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He waited, apparently listening, though we heard no one else speak. “Goddammit, I said no. ’’ Something hit the wall on the other side of the door, and then clattered to the floor. Unsteady footsteps lurched inside. A few seconds later came a heavy thump, followed by the sound of shattering glass. “Ouc-sh! ’’ The same man yelled. Wynonna’s hand froze on the knob. “I don’t want to deal with this,’’ she whispered. I cocked an eyebrow. “It’s Lawton’s son, Trey. I wasn’t looking forward to breaking the news under the best circumstances.

He sat down in the sandy road and hung his head. “All right, then. ’’ I gave him a parting pat, and then swung the gate shut, wrapping the chain around twice. “Poor thing,’’ Mama said. ’’ Before long, we’d found our way to the center of camp. Wood smoke rose from a big fire. The smell of steaks sizzling wafted from the cook wagon. A Toby Keith CD blasted from the speakers inside somebody’s RV. ’’ I gazed around at gleaming trucks and matching horse trailers, luxury RVs and campers. “Nonsense, Mace.

We came out of the oaks and onto a treeless pasture. Light shone from a lantern and campfire in the distance. Just as we started toward it, a woman’s scream stopped both of us short. With barely a glance at each other, we began running toward the sound. “Oh, my God,’’ the woman screamed again. “It’s Lawton. ’’ A young woman stood wringing her hands over Lawton Bramble’s body. He was stretched out on the ground at his cook site, a dark stain spreading around him. Mama grabbed my arm. I drew her close, and we approached the scene together.