Or maybe thirty-five, thirty-six, all disguised by a series of surgical makeovers? One of Buck’s bimbos from the past? Some exotic dancer his thirty-year-old brother had gotten involved with at an XXX-rated bar in Elko before he’d cleaned up his act?

Buck had the kind of looks women couldn’t resist. He came from money and was always ready for a good time. For the last few years it had taken everything Cole and his brother John could do to keep Buck’s nocturnal activities under wraps. In secret, Cole had even asked his uncle Richard, who lived in Reno, to take Buck under his wing for the latter part of last summer in the hope of straightening him out.

He smothered a groan of protest, because this woman had dared to trespass even though she knew Buck had married Lucy two months ago. That was all his shattered sister-in-law needed right now.

He knew how she felt. Ten years ago Cole had lost his wife, Jenny, and his dream of a family of his own had died with her. Maybe the Farraday clan was cursed after all.

While his flint-like gaze swerved to a white-faced Lucy, who was surrounded by her family and Cole’s married sister Penny, a feeling of rage swept through him.

After watching his youngest brother’s body being lowered into the ground earlier in the day, he’d been so full of pain he hadn’t thought there could be room for any other emotion.

“Thanks, Janine.”

The guests were congregated in groups, among them his attorney Jim Darger and his wife. On one side of the room John and Cole’s brother-in-law Rich had their heads bent together in serious conversation. On the other, he observed Brenda, a woman he’d been seeing lately, talking with a group of friends. His nieces and nephews had long since disappeared, making him wish he could have joined them.

Under the cir cum stances no one would notice if he headed for the nearest exit and slipped from the room. The less anyone in the family knew about this the better.