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."I have another month here before the court rules on whether the ranch has to be sold to humor the three of you and I'm taking it.If you don't like it, too bad.I'm fighting to save the ranch my mother loved.All the three of you want is money—any way you can get it.Even by destroying something that has been in our family for generations."Jordan started to argue but she cut him off."And as for the murder investigation, you're all on your own.Frankly, I think you're all capable of murder."Clay and Stacy both denied that they had anything to hide.Jordan just glared at her and said, "You're making a very big mistake, Dana.I hope you don't live to regret it."She turned and stalked off into the kitchen.Going to the sink, she grabbed the cool porcelain edge and gripped it, Jordan's threat ringing in her ears.HUD GOT THE CALL from the crime lab just as he was starting to leave his office."We've found some latent prints on both the box of chocolates and the doll," Dr.Cross said."I decided to do the tests myself since it tied in with your ongoing case.Interesting case.""Did you come up with a match?" Hud asked."No prints on file that matched any of the prints on the doll or the package.We found multiple prints on the doll, all different.As for the gift, only one set."Hud felt his heart rate quicken."My deputy is bringing you up some fingerprints to compare those to.What about the chocolates themselves?""No prints on them.Also no sign of a drug or poison.As far as I can tell, they were nothing but chocolate."Relieved, Hud sighed."Thanks for doing this so quickly." He hung up.There was one set of prints he hadn't asked Liza to get for him.Lanny Rankin's.Hud planned to get those himself tonight.He picked up the phone and started calling the local bars on a hunch.The bartender at the second one Hud called said that Lanny was there."Try to keep him there.I'm buying," Hud said."I'll be right down."* * *DANA WASN'T SURPRISED to hear tentative footfalls behind her and smell her sister's expensive perfume.Standing at the sink with her back to her sister, she closed her eyes, waiting for the next onslaught.Obviously, Jordan and Clay had sent Stacy in to convince her to change her mind."Dana," her sister said quietly."I have to tell you something."Dana kept her back turned to her sister.She'd planned on asking her sister point-blank what had happened that night five years ago with Hud.But quite frankly, she just wasn't up to the answer tonight."You can't just keep ignoring me.I'm your sister.""Don't remind me," Dana said, finally giving up and turning to look at her.Tears welled in Stacy's eyes, but she bit her lip to stem them, no doubt realizing that tears would only anger Dana more.Likewise another apology."I have to tell you the truth," Stacy said."Don't," Dana said."I told you, I don't want to hear anything you have to say.I know they sent you in here to try to get me to change my mind.""I didn't come in here to talk about the ranch," she said, and sounded surprised that Dana would think that."I need to tell you about Hud."Dana felt her face flush."I'd rather talk about selling the ranch." She started to step past Stacy, but her sister touched her arm and whispered, "I lied."Dana froze, her gaze leaping to Stacy's face.Her sister nodded slowly, the tears in her eyes spilling over."I didn't sleep with him," she whispered, and looked behind her as if afraid their brothers might be listening."What is this? Some ploy to get me to sell the ranch?" Dana couldn't believe how low her sister would stoop."This doesn't have anything to do with the ranch." Stacy shook her head, tears now spilling down her cheeks."I have to tell you the truth, no matter what happens to me.I didn't want to do it."Dana felt her pulse jump."What are you talking about?" she asked, remembering what Hud had said about Stacy not acting alone that night.Stacy gripped her arm."I didn't have a choice.""You always have a choice," Dana said, keeping her voice down."What happened that night?"Stacy looked scared as she let go of Dana and glanced over her shoulder again."Don't move," Dana ordered, and walked to the doorway to the living room."Leave," she said to Jordan and Clay.Clay got up at once but Jordan didn't move."We're not finished here," Jordan said angrily."And I'm not leaving until this is settled.One way or the other.""Stacy and I need to talk," Dana said, letting him believe she had to iron things out with her sister before she would give in on selling the ranch.Clay was already heading for the door as Jordan reluctantly rose.Clay opened the front door then stopped.Dana saw why.Their father's pickup had just pulled into the yard."I'll be outside talking to Dad," Jordan said, and practically shoved Clay out the door.What was their father doing here? Dana wondered as she hurried back to the kitchen.No doubt her siblings had commandeered his help to convince her to sell the ranch.Bastards.Stacy had sat at the table, her head in her hands.Dana closed the kitchen door as she heard her brothers and their father talking out on the porch.It almost sounded as if Jordan and Angus were arguing.What was that about? she wondered.She'd find out soon enough, she feared
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