“Bullcrap! What witness? Who is it?”
“I’m keeping that to myself for now. I’m sure you can understand why.”
Ham’s face had paled to a sickly shade of gray. “You’re lying,” he said.
“Am I? You showed up on horseback. When the old man wouldn’t let you take over his property, you shot him with a rifle. He made it back inside the shack, and when you sent your men in to finish him, he managed to put up enough of a fight to run them off. Does that sound about right?”
Bull waited while Ham struggled with his answer. He’d thought long and hard before coming to confront his powerful neighbor. He’d decided against reporting the murder to the sheriff. Ham would be more useful as a free man. And given the circumstances, he’d be easier to manage than Ferg, who would take over as the new boss if his father went to prison.
Ham’s shoulders sagged. “What do you want?”
“Only what’s fair. Just your guarantee that my stock and my men will be left alone to use the water on my side of the creek. And that your people will stay off the Rimrock and quit harassing us. As long as you keep the peace, I’ll keep my mouth shut. Deal?”
“That’s blackmail!” Ham growled.
“You’re damn right it is.”
“If you go to the sheriff, you’ll be on trial for extortion and obstruction of justice.”
“And you’ll be on trial for murder. Your choice.”
Ham swore, rose to his feet, and extended his hand to seal the bargain. Their handshake wasn’t a friendly one. Bull knew what Ham was thinking. He’d been beaten. He was owned body and soul by this upstart son of a family he hated, and he was mad enough to spit bullets.
As for Bull, he might’ve won this round. But he knew better than to trust the wily, dangerous old man. From now on he’d be watching his back. He was still learning the game, and he was up against a master.
“One more thing.” He paused with his hand on the doorknob. ?
??I’m still looking into my father’s death. If I find out there’s anything you’re holding back—”
“There’s not a damned thing,” Ham said. “I swear it on a stack of Bibles. If I hear any talk, I’ll let you know. But your father’s been gone more than two years now. It was an accident. Let it go.”
“I’ll let it go when I know the whole truth.” Bull opened the door and stepped out into the hall, almost running into Susan, who’d sprung to one side. Guilt was written all over her pretty face.
Bull closed the door behind him so Ham wouldn’t see her. “Eavesdropping, were you?” He raised an eyebrow. “How much did you hear?”
“More than I wanted to. But nothing that I’d care to repeat.”
“Good girl. Your uncle wouldn’t like it. Neither would I.” He headed for the front door. She kept pace with him.
“Bull.” Her voice was low but insistent. “You can’t go off and leave me without explaining what’s behind all this.”
“I can, and I will. The less you know, the better.” He opened the door and, without breaking stride, walked out onto the porch. “Stay out of this mess, Susan. It’s none of your concern.”
She followed him outside, closing the door behind them. “It’s my concern if it involves people I care about. And I care about you!”
He swung back to face her. “Blast it, Susan, can’t you see that I’m trying to protect you? What you heard—it’s dangerous.”
Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at him, so determined and yet so fragile. It was all Bull could do to keep from catching her close and kissing her until they both burned with need. “I’ve got to go,” he said. “Promise me you won’t mention what you heard, not a word to anybody. We’ll talk later.”
“When?”
“We’ll figure it out.” His fingertip traced an imaginary line down her cheek. “Promise.”
“I promise, but—” Before she could say any more, a high-powered car, its tires spitting gravel, roared up to the foot of the porch. There was no need for Bull to turn and look. Susan’s stricken expression was enough to tell him it was Ferg.
She drew away from Bull as Ferg bolted out of the red Thunderbird, slammed the car door, and charged up the steps. His face was flushed with the heat of anger. “Get in the house, Susan! I told you what would happen if you went near that bastard!”
Susan stood her ground as he loomed over her, but Bull could see that she was trembling. He stepped between them. “Susan isn’t wearing your ring anymore, Ferg,” he said in a calm voice. “You can’t tell her where to go. And she can see anybody she wants to, including me.”