Lethal Range by Ryan Steck

Author:Ryan Steck [Steck, Ryan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Christian / Suspense, FICTION / Thrillers / Suspense
ISBN: 9781496462947
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Published: 2023-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-SEVEN

Emily met Redd on the porch, greeting him with a hug and a kiss. “Junior’s down for a nap,” she said, lingering in his embrace. “Went right out as soon as I laid him down.”

Redd sensed an unspoken invitation in her comments. Nap time for Junior meant alone time for the two of them, something that had become increasingly rare given their respective schedules and the responsibilities of parenthood. But as tempting as the thought was—and it was infinitely more tempting than boozing it up with strangers at Spady’s—it was an offer he had to refuse for much the same reasons.

He managed a smile. “How often does that happen?”

“Right? I think he missed the familiarity of the nursery.” She gazed up at him for a moment, her brows furrowing as she read the worry in his forehead. “I guess it didn’t go well?”

“That’s putting it mildly.” He shook his head. “I don’t want to talk about it right now.”

“Matty, you don’t have to carry this all on your own. We’re partners, remember? We’re in this together. No matter what.”

“Yeah,” he muttered, trying to conceal the fact that her admonition had almost brought him to tears. “But it’s nice to be reminded once in a while.” He sighed. “That guy, Yearsley, the assessor . . . he’s a real piece of work. Tried to have me arrested just for wanting to talk to him.”

Emily leaned back, looking Redd in the eyes. “I hope that’s all you did.”

“It’s not all I wanted to do, but I was the very definition of restraint.”

She arched a skeptical eyebrow. “Uh-huh.”

“Seriously. I don’t think I even raised my voice. Fat lot of good it did. He’s not going to budge on this.” He shook his head. “You know, when I confronted him about being involved somehow with the Infidels, he looked at me like I had two heads. I don’t think they’re the reason he’s doing this.”

“Then why? Is it a political thing?”

“No idea. Honestly, I’m a little worried, Em.” His throat tightened again, but he forced the words out. “I don’t want to lose the ranch, but I don’t know how I’m going to save it.”

She hugged him again, pressing her head against his chest. “We’ll find a way, baby. Together.”

Redd wished he could share her optimism, but J. B. had raised him to be a pragmatist.

J. B.’s the reason I’m in this fix.

The thought landed in his head like a crow on roadkill, and he was quick to shoo it away. It was true that J. B., through no fault of his own, had neglected his affairs toward the end of his life. But if Redd had been there when J. B. needed him, maybe he wouldn’t have fallen behind on his tax payments.

Maybe he’d still be alive.

That too was an unwanted thought, one that held on a little more tenaciously.

Enough with the pity party. If J. B. were here, he’d set me straight and say, “Don’t. Be. Stupid.”

“Yeah,” he said equivocally. “Well, one problem at a time.

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