Page 74 of The Moment They Can Never Forgive
“Morning, Dan. I was just heading to the Simpkin place. Apparently some idiot kids drove around in their paddock last night, scaring cattle, just like you and your brothers used to do.”
“Harsh. We were never idiots,” Dan said, looking around his uncle’s office. There were photos of all of them, plus the daughter who had found him late in life. A daughter he hadn’t even known existed until she’d come looking for him.
“How’s the hand?”
“Good. Nearly healed.”
“I haven’t had a chance to speak to you about that night. But why didn’t you wait for backup, Dan?” His uncle sat back in his chair.
“I told you why. The guy jumped out of the window, and we’d have lost him. Since when do we wait for backup?” Dan asked.
“You didn’t know he only had a knife. He could have had a gun, and you were off duty, and didn’t have yours.”
Dan folded his arms and gave his uncle a look.
“I was just worried. That could have gone a lot worse.”
“It didn’t, and I’ll be more careful next time,” he promised. “Have you found out anything more about those papers we found at the Lupton place?”
“Nothing,” his uncle said. “But I’m still digging. I have a few contacts, and I’m sending out inquiries, just to make sure nothing has turned up with that signature out of state.”
“Let me know if anything does turn up,” Dan said. “I’d love to catch that asshole.”
“That makes two of us.”
Dan went to his desk. He then sat and worked through the paperwork he’d been neglecting. When the phone rang a few times, he reached for it because Sybil was likely on another call.
“Lyntacky Station.”
“Sheriff Dans, please.”
He knew that voice. “He’s not here at the moment. How can I help you?”
Silence was her answer.
“Leah? Is everything okay?”
“I’ll call back.” She cut the call.
He dialed her number, but she didn’t pick up. He did it twice more, and nothing.
Dan tapped his pen on the desk pad a few times. Something sounded off with her. But what?Surely, if she were in trouble, she would have said something.
He stared at the blank pad for a few more minutes, and then, decision made, he regained his feet.
“Just heading out to check on a few things, Sybil. Call if you need me.”
“Okay.” She raised a hand.
The Reynolds farm wasn’t far. Acknowledging anyone he saw with a wave, Dan left town and headed that way. He turned down the drive and pulled up beside Leah’s car minutes later.
He always thought of the house as an old, worn sweater—saggy and in need of repair. Paint was peeling off the siding, and there was a general air of neglect about the place, even considering the work they’d done on it that day.
Dan got out of his cruiser, pulled on his cap, and made his way up to the front door. He knocked on the frame. Seconds later, it opened, and he saw Hudson. A small scruffy dog appeared at his side.
“Hey, Hudson. How’s things?”
“Really good. Aunt Leah said I needed to thank you when I saw you, so thanks for the tree house.”
