Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch - B.J. Daniels [36]
"He would like us all to get together and talk at the ranch this evening," Stacy said.
"About what?" As if she didn't know, but she wanted to hear Stacy say it. So far Jordan had been the one who'd spoken for both Clay and Stacy. Not that Dana doubted the three were in agreement. Especially when it came to money.
But Stacy ignored the question. "We're all going to be there at seven, even Clay," Stacy continued as if she'd memorized her spiel and just had to get the words out.
That was so like Jordan to not ask if it was convenient for Dana. She wanted to tell her sister that she was busy and that Jordan would have to have his family meeting somewhere else—and without her.
Stacy looked down at her purse. Her fingers were still working the leather nervously. As she slowly lifted her gaze, she said, "I was hoping you and I could talk sometime. I know now isn't good." Her eyes filled with tears and for a moment Dana thought her sister might cry.
The tears would have been wasted on Dana. "Now definitely isn't good." She'd gotten by for five years without talking to Stacy. Recently, she'd added her brothers to that list. Most of the time, she felt she could go the rest of her life without even seeing or hearing from them.
Stacy seemed to be searching her face. Of course, her sister would have heard Hud was back in town. For all Dana knew, Hud might even have tried to see Stacy. The thought curdled her stomach. She felt her skin heat.
"Mother came by to see me before she died," Stacy said abruptly.
It was the last thing Dana expected her sister to say. A lump instantly formed in her throat. "I don't want to hear this." But she didn't move.
"I promised her I would try to make things right between us," Stacy said, her voice breaking.
"And how would you do that?"
The bell over the door of the shop jangled. Kitty Randolph again. "This blue still isn't quite right," the older woman said, eyeing Stacy, then Dana, her nose for news practically twitching.
"Let me see what else we have," Dana said, coming out from behind the counter.
"I hope I didn't interrupt anything," Mrs. Randolph said, stealing a look at Stacy who was still standing at the counter.
"No, Mrs. Randolph, your timing was perfect," Dana said, turning her back on her sister as she went to the thread display and began to look through the blues. She'd already picked the perfect shade for the slacks, but pretended to look again.
She suspected that Kitty had seen Stacy come into the shop and was only using the thread color as an excuse to see what was going on.
"How about this one, Mrs. Randolph?" Dana asked, holding up the thread the woman had already purchased.
"That looks more like it. But please, call me Kitty. You remind me so much of your mother, dear."
Dana caught a glimpse of Stacy. Her face seemed even paler than before. She stumbled to the door and practically ran to her car. Unfortunately, Mrs. Randolph witnessed Stacy's hasty exit.
"Is your sister all right? She seems upset," Kitty said.
"Who wouldn't be upset after a body's been found in the family well," Dana said.
"Yes, who isn't upset about that," Kitty Randolph said, watching Stacy drive away.
Dana sighed, feeling guilty and then angry with herself for only upsetting her sister worse. But dammit, she had every reason to hate her sister.
She could practically hear her mother's voice filled with disapproval. "Families stick together. It isn't always easy. Everyone makes mistakes. Dana, you have to find forgiveness in your heart. If not for them, for yourself."
Well, Mom, now all three of them have banned together against me. So much for family.
And there was no getting out of the family meeting—or probably having to listen to her sister say she was sorry again. She just hoped Stacy didn't think that saying she was sorry over and over was going to fix things between them. Not even when hell froze over.
Sorry, Mom.
* * *
WHEN HUD RETURNED to his office, he had a message to call Coroner Rupert Milligan.
"Got an ID on your woman from the well," Rupert said, then cleared his throat.