“Why’s that?”
“ ‘Cause I’m going to kiss your grandmother good-bye, and I don’t want you coming after me with a shotgun.”
Then he did. Full on the mouth. And she kissed him back. With a little more fervor than made me comfortable.
Gabe looked at me and grinned.
“Well,” I said with resignation, “I just hope we’re still that enthusiastic when we’re their age.”
“Count on it, querida,” Gabe replied. “I’ll go say hi to your dad and give them some privacy. See you at home.”
I climbed into the truck and drove down our long drive to the highway.
“Man, there is a lot of memories wrapped up in this truck, isn’t there?” Wade said as we pulled onto the empty road.
“Yes, there are.”
He leaned back in the duct-taped vinyl seat. “Isn’t nothing left of Harper’s Herefords anymore except for memories.” He stared out the window at the passing bare fields. “I’m going to miss San Celina, but you know, that part of my life is over. It’s time to move on.”
“Yes, I think it is.” We rode silently for about a half mile or so.
“Benni,” he said, breaking the quiet, “I just ... I just want to say thanks again. For believing in me when no one else did. For getting that lawyer when I needed her. For ... everything. I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”
“Your debt was paid a long ways back, bro,” I said, using Jack’s old nickname for him. “Don’t even think about it.”
Then it occurred to me. What I had to do. I hit the brakes and stopped the truck in the middle of the empty road. “Get out,” I said.
“What?” He stared at me like I was crazy.
I climbed out of the cab, taking my Levi’s jacket with me. He came around the truck, his face confused.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
I held out the truck keys. “Take it. It’s time for me to move on, too.”
He stared at the keys, his face crumpling a little.
“I mean it, Wade. Have you got enough gas money to get home?”
He nodded and slowly took them. As they left my hand, I felt my heart give a little dip.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked.
I nodded. “Whatever I need to sign for you to take ownership, you send it to me and I will.”
He looked back down the road toward the ranch. “Do you need a ride back home ... or to town?”
I shook my head. “It’s only a mile or so back to the ranch. I’ll walk. I need to do some thinking anyway.”
He pulled me into a tight hug. I deeply inhaled the scent of him—the smell of clove gum, leather, and Old Spice. The same aftershave Jack always wore. “Good-bye,” I whispered.
“Blondie,” he said, his voice muffled in my hair, “you take care now. You be happy.”
“I am, Wade,” I said, tears coming to my eyes. “I already am.”
I watched him drive away until all that was left was the faint sound of the muffler that would need replacing soon.
I started walking back toward the ranch and, halfway there, Gabe appeared in the Corvette. He pulled over and climbed out.
“Looks like you lost your wheels,” he said, leaning against the side of the car juggling his keys from one hand to the other.
“Didn’t lose them. Gave them away.”
“I thought you might.”
I made a face at him. “You did not. You think you know me so well.”
“Better than you realize.” His face grew sober. “Are you all right?”
I smiled and nodded. “Never been better.”
“Looks like I’m your ride.”
“Appears so.”
“Actually, it doesn’t look like you have much of a choice.”
“Friday, we always have choices.”
He studied me for a moment. “So, what’s yours?”
“It might depend on where you’re headed.”
He looked down the road toward the ranch, then the opposite way toward town. “Does it really matter?”
I thought about it for a moment, then answered, “Not as long as I can drive halfway.”
He gave a delighted laugh and tossed me the keys.
Berkley Prime Crime Books by Earlene Fowler
THE SADDLEMAKER’S WIFE
The Benni Harper Mysteries
FOOL’S PUZZLE
IRISH CHAIN
KANSAS TROUBLES
GOOSE IN THE POND
DOVE IN THE WINDOW
MARINER’S COMPASS
SEVEN SISTERS
ARKANSAS TRAVELER
STEPS TO THE ALTAR
SUNSHINE AND SHADOW
BROKEN DISHES
DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS
TUMBLING BLOCKS
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Dove in the Window Page 30