Sheltered By The Cowboy

They got out of the truck and were greeted by Dillon and Cassie. “Mandy, I’m so sorry for your loss,” Cassie said and took one of Mandy’s hands in hers.

The warmth and compassion in her voice made tears spring to Mandy’s eyes. “Thank you, Cassie.”

“Let me know if there’s anything I can do,” Cassie added as she released Mandy’s hand.

Mandy looked at Dillon. “All anyone can do for me now is to help catch the person who’s responsible for my father’s murder.”

“The investigation is ongoing,” he replied.

Julia Hatfield, a waitress at the café, hurried over and pulled Mandy into a tight hug. “Oh, honey, I can’t stay long because I have a shift in a little while, but I wanted you to know I’m so sorry, and you come to me if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Julia,” Mandy replied.

Reverend Wally Johnson walked toward them all, his expression somber and fitting the occasion. “Are we ready to begin?”

Mandy drew in a deep breath and released it, then nodded. It was a bit of a walk to the actual gravesite. Mandy, Brody and Wally led the small crowd over the top of a small rise and then to the place where Mandy’s mother rested.

George would be happy resting next to the woman he’d loved. When she’d died she’d taken so much of what little goodness he’d had with her.

They were trailed by several neighbors, a couple of waitresses from the café, Butch Cooper and two men from the Humes ranch.

Mandy assumed the Humes men might have been her father’s drinking buddies. At least Lloyd Green wasn’t here. Still, her father probably would have opened the door to Lloyd. Heck, her father would have opened the door to most anyone he knew on the night of his murder. There had been no signs of a break-in or robbery and no hard evidence that anyone had been in the house. The killer must have relocked whatever door he’d entered when he was finished slashing her father’s throat.

She glanced up at Brody, so tall and stoic next to her. His very presence helped to calm the tension that had balled up tight in her stomach.

This was it. This was so final. She was now an orphan and she would never, ever be able to get the kind of relationship she’d longed for with her father.

She’d thought she’d cried all the tears in her body, but she’d been wrong. The moment Wally began to speak, tears chased each other down her cheeks.

She would have broken down altogether had Brody not reached out and took her hand in his. The warmth of his hand around hers, the silent support he offered were enough to keep her somewhat in check.

The official ceremony didn’t take long. There were no good friends to speak of George in glowing terms and Mandy had declined to speak. When it was over, she told everyone that they were welcome at the house, where sandwiches would be served.

She didn’t expect anyone to come. Most of these people who had come had done so to show support for her, which she appreciated.

They were about to leave when Aaron Blair and his wife, Sadie, walked over to the two of them. Aaron was a big man with dark hair, and his wife was a willowy blonde who looked as if she could use a good meal. They owned the ranch next to the Wright place, but Mandy barely knew them.

“Brody... Mandy,” Aaron greeted them. “Mandy, I’d tell you I was sorry for your loss, but your father was a mean, spiteful man who nobody will miss.”

Mandy took a step backward in stunned shock. “Aaron,” his wife replied in surprise.

“Well, it’s the truth,” Aaron said firmly, raising his square jaw. “George accused me of stealing land from him for years. He accused me of putting up my fencing three feet on his property despite the three surveys I paid for to prove him wrong. He was nothing more than a miserable bastard.”

“And I think that’s enough,” Brody replied in a stern voice. “This isn’t the time or the place for you to air your grievances.”

“Come on, Aaron. Let’s go home,” Sadie said. She jerked on her husband’s arm and the two of them headed away from the gravesite.

“Don’t pay any attention to them,” Brody said softly.

Grief once again tightened Mandy’s throat. “It doesn’t matter if my dad was mean or not. He still didn’t deserve to have his throat cut while sitting in his recliner chair in his own home.” She swallowed hard against the emotion that rose up in the back of her throat.

“I just hope Dillon is aware of the bad blood between your father and Aaron,” Brody replied.

She looked at him in surprise. “Surely you don’t think Aaron had anything to do with the murder. I can’t imagine it.”

“None of us could imagine Adam being a serial killer,” he reminded her. He looped his arm through hers. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”

Together they headed back toward the parking area, but before they got there a man appeared in the distance. Mandy froze at the sight of him.

Was it? Could it be?

She pulled her arm from Brody’s, every muscle in her body tensed. “Graham?” The name whispered from her.

As he drew closer and smiled at her, joy exploded in her heart. “Graham!”

She ran toward her brother, half laughing and half crying. She had no idea how he had heard about their father’s murder. She didn’t care where he had come from. The only thing that mattered was that he was here now.

* * *

Brody didn’t like him. He stood in the kitchen with Daisy, who had arrived only moments before with sandwiches, potato salad and baked beans.

Mandy was in the living room, catching up with her brother, and it had taken Brody about two minutes to realize he didn’t particularly like and he damned straight didn’t trust Graham Wright.

There was no overt reason for his dislike or distrust of the man, other than he’d appeared out of nowhere after being gone for years. It was just a gut instinct that was hard to deny.

About ten people had come back to the house following the funeral, including Dillon and Cassie. They were also in the family room, and Brody hoped Dillon was not only visiting with Graham but also interrogating him as to his whereabouts when George had been murdered.

“Darn, I left the tossed salad out in my car,” Daisy said.

“Need some help?” Brody asked.

“Nah, I’ll go get it.” She left the kitchen by the back door, and at the same time Butch Cooper came in from the family room.

“Hey, Brody,” he said and picked up one of the paper plates. “These look good.” He grabbed two of the half sandwiches and put them on his plate.

“Daisy doesn’t make bad food,” he replied. “Even her sandwiches taste better than any I’ve ever eaten.”

Butch nodded and stepped closer to him. “What do you think about the prodigal son’s return?”

Brody glanced toward Graham and then looked back at Butch. “The verdict is still out.”

Butch nodded. “Yeah, mine, too. Mandy sure is happy to see him.”

“I know she’s missed him for a very long time.” Over the last couple of days Mandy had spoken often about her childhood memories of her brother. She’d believed she would never see him again.

Butch stared down at his plate for a moment and then looked back up. “I’m glad she has you.”

There was a softness in the big cowboy’s eyes. Brody stared at him. “Does she know you’re in love with her?” he asked.