Winchester Christmas Wedding by B.J. Daniels Page A

out.”
    Luke sighed, his expression impatient. “Not to mention,” he continued as if she hadn’t spoken, “the fact that your grandmother still believes that someone in the family was in on your father’s murder.”
    As if she had forgotten. Her grandmother wasn’t the only one who still believed that. The problem was that her father was dead and nothing could bring him back. Add to that she didn’t like investigating her own family—the family she’d only recently even been accepted into.
    But she was the sheriff and she had suspected that Sandy Sheridan had some reason for committing the murder within sight of the Winchester Ranch. Sandy had wanted someone to see it.
    â€œMaybe the guilty family member is already dead,” she said halfheartedly. “You know my uncle Angus drank himself to death. He wouldn’t be the first person to drink because of guilt.”
    â€œMaybe.” Luke sounded as doubtful as she felt. Everything she’d heard about Angus Winchester wentagainst his being involved. “Now to find out that the McCormick girls were there that day and might have seen something. Everyone in the county knows that they blame Pepper for their mother going to prison.”
    â€œAnd everyone knows that is just crazy,” she said as she leaned toward her fiancé and gave him a kiss. “But I do know what you’re saying. There could be trouble at the wedding.”
    McCall had known that from the get-go. She needed to defuse at least some of it if possible before the wedding. She didn’t tell him that she’d been investigating Pepper’s three surviving offspring. The problem was that the wedding was looming and she still didn’t have any evidence against any of them.
    Worth Winchester had started a Western rope manufacturing business after he’d left the ranch and had done well. Brand had worked at a series of ranches and finally settled down to manage one in Wyoming. Virginia was the only one who didn’t seem to have any visible means of support. From what McCall had been able to discover, she had gotten by through the largesse of a series of men.
    If one of her father’s siblings had been a coconspirator in Trace Winchester’s murder, they’d keep that secret well.
    â€œI don’t like that look in your eye,” Luke said. “I just want you to be careful. Think about security at the wedding. You never know what other skeletons could come clattering out of a closet.”
    McCall nodded to her fiancé although she thought it would be a relief to not have any more secrets. Herfear was that they might never learn if there had been a coconspirator in her father’s murder—or who it was.
    She couldn’t help but worry what that would do to her grandmother. Pepper Winchester was bound and determined to learn the truth or die trying.
    Â 
    L IZZY LET HER HORSE RUN. The afternoon was sunny and bright, the snow ablaze with sparkling ice crystals. The air, while cool, felt wonderful. She felt alive on horseback and for a few minutes she almost forgot where she was going—or why.
    That was until she saw the lone rider headed toward her.
    TD Waters.
    She pulled up short, realizing she must be on Winchester Ranch land. Collins had warned her not to make him suspicious. She thought it might be too late for that. Taking in her surroundings, she was more than aware of how alone the two of them were out here—miles from either ranch house. She doubted anyone would hear a gunshot, let alone a scream—if there was even a chance that he suspected she was an agent after him.
    Her horse danced under her as if sensing her sudden anxiety. The mare was ready to run again. All Lizzy had to do was give her free rein.
    The rider was coming fast. Tall and dark and dangerous. She could feel the weapon in the shoulder holster beneath her flannel-lined jean jacket, but she knew she would never be able to