“That’s…not a bad idea.”
“Shame Seward isn’t ready to retire,” Jed said dryly.
“Speak of the devil—” Grant cut himself off.
Jed knew why. “Niall knows how to keep his mouth shut,” he said quietly.
“High praise from the most close-mouthed man I know,” his friend said, humor warming his face.
Grant nodded in easy acceptance of Jed’s testimonial. Jed knew how lucky he’d been to find a man like him sheriff of the county.
“I had lunch with Harrison today,” Grant said. “I was supposed to meet Cassie at Tia Maria’s. She cancelled last minute, I found Chief Seward sitting alone.”
Curious, Jed waited to see where this was going. He detested Seward, and knew Grant felt the same. The man wasn’t so incompetent there was anything they could do about him, he was just so determined never to get showed up, he saw any offer of assistance as an insult. His sole detective was an idiot whose ideas of crime scene investigation were a century out of date. So what did Grant have on his mind?
“We tussled briefly on whether women should be cops.” Grant’s mouth twisted. “You can guess which side of the issue he came down on.”
Jed had worked with women cops in Georgia, and he’d been impressed so far with Deputy Brown despite her youth. He still wasn’t surprised to learn that Seward disapproved of her. There was a reason she was the first woman cop ever hired in Hayes County.
“Then things got interesting.” Lines gathered on Grant’s forehead. “Did you know he’s a rancher, too?”
“Seward?” Jed hadn’t seen that coming. He couldn’t picture the guy in a saddle, never mind shoveling shit or wrestling with an animal that weighed two hundred pounds plus come time to brand, castrate and vaccinate.
“Not a huge operation, but it sounds more professional than some. He says he has Red Angus and is going into Charolais. He has something like forty calves this spring and some steers he’ll be selling at the end of summer. I didn’t get a chance to ask why he hasn’t gotten in touch with you or come to any meetings. He didn’t seem very comfortable talking about the ranching.”
“That is interesting. You know Andy Ruckman lost some Charolais.”
“I’d forgotten who it was, but yes.”
With a sidelong glance, Jed saw how closely Niall was following the conversation. He must know what they were suggesting.
“Damn,” Jed muttered. “I’d like to get a look at those brands.”
“Were the calves branded?”
“No, but the cows were, of course.” He made a humming sound. “I wouldn’t want to get caught trespassing on the police chief’s land.”
Grant’s laugh was short and sharp. “No, you would not. Or on anyone else’s.” He paused. “Is that a possibility?”
“A time or two,” Jed conceded. “I was careful.” He wasn’t about to mention the close call when Thayer showed up unexpectedly.
“Well, you might want to talk to Seward. He won’t be surprised after our lunch today.”
They discussed what had been happening at Linette’s place, including the early pranks, if that’s what they were. Jed hadn’t gotten that far with Niall earlier.
“I’ll make sure any deputies patrolling her place know about Niall. Wouldn’t want to get him shot.”
“No.” Grant frowned. “She doesn’t have any idea who this could be.”
“She says not.” Jed’s loyalties butted up against each other. He hadn’t been sure, but Linette came first. He kept his mouth shut.
“She lived with a guy for awhile after you and she parted ways,” Niall said.
The surprise on Grant’s face wasn’t more than a flicker. Apparently, he’d had his suspicions.
“Marlene hated his guts. Uh—” He glanced at Grant. “Marlene Harris owned the ranch where I stabled my horse. Linette trained horses for her, and Jed used to ride there, too.” He looked at Jed, expression apologetic. “I thought it was better you didn’t know.” He shrugged. “Wasn’t sure you’d be interested.”
An ice pick arrowed straight in on Jed’s heart. If he’d been told, what would he have done? He wished he knew for sure.
“Marlene saw some bruises, a more serious injury or two. She didn’t like Linette’s explanations and was real glad when Linette broke it off.”
Jed discovered he was grinding his teeth. Was this why she hadn’t wanted to give him the asshole’s name?
It took willpower to loosen his jaw muscles and say without any obvious inflection, “When I interviewed her, Linette told me about him. She said she hasn’t heard from him since the split. There was no stalking, she’s been here in Oregon for three plus years.”
“He doesn’t sound likely.” Grant looked at Jed. “You get his name so you can check his background and whereabouts?”
“No.”
The silence expressed the other two men’s opinions – which Jed shared. Still, she was right; why would the guy show up here after that long?
“I didn’t hear his name,” Niall said. “I could call Marlene.”
Man, he wanted that name, but Jed didn’t like the idea of invading Linette’s privacy to that extent.
“Let’s hold off for now. There are other possibilities. One is that the attempted theft of the foal didn’t have anything to do with the tricks somebody played on her.”
He saw that Niall and Grant conceded his point, and continued. “A member of the cattle rustling gang might have been testing her security.”
Grant locked his hands behind his head and leaned back. “I looked up Kiger horses. They aren’t valuable the way a top thoroughbred is.”
“The price for the foal would have been comparable to a calf, and potentially a lot more.”
“With papers, sure.”
Jed ignored that. “I mean to check out her employee. He could resent her for some reason – maybe thinks she should be paying him better, or she stiff-armed him when he made some kind of move on her.”
“Or hasn’t had the guts to make the move, but knows deep down he isn’t in her league,” Niall contributed.
Jed shrugged this time. “Has she fired anyone? Did she interview several people and one of them is pissed he didn’t get the job? She claims she hasn’t dated since she moved here.”
I’ve had it with men, present company included. I like my horses better. Not words he intended to share.
“Doesn’t mean men haven’t asked her out,” he continued, “or someone she’s encountered at the feed store, the grocery store, the real estate office, who knows, hasn’t gotten fixated on her.”
“That’s true.” Niall kneaded the back of his neck. “We had a real ugly case—” His eyes met Jed’s. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Jed’s muscles had locked tight. He wasn’t sure he was capable of saying anything.
“Linette’s a beautiful woman,” Niall said baldly. “Not a supermodel look, but I can’t imagine a man not noticing her.” Once again he sounded apologetic.
Jed’s jaws and stomach muscles ached. It didn’t help that Grant was clearly intrigued.
“I’ll look forward to meeting her,” the sheriff said mildly. “You sure you want to let your old friend anywhere near her?”
“No, I’m not.” The too-quick response was raw, revealing more than he liked.
But Niall only smiled, almost gently. “You know me better than that.”
Jed groaned. “Yeah. Yeah, I do. I’m sorry.”
His friend slapped him on his back. “Happens to all of us.”
Jed had sworn he wouldn’t let this happen, but it seemed he no longer had a choice. He was sunk.
He stood, pushing back the chair. “Let’s catch the SOB who is terrorizing her.”
“Whatever you need,” his boss said simply.
Jed already knew that Grant would have his back, which was lucky. If he were on his own, he’d have a problem finding adequate time and focus for the investigation into cattle rustling and Gary Web
b’s murder with Linette’s problems added on top.
He reminded himself that the perpetrator could be one and the same, simplifying his life and job.
As the two men walked out to Jed’s truck, he saw Erin getting out of her car. He almost waved her over, but Niall, as hyper-alert as Jed, saw and dismissed her. Jed didn’t want to embarrass her, and saw no reason to warn Niall that Deputy Brown was a cop and therefore not as harmless as she appeared.
CHAPTER TEN
Linette was mucking out stalls when she heard the sound of a powerful engine out in front. She wasn’t expecting any orders, there was no reason for Jed to come back until evening, and Troy was already here. His aging truck didn’t sound like that, anyway.
Well, her unexpected visitor could just wait.
Hands protected by leather gloves, she steered the heavy, loaded wheelbarrow out to the manure pile, where she dumped the contents. After taking the wheelbarrow back into the barn, she wiped her forehead with the hem of her flannel shirt, looked down at herself ruefully, and headed out front.
There were two pickup trucks, Jed’s gray one and a bright blue Ford F-150 pulled right up behind it. Jed and another man had walked over to the fence and were petting Maria Angela, a blue dun mare, whose four-week-old colt, Manrique del Rio, hovered a few feet from the fence.
Jed must have a sixth sense where she was concerned, because the moment Linette started toward them, his head turned. Having him watching her made Linette even more self-conscious. Her knee-high wellies were caked with shavings and manure, her jeans were ancient, and her flannel shirt sweat-soaked. Wisps of hair must be escaping her braid. Yes, this was her at her most attractive.
Doesn’t matter, she told herself fiercely, but knew she lied.
“Jed,” she said politely when she’d almost reached him. The other man turned and grinned. For an instant, Linette only stared. Then she said, “Niall? Oh, my God. It is you.” Laughing, she rushed forward to hug him. He kissed her on the lips.
Jed didn’t say a word.
Linette stepped back to look Niall over. Close to Jed’s height, he was lean and long, not quite as broad although his shoulders were impressive. With dark brown, wavy hair, blue eyes and a wicked grin, he’d turn any woman’s head. She might have been interested when they had first met, except he was married. Now? He wasn’t Jed.
“You look so good,” she declared. “But what are you doing here?”
“Traveling, seeing old friends, before I decide what I want to do next with my life.”
“I heard you got divorced.”
“Yeah, my fault. I wasn’t in good shape when I finished that last deployment.” Niall shrugged. “Lost some friends.”
“I’m sorry,” she said softly.
He nodded acknowledgement. “I got out of the army about six months after Jed did, so it’s water under the bridge.”
Like she’d buy that. But she smiled. “Well, I’m glad to see you. Welcome to the LB Kiger ranch.”
“So modest,” he teased.
Linette laughed. “Have to remind myself it’s all mine somehow, don’t I?”
“You look good, too.”
“Liar. I’m not only filthy, I stink. But if you can stand me, I’ll make you a cup of coffee.”
“Won’t turn that down.”
Leading the way to her house, Linette finally noticed Jed’s stone face. Was he mad? She couldn’t imagine why. He’d brought Niall out here.
At the back door, she toed off her boots before continuing into the kitchen, where she scrubbed her hands and splashed water on her face as she and Niall continued to exchange tidbits about their recent histories. After starting the coffee, she joined them at the kitchen table.
“It’s been a long time since the three of us were together.”
“It has,” Niall agreed. “Have you stayed in touch with Marlene? She’d love this place.”
“We mostly email. She’s really happy for me. I invited her out for a visit, but she can’t stand to leave her horses.”
“That deadbolt looks new,” Jed asked brusquely. He was studying the back door.
“So much for chit chat,” Niall said in amusement.
Cold blue eyes zeroed in on his friend. “That’s not what we’re here for.”
And she shouldn’t forget it, Linette thought. She stood, poured coffee and brought the cups to the table. “Cream, anyone?”
Both men declined. She was the only one to add sugar.
“I did replace the deadbolt on the front door and add this one on the back,” she said, feeling renewed tension. “Until a month ago, I wasn’t locking my doors during the day, and I didn’t worry much. Really, I should replace this door. No lock will do any good if someone can just break the glass and reach in.”
Lines formed across Jed’s forehead, softening his expression. “I don’t like reminding you—”
“Not as if I forget.” All she had to do was look in a mirror at the colorful bruising on her face.
“Okay.” Ignoring Niall, Jed pulled out a small notebook and pen. “You said you haven’t dated since you moved here.”
Just what she wanted to discuss with him. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Niall’s eyebrows climb.
“I haven’t.”
“I’m betting some men have asked you out, though.”
Linette blinked, for a moment wondering why he was raising the subject. But she wasn’t really that naïve. Men who felt rejected could become stalkers.
“Yes, but…I don’t know how much help I can be. Even when they introduced themselves, I don’t remember names.”
He pressed, “None of them?”
“Well…a few.” Wonderful, being put on the spot. “Let me think. Um, one was that police officer who was killed. Chad Norman.”
Jed’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t bother writing down the name.
“A guy who works at the Shell station in town. Allen Bowman. Bowden. Something like that.”
“Persistent?”
“I didn’t give him a chance. I switched to buying my gas at Arco instead.”
She offered a few other names. His expression never changed until she added, “Oh, and a guy named Rob Fullerton. That was the most recent. Maybe six months ago? We got talking at the coffee shop. He said he ranches.”
Jed made an audible sound, as if she’d punched him. “You like him?”
“No, he reminded me too much of—” She bit her tongue, she stopped so suddenly.
“Theo,” Niall contributed. “Wasn’t that his name?”
Linette scowled at him. “It was. Is. How do you know about him?”
He shrugged apologetically. “Marlene.”
Stung, Linette said, “She gossiped about me?”
“I asked about you, she said you were living with a guy.”
Looking away from both men, she said, “I’ll bet that isn’t everything she said.”
“No. I’m sorry. She worried.”
Her laugh lacked any humor. “I’d like to say I can take care of myself, but it turns out I can’t. You have no idea how much I hate that.”
A flicker of some emotion passed across Jed’s face too fast for her to identify. All he said was, “Niall has offered to help stake out your place. We plan to split the night shift.”
Suddenly alarmed, she said, “So…what? You’re both moving in?”
“I don’t know about Niall. I plan to sleep here, on the couch if need be.” His shoulders moved. “I will need to use the shower, keep something in your refrigerator for breakfast.”
Niall set down his coffee cup. “Depends on the plan. If we aren’t hiding our presence, I can stay at Jed’s place and drive over here when I’m due to take over. If we’re hoping to catch the guy in action, then I’ll pretty well need to stay, too. Although, is there anywhere we can hide our vehicles?”
Her mind boggled at the idea of these two big men who exuded so much testosterone sharing her house. About the only way she could pretend they weren’
t here was to shut herself in her bedroom.
But she wouldn’t have to be afraid. She could sleep.
“I have two extra bedrooms, but one of them is unfurnished. The other one is set up for guests. You can switch off in that bed it if you’re okay with that, or lay down a pad and sleeping bag in the empty room. Or sleep on the sofa, which isn’t a pull-out. Whatever you want.”
“I have camping stuff with me,” Niall said. “I don’t mind sleeping on the floor.”
“As for the pickups…” Linette hesitated. “You can’t come in one?”
“If we do that, Niall will be stranded here when I head into work,” Jed said.
“Why don’t I help out here daytimes?” Niall suggested. “Look like a new employee. Take over mucking out stalls and the like.”
“I really can’t afford—”
He smiled gently. “Strictly as a volunteer. I don’t need money.”
Jed didn’t look pleased, but he kept his mouth clamped shut.
Free labor. How could she turn that down? “Okay. Yes. For a few days anyway. If your pickup isn’t here, you won’t stand out if someone is watching the place.”
Niall offered to load up on groceries, they decided he would come back when Jed did this afternoon. Jed thought his arrivals would be less likely to be noticed if he got here well before dark.
“He’d stand out if he were watching you in daylight.”
Linette wanted to think he was right. “What do I tell Troy?”
“The truth. Niall is an old friend who might take advantage of your spare bedroom for a week or two.”
If Troy thought they were sleeping together, so what? It wasn’t any of his business, she decided.
In fact, she saw her employee when she was walking the two men out, and introduced him to Niall.
“My truck needs some work, so Jed is going to drop me off out here later today,” Niall said easily. “I figure I can earn my keep. I’m sure Linette can come up with something for me to do.”
If he really meant to work, he could start replacing a run-down stretch of fencing she hadn’t yet gotten to. She had enough supplies to get him started.
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