Page 131 of Cowboy's Last Stand
Wade reappeared a few minutes later.He unlocked the cell and opened the door.“You’re free to go,” he said shortly.“My deputy will give you a ride to the outskirts of town.I recommend you get as much distance between yourself and my father as possible.He’s still looking for someone to blame.”
Jason was startled by the abrupt switch.“I’m no longer a suspect?”
“According to the coroner, the cause of death was an accidental discharge.”
“Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack,” Wade replied.
Jason didn’t understand how an accidental shooting had led to this sequence of events, but why look a gift horse in the mouth?He collected his backpack and walked away with the deputy, though he declined the transportation offer.They couldn’t make him leave town before he’d spoken to Natalie.
He found her vehicle parked across the street.There was a public square nearby and several benches along the sidewalk.He rested his backpack next to a bench and glanced toward the sheriff’s station.Natalie was inside with Wade, standing at the glass doors that marked the front entrance.They stood close together, her face turned up to his.
It was difficult to read expressions through the glass, but their body language was clear.There was a connection between them that went beyond friendship.Jason felt a hot surge of jealousy as Natalie’s slender arms went around Wade.She clung to him for a long, torturous moment before they broke apart.Then she pushed through the glass doors and stepped into the sunlight.Even at a distance, Jason could feel the emotional kick as their eyes met.When he’d thought she’d been hurt this morning, his entire world had come crashing down.Seeing her unharmed made everything OK again.
Wade followed Natalie outside as if he had more to say.His jaw tightened with annoyance at the sight of Jason.Natalie touched Wade’s arm and spoke to him quietly.Shaking his head, he went back inside.
Jason supposed she’d chosen him over Wade, but the moment held little triumph.Wade had never been a serious contender for her affections.Jason, on the other hand, would move heaven and earth to be with her.
Unfortunately, she didn’t appear to feel the same way.She walked toward him in cautious steps.There would be no joyful reunion between them, no happy-ending embrace.She’d rejected Wade, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’talsoreject him.That was what she’d done last night after learning of his deception.Today’s bizarre tragedy hadn’t erased any of the mistakes he’d made.
He stepped forward to meet her halfway.“Can we talk?”
She nodded her assent and accompanied him to the park bench.He knew she had to pick up Marcus soon.Incredibly, it was still early afternoon.Yesterday, they’d gone out for coffee at this time.Last night, they’d been together.He’d made passionate love to her.It seemed like a dream, a sweet fantasy.
They sat together at the edge of the town square.It was quiet and peaceful, but the outdoor setting did little to ease his tension.
“Do you know what happened?”he asked.
“I know Billy was shot,” she replied.“And I know that Gabe put the gun in the truck.”
“Gabe?Really?”
“I saw the footage.”
Jason’s estimation of Gabe Luna slipped down another notch.The kid had tried to frame him for murder.Without the security camera, he might have succeeded.
Natalie tucked a stray curl behind her ear.Her hair was soft and untamed, her face devoid of makeup.She was wearing her yoga pants with a wool sweater.She’d probably intended to spend the day moping around the house, trying to forget him.“London came over while I was watching the video.She told me an interesting story.”
Jason listened as she recounted the tale.
“I think Billy drugged the girls’ drinks, Gabe argued with him about it, and they scuffled.”
It sounded plausible.It also sounded more like self-defense than an accident.“Are they charging him with anything?”
“I guess not.”
Jason took a deep breath and let it out slowly.“I thought you’d been hurt.”
A crease formed between her brows.“Why?”
“Wade called me on your phone and said there’d been an accident.I assumed he was talking about you, of course, and he wouldn’t give me any details.I thought Billy had attacked you or even killed you.”
She stared at him without comprehension.
“I’ve had some bad moments in my life,” he continued.“My mother’s death.The explosion in Kabul.This one ranks in the top three.”
Her pretty mouth twisted.“I didn’t have a great day either.”
