LITMIR.BIZ

       FOUR

      Lexie tightened her hold on Adam’s hand, but he was trying so hard to be a grown-up that he shrugged free and jumped to his feet. He marched across the room and lifted a stuffed Santa Claus from an antique sideboard to stare at it.

      “I know Dad has been a loser father,” Adam said, “but I can’t believe he’d get involved in something illegal.”

      “We don’t know that he broke the law,” she said, wishing the same comfort she’d once offered for skinned knees would work for Adam tonight. “Just that he was involved with a syndicate of some sort.”

      He spun around. “Sounds bad, though, right?”

      She got up to join him but shoved her hands in her pockets to keep from reaching out to him. “That’s because in our world the word ‘syndicate’ often refers to a group involved in illegal activities.”

      Adam’s eyes, blue and large like their father’s, narrowed. “Yeah. Dad getting shot makes it almost a certainty.”

      “Perhaps.”

      He set down the Santa and it toppled to the floor. He stared at it. “What do you think he was mixed up in?”

      “I don’t know.”

      “Had to be drugs.” He grabbed the Santa Claus and settled it on the shelf with great force.

      Due to his grief, she ignored the way he manhandled the keepsake item the McKades had owned for generations. “Why would you say drugs?”

      “Dunno. Just sounds likely is all.” He chewed on his lower lip. “Do you think I’m in danger, too?”

      “I hope not.” She played it down so she didn’t terrify him more. “Either way, we both need to be extra careful. As of this minute, there’ll be no going anywhere without me at your side.”

      An impish grin lit his face. “Cool. That means no school.”

      “You wish.” She knuckled his head. “I can’t have you fall behind.”

      “But I’ll be alone.”

      “I’ll see if Gavin or the sheriff can arrange to have someone go to school with you.”

      “Gavin. Pfft. Why’s he even here?” Adam dropped onto the nearest chair, sliding down so far, she thought he’d slip off.

      “I don’t know, but he can help us, so we have to give him a chance.” She couldn’t believe she’d not only downplayed their father’s actions, but now she was standing up for Gavin. What was next? Welcoming Gavin back into their lives?

      No. No way.

      “Like you’re happy to see him,” Adam muttered.

      “I was when he came to my aid at the airstrip,” she admitted and left it at that. The last thing either of them needed was to get into a heated discussion about Gavin. “Let me see if the sheriff arrived and we’re cleared to go home.”

      “Home?” His voice squeaked. “Is it safe?”

      Gone was his bravado. Sitting before her was the little boy she’d held during crazy Texas thunderstorms. Comforted after their beloved pets had died. When he’d gotten his immunizations...and on and on. Her anger flared. How could their father put them in this position? Easy. He thought only of himself.

      She squeezed Adam’s shoulder. “If Sheriff McKade or Gavin say it’s not safe, we won’t go there. Okay?”

      “But where will we stay?”

      “Let me talk to them and we’ll figure something out.”

      She stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her. Walt had returned from the crime scene and he sat with Kendall on the old plaid sofa. Gavin and Matt both leaned against a wall as if they planned to spring into action. His mother and grandparents sat in side chairs, both ladies crocheting.

      “Can I speak to you a minute, Sheriff?” Lexie called out as soon as there was a break in the conversation.

      She felt Gavin’s gaze on her, but she wouldn’t make eye contact. His father got up and strode toward her, no questions asked. Gavin pushed off the wall and tagged along. Walt frowned at Gavin, but he held his ground as if he’d been standing up to his father all his life, when in fact all of the McKade siblings tried not to buck Walt’s decisions unless it was of utmost importance.

      “I told Adam about Dad,” she said to them both. “But I didn’t want to terrify him, so I didn’t share details like Dad’s warning. I’d appreciate it if you all kept it to yourselves, too.”

      “Makes sense,” Gavin said. “But he needs to know the suspect is looking for something and will likely come back. And that he might have seen you, too.”

      “I made sure Adam understands enough to know he needs to be careful. For the most part, he’s trying to act tough, but I can tell he’s afraid.”

      Walt offered a kind smile. “Nothing to worry about. Gavin here has insisted on personally seeing you home tonight.”

      Gavin nodded and met her gaze. “I just want to be sure you’re safely settled in, is all.”

      “Thank you,” she said instead of trying to argue when she was so wiped out.

      “We’ve got a deputy stationed outside your house for the night,” Walt continued. “Kendall will drive Adam to school in the morning and spend the day with him. After we have a clearer picture of what happened at the scene and have processed any recovered evidence, we’ll make a long-term plan.”

      Her heart dropped. “Do you really think this will go long-term?”

      Walt rubbed his forehead lined from hours of working the ranch beneath the hot Texas sun. “Can’t rightly say. Not when I don’t have enough information.”

      “Regardless, it’s best to be prepared,” Gavin said.

      She firmed her jaw, something she often felt like her slight stature forced her to do to be taken seriously. “I’d like to be in on all discussions about our protection.”

      Walt nodded. “Let’s plan to meet over lunch here tomorrow. If you have to go anywhere before then, our deputy will follow you. That work for you, sweetheart?”

      At his tender tone, she almost lost it. Walt was a hard taskmaster with Gavin, but once she’d started dating Gavin, Walt had in many ways become the father she’d always wanted. Until Gavin had left. Then she’d made a point of trying not to run into any of the McKades if she could help it.

      “Can we meet at one? Adam only has a half day tomorrow, so I’ll need to pick him up from school early.”

      “Kendall

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