Page 88 (1/2)
“I won’t argue with that,” Ballard replied “In fact, he probably knows all the ideal spots for an ambush And he’s also the first one you’d suspect if there was any violence around here After all, everybody kno ht?”
Reluctantly Jessy agreed as the pieces began to fit together “Right”
“Let’s suppose Haskell gets caught and points a finger at Tara Who’s gonna believe hiht be a feho do But it won’t ht ways to Sunday It’ll just be his word that she was
part of it With the high-powered lawyers she can hire, the word of an ex-con is never gonna convict her Yes sir,” Ballard concluded with a decisive nod “She’s planned it all very carefully Buck’s the only wild card I’uessin’ she’s findin’ him a little hard to control”
“Have you told anyone else what you suspect?”
“What good would it do? Suspicion is all I got And I’m not exactly popular with Ty these days,” he reot him fooled She always has”
“Not always,” she corrected “Or he would still be married to her”
“And she will be again if she can get rid of you She’s got him all set up for it There Ty would be, a ith two kids to raise, and she’s fussed over theht Wolf Meadow Hell, if you weren’t around, Ty would et his hands on that land,” he declared “It would be one of those old-tie”
Jessy wasn’t so sure about that Ty was first and fore a lovelessthe same mistake twice
“Maybe,” she said “Then again, maybe not”
“Look, I’ht sound that way” He leaned toward her, conveying an urgency “I guess I’ht, there’ll be another attes cool down for a while just to lull you into lettin’ down your guard But you need to keep your eyes and ears open”
“Don’t worry I will”
“There’s no point in tellin’ me not to worry, ’cause I will I’d tell you to stick close to The Hoht into the house Still, if you stay around here, I can keep an eye on you But o off anywhere by yourself Who knows, maybe I’m all wet and nothin’ will come of any of this”
“Let’s hope so,” Jessy agreed, aware that Ballard had nothing but his suspicions
A pickup swung into the ranchyard and approached The Honize Chase behind the wheel Ballard did as well and rose from the chair without any show of haste