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“Just be careful, okay . . . and don’t go getting him upset. Don’t even mention that you know about Jackie.”

“That’s going to be impossible . . .”

“Please, Rebecca. Don’t say anything until I come back.”

She saw the look of concern in his eyes. “You’re really worried, aren’t you?”

“I just want to know what we’re up against, that’s all. And I don’t like leaving you here alone with him.”

“Brig, Dean’s my brother! He would never hurt me—”

“You don’t know that, Becca!” For the first time, Brig’s fear infected her.

“This is more than your concern because of Jackie’s baby, isn’t it? You really think Dean was involved in Sentimental Lady’s death.”

Brig’s eyes narrowed and he held her more tightly to him. “I just want to know what we’re up against, and I need a couple of days to sort out a few things. Why don’t you come with me, for just a few days, until I can get to the source of all this?”

“I can’t leave the farm right now.”

“Ian can handle it. I’ve already spoken with him.”

“Brig, this is my home, my responsibility, mylife.I just can’t pack up and leave because you’re paranoid.”

Roughly, he gave her shoulders a shake. “I’m not paranoid, Becca.”

“Then trust me to be able to handle myself—with my brother or anyone else.”

His smile was weak. “You always were a stubborn creature,” he conceded. “Do you have a gun?”

Becca paled. “No! And I don’t need one,” she asserted, her lower lip trembling.

“How can you be sure?”

“Stop it, Brig, you’re scaring the hell out of me.”

“Good, you should be frightened.”

Her voice was as tight as her grip on the arm of the couch. “I hope this is a severe case of melodrama on your part,” she whispered.

“So do I.”

“Dean is my brother—”

He waved off her arguments with his open palm. “I just want you to be careful, Rebecca. You’re important to me.” He twined his fingers in her tawny hair and pulled her head closer to his in order to press a kiss against her lips, silently promising a shared future. “Take care of yourself, lady.”

Her voice caught and she had trouble forming her response. “I will,” she promised.

“There’s one other thing,” he said as he reluctantly rose and stepped away from her. Reaching into the pocket of his corduroy slacks, he extracted a yellowed piece of paper. Becca recognized it as the note she had signed to Jason Chambers. Brig handed the small document to her. “I’ve taken care of this.”

She took the paper, but continued to stare into his eyes, as if she was attempting to memorize their steely gray depths. “What do you mean?”

“The note doesn’t exist anymore.”

“I’m sorry, Brig, but I don’t quite follow you.”

“It’s simple. As far as anyone knows, this note was never signed. You don’t owe me or Chambers Oil a bloody cent.”

Becca smiled sadly. “I appreciate the offer, Brig, but I can’t accept it. You don’t have to buy my way out for me.”