Page 30 of Daybreak

“Holly’s lack of a social life,” Travis said.

Garrett watched Holly’s cheeks turning pink. “I suspect there’s more than she’s willing to talk about.”

Holly shrugged. “Actually, I ran into Gunner Kingston in Whole Foods the same day I left Dallas. He took me to a local taqueria for an early dinner… Sort of a catch-up reunion. He promised to stay in touch, but then I left. He called me the day after I got home. I told him what had happened. He was shocked and very sympathetic. Sent his condolences to all of us, and said he’d see me when he came to Crossroads.”

Travis’s eyes widened, and then he held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Okay, officially minding my own business now. And I got a text from Lee’s girlfriend, Trish. The Peters family is moving away. They’re taking Lee’s body to Tulsa to bury. I think that’s where both families still live.”

Garrett nodded. “I heard that, and Helen’s services are this coming Saturday at the Baptist Church in Crossroads. The pastor said the Ladies Aide has graciously offered to provide the food for family and friends afterward.”

Holly was silent, contemplating what was ahead of her—like a thousand handshakes and hugs, and “so sorry for your loss.” Her mother and father had grown up here. People loved them. It was friends wanting to show their respect. But it was going to be a hard day, for sure.

She waited until her dad put the ice cream back in the freezer, then got up and gave him a quick hug.

“I’m going back to bed. I don’t get up before daybreak unless I have to.”

* * *

Gunner woke with a start, thinking he’d overslept and was going to be late for work, then rolled over in bed, saw the Coors Beer nightlight and remembered he was home, and Dixon was supposed to be calling off his dogs. He glanced at the clock. Fifteen minutes to 5:00 a.m.

He could hear water running across the hall and guessed Pearl was getting ready to go to the Yellow Rose to start her day, which meant Dad was probably still asleep.

Their working hours made it difficult for both of them to spend quality time together, but he also knew that after all the years of them being apart, they were grateful for whatever time they had now.

Gunner wanted that kind of forever love, but he’d never let his guard down enough to let a woman into his world. He thought of Holly again and wondered what was happening at the ranch, and where they were in the process of autopsies and funerals.

He would call her later to let her know he was here. Then he remembered the list of names from Homicide that he was supposed to send to Asher to check out. Back in Dallas, he would have rolled over and gone back to sleep, but not here. Daybreak in Crossroads was nothing short of holy.

Without hesitating, he put on his boots, put the shirt back on he’d worn yesterday, and left it unbuttoned as he walked out the kitchen door and into the backyard. He took a few steps more and then turned to face the east.

Standing within the silence of the sleepy little town, he watched as the sky began to turn from dark to light, slowly coloring the vast horizon to introduce a new day.

Just as the first flash of sun topped the horizon, Pearl emerged and saw him, a tall, unmoving silhouette against the sky. But instead of getting in her car and hustling up the highway to her café, she walked up beside him.

“It never gets old, does it, baby?”

Gunner slid his hand across her shoulder. “No, ma’am. It does not.”

“I’m so glad you’re home. I’ve got to get to work. Davey doesn’t have a light hand with the biscuit dough. You know where to come if you’re wanting a meal. Your daddy is still asleep.” Then she gave his hand a quick squeeze and hustled back to her car and drove away.

Gunner watched her leave, but instead of going back inside, he turned to the south, eyeing the land behind the house and trying to remember how far back their property actually went. A thought was forming in his head, but he needed to talk to his dad before it went any further.

He was still gazing across the scrub brush and spiny shards of Yucca plants when he heard the sound of a big rig and a driver shifting gears, then saw the headlights of the semi coming in from the east. The driver was hauling ass, taking advantage of the long stretch of highway and the lack of traffic, and bringing an end to Gunner’s brief moments of meditation.

He went back into the house, claimed the shower, and came out later minus the dark shadow of whiskers he’d gone to bed with, then began unpacking. Once he was dressed for the day, he headed to the kitchen with his laptop. He wanted coffee and needed to send Asher that list.

* * *

The Tumbleweed Bar always opened at 10:00 a.m., but Jacob was up by eight. And this morning he dressed quickly, anxious to talk to Gunner before the day got too busy.

When he entered the kitchen and saw his son at the kitchen table with his laptop, his fingers flying across the keyboard, for a moment it was like every morning of Gunner’s life in high school, knowing he’d waited until the last minute to finish an assignment.

Then Gunner looked up, and the face looking back at Jacob was the face of a man with a problem.

“Morning, Dad.”

Jacob smiled. “Morning, son. Did you rest well?”

“Better than I have in ages,” Gunner said. “I can make you breakfast if you want.”