“Not that I’ve heard,” he said.
“If you didn’t kidnap her, then who?” she asked between bites.
“I have no idea. I’ve never even met her. But while the sheriff let me go, I got the distinct impression that he’s suspicious of my...” He held her gaze. “Alibi.”
“You mean he’s suspicious of me.”
He cocked his head. “I suspect he thinks you have a crush on me.”
“A crush? How junior high.”
“What would you call the fact that you can’t seem to stay away from me?”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Let’s see—could I be using you to get to your mother?”
“That does sound more likely.”
“Doesn’t it, though.” She leaned toward him. “Look, the way I see it, the only way you’re going to prove your innocence is for me to help you find Holly Jo.”
“We already decided we haven’t a clue how to do that.”
“We go visit your former stepmother, the psychic one.”
“Lulabelle?” He mugged a face. “I think you mean psychotic.”
“I’ve heard people say that she’s quite good as a seer.”
He shook his head. “You can’t be serious.”
“What do you have to lose? The sooner that girl is found, the sooner we can get back to what I came to Powder Crossing for.”
“You seem to think I’m going to help you find your father’s killer.”
She smiled. “Oh, I’ve already found her. But I want her accomplice, too. And how can you not help me after I’ve sprung you from the jail? Anyway, you can’t pretend you have no idea who murdered him and dumped him in a well near your ranch.”
“I’m so glad you’re keeping an open mind,” he shot back.
“Like you about Lulabelle?”
The waitress appeared to take their empty plates and ask if they wanted dessert. Brand had no doubt that she’d overheard at least the last part of the conversation. “Penny,” he said to her as she picked up their dishes. “I didn’t kidnap anyone, okay?”
“I never thought you did. You do look like your father, though. I wonder how I never noticed that before.” With that, she turned and left.
Birdie laughed. “See, not everyone thinks you’re a kidnapper. Probably half the people in this café are only wondering which side of your family you took after, Holden’s or your mother’s.”
“Thanks,” he said. “That makes me feel so much better.” He sobered, afraid she was right. Until Holly Jo was found, people would be looking at him thinking he just might have taken after his mother.
“You must have some idea who’d want to get back at your father. Who has a grudge against him, besides your mother?”
He pulled out his wallet to pay for their meals. “I told you. I have no idea.”
“Who feels he owes them? What about his second wife?”
“Not Lulabelle again.” He handed the bills to Penny as she returned before answering Birdie. “The marriage apparently lasted about a year, decades ago. So that begs the question—why wait all this time to get back at him?”
“That’s a good question,” Birdie said, frowning. “Maybe whatever the kidnapper wants your dad to admit happened more recently.”
He shook his head, no idea. He had too much on his mind, with Holly Jo at the top of that list. He was still reeling from finding out that Holden was his father. Not to mention the prospect of eventually confronting his mother. And he was suspected of kidnapping and could still be in jail if it hadn’t been for Birdie. All this time with her was crowding his thoughts.
“We need to go see Lulabelle.” He started to argue the point when she cut him off. “But first we need an item of clothing or something that belonged to Holly Jo. Which means we have to find the sheriff. I heard they used some of her clothing with search dogs near the ranch.”
“Lulabelle supports herself as a fortune teller. That’s not the same as being able to see...things.”
“I had a friend who went to her booth at the fair,” Birdie said. “Lulabelle told her that she was going to meet someone who would change her life.” Brand groaned. “The next day, just like that, she met a man who gave her the job of her dreams.” Birdie looked up, a twinkle in her eye. “Thought this was going to be a love story, didn’t you.”
Brand shook his head again as they rose to leave the café.
“Seriously, maybe Lulabelle can help.”
“Don’t you think the sheriff has already talked to her since she and Holden were married and it ended badly? I would think she would be a prime suspect.”
“I think it is more likely that you’re the prime suspect even with my alibi. So right now you need to take my advice.” She grinned as she took his arm. “Why else would you be hanging out with me?”
She had a point, he thought as he pushed open the café door and stepped out into the warm summer night. Montana was at its best this time of year. It was when people fell in love with it. Also when people fell in love, period.
Why was he spending so much time with this woman? She wasn’t his type, if he had a type. But tonight, the idea of going to Miles City, an hour away, to visit Lulabelle had its appeal since it would get them out of town. He could avoid seeing his mother a little longer. He figured she felt the same way since she hadn’t called or made an attempt to see him.
He still felt angry with himself, going back and forth between wishing he’d found out sooner about his parentage and wishing he’d never found his biological father. Given the way he was feeling, leaving Powder Crossing for a while seemed like a really good idea, especially if there was even a chance it could help Holly Jo. He was worried about the girl as darkness settled into the Powder River Basin.
