Whirlwind (The Champions 1)

d her number. If that was the case, she was out of luck.

Sooner or later, the authorities would release Callie’s remains. Then what was to be done? Tess didn’t want to make plans without her sisters. Whatever vengeance Callie might have carried out in the past few weeks, she had been a mother to them all.

A surge of grief raised a lump in her throat. Tess willed it away. Mourning would have to wait. Right now, there were bills to be paid, decisions to be made, and supper to cook for Ruben and the boys. She didn’t even know what was in the fridge, but she would find out. With Callie around, there’d always been something good to eat on the table.

Always . . .

Squaring her shoulders, Tess mounted the porch and walked into the house.

* * *

It was after midnight when Lexie drove Shane’s truck the last few miles over the pass. As she descended the switchback road, she could see the shadowy outlines of the house and outbuildings below. The porch light shone through the darkness like a single star, guiding her home.

A coyote—a flash of gray in the headlights—streaked across the road in front of her. Lexie braked hard, the tires crunching gravel. As the animal dashed off into the scrub, she took a moment to breathe before shifting down and starting again at a crawl—the only safe speed at this hour. She was exhausted—not only from the long hours of driving, but from the constant turmoil playing like a loop in her head.

Leaving Shane, without knowing whether they’d have a future together, had been wrenching. Now she was returning to a home that would be forever changed—braced to hear truths that she didn’t want to know.

But this wasn’t about her, she reminded herself. Tess would be grieving, too—probably struggling to be strong and carry on as she always seemed to. But Lexie couldn’t let her sister deal with this tragedy alone. Whatever had to be faced, they would face it together.

As she drove into the yard and climbed out of the truck with her duffel, the front door opened, spilling light onto the front porch. Tess stood in the open doorway. Wrapped in Jack’s old flannel bathrobe, she hurried across the porch and down the steps. Tess had never been physically affectionate, but as she wrapped her sister in her arms, Lexie could feel her desperate need to give and receive comfort. “Thank you for getting here so quickly,” she said. “Come on inside. I’ll tell you everything.”

* * *

In the glare of the kitchen light, Tess’s face showed the strain she’d been under. She looked haggard and pale, with pools of shadow below her eyes. Her hair was tangled, as if she’d tried to sleep and ended up tossing and turning.

Lexie sipped the chamomile tea Tess had made for her. The cup grew cold in her hands as she listened to her sister’s account of all that happened on the ranch since she’d left to take Whirlwind to the PBR in Pueblo—the poisoned bull feed and the death of old Thunderbolt; the search for Callie and the discovery of her body with the poison nearby.

Too shocked to cry, Lexie stared across the table at Tess. “So she was the one—the note, the opened gate, the slashed tire, all of it? I can’t believe—I won’t. Callie would never do those things.”

Tess shook her head. “I don’t want to believe it either. But the evidence says otherwise. She had the poison when she fell. She even had a motive. According to Aaron, she was angry about Dad’s will. And the note—”

“I know what it said. And yes, it fits. But Callie didn’t have a mean bone in her body. She would never have done those things. There has to be another explanation.”

“Well, if that’s true, I hope the police can find it.” Tess rose, massaging the small of her back with one hand. “Meanwhile we need to decide on funeral and burial arrangements.”

“Have you talked to Val?” Lexie asked.

“I’ve tried her a half-dozen times and left messages for her to call back. So far, no luck. You know Val. If we don’t hear, all we can do is move ahead without her.”

“Val loved Callie. I can’t help thinking she’d want to be here.”

“Then why in blazes hasn’t she called?” Fatigue and frustration laced Tess’s voice. “Get some rest while you can. You’re going to need it.”

“You, too. Promise me.” Lexie stood and carried the two cups to the sink.

“Did you tell Shane about my offer?”

“I did. He seemed interested, but he said it was too soon to decide. I’ll tell you more in the morning.”

“And morning will be here before we know it.” With a weary sigh, Tess turned away and headed down the hall to her bedroom.

Lexie turned off the kitchen light and made her way to her own room. Before sitting down with Tess, she’d tossed her duffel on the bed. Everything inside needed to go into the wash. Unpacking could wait until morning.

A plastic laundry basket, stacked with clean, folded clothes, sat next to the bureau. Callie’s work. As Lexie lifted out a fresh nightgown, stripped off her underwear, and pulled the soft, fragrant cotton over her head, the loss hit her. Tears she’d been holding back for long hours came in a flood. Crawling into bed, she pulled up the covers, buried her face in the pillow to muffle her sobs, and let the world cave in on her.

* * *

The barking dogs woke Lexie from an exhausted but fitful sleep. Still muzzy, she lay still a moment. Then, turning, she glanced at the bedside clock. The glowing digits said 4:10 A.M., too early for anyone to be out doing chores.