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Will would split their sides laughing if they knew. He might not mind making himself the butt of their jokes, but he couldn’t do the same to Lauren.
    â€œSure you do.” Beau tossed the dainty earring in the air, catching it in his fist. “I’ll leave this in the desk drawer. If you see her before I do, you can tell her it’s there.”
    â€œFine.” Not that he expected to see her again—even though the memory of that afternoon triggered a disturbing heat rush to his jeans. Hanging around when she came over to work would only make her uncomfortable. Annoy her enough and Beau would lose the help he needed. Even if she wasn’t Garn Prescott’s daughter, Sky knew he’d be smart to keep his distance.
    â€œPizza’s hot. Let’s watch the game a while.” With Will carrying the flat cardboard boxes and Beau lugging an extra six-pack of Tecate, they trailed into the den. Beau switched on the 48-inch flat-screen TV. Sinking into the big leather sectional, they put the boxes on the coffee table and wolfed down the pizza without the bother of plates. The baseball game was in its seventh inning, with a wide spread in the score and not much action. After a while the commentary faded into the background.
    â€œSo who do you figure shot Jasper?” Sky asked.
    Will shrugged. “My money’s still on drug smugglers. But cartel types would’ve used a heavier weapon, like an M-16 or a Glock. And they’d have made sure Jasper was dead. Given the small slug the doctor dug out of the old man, I’d say our smugglers are kids, or lowlifes using whatever gun they can get their hands on. Whoever they are, they’re dangerous. Nobody’s going out there alone till they’re stopped.”
    Beau set his beer on the table. “Well, since we can’t count on Sweeney, I’d say that’s our job. Who’s for riding out to where we found Jasper tomorrow morning for a look around?”
    â€œI’ll go with you,” Sky offered. “Then, after chores are done, I want to run into Lubbock. I can check on Jasper and bring Bernice home. She must be worn out.”
    â€œThen I’ll stay here and keep an eye on things.” Will finished the last slice of pepperoni pizza. “What about the shotgun Jasper was using? Was it still on the ATV when you found it?”
    â€œNo sign of it,” Sky said. “Either it fell out or it was taken—which could mean our shooter would have to get close enough to grab it. If we could find tracks, that would at least give us something to go on.”
    â€œLet’s plan to go at first light. The earlier we get there, the fresher any clues will be.” Beau glanced toward the TV. “Hey, look, Rodriguez is up with two on base.”
    By the time the game had progressed two more innings, Beau and Will had both fallen asleep. Sky gathered up the remains of the pizza and beer and took them to the kitchen trash. When he came back, they were still snoring, Will with his head sagging forward, his dark-stubbled chin resting on his chest, and Beau sprawled over one end of the sectional, head back, mouth open.
    A strange tenderness crept over Sky—the realization that if he’d had his choice of all the brothers on earth, these men were the two he would have picked. But as things stood, they would never know. The truth would change everything, and not likely for the better.
    Dismissing the thought, he switched off the game, dimmed the lights, and left the house.
    Â 
    The next morning Sky stepped outside to a leaden dawn. For a moment he stood on the porch of the brick duplex he shared with Jasper, gazing southeast, toward the hundred acres Bull had left him in his will. The land wasn’t part of the Rimrock. It lay along the ranch’s eastern border, like the heel of a boot. Bull had bought the prime section from the absentee neighbor for what must have been a handsome sum—bought it