Shoulda Been a Cowboy (Rough Riders #7)(57)

Dread weighted him down as Sheriff Shortbull said, “Other people can handle this part. You’ll have enough trauma and drama to deal with.”


Cam barely remembered driving to Luke and Jessie’s place—a doublewide trailer on the far edge of the McKay Ranch. A porch light burned. He glanced at the clock before he climbed out. Ten thirty. Christ. Had it only been two hours since he’d gotten the call? It seemed like a lifetime ago.


He lumbered up the steps, inhaling a deep breath before he knocked on the door.


Lexie, Jessie’s dog barked inside the house. A voice hushed her, then a squeaking, sucking noise sounded as the inner door swung open.


Is that what he’d remember of this night? The sound the door made before he gave Jessie the news that’d change her life forever?


A pajama clad Jessie blinked at him with total confusion. “Cam? What are you doing here?”


“Jessie. There’s been an accident.”


Her gaze widened at his deputy’s uniform, realizing he was there on official business. The blood drained from her face. “Luke?”


Cam nodded.


“Is he all right?”


“No.” Cam forced his body and his voice to stay steady. “Luke didn’t survive. I’m so sorry.”


“What? Luke is…” She swayed but righted herself before Cam could get to her. “When?”


“About two hours ago.”


“Where did this happen?”


“A semi jackknifed in Shep’s Canyon. Because of the fog…there was really nothing he could’ve done. It happened fast.”


“Was anyone else with him?”


Cam shook his head. “There were fatalities in other vehicles that also hit the semi, but Luke was alone.”


“Did you tell Luke’s folks? Or his brothers?”


“Not yet. I wanted to let you know first. I’m sorry.”


When Jessie started to cry, Cam knew the sound of the squeaking door wouldn’t stick in his mind, but the hiccupping sobs Jessie didn’t try to hold in.


Without another word, Cam wrapped her in his arms. She clung to him and for the first time all night, he let himself grieve.


Time was a black void of sorrow, but eventually Jessie eased back and looked at him through red-rimmed, horror-filled eyes. “Will you come with me to tell Brandt? He’ll—we’ll—need to tell Casper and Joan right after, but it’d be…better coming from him than from me.”


“Of course.”


“Let’s get this over with.” She stumbled down the deck steps.


Cam said, “Jess, sweetheart, you’re gonna need shoes.”


She froze and stared at her bare feet. Then back at him with an expression Cam recognized as shock.


“Oh. Shoes. Right.” She reversed course and slipped her feet into a pair of muddy ropers that were propped on the welcome mat. Wrapping her arms tightly around her middle, she trudged to the passenger side of the patrol car.


Neither spoke on the short, miserable drive to Brandt’s place. She stared out the windshield as tears dripped down her face.


By the time Cam hit the end of Brandt’s driveway, Brandt waited on the porch steps. Not a lot of social calls this time of night. Cam parked, but neither he nor Jessie attempted to get out of the car.


Jessie’s voice was barely a whisper. “I don’t want to tell him, Cam. This will ruin him. Brandt and Luke are so close.” Her voice caught on a sob. “Were so close. Oh God. I can’t do this.”


“It’s okay. Stay here. I’ll take care of it.” Cam forced himself to open the door. Forced himself to walk the twenty feet to where his cousin stood. Forced himself to look his cousin in the eye.


They stared at each other. Then Brandt said just one word. “Who?”


“Luke.”


A pain-filled sound cut the night air.


It sliced Cam to the bone. He whispered. “Jesus, Brandt. I’m so sorry.”


Brandt’s gaze zoomed to the passenger side of the car. “Where’s Jessie?”


She was out of the car and sobbing in Brandt’s arms before Cam could answer.


He had to look away. He had to get away. Yet, he couldn’t leave if they needed him. So he waited in hellish silence as Brandt and Jessie tried to hold one another up.


“Cam?” Brandt said hoarsely.


“Yeah?”


“Can you do something for me?”


“Anything. Name it.”


“Give me a couple hours to talk to my folks and my brothers before you tell the rest of the family?”


“Sure.”


“Thank you.”


“Anything you need, either of you, just ask, okay? We’re all gonna be here for you. Every one of us in the McKay family. Count on it.”


“I appreciate it.” Brandt draped his arm around Jessie and they disappeared into the house.


He’d been given a momentary reprieve on the family side of being the bearer of bad news. But he still had to get through the conversation with Domini.