Texas True (The Tylers of Texas 1)

“Any suspects?”

“Not yet. Lute was one of the last to see her alive, but he’s got a solid alibi. Ralph saw the girl when he picked up Lute outside the bar. They both swear she was fine.”

“Lute was with her that night?”

“Not in the way you mean. He bought her a pizza. The cashier at Burger Shack confirmed they were there. Lute’s pretty broken up, but I think it was just a case of puppy love.”

“What about those two birds that run the place—the woman and the biker with the tattoos?”

“They claim she was alive when they closed up and left that night. Last they saw of her, she was headed for Burger Shack with Lute.”

Will shifted in the bed to ease the pressure on his bad leg. “Damned shame. I’ve had a few drinks and played some pool in that bar myself. The girl was a sweet kid, for all the way she made her side money. Nobody deserves to go that way. I just hope they catch the bastard who did it.” Abruptly, he changed the subject. “What about the roundup? I hope you’re not about to tell me that everything’s shut down for the murder investigation.”

“Relax, everything’s fine.” Beau had been ready to counter that concern. “The operation’s moved to the northwest pasture. Everything’s on schedule to finish next week, and then Sky plans to start looking for colts to train. I know you wanted me to get the ranch records on the computer, so I’ll be spending time in your office.”

“There’s still a lot to do now. Somebody’s got to see to the calving. The heifers will be dropping their babies anytime now. And as soon as the herd’s up on the caprock, the manure’s got to be spread on the pastures, and that mesquite’s got to be chained and fired.”

“I know.” Beau nodded. “Trust us, Will. Everything’s under control. Just take it easy and let yourself heal. As soon as you get home, you can start bossing everybody around again.”

“Fine.” Will winced with the pain. “Now get out of here and get back to work. You’ve got better things to do than sit around here keeping an old grouch company.”

Beau rose, pausing at the door. “Anything else?”

“Call Tori and tell her she can bring Erin to the ranch this weekend. I know Erin wants to see her foal.”

“I will, but you may see Tori before I do. She said she’d be checking on you today.”

Will snorted. “She’s only worried for Erin’s sake, that’s all. Tori doesn’t give a damn about me, and I can’t say I blame her.”

“I won’t even ask.” Beau wouldn’t have minded knowing the full story of their breakup. But this wasn’t the time to put Will through any more stress. With a quick good-bye, he exited the room and started down the hall.

One of the nurses, a husky young man, stopped him short of the swinging doors. “Mr. Tyler, the hospital wants to replace the antivenin Dr. Haskell brought in yesterday. We’ve packed six vials in the cooler she left. Would you be able to get them back to her?”

“No problem.” Beau’s answer came without hesitation. “Since she brought all she had for my brother, I know she’ll appreciate getting her supply back.”

Beau accepted the cooler and carried it to the pickup he’d driven from the ranch. He’d be going through Blanco Springs on the way home. It would be easy enough to drop it off at the clinic, which was built onto her house.

Once he reached Blanco Springs, he drove right to her place, an ordinary-looking redbrick rambler on the outskirts of town with no close neighbors. The clinic was built onto one end at a forward angle, like a wing. Beyond the house he could see a stable and a corral with two horses in it, probably four-legged patients of Natalie’s.

If she wasn’t home, he had already decided to leave the cooler with Tori. He wondered if he should do that anyway. But Natalie’s Toyota was parked outside the clinic, and next to it was a vintage pink Cadillac. Evidently she had a patient. He would just leave the cooler and go.

As he parked next to Natalie’s SUV, the front door of the clinic opened and a blue-haired woman in a lavender pantsuit emerged with a gray poodle in her arms. Carrying the dog to the Cadillac, she climbed in and drove off down the street.

Walking up to the door, Beau gave it a warning rap, then stepped inside. Natalie, who ran her business without hired help, was straightening up the reception area, rearranging the magazines and throwing away a candy wrapper someone had left. She was dressed for work in jeans and a white lab coat, her curls pulled back behind her childlike ears.

She looked around with a startled glance, then smiled as he held up the cooler. “I hope that isn’t empty,” she said.

“No, they replaced your donation. Thanks again, Natalie. Our family owes you a huge debt.”

“Consider it paid.” She took the wrapped vials out of the cooler and placed them in a fridge behind the reception area.

“How’s Will?”

“Looking better, but he’s as grumpy as a grizzly bear with mange.”

“That must mean he’s getting better.” She walked back around the counter to face him, her liquid eyes so vulnerable that it took all his restraint to remain where he stood. “I heard about the body they found on the ranch. That poor girl. Who would do that? Why? It can’t be anyone from around here, can it?”

“I don’t think they have any answers yet,” Beau said. “When you’re on a call out on those back roads, you need to keep your eyes open, and for heaven’s sake, don’t play Good Samaritan. If you know how to use a gun, you’d better carry one.”