Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch. B.J. Daniels

I don’t want to fight with you.” It was true. She hated how quickly this had escalated into something ugly. “Let’s not do this.”

      “No, Dana, you brought it up,” Jason said. “If you have something to say, let’s hear it.”

      “Jordan, you know this isn’t what Mom wanted, us fighting like this.”

      He let out a cruel laugh. “You think I care what she wanted? The only thing she ever loved was that damned ranch. And just like her, you chose it over a man.”

      “Mom didn’t choose the ranch over Dad,” Dana said. “She tried to make their marriage work. It was Dad who—”

      “Don’t be naive, Dana. She drove him away. The same way you did Hud.”

      She wasn’t going to discuss this with him. Especially today. Especially with Hud back. “I have to go, Jordan.”

      He didn’t seem to hear her. “At least I have someone to warm my bed at night. Can your precious ranch do that?”

      “Enjoy it while it lasts,” Dana snapped. “Jill will be long gone once you don’t have anything else you can pillage to appease her.”

      She knew at once that she’d gone too far. Jordan had never liked to hear the truth.

      Dana smacked herself on the forehead, wishing she could take back the angry words. He’d always known how to push her buttons. Isn’t that what siblings were especially adept at because they knew each others’ weaknesses so well?

      “Jordan, I’m sorry,” she said, meaning it.

      “I’ll have Dad pick me up. But, dear sister, I will deal with you when I see you. And at least buy a damned answering machine.” He slammed down the phone.

      She felt dirty, as if she’d been wrestling in the mud as she hung up. She hadn’t wanted the conversation to end like that. It would only make matters worse once he hit town.

      She told herself that with luck maybe she wouldn’t have to see him. She wouldn’t have to see any of her siblings. The only one she’d been even a little close to was Clay, the youngest, but she wasn’t even talking to him lately.

      And she didn’t want an answering machine. Anyone who needed to reach her, would. Eventually. She could just imagine the kind of messages Jordan would leave her.

      She shuddered at the thought. As bad as she felt about the argument and her angry words, she was relieved. At least Jordan wasn’t staying at the ranch, she thought with a rueful smile as she went into the kitchen and poured herself of a glass of wine.

      As she did, she heard the sound of a vehicle coming up the road to the house and groaned. Now what?

      Glancing out the window she saw the marshal’s black SUV barreling toward her.

      This day just kept getting better.