“True,” Ruby agreed. “It also could simply be Dale’s imagination.”
“I don’t think so,” Melanie said. “I’ve talked to Dale at length about it. He’s sure the guy was looking at him. Stalking him. What’s in question is if he truly recognized the man. That part might be his imagination.”
“Is Dale okay?” I asked.
“Dale will be okay,” Melanie assured us. “He’s not done healing yet. Something this traumatic can sometimes be a lifetime journey of healing. But he’s making good progress, and he’ll lead a normal life. He wants to lead a normal life, and that’s a big thing.”
I smiled. “I love him and Donny so much.”
“We all do,” Ruby said.
“I suppose we should get back to the ranch,” I said. “Those little boys will be hungry, and Jade isn’t much of a cook.”
Ruby stood and gave Melanie a quick kiss on the cheek. “Call if you need anything.”
“I will. Keep me posted on what’s going on. Joe tries too hard to protect me from everything right now.”
I nodded.
Boy, did I understand where she was coming from.
Chapter Forty-Three
Bryce
“I’ve looked myself.”
I turned and jerked backward.
“Brad,” I said as calmly as I could.
“Now that you know I’m not dead, I didn’t think it would hurt to follow you out here.”
“This isn’t any of your business,” I said. “It’s my father’s place.”
“Actually”—he cleared his throat—“it isn’t.”
My brows nearly jumped off my forehead. “Say what?”
“It’s owned by a corporation,” he said.
“Oh, yeah. I know that. But he left it to me specifically in his will. I just assumed my fa—”
“Tamajor Corporation,” Brad interrupted. Then, slowly, “Ta-ma-jo-r.”
“Brad, I don’t— Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
How could I not have seen it? Easy. I wasn’t looking. Brad Steel was supposed to be a damned corpse.
“Talon, Marjorie, Jonah, Ryan.” I shook my head. “When the hell did you buy my father’s cabin?”
“The corporation bought it shortly before your father killed himself. He was low on
cash, Bryce. He’d just paid a fortune for—”
“Colin Morse,” I finished for him, my stomach turning over inside my abdomen. “Did my father know it was you?”
“Not that I’m aware of,” Brad said.