supposed to be there until after work.
As they drew near, Breck got out of the truck and stood scowling as they approached.
“What’s up?” Cami asked.
“I tried to call you, but you weren’t answering.”
“So y ou drove all the way out here?”
“Yeah, that sounds pretty stupid, doesn’t it?”
“I didn’t mean it that way,” she said.
His jaw was set tight and he glared at her.
She felt her color rise under his harsh scrutiny.
Frank held out his hand for Red’s reins. “I’ll take him to the stables.”
“ I can’t believe you let her ride Red,” Breck growled.
“Man you need to lighten up,” Frank said. “Cami’s a lot more woman than you’re willing to admit, and she is Silky’s niece.” He swept Cami with an appraising gaze. “She did great.”
She felt a flush of pleasure with Frank’s simple praise. It had been a while since she’d accomplished something new. She started to dismount, but found Breck’s arms around her as she alit. She turned to stare up at him as Frank led Red away. “What’s wrong, Breck? Why are you acting so strange?”
“Let’s go inside,” he said tersely. He followed her into the house tossing his Stetson in its usual place on the rack.
“What’s wrong?’ she asked.
“You better sit down,” he said.
She sat on the edge of the brocade loveseat, staring up at him.
His jaw was set in a grim line. “I got a call from the County Medical Examiner. He confirmed that the compression injury in your aunt’s skull wasn’t consistent with a horse’s hoof. He said it was something with a regular shape and could have been a tool or a weapon, you know, a hexagon shape.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “He’s ruling her death suspicious.”
“Suspicious?” Cami jumped to her feet. “How could he rule that it was suspicious? Did he think it suspicious that she fell on something that wasn’t in evidence when they located her body out in the middle of nowhere?”
“Take it easy,” he said. “This is a rural community without all the bells and whistles you’re used to. He’s not through with his investigation.”
“Oh, great! The cause of death should only be ruled natural, accidental or homicide. Some country bumpkin ME thinks Aunt Silky’s death might be suspicious?” She expelled an emphatic growl of frustration. Spreading her arms, she leaned against the mantle, her mouth forming an intractable line.
“ Cami, I…” He reached out to her but drew back when she shrugged him off.
“I’m not in the mood for company right now,” she said.
“Maybe your old pal Frank Sullivan can provide some more agreeable fellowship.”
She turned, her eyes blazing. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Breck took a breath. “Sorry. When I saw you ride up with Frank, I was… jealous.”
“Are you listening to yourself?” Her voice sounded sh arp.
“You think I’m an idiot.” Breck returned to the entry hall and took his Stetson off the rack.
“No, I…”
“Cami, I just like you too much.” He shoved the hat on his head and left.
She stood in the doorway, watching him climb in his truck and drive away without looking back. What was that about? Yesterday he’d revealed that Silky had been matchmaking. They’d kissed passionately. Now he was in a huff because she’d gone for a ride with Frank.
She turned and closed the door , angry that Breck was acting like a teen-ager and angry that some Medical Examiner, who obviously didn’t know which end was up, couldn’t make an accurate ruling as to the cause of Silky’s death.
S he paced around until she reached a decision. Doctor Camryn Carmichael would request that another coroner examine the evidence in her aunt’s death. She could have someone with greater knowledge review the available information. Perhaps someone with more competence could tell her how Silky had been murdered.
CHAPTER TEN
“Well, Doctor Carmichael,” Breck said. “I didn’t know you
As they drew near, Breck got out of the truck and stood scowling as they approached.
“What’s up?” Cami asked.
“I tried to call you, but you weren’t answering.”
“So y ou drove all the way out here?”
“Yeah, that sounds pretty stupid, doesn’t it?”
“I didn’t mean it that way,” she said.
His jaw was set tight and he glared at her.
She felt her color rise under his harsh scrutiny.
Frank held out his hand for Red’s reins. “I’ll take him to the stables.”
“ I can’t believe you let her ride Red,” Breck growled.
“Man you need to lighten up,” Frank said. “Cami’s a lot more woman than you’re willing to admit, and she is Silky’s niece.” He swept Cami with an appraising gaze. “She did great.”
She felt a flush of pleasure with Frank’s simple praise. It had been a while since she’d accomplished something new. She started to dismount, but found Breck’s arms around her as she alit. She turned to stare up at him as Frank led Red away. “What’s wrong, Breck? Why are you acting so strange?”
“Let’s go inside,” he said tersely. He followed her into the house tossing his Stetson in its usual place on the rack.
“What’s wrong?’ she asked.
“You better sit down,” he said.
She sat on the edge of the brocade loveseat, staring up at him.
His jaw was set in a grim line. “I got a call from the County Medical Examiner. He confirmed that the compression injury in your aunt’s skull wasn’t consistent with a horse’s hoof. He said it was something with a regular shape and could have been a tool or a weapon, you know, a hexagon shape.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “He’s ruling her death suspicious.”
“Suspicious?” Cami jumped to her feet. “How could he rule that it was suspicious? Did he think it suspicious that she fell on something that wasn’t in evidence when they located her body out in the middle of nowhere?”
“Take it easy,” he said. “This is a rural community without all the bells and whistles you’re used to. He’s not through with his investigation.”
“Oh, great! The cause of death should only be ruled natural, accidental or homicide. Some country bumpkin ME thinks Aunt Silky’s death might be suspicious?” She expelled an emphatic growl of frustration. Spreading her arms, she leaned against the mantle, her mouth forming an intractable line.
“ Cami, I…” He reached out to her but drew back when she shrugged him off.
“I’m not in the mood for company right now,” she said.
“Maybe your old pal Frank Sullivan can provide some more agreeable fellowship.”
She turned, her eyes blazing. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Breck took a breath. “Sorry. When I saw you ride up with Frank, I was… jealous.”
“Are you listening to yourself?” Her voice sounded sh arp.
“You think I’m an idiot.” Breck returned to the entry hall and took his Stetson off the rack.
“No, I…”
“Cami, I just like you too much.” He shoved the hat on his head and left.
She stood in the doorway, watching him climb in his truck and drive away without looking back. What was that about? Yesterday he’d revealed that Silky had been matchmaking. They’d kissed passionately. Now he was in a huff because she’d gone for a ride with Frank.
She turned and closed the door , angry that Breck was acting like a teen-ager and angry that some Medical Examiner, who obviously didn’t know which end was up, couldn’t make an accurate ruling as to the cause of Silky’s death.
S he paced around until she reached a decision. Doctor Camryn Carmichael would request that another coroner examine the evidence in her aunt’s death. She could have someone with greater knowledge review the available information. Perhaps someone with more competence could tell her how Silky had been murdered.
CHAPTER TEN
“Well, Doctor Carmichael,” Breck said. “I didn’t know you
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