Page 25 of Reins

“No,” Rosalyn sighs. “It hit the wall next to me.” Her sapphire gaze lifts. “He asked her out, but she’s dating a McCullough. I—I…” she stammers and takes another swallow. “I thought he was talking about you at first. That’s when he got really angry and threw his dish. He said Black Gulch owes him for taking Ava.” Her chin trembles as she chews on the inside of her cheek.

“Wait, she’s dating a McCullough?” I know Mason and Dixon have both married. “Sawyer?” Is that why he was there the night Max got arrested?

I roll back when she nods, squatting over my heels then drop my elbows to my knees. “That’s a trip.” It’s hard to believe he’s still not that ten year old kid I last saw shortly after the accident. His jaw set as he tried to hide the pain of losing his mom.

The mother I took from him.

“I want to help,” Rosalyn stammers. “But Eli is…terrifying. I think he’s already killed someone—”

“Who?” I cut in. If I have proof I can—“A man who used to work for us years ago. I didn’t see it, just Eli beating him up. Then he never came back.” Her head shakes slowly and her hands tuck under her arms.

“Oh.” That doesn’t offer much evidence towards a crime. “I’ll look into it. Do you have a name?”

Her lower lip pinches between her teeth. “No, I’m sorry.”

Maybe I should talk to Val? See if she can offer any insight about that conversation? My sigh turns to mist that drifts over my shoulder. “I could really use something solid, Rosalyn. Evidence that either puts them at the Black Gulch, or their cows here.”

I’ve searched everywhere I can reach without fear of being caught. The only places that are left are dangerous for me to get to.

But not for her.

“I’m not allowed in their office.” Her head shakes slowly, echoing into ripples in the liquid she holds. “If there’s anything on paper, it’s in there.”

“What if you just tell me when they’re both gone? I can slip in and—”

The look of horror that transforms her face makes me pause.

Shit. Those guys really have her terrified.

“Rosalyn.” I take a deep breath. “What can I do to make you feel safe?”

A single tear breaks loose and rolls slowly down her cheek. “I think there’s only two ways.” Her red-rimmed blue eyes rise in a mournful stare. “Either they’re dead, or I am.”

Chapter 15 - Rosalyn

All of the strength leaves me and I slump against the trunk of the tree. “I don’t know how long I can do this.” My eyes slip shut. I can’t even feel the frosty press of the bark into my cheek.

“Leave with me,” Cade says softly. “Let me get you out of here.”

That rouses me with the tiny flame of anger. “And go where? They have contacts I don’t even know about. Last year I even heard them talking about having someone brought up from Texas.” A shiver races down my spine.

Cade goes still, starting off into the distance.

This side of his face isn’t scarred. As his jaw tics under his scruffy dark beard, he’s almost good looking…for being a killer.

Or maybe I’m just getting used to seeing him?

He’s the only kind person I’ve been able to interact with for weeks. I guess that changes perceptions pretty quickly.

Am I getting desperate to get away from my brothers and am seeing him differently?

“Who did they bring up from Texas?” His words come out misty in the frigid air.

My brain feels as if it’s frozen when I try to drag up the memories. “I don’t know. I just heard it was about some old debt one of their dead friends owed them.”

But even that doesn’t make sense.

“Was it a name you’re familiar with?” Cade almost sounds like he’s trying to talk to a child.