Texas Tall (The Tylers of Texas 3)

“What about the witnesses?” she asked.

“Again, no surprises. Abner, the coroner, one deputy, the tape of the girl, and parts of Will’s taped interview.”

“But nothing that would cast doubt on his story?”

“Not really. That’s why everybody was surprised by the judge’s decision.”

Not quite everybody, Clay knew. Convincing the judge that justice would be best served by a trial had involved some advance persuasion on his part, along with a bottle of very expensive Scotch. A bit unethical? Maybe, but it was how smart lawyers worked the system.

“Well, Clay, it sounds to me like you’ve got homework to do.”

He imagined her licking her chops like a hungry cat. “Any suggestions?”

“You’re a smart man. You’ll figure something out. You’d better.” She let the implication hang.

“I want that tape when this is over, Stella. You’ll owe me that much if I win.”

She chuckled. “We’ll see about that. Ask me again when Will Tyler’s on his way to prison.”

She ended the call, leaving Clay standing by his car, cursing silently at his cell phone. The day was brisk, but he could smell the sweat under his suit jacket.

The trial date wouldn’t be set until the bail hearing tomorrow. But the court’s docket wasn’t crowded. A manslaughter case shouldn’t take more than a few weeks, a month at most, to schedule and prepare. Meanwhile, as Stella had said, he had homework to do.

When it came to threats, the woman wasn’t bluffing. If rumors were to be believed, she’d already taken down one powerful man who’d failed to deliver—the late congressman Garn Prescott. If Will Tyler went free, Clay knew she wouldn’t hesitate to do the same to him.

He started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, thinking as he drove. Every defense, even a solid one, had its weak spots, and Clay prided himself on being able to find them. This time he would need to be at his sharpest and most ruthless. His career, his family, and perhaps his freedom would be hanging in the balance.

The evidence was straightforward and had been seen by everyone involved. Not much room for manipulation there. He’d have some leeway with jury selection, but Tori would have to approve any juror he chose. Regarding the witnesses, most of them appeared to be favorable to the defense—except for Abner.

Clay remembered their meeting in his office before the inquest. The sheriff had seemed almost as anxious as Clay was to get a conviction. Either Stella had something on him, or he just plain hated Will Tyler. Maybe both.

Abner could be the key to winning this case, especially if he could be manipulated into twisting a few facts. Much as Clay disliked the pompous little toad, maybe it was time to give some thought to an alliance.

* * *

The next morning Will, dressed in a suit Tori had delivered to the jail, appeared before the judge. The proceedings took no more than a few minutes. Bail was set at $15,000, the trial scheduled for early next month. Beau posted the bond with the clerk, and Will was released to go home.

Beau drove him back to the Rimrock in the Jeep, with Tori following in her station wagon. Will had been gone less than twenty-four hours. But the man returning was no longer the man who’d left the ranch yesterday. Will had experienced rage, shame, and humiliation in a way he’d never known before. And he’d been slapped with the cold possibility of losing all he held dear.

As the Jeep turned off the highway and up the long, straight road to the ranch, he gazed out the window at the autumn landscape. The ice storm had drained the rich gold from the grass and stripped the leaves from the cottonwoods and willows. But there was a stark beauty in the pale sweep of the plain, with the russet cliffs of the escarpment jutting against the November sky. Where the creek ran, the leafless willows hung deep bloodred, a slash of crims

on against the ecru skin of the land.

Off to the right, the alkali lake, where Jasper liked to hunt wild turkey, had dried to a glittering white smear. Patches of blackened earth and the skeletons of burnt cedar trees marked where the worst of last summer’s fire had burned. But the land was already healing. Next spring the grass would grow and the fire-scarred cottonwoods would leaf out. Bright patches of Indian-blanket gaillardias, Tahoka daisies, blue dayflowers, and blooming cacti would dot the prairie with color, and life would go on, as it always did. Beau and Natalie’s son would be born. Sky and Lauren would marry and begin their family. Erin would grow into graceful young womanhood.

Would he be here to see it? But with his fate in the balance, Will knew better than to think that far ahead. For the next few weeks, he would live for each day. He would take Jasper bird hunting. He would ride and play chess with Erin, work the stock with Beau and Sky. He would fill his eyes with the sight of Tori and his ears with the sound of her voice. But he would not forget where he’d been or what lay ahead.

Like ammunition for a coming war, he would store up his anger, his outrage, and his hatred of the corrupt justice system that had allowed this to happen. If the trial went the wrong way, he would need it all to fuel his strength.

Erin was waiting on the front porch when the jeep pulled up and stopped. As Will climbed out of the passenger side, she flew down the steps and flung herself into his arms. She was growing long and lean like her mother. Her hair smelled of hay and horses. She didn’t speak, but he could tell from the slight jerk of her breathing that she was holding back sobs. With her involvement as a witness in his case, there’d been no way to shield her from what was going on. She knew what her family was facing, and she was handling it with remarkable courage. Will couldn’t have been more proud of her.

“I love you, Daddy,” she whispered.

A lump rose in Will’s throat. As he hugged his daughter close, it was as if he could feel the slow breaking of his heart.

* * *

Parked next to the Jeep, Tori watched as Erin greeted her father and led him into the house, followed by Beau. This was an emotional time that had little to do with her. She would give them a few minutes before she went inside to join them for lunch.