Free The Promise by Dee Davis

Silverthread by
nightfall."
    "Someone would have seen him." This from Owen, who at
last seemed to be getting with the program. Patrick sucked in a
breath of relief.
    "Not necessarily, and besides, Duncan could have run
into him on the mountain. Maybe Michael already knew. Maybe he was
waiting for him to come home."
    "Ambushed his own father? Michael would sooner poke
out his eye." Patrick stood up, his hands clenched in rage. "This
is outrageous. And even if were true. Even if my father had found
the mother lode and told Michael about it. Why would Michael kill
him?"
    "Well now, that's the big question isn't it?" Amos'
mouth curved at the corners, the beginning of a grin. The bastard
was enjoying this. "Way I heard it, betrayal isn't exactly an
unusual occurrence in your family, is it?"
    Patrick sprang over the desk in one smooth leap, his
hand closing around the sheriff's collar. "You take that back, you
son of a bitch." He arched his right arm backwards, tensing, his
fist tight for the punch.
    "Whoa, there, boy. No need to be smacking the
sheriff. Ain't his fault any of this happened." Pete planted a
beefy hand around Patrick's neck, the gentle pressure enough to
force Patrick to release Amos.
    "But he….I mean, he…" Patrick sputtered.
    "Easy, Patrick, the sheriff didn't mean any offense.
Did you, Striker?" The steel was back in Owen's voice.
    "No." Amos rubbed his neck and glared at Patrick, his
look belying his words.
    "Seems to me, we'd all be better off sticking with
the facts and not going off making wild accusations." Pete eyed the
sheriff.
    "It wasn't an accusation. Everyone knows that
Patrick's mother ran off and left them for a pile of silver."
    Patrick made another move for Amos. Pete tightened
his grip. "Fact is, we don't know for sure what happened to Rose.
Guess we never will."
    Amos smiled faintly, as if the knowledge amused
him.
    Owen nodded. "And, Patrick, you've got to admit that
we may never know what happened to your brother either."
    "Well he didn't kill my father." Patrick's words
sounded petulant even to his own ears.
    "Look, I think the thing for you to do now is go back
to Clune. I'm sure Amos will look into this some more." Owen
leveled a look at the sheriff. Amos nodded. "And, Patrick, I'll
look into it myself. All right?"
    Patrick mumbled his agreement under his breath.
    "You just go on home. I'll take care of this." Owen
looked over to Pete, who had settled back on the window sill.
"You'll stay with him?
    "Reckon I will."
    "Good. Have you buried Duncan, yet?"
    "Up on the ridge, by the river. Did it first
thing."
    Owen turned back to Patrick. "You go with Pete, and
I'll be out to pay my respects in the morning."
    Patrick nodded. He trusted Owen, even if he didn't
trust the shifty-eyed sheriff as far as he could throw him.
    Besides, he had some questions of his own to ask.

CHAPTER 6
    Michael stood in the doorway watching her.
Her hair was damp, curling wildly around her shoulders. The satin
robe she wore hugged the curves of her small frame, enhancing the
smooth porcelain of her skin. He quelled the urge to stride across
the room and press her hard against him. It had been a long time
since he'd wanted a woman.
    She must have sensed his presence because she turned
around, her eyes narrowed in concern. "You shouldn't be up."
    He pulled himself from his thoughts and stepped into
the room. "I'm fine, only a little sore." He rotated his shoulder
in demonstration. "The stuff you gave me really packed a wallop. I
feel like I've been sleeping for a week."
    She smiled, her wide-eyed gaze meeting his. He felt
his stomach do a quick flip. "Not quite two days."
    He frowned. That meant he'd been away from Clune
almost three. His brother would be worried, frantic probably. And
there was still the issue of who'd shot him. Not that any of that
really mattered if the date on the painting in the bedroom was a
reality. His mind balked at the idea. It was a mistake. Had to
be.
    "Michael, are you sure you're all