Death on the High Lonesome Read Free Page B

nice,” she said as she sat down in the sofa opposite the picture window. “It feels like a real home.”
    Virgil sat at the other end. “Not quite as imposing as Crow’s Nest.”
    â€œTrue, but also not as pretentious. I think Crow’s Nest was built to make a statement. This house was built to be lived in.”
    Virgil nodded.
    â€œIt’s so green.” She gestured toward the expanse on the other side of the picture window.
    â€œBottomland.”
    â€œBottomland?”
    â€œWhen my great-grandfather came to this country he knew how important water was and he let that inform his choice of where to homestead. Turns out he probably got the best parcel of land in this part of the country. We’re green when in the dry a lot of other people are eating dust. We do irrigate some, but that’s mostly BLM lease land, not part of the deeded property.”
    â€œInteresting.”
    They sipped from their glasses. They each started to speak, then stopped. They smiled while the awkward moment passed.
    â€œI thought maybe you might stop by Hilltop, but then I thought the house, Crow’s Nest, wasn’t the place for this conversation. I actually stopped by here last week. I met your foreman, Cesar. He was very nice.”
    â€œI’m sorry I missed you, but I’m glad you met Cesar. He’s much more to me than a foreman.”
    â€œI know. I could tell by the last thing he said to me.” She took another sip from her glass, then set it on the wood table next to her.
    â€œWhat was that last thing that Cesar said to you?”
    Virginia angled her body so she was looking directly at Virgil.“He said it was good for me to come and talk to my father now that he is feeling alone.”
    Virgil said nothing as the silence in the room became almost painful. Finally, he stood up and walked to the window. The shadow of the house crept up toward the meadow in back as the sun started its journey toward evening. The demarcation line between light and dark was very clear. There was no gray, only the light and the dark. Virgil turned and looked at the girl. She sat on the edge of the sofa while he tried to understand the look in her eyes. Unexpected emotions battered him. He took a step toward her. He reached out his hand. Her fingers tentatively touched his.
    â€œI guess we don’t have to worry about the elephant in the room anymore. Cesar took care of that.” His smile broadened when he saw the relief come into her eyes. “When did you find out?”
    â€œMy grandmother Audrey. She left me a letter when she died. How did you find out?”
    â€œFrom Audrey. The day she died. There’s a woman who pretty much runs my office. Rosita. Rosie. You’d probably like her. Everybody does. Anyway, she made a comment after Audrey’s funeral about her seeming to go out with a whimper. A surprise to anyone who knew her, considering she wore the name of the town. Well, I guess as far as you and I are concerned, Rosie for once was wrong. I’d say she went out with a bang, wouldn’t you?”
    Virginia could only nod her agreement. Her eyes were glistening. Her fingers tightened in Virgil’s hand. He gently tugged and she rose to her feet. They stood as close to each other as they ever had. In a voice barely above a whisper, Virgil was the first to speak. “Would you mind if I gave you a hug?”
    â€œNo,” she answered. “I think I’d like that.”
    Virgil wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close. They stood like that a long time.

3

    T he phone was ringing when he stepped back into the kitchen after she had gone. He had been planning on driving into Hayward, figuring he’d stop by the office by way of routine. The idea of routine ended when he picked up the phone and heard Rosie’s voice.
    â€œVirgil, Jimmy’s been in an accident. He was coming off the saddleback last night. Something went bad.