Page 63 of Mustang Summer

“It’s not you I’m worried about.”Dillon dropped his tone.“I don’t trust her.”

“I do.She’s my girlfriend.”

Dillon’s eyebrow shot up.

Light footsteps crunched in the barn and Josie emerged.Her expression fell when she saw Dillon standing next to him.

She scooted to Brock’s side and twined her fingers through his.Dillon didn’t miss the action.

“Here for your brother’s sentencing?”he asked.

She nodded and squeezed his hand.“I am.”

“He’s lucky to have such a loyal sister.”Dillon’s tone was even.

“Well, his mom and dad are dead and his step-dad doesn’t give a shit.”Josie’s defensive tone was obvious, even to Brock.He squeezed her hand in return and she seemed to deflate.“He and I only ever had each other.I’m going to support him, no matter who I’m dating.”

Dillon’s eyes narrowed on her, then on their clasped hands.“Who—why…why was he so bitter over land that hadn’t been in the family for sixty years?”

Josie feathered her hair behind an ear.Brock hoped she answered, he was curious, too, but never thought of asking.What Jesse did was done.

“His dad told his mom about what had happened to his uncle and I’m sure she mentioned it to Bill—my dad.When Bill cut Jesse off from his business, I could imagine him holding the lost family treasure over Jesse’s head.”

“But he was a grown man.”Dillon’s words lacked bite, but he sounded like he didn’t understand as much as Brock didn’t.

“A man who’d just lost his mom, never knew his own dad, and the man he considered his dad had just cast him off like he meant less than an employee.I was too devastated to see what Jesse was going through.I had my own drama, and like always, he protected me.Next thing I knew, he’d moved here saying he just had to get away.Then he was in jail.”

“I’m sorry to hear about…”

“I know,” Josie sighed.“Losing our mom was a terrible time for us.But it doesn’t condone what he did.”

“I understand how hard it can be to lose a parent.”Dillon cleared his throat and started for the barn.“Hey, Brock, gonna show me the new car?”

The tension in Brock eased.If Dillon could accept Josie, the rest would follow his lead.The mess with her brother had impacted her life enough, Brock didn’t want it to interfere any more than it had.He couldn’t understand why his cousins kept bringing up the trust issue.If Brock didn’t trust her, he wouldn’t be with her.

The next morning,Josie woke to voices.

A man whose voice she didn’t recognize spoke.“She’s nice, real nice.”

Were they talking about her?

“I thought you’d like to help me fix her up.”

Ah, the car.The man must be Brock’s dad.She sat up and shoved her hair off her face.Had Brock expected them, or was it a surprise visit?

The sickening pit in her gut was back.They probably came for the sentencing.

“Have you got company, Brockie?”a woman asked.

Josie’s mouth twitched.Brockie.That must be his mom.

“Josie’s been staying with me for a few days until her brother’s hearing.”

Well, that cat’s out of the bag.

Voices lowered until Josie would have to spy on them to hear, but she didn’t think they were telling Brock anything his cousins hadn’t.You can’t trust her.She might be like her brother.

Josie slipped out of bed and dressed as fast as she could.She shoved a comb through her hair.The choppy style was growing on her, but she missed being able to throw it up in a messy bun to get it out of her eyes.

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