by Ciana Stone
"You and Bailey really have the greenhouse garden producing," Naomie commented, washed her hands and then said. "Okay, point me to the beans."
As they worked, Naomie told them what happened and what she knew so far. Just as she finished, she heard a voice at the door. "Well, now, isn't this a sight to behold. Three beautiful women in the kitchen and if that's sweet potatoes I see going into that pie crust, I'm gonna have to kiss someone."
Naomie grinned when she saw Harley turn and look in the direction of the voice. She wished she'd had her phone handy because the look on Harley's face was priceless. "Oh, go on with yourself," DeLyn responded.
"I always knew I was your favorite," Nash said and walked over to give his grandmother a hug.
"How do you know this isn't for your brother? Or maybe our pretty new friend, Dr. Lawson? She claims to have a fondness for sweet potato pie." DeLyn returned to pie making as Nash turned to look in Harley's direction.
"Is that so? And hello, Dr. Lawson. I'm not sure what kind of doctor you are, but I'm pretty sure I have something in your specialty that needs attention."
"I really hope not," Harley replied as she walked over to him and stuck out her hand. "Harley Lawson, forensic pathologist."
Nash's eyes widened in surprise, and he burst out laughing. "Well, damn, color me embarrassed." He took her hand. "Nash Walker. It's a real pleasure, Dr. Lawson."
"Call me Harley and the pleasure is mine. I believe I've met your twin."
"Mace? Yeah, he's the homely one."
It was her turn to laugh. "Funny, he looked pretty damn good to me."
"Well, that's good to know. So, Harley, have you ever visited a ranch?"
This time all the women laughed and Nash looked around in confusion. "What?" Then confusion turned to realization. "Oh shit, are you kidding? Harley Lawson, three-time barrel riding world Champion and the only woman to take the nationals in team roping with a man?"
He looked at Naomie. "Girl, you have the best friends."
"Don't I? I bet Rusty would like to meet Harley. And by the way, she's one of the judges at the Little Britches National."
"Seriously? Dr. Lawson, how would you feel about taking a little stroll and letting me show you this sweet horse I bought for Rusty? He's a heck of a roper, and I do think this horse will work well for him. Want to give him a try?"
"The boy or the horse?"
"The horse."
"Sure." She looked at DeLyn. "May I be excused?"
"You most certainly may."
Harley and Nash left, already talking horses and roping and DeLyn turned her attention to blending the potato mixture in an old-fashioned blender. Then she looked at Naomie. "I think I'm going to start calling you Cupid."
"Why?"
"First Bailey and now Harley? You think you can scare up a man for Delaney? If you can, we can fill this place up with grandkids."
"And I don't know who'd love that more, you or Russell."
DeLyn smiled. "Children do add life to a place."
"Indeed they do. And I suspect it won't be long before you'll have some new life in the family. Didn't you say that Josie and Dillon are talking about starting a family?"
"Yes, that's what he said the last time I talked to them."
"All the more reason for you to consider Russell's proposal about you moving back to Heritage."
DeLyn slid the pies into the oven and set the timer. "I am thinking about it, but I don't know that I could stand to sell our home. Rob's and mine."
"Then don't. Look, everyone loves having you close. I know I do, and I think it'd be good for you to be here. Why even Bailey got excited about it. You know how Minnie loves you. If you don't want to stay here in the main house, how about fixing up the cottage next-door to mine? It's such a pretty place, and it would be nice to be able to just walk next door and visit, or share a meal."
"You do make it tempting."
"Please?" Naomie asked. "For just a little while? I'll help you fix the place up. Heck, we'll even paint the walls pink or lime green or whatever you want."
"Okay, what the heck. I'll talk to Russ about it."
"Yes!" Naomie gave a fist pump.
"What are you so excited about?" Cici's voice had Naomie looking over her shoulder, and she answered as Cici took a bottle of ginger ale from the refrigerator. "DeLyn said she'd think about moving into the cottage next to me for a while."
"Really? Gigi, that's great. I know it would make Dad happy. And Naomie." Her phone rang, and she pulled it from her pocket. "Crap. I need to take this."
She set the soft drink on the countertop, walked over to the door and turned her back on them as she answered. "Hi, Edward. No, I told you, I'm tied up until Wednesday. Yes, I do remember, and I did look over the contract. There are a few things I'd like to discuss with you before you sign. Yes, Wednesday. Two? Sounds good. See you then."
Cici pocketed the phone then returned to open the soft drink. "Was that Kal's friend, Edward?" Naomie asked.
"Yes, he's dying to get into business with – get this, a Russian oligarch."
"What in the world?" DeLyn asked. "How does someone like that even do business here?"
"You'd be surprised, Gigi."
"I've never met an oligarch. Have you met the man?"
"No, but if Edward has his way, I will. I did some research, and apparently he's fabulously wealthy and does business all over the world. And oh, I read he was dating some flavor of the month, hot model. I guess Mr. Aleksei Petrov gets around."
"Well, money can buy a lot," DeLyn said.
"Isn't that the truth." Cici looked at Naomie. "Are you okay?"
"Of course, why?"
"You look pale, and your hands are shaking."
"They are not." Naomie dropped the beans in her hands into the bowl and turned to take the bowl to the sink. "How's your stomach? Has the nausea abated?"
"Are you coming down with something?" DeLyn asked.
"I'm fine, Gigi."
"Are you sure? Do you need to lie down? It's not that nasty flu that's going around, is it?"
"No. I promise I'm not contagious."
"I sure hope not," Naomie cut a look over her shoulder. "We sure wouldn't want to catch it."
Cici cut a look at her grandmother, then back at Naomie. "I don't think there's any danger of that."
"Well, good."
"Okay, DeLyn the beans are ready," Naomie announced. "Is it okay if Bailey and Minnie come to dinner?"
"Absolutely."
"Thanks. I'll walk over and get them. Be back soon."
Naomie left the house through the front door and found Kal, Mace, and Russell on the front porch talking. "Where're you headed?" Mace asked.
"DeLyn invited Bailey and Minnie, so I'm going over to extend the invitation and walk with them."
"I'll go."
"I don't mind."
"Neither do I."
"Fine," she gave in. "Dinner's in an hour and a half, just so you know."
"I'll be back shortly."
As he walked away, Russell spoke up. "You know, it occurs to me that we might be having more than one wedding in this family this year."
"That's certainly within the realm of possibility," Naomie agreed. "And I think Cici and Kal are going to be able to make their wedding a reality sooner versus later."
"Oh?" Kal asked. "You know something we don't?"
"No, I have a feeling." She meant that. She did believe that Kal would be proven innocent, and they'd figure out who was creating all the trouble for him and for the Walkers, and she believed that they all better enjoy the good moments they had, because sure as shit, something evil was headed their way.
She could feel it. All the way down to her bones.
Chapter Ten
Naomie looked at the bank of monitors, then at Harley who sat beside her. Harley had spent the day questioning everyone who was present the night Robert was killed. When she finished, she and Naomie input all the questions and answers into a program Naomie w
rote.
Along with that, they input the data from the measurements gained by recreating the event. It was surprising to Naomie how closely everyone's memories matched in terms of who was where.
Harley measured every person's position in relation to Robert and to Kal. Based on that, she and Naomie were able to construct a virtual scene. Each person was created according to scale, and the scenario was run, based on the facts as they knew them.
Now that they'd watched the resulting scenario play out, they sat looking at one another. Naomie could almost see wheels turning in Harley's head, so was the first to speak. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"That depends on what you're thinking."
Naomie didn't mind being wrong, so put her theory out there. "Based on what we know from witnesses, the autopsy report submitted by the ME and the physical size of Robert and Kal, along with Kal being left-handed, there's no way he shot Robert."
"Keep going," Harley encouraged.
Naomie started the scenario again and paused as the assailant fired at Robert's avatar. "If this was Kal, who is six feet, two inches, the angle of entry would not have been at the angle indicated in the autopsy report. Robert was shot by someone much shorter, probably five-nine to five-ten."
Harley grinned. "Give the girl a gold star."
For the first time since that night, a glimmer of light appeared in the darkness of her worry. "But you can't prove that without getting all the evidence from the ME."
"True, but I'll get what we need Monday."
"Will you?"
"You know I will. The ME is bound by law to make everything available to me."
"Harley, if you can get this charge against Kal dismissed, the whole family will be in your debt, and I bet they'll go out of their way to help you find some land around here if that's what you want."
"I don't know if I do, at least not yet. I'm not opposed to taking a look around, but I'm not ready to commit. Well, except maybe to a night of bareback riding with Nash. Good god, that man's fine."
"Isn't he?"
Harley swiveled her chair to face Naomie. "Okay, I have to ask. You haven't put a move on Nash or Mace?"
"No."
"And they didn't hit on you?"
"Well, maybe a little – at first, they were pretty flirtatious, but then they stopped."
"Because?"
"Because we became friends and knew things wouldn't go that way between any of us."
"Or because you're a goner over their father."
Naomie leaned back in her chair, collecting her thoughts. She wasn't sure now was the time to have a discussion about Russell and her feelings toward him. She exhaled as she turned her gaze toward the ceiling. "I don't know if I want to get into that right now."
"Why not?"
"Because this family nearly suffered an irreparable rift over the death of Robert. I wish you could have met him. He was a remarkable man. So full of life, opinionated as hell, but wise and with such a sense of humor. And talk about romantic."
She straightened and turned her head to look at Harley. "He and his wife, DeLyn, are the real deal. Married for decades and still crazy for one another. You could see it in their eyes, in the way they smiled at each other, and the small touches. God, it makes you long for something like that, you know? Something that time can't erode or destroy."
Naomie pushed back from the desk, stood and walked over to the window, looking out as she continued. "When Kal was arrested, I feared the family was going to turn their back on Cici. She was terrified of that, but to her credit, held firm in her belief in Kal's innocence. Talk about standing by your man? That girl did it and let me tell you, it's not easy to stand up to the wrath of the Walker men. Particularly Russell."
"I think I get that. He has that power thing going for him, like someone who doesn't have to speak loud to be heard and whose words carry weight."
"Yes, that's him. And let me tell you, he was a breath away from writing Cici off."
"You went to bat for her, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because she needed someone to be on her side, and I believed Kal to be innocent. And…"
"Go ahead, finish it."
Naomie turned, placed her hands on the window sill on either side and leaned back. "And I was scared if Russell said the words, the rift would be permanent, and it would ruin the family. They love one another, and if one of them was exiled, I don't think they would ever really be whole again."
"For such a damn Brainiac, you are an incurable romantic and softie, you know that?"
"Blame my parents. Still insanely in love. God, I miss them."
"Then why don't you go home?"
"Because that's not home anymore. It's my childhood home and the place I'll always associate with Mom and Dad, but it's not where I belong."
"Do you know where you belong?"
"Do you?"
"No, but I wish to God I did."
"Same here. And I think what I learned from my parents, and from Robert and DeLyn is that home isn't a place but a who."
"And lucky us, not a who to be had."
"Oh, I don't know. My Gypsy blood tells me there's a who for you, and maybe closer than you might think."
"There you go with that Gypsy shit again. You do know that last time you did that, I ended up in Mexico with a guy I almost married?"
"You should have, you know."
Harley's smile faded. "Yeah, I know and not a day goes by that I wish I'd said yes, but I guess fate had other plans."
"I guess. Still, will you promise me something?"
"Maybe. What?"
"Next time love is staring right at you, asking for forever, will you consider saying yes?"
"That's a promise I can definitely make. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty tired of being alone."
"Tell me about it."
"Well damn girl, then use those mad Gypsy skills and seduce that man."
Naomie shook her head. "It's not about that. I could get him into bed. I'm not stupid, and I haven't forgotten how to seduce a man, but that's not what either of us wants."
"Then what do you want?"
"Forever."
Harley walked over and hugged Naomie. "I hope you get it, Naomie. No one deserves it more."
"Thanks," Naomie returned the hug then pulled away. "But for now, we have at least preliminary good news. We can tell them, can't we?"
"We can."
"Good. We'll all have something to celebrate tonight."
"Girl, I am ready. I hope that big, good-looking man can dance."
"I'm betting he has a few moves. Come on, let's go give everyone the news, then we can get ourselves looking oh-so-fine."
"After you, sistah."
Together they walked to the main house. Naomie knocked on the door, and a few moments later, Russell opened it. "Well?" he asked.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to say this once, so can we get the family together?" Harley asked.
"Absolutely. Come in. Gigi's in the family room with Bailey, Minnie, and Rusty. Mace and Nash are supervising a shipment of calves going to a feedlot and Cici and Kal are in the study. I'll round up everyone."
"Are Dillon, Josie and Delaney coming?" Naomie asked.
"No, they're meeting us at the Honky Tonk later."
"Oh, okay, then we'll wait for you in the family room."
"I'll get everyone together."
Naomie and Harley went into the family room. Bailey sat on the floor with Minnie and Rusty, playing with blocks, as DeLyn sat in a rocker, watching. Bailey looked up as they entered. "You aren't frowning, so that's a good sign."
"Yes, it is," Naomie agreed. "Mr. Walker's rounding up everyone so that Harley can tell the family her preliminary findings."
"I think I'll fix a cup of tea. Anyone want to join?" DeLyn asked and rose.
Bailey flashed a look at Naomie, and Naomie spoke up. "Me. Can I tag along?"
"Sure."
Naomie followed
DeLyn into the kitchen and leaned one hip against the counter as DeLyn set about filling the kettle. "If I tell you something will you promise to keep it a secret?" Naomie asked.
"You know I will if you ask me to," DeLyn looked over her shoulder as she placed the kettle on the burner. She turned on the burner then opened a cupboard door to take out cups.
"Cici's pregnant."
The china in DeLyn's hands rattled and shook, and Naomie hurried over to take the cups from her. "Pregnant?" DeLyn's hand went to her chest."Are you sure?"
"Well, she's taken several tests, so pretty sure."
"Why are you telling me if it's a secret?"
"Because it's important for you to know that your great-grandchild was not fathered by a man who killed your husband. Kal's innocent, DeLyn. Harley and I have proof that I believe will be validated by what she finds when she meets with the ME and goes over the full set of reports and evidence."
She could almost see the strength seep out of DeLyn and quickly wrapped one arm around her. "Come on, let's sit."
Once DeLyn was seated at the table, Naomie pulled a chair over close to her. "I know you didn't want to believe Kal was guilty, but I also know you had doubts simply because he was charged and the prosecution says they have evidence. But he's innocent. I'd bank on it.
"And he's a good man. You know that in your heart. I've seen you watching him and Cici, and you know as well as I that she's no fool. She sees a lot, and she'd never have fallen for someone who would do that. He's as much a victim as you and all your family."
"She's having a baby." DeLyn suddenly smiled. "Oh, my goodness, she's having a baby."
"Yes, and you know she's going to need you more than ever. You're the closest thing to a mother she has, and she's going to need you a lot."
"And I'll be here for her every step."
"I know you will. But you can't reveal that you know. Please. Promise me."
"I do. And thank you, Naomie." DeLyn reached for Naomie's hand. "I didn't know what to pray for. That Kal be innocent or guilty, but now I know. And if you believe in him then so do I."
"I do. And when you hear what Harley has to say, you will, too."
