise him. If Tripp Lyntacky did one thing well, it was knowing his people. He could tell you the names of every person in his town.

“Sour grape for me,” JD added as ahead of him, Sawyer turned into a drive. “How come you haven’t done something about this horse before now, Tripp?”

“Didn’t know about it, to my shame. Harry Stubbs wanted to be left alone to grieve, and we gave him that space. Forgot about Mrs. Stubbs’s horse, and that useless son of theirs wouldn’t have cared. When Sawyer called to ask me for any tips on catching wild horses, I said I’d come and offer my help in any way I could.”

“Thanks,” JD said, because manners were important.

The drive opened onto a wide concrete pad. Sawyer pulled the trailer to a halt, and JD parked beside. They all got out, and a big man in overalls wandered out the front door of the house.

“Sheriff Dans called to say you were coming,” he said.

“This here is JD Hopper, Harry,” Tripp said. “He’s come to take the horse if you’ll let him. I know it’s a reminder for you of your Aileen.”

Mr. Stubbs had the worn look of a man who was dealing with grief, and JD thought losing his wife had damn near destroyed him. He’d never loved like that. It would hurt if he lost any of the people close to him, but it wouldn’t destroy him as it clearly had this man.

His eyes went to Zoe. JD hoped she found someone who felt this deeply for her. The savage stab of jealousy was unwelcome, but he put it down to what they’d shared that night and how it was still fresh in his mind. He had to put it down to that, as there was no other option.

“I’m so sorry about your wife, Mr. Stubbs,” Zoe said, stepping closer. “She was a lovely woman.” She hugged the man, and he let her, even patting her back.

“You want to show us where the horse is, Harry?” Tripp said.

The man nodded, clearly not a great talker, and headed around the back of the house. They followed.

“Why are you all here?” JD asked Sawyer as he fell in beside him.

“You usually get awkward donkeys and goats delivered. Not large horses who could kill you.”

“Don’t tell me you’re worried about me?” JD said. “It makes me feel all soft right here.” He tapped his chest.

“Yeah, well, don’t let it go to your head. I just don’t want to lose my tattoo artist. Plus, my girl likes her job. She’d be pissed if something happened to you,” Sawyer said.

“There is that.”

“How’s Vi doing?”

“Works hard, and the animals love her.”

“But how is she?” Sawyer asked. “She lives with those two, and that can’t be easy.”

“Those two?” JD had a feeling he wasn’t going to like this.

“Her brothers. Work hard and play just as hard. After their parents were killed in a car accident, they took on the responsibility of raising her.”

He’d not known Vi lived alone with her brothers because she’d never told him, but then he hadn’t asked.

“They work for me and Brody. They’re okay guys. They just drink too much. They love their sister, but I can’t imagine life is easy for her,” Sawyer added. “None of them were prepared for what happened.”

“I didn’t know any of this.”

Sawyer whistled. “I thought you must know. That’s why I said nothing. We were all happy when we realized she was working for you and you could keep an eye on her. Not that we’ve heard anything about them mistreating her. The locals would have stepped in if we had.”

“That’s what I figured too,” JD said.

“Those shorts of Bart’s should be outlawed,” Sawyer muttered.

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