Now they kicked back with beers and let all the grief and fatigue wash over them.
“Larry loved what he did,” Ben said. “I would never have asked him to stop. He was made for that job.”
“I agree,” said Duke. “Definitely. A remarkable guy, and I don’t just say that because he’s my brother.”
“He said that about you, too.” Ben smiled faintly.
After a few minutes of reflection, Duke looked at Cat. “I know this is quick, but it’s driving me crazy. Would you consider marrying me eventually? I love you.”
Cat caught her breath. Seriously?
Then Duke turned to Ben. “If she says yes, will you be my best man?”
For the first time since the murder, Ben smiled broadly. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
Then the two men looked at Cat, who was bouncing between amazement and joy. “Are both of you asking?”
“Seems like,” said Duke. “One big family now. If you want.”
Oh, truth rushed through her. No deliberation or time needed. “I want,” she breathed. “Yes, definitely yes.”
A bright ray of sunshine filled her, warming her.
So much joy out of so much sorrow. Life could still be beautiful.
And justice could still be served.
Don’t miss other romances in Rachel Lee’s thrilling Conard County: The Next Generation series:
Stalked in Conard County
Murdered in Conard County
Conard County Watch
Conard County Revenge
Available now from Harlequin!
Keep reading for an excerpt from What She Knew by Barb Han.
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What She Knew
by Barb Han
Chapter One
Amber Kent didn’t normally pick up calls from numbers she didn’t recognize on her personal cell. She tapped her toe on the floorboard while waiting for Harvey Baily to finish loading hay bales onto her truck. He’d insisted she stay in the cab in order to keep warm.
The temperature hovered just above forty degrees. The sun was covered by thick gray clouds. She stared at her buzzing phone. The call could be coming from a distant relative. She’d had a few of those since losing her parents a few years ago. It was past the holidays.
Glancing in the rearview mirror, she noticed that Harvey wasn’t even close to being done loading. She had a couple of minutes to spare.
“Hello,” she said. The silence on the other end had her thinking answering was a bad idea.
“Amber, this is Rylan Anderson...” The familiar voice came through the line clearly. He didn’t need to say his name for her to know that voice. It was deeper now, but that unmistakable timbre goose bumped her arms. Talk about a blast from the past. How long had it been? Eight years? Nine?
“I heard you moved back to town, but I thought people were pulling my leg.” After nearly a decade of being gone, she was surprised he’d come back to Jacobstown, Texas.
“Yeah, sorry I didn’t get in touch.” That was an odd thing to say. Had he planned on seeing her at some point?
“It’s fine,” she said quickly. Too quickly?
“I know it’s been a long time but I need a favor.” At least he didn’t pretend this was a social call. So why did disappointment wrap around her? A little piece of her wished he was calling to see how she was, or if she wanted to meet up for coffee. Hearing from him after all these years was a shock to the system.
“What can I do for you?” she asked, suppressing a small sigh.
She heard something or someone in the background. Then again, it could be a TV. She couldn’t make out the noise clearly.
“I didn’t have anyone else to call who could handle...” His voice trailed off, and that really got her curiosity going. He didn’t sound like himself. Although, what did she expect? He’d gone dim on social media after leaving Jacobstown to join the military. Platforms had changed, phone numbers had changed and she didn’t keep up with him.
“What is it?” she asked. Curiosity was getting the best of her. What on earth could make him call after all this time?
“It’s hard to explain. Can you stop by my house?”
“Um, sure.” She didn’t have a clue about why. “Are you in some kind of trouble?”
“Yeah. Kind of,” he hedged. “I don’t know—”
“The bank’s closed if you need mon—”
“It’s not like that.” There was a hint of defensiveness in his voice that she hadn’t meant to put there. “You know what? Never mind. This is a mistake.”
“Hold on, Rylan—”
It was too late. He’d ended the call.
Amber wasn’t letting him get away with that. She called him back.
He picked up on the first ring. The noise in the background confused her. “Where are you? What’s going on?”
He issued a sharp sigh.
“Rylan, I can drop by. Don’t be a mule,” she said.
There was a long pause. “I’d really appreciate it.”
He sounded like someone with a migraine coming on, and for a split second she wondered if he needed medical attention.
“You’re okay, right? I mean, you’re not injured,” she said, and she didn’t bother hiding the worry in her tone.
“It’s not like that.” At least she’d ruled out a trip to the ER.
“Text your address and I’ll stop by on my way home.” She should probably turn and drive in the opposite direction from her brother’s former best friend. The trouble was that she’d counted Rylan as a friend once, too. Plus, it was just beyond the holiday season. Rumors that he’d moved back to town were true. And he shouldn’t be on his own. How could she refuse his plea for help? The text came through immediately after the call ended. She knew exactly where that was. Mrs. Parker used to live there, and Amber had stopped by many times to drop off a meal before the widow moved away.
Harvey tapped on Amber’s truck bed as he closed the tailgate. He waved. His job was
