Page 155 of The Lonely Road

She puts the coffee in front of me. Stands across.

“You played with my son.”

“I did.”

“At Mav’s barbecue. He showed you his wooden horse.”

I nod.

“You went to the Bear Dance with Taya.”

“Yes.”

“And the whole time⁠—”

“The whole time I was lying about why I was here.” I tip my chin in acknowledgment. “Yes.”

“I want to be very angry at you.”

“You should be.”

“I am.” She acknowledges me with a glance. “But I also know that Taya trusted you, and I know what that cost her, and I know you came back, and I know about the federal case.” She’s quiet for a moment. “And I know that you got to Trafton before he could do anything worse than stand in my yard.”

I don’t say anything. She’s well informed, and my guess is that her new guestroom resident has been revealing official matters to her.

He did it to make her feel safe.

“I’m sorry about Trafton. I thought I’d neutralized him.”

She arches an eyebrow.

I wave a hand. “I mean…I neutralized the threat.”

She now raises both her eyebrows.

I let out a long breath. “You know what I mean.”

“She knows you beat the crap out of him.” This is from Wiley.

“I didn’t. If I had, he wouldn’t have been back here.” That still pisses me off, that he was here because of me, to take revenge.

“Dakota was scared when he was here, but she didn’t show it. She’s her father’s daughter.”

“Ma’am, I didn’t know your husband, but I think Dakota is her mother’s daughter. Remarkably brave.”

“You tryin’ to soften me, Mason Brooks?”

Wiley scoffs.

“Just saying it how it is.”

We drink coffee for a moment. I set my cup down.

“I let you down. I let Taya down. I let…everyone down.”

I drag a hand through my hair, forcing the words into something steadier. “This is my job—was my job. I’m not like Trafton. I don’t do what he does. But in my line of work…things like this happen.”

I swallow, the anger sitting hot and useless in my chest.