Page 63 of For Always
“College boys?” Dessie asked with a raised brow. “Chile, I know your mother was ready to whip your behind good for that stunt. I know I would have.”
Clyde shook his head. “And I would’ve had my gun out looking for each of those college boys that decided to attend a party with high school girls.”
“I’m surprised your brothers didn’t go out looking for them,” Jagger added. “Ty, you remember that time our cousin Carlee, came to visit from Daytona. She had every ranch hand and supplier in the area chasing after her. Until we got the word out that she wasn’t to be touched, or looked at for that matter.”
Tyler nodded and smiled. He had forgotten about that summer when he and Jagger had been teenagers and much closer than they were now.
“Carlee hated us for that,” Tyler said. “I don’t think she came back to the ranch for a visit since that time.”
“Oh believe me, Adriana and I have our share of moments when we can’t stand our brothers for their overprotective nonsense,” Gabriella said.
“Boys raised to be good men shouldn’t be hated,” Clyde said. “They should protect the women in their family at all costs.”
Alex nodded and locked gazes with Tyler. “That’s exactly what my dad taught us,” he said.
Tyler held Alex’s gaze and confirmed, “My father taught us the same thing.”
The knock—or rather pounding—on the front door, halted the conversation. Everybody paused, but nobody moved. The pounding sounded again.
“It’s just the door, y’all,” Dessie said and pushed away from the table.
Clyde dropped his napkin on the table and got up with his wife. “Everybody sit tight.”
Tyler squeezed Gabriella’s hand which had gone still.
“You think any about who would want to kill that woman and leave her body on your property?” Alex asked Tyler.
Tyler had thought about it. Between that and killing Austin Sterner, he’d thought of nothing else last night. Which is why the minute he’d come downstairs this morning, he’d gone into his office to call the private investigator he’d hired.
“I’m working on a theory,” he said.
“You plan on sharing that theory?” Jagger asked. “Because we’re all involved now. Regardless of whose name is on the deed of this place, I’m a West and I always will be. Whatever’s happening involves the both of us.”
“It involves all of us,” Gabriella said. “We’re all here now and the killer is still out there. So it involves all of us.”
Monica nodded. “I agree with her. And sometimes when more than one head is put together, solutions and answers come quicker. So, please, do share your thoughts.”
Alex didn’t look too pleased about what his fiancé said, but he didn’t argue. Instead he sat back in his chair and again, looked expectantly at Tyler.
“Sheriff Alvarez wants to have an informal word with Tyler and Gabriella,” Clyde said coming into the dining room.
“Should we leave?” Monica asked.
“No,” Tyler replied. “If this is informal, we’re comfortable with everybody staying. Right?” he asked Gabriella.
“Yes,” she replied. “That’s right.”
Sheriff Alvarez had come into the room and now stood at the head of the table. He didn’t look happy about the arrangement, but Tyler wasn’t concerned about the sheriff’s happiness.
“There was an argument between you and Hannah Palmer the night before last,” he said to Tyler. “Tell me about it.”
Tyler did not hesitate. “I made reservations for dinner at P&P for seven-thirty. Gabriella and I were seated. We ordered and were having a glass of wine while we waited for our food when Hannah approached us. She talked to me about us meeting up for an article in the Gazette. I turned that offer down. She then turned her attention to Gabriella and began to spew hateful racist rhetoric at her.”
“Hmph.”
All eyes went to Dessie who had made the sound and folded her arms angrily over her chest.
“Gabriella responded to Hannah’s taunt and we left,” Tyler finished.
