The Stranger Next Door by Joanna Wayne

Author:Joanna Wayne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Riff spit a stream of tobacco over the side rail of the porch as Langley and Danielle approached the cabin. “Ain’t this something? A man dies and all of a sudden relatives come out of the woodwork.”

“Where is he?” Langley asked.

“He’s inside. Probably marking his territory. No offense to you, Miss Danielle, but it’s still amazing to me how when you’re dead and gone, everyone claims kin to ye.”

“No offense taken, Riff.” She climbed the steps and stopped to hear what else the aging ranch hand had to say before she and Langley went inside to meet the newest Maccabbe relative. Riff was cantankerous, but he always said exactly what he was thinking. Of all the Randolph hands that she’d met, he was her favorite, and, according to Langley, he was the most dependable when you needed a job done right.

Riff rubbed the whiskers on his chin with his characteristic deliberation. “The man’s mighty uppity, just marched in here like he already owned the place.”

Langley stepped to the door and grabbed the knob. “So let’s go inside and meet—what did you say his name was?”

“Corky Westmorland. Only Wants-more-land would probably be closer to the truth. He says Milton was married to his mom back in the eighties. Humph. Can’t you just picture some woman putting up with Milton Maccabbe?”

“You notice she’s not still around.” Langley swung open the door and held it for Danielle. “What about you, Riff? Are you coming in?”

“Nope. I’ve got work to do, but I wouldn’t go believing anything this man has to say unless he’s got proof. He looks like a snake-oil salesman to me and I don’t call many a man wrong.”

“I’ve never known you to,” Langley agreed. “I’ll be cautious.”

Danielle heard Langley’s footsteps behind her as she walked into the kitchen she’d come to think of as hers. Corky Westmorland sat at the table, thumbing through a copy of Texas Monthly and stuffing himself on the peanut butter cookies she’d baked that morning.

“Make yourself at home,” she said, not bothering to hide her irritation that he’d done just that. Still, she wasn’t going to let Riff’s snap judgment influence her. Corky might be just the missing informational link they were searching for.

Corky glanced up, then flipped the magazine shut. He cracked a grin and showed a set of perfect white teeth as he looked her over with a little too much enthusiasm.

Langley took care of the introductions, explaining that he was filling in for the sheriff. He behaved in his usual professional but friendly manner though she could tell he was sizing Corky up. When he finished, he got right down to business.

“Riff tells me you have a will stating that Milton left his ranch to you.”

“I sure do. I got it in the mail a few weeks ago, with a letter from Milton saying he had cancer and didn’t have much longer to live. I thought I’d come down here and check it out, but the old guy outside said Milton had already died.

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