Page 104 of Texas Splendor
“You had something you had to tell us at this ungodly hour?”
“I don’t rightly know how to say it.”
“Straight out is usually best.”
Austin nodded and came to an abrupt halt. “I killed Boyd.”
Dallas grew as still as death and stared at his brother. “I beg your pardon?”
“I killed Boyd.”
Dallas planted his hands on his desk and slowly brought himself to his feet. “Let me make sure I understand everything you just said. For six years, you claimed to be innocent, you allowed your family to stand by you and proclaim your innocence, and I have been paying a man to find proof of your innocence. And now you’re telling me that you’re guilty of murder?”
He watched the blood drain from Austin’s face before he gave a brusque nod. “That’s right.”
“But you were with Becky that night,” Dee reminded him.
“Afterward. I killed him and then I fetched Becky, planning to use her as my alibi, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I know I’ve destroyed your trust in me, and I can never regain that. Tomorrow, I’ll pack up my family and we’ll leave—”
“Let’s not do anything rash,” Dallas ordered. “We’ll just sleep on it. Things will look clearer in the morning.”
“In the morning, I want you to telegraph Wylan and tell him to stop his search for the murderer.”
Dallas narrowed his eyes and gave his brother a long slow measuring nod. Austin took a step toward the desk. “Give me your word that you’ll send that telegram first thing in the morning.”
“Give you my word.”
He watched relief course down his brother’s face like water rushing over rocky falls. Austin turned to Dee. “I know I owe you the most, Dee, Boyd being your brother and all. I don’t know how, but I’ll find a way to pay back all I owe.”
“You don’t owe me anything, Austin,” she assured him.
“I need to tell Houston and Amelia. I’ll do that tomorrow. And Cameron.” He jerked his gaze to Dallas. “I could take out an announcement in the newspaper, couldn’t I?”
“Like I said, let’s not do anything without thinking it through.”
Austin slipped a hand into his hind pocket and took a step backward. “I need to get home to Loree.”
“I’ll come by in the morning and we’ll work this out.”
Austin nodded. “I’m really sorry.”
“So am I,” Dallas said quietly. He watched his brother high-tail it from the room. He walked to the window and caught sight of Austin galloping into the night. “So who the hell do you think he’s protecting now?”
“If he’s following in the footsteps of his older brothers, it would have to be the woman he loves,” Dee said softly as she came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his chest.
“Christ, I hope you’re wrong.”
Loree heard the footsteps on the porch and slowly brought herself out of the rocking chair. The door opened quietly, and Austin slipped inside. He hung his hat on the peg by the door and stood staring at his boots. He looked like a man who had just taken the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“Austin?”
He snapped his head around and gave her a weak smile. “Thought you’d be asleep. Must be near midnight.”
“Almost. What did Dallas say?”
“That we’ll take care of it.”
She furrowed her brow. “What does that mean?”
