Mustang: A Rough Romance (Montana Bad Boys Book 3)

by Piper Stone

  “Have you ever heard of RH Holdings?”

  Sandra sat back, her eyes narrowing. “No. That’s the investment firm?”

  “Yes, and their website seemed shady to me.”

  “I should never have told you about the rumor I heard,” Sandra said. “Or about the news articles. I forgot how tenacious you always were because of your love of animals. You get that from your father.”

  Sighing, I rubbed my eyes, ignoring her comment. Talking about my father was difficult. “You were concerned after I told you about the steer. You have a love of animals too, ya know.”

  “Of course I do, but you can’t go around accusing people of crimes. Just slow down.”

  I’d read every article she’d shared with me then found others. The rise of cattle fraud was significant, increasing every year. Maybe I should back away, let the various law enforcement agencies do their job while I tried to save mine. I thought about her request, but the same nagging remained.

  “You know more about the cattle industry than anyone else I know,” I said quietly.

  “Why, because I grew up on a big, sprawling ranch, my father living and breathing ranching?” She laughed then reached over, placing her hand on my arm. “I’m not criticizing you, but I am trying to warn you that ranchers are very particular. They don’t like to be accused of crimes. There are regulations for the auction houses and other sales and that’s increasing every day. Let the experts handle this before you get yourself into trouble.”

  “I’ve heard that too many times already today. I could swear the injured steer was at the auction today.”

  Sandra smiled. “Then that’s good news. That means you helped the animal to recover in order to be sold.”

  “And slaughtered.”

  “That’s a part of the industry. Why are you getting yourself so worked up? Granted, the warning call was terrible, but take it as advice to leave this alone.”

  Getting worked up? That was something I didn’t have an answer to. I also wasn’t prepared to tell her that I’d taken a trip back to the ranch I’d been to on the stormy night I’d worked to save the animal. The entire place looked like it had been abandoned and not for a couple of months.

  For years.

  “Have you ever heard about a veterinarian used exclusively for a ranching corporation?”

  Sandra lifted a single eyebrow. “Stop playing detective. To answer your question, absolutely. Depending on the industry, like the rodeo circuit for example, having a vet on staff is required. Every large ranch employs at minimum a vet tech. I could envision a very large corporation could afford to employ a fulltime veterinarian.”

  “Which would make it easier to certify the cattle were ready for an auction even if they were sick.”

  “You need to stop this before you get yourself worked up even more. Whatever you had to deal with sounds horrible, but the cattle you tended to could have been cornered by a cougar for all you know. Happens all the time. We do live in the wild West.”

  While she’d been very animated regarding her increasing concerns, she’d also been tipsy at the time. The way she was pulling back, attempting to assure me that perhaps everything was normal left me with a lump in my throat. However, I knew better than to push it. I’d continue a careful investigation of my own.

  “You know what? Maybe you’re right. I don’t know the industry and besides, I have a practice to grow.” I gave a fake smile and when I reached for the bottle of wine, I couldn’t help but grumble.

  “Uh-huh. Why do I have a feeling you’re not going to let this go?” Sandra asked.

  “And why do I have the feeling you’re not telling me the full story?”

  She gave me a wry look. “Because it’s obvious I couldn’t even if I knew. Do yourself a favor. If, and I’m saying a huge ‘if’ you find anything, take it to the sheriff. Promise me. Being threatened is not something to mess with.”

  I knew she wasn’t going to let me off the hook. “You’re right.”

  “Okay, good, although I don’t buy it for a second. I tell you what. I’ll ask my father about this holding company if it will make you feel any better.”

  “It would.”

  “Okay. That much I can do. Now, why don’t we change the subject? This cowboy. Tell me about him again. Tell me everything.” She lifted her wineglass, a mischievous grin on her face.

  “I accused him of being a bad guy. He snapped at me. We kissed. Then he spanked me.”

  As a stream of wine spewed past her lips, a coughing fit ensuing, I couldn’t help but grin. Admitting what had happened wasn’t something I’d been planning.

  “Wha… What?” Sandra managed then wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “You’re not serious.”

  “Yep. I am. He called me a brat who needed to learn a lesson.”

  “He spanked you right there? Like at the auction?”

  “In the parking lot.”

  “Well, I’ll be damned.” She finally brought the wine to her lips, taking the time to drag her tongue around the rim. “Tell me about the kiss.”

  “Perfection. Panty-dampening. Thank God, I didn’t find out his name. I never plan on seeing him again.”

  “Oh, girl. That’s a real shame. Maybe you need one hunky, dominant cowboy to keep your conspiracy theories in check.”

  “Very funny.” As we both laughed again, I thought about my camera. “Do you want to see a picture of him?” I asked coyly.

  “Such a bad girl. Of course, I do. Who knows, maybe I can recognize him.”

  “If you so, I think I’d track him down and give him a piece of my mind.” I brushed my fingers across my lips, remembering the kiss. No. I refused to be bullied by anyone, even if the roughhewn cowboy was one of the sexiest men on the planet.

  “Or the rest of your body?” she mused.

  “Hmm… That’s not going to happen. I’ll be right back.”

  I heard her laughing, her fit of giggles exactly what I needed. Maybe I did need to lighten up. I hadn’t been able to get close enough to the steer in question to know for certain if it was the one who’d been injured. And the calls? Well, there were crackpots in every corner of life. As I grabbed the camera from my vehicle, I couldn’t help but notice a huge truck with blackened windows going by Sandra’s house very slowly. I stood still, studying the make and model, finally lifting my camera to take a picture.

  Just as the driver floored it, the tires screeching.

  This time, I wasn’t shaking. I was pissed.

  And I’d snapped the picture.

  The hair stood up on the back of my neck, a wave of nausea pooling into my stomach.

  As I took the camera inside, my anger was fueled again, but I was determined not to let her know what had happened and ruin the rest of the night. I found the picture of the cowboy. That would keep her occupied. Just seeing his chiseled face was enough to make me hot and bothered.

  “Here you go. Tell me that isn’t one sexy hunk?” I asked as I handed her the camera.

  She glanced at the photo then up into my eyes then down once again.

  “What is it?” I wasn’t certain I wanted the answer.

  “You’re not going to believe this, but I know exactly who he is.”

  “What?”

  “Meet Holt Wills, although I heard he goes by Mustang now. And let me tell you, he’s one bad boy. In fact, he’s dangerous.”

  Chapter 4

  Danni

  Sexy.

  Rugged.

  Dangerous…

  Maybe I should add delicious given the heated kiss.

  One reeking of explosive passion.

  My grip on the steering wheel tightened as anger rushed up from my boots. I also had to add in arrogant as hell, opinionated, and a brute. He certainly wasn’t my kind of guy, as if I had one. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been out on a date. Not that I would ever consider going out on any kind of date with the jerk. Nope. It wouldn’t happen.

  At least I was vindicated in m
y emotional reaction to him, my instincts correct about the cowboy. While Sandra had offered very little in a backstory behind her claim, she’d insisted I stay away from him. What the hell wasn’t she telling me? And how much of a bad boy could he be?

  What in the hell did it matter? I wasn’t looking for his approval or for any kind of relationship. I snorted and reined in my ridiculous thoughts. As if we’d be able to tolerate each other for more than a few minutes.

  Exhaustion had settled in, even though I remained wired. As I pulled up in front of my quaint little cottage, the single light burning by the front door leaving a warm glow, I tried to push the day’s events behind me. Thankfully, Sandra had convinced me that I should second guess doing any additional digging. My savings were dwindling fast from the move and I still needed to purchase additional equipment for my clinic. Securing new clients was my first and should be my only line of business.

  After climbing out of my truck, an immediate smile crossed my face. The deep rumbling bark was the best welcome in the entire world. The second I unlocked the door, Zorro came bounding out, his tail whapping back and forth rapidly.

  “Hi, buddy. Did you miss me? Oh, you little cutie pie. I missed you.” Hunkering over, I rubbed his face and ears before sliding my hand down his sleek back. I adored his shiny black fur, the long feathers crowding close to the ground. While he was a mixed breed rescue dog, he was all Irish setter in appearance, except for the color of his fur. When he jumped up, easily able to look me in the eyes, I hadn’t been prepared for the big, sloppy kiss.

  “Okay, sweet baby. Let’s go for a little walk.” I folded my arms as I followed behind him, tipping my head and enjoying the nearly full moon. The night was crystal clear, the near freezing temperatures invigorating. As he scampered off into the darkness, I thought about how lucky I’d been to find the place. With ten acres, a cozy house, and a good-size clinic, I had room to grow. There was even a small barn as well as a garage, although both needed some work. Still, that’s what time and lots of money was all about.

  Rome wasn’t built in a day.

  A cold shiver trickled down my back and I hugged my arms as I walked further toward the dense patch of trees. “Zorro. Come on, baby. It’s cold.” When I heard nothing, another wave of chills wrapped its bony fingers around every tendon and muscle. “Zorro. Where are you?”

  By now, he usually raced back toward me, eager to receive his nightly treat. After a few seconds, panic settled in. I turned in a full circle, listening for any other sounds, including cries from a cougar or other wild animals that lived within close proximity.

  When I heard an intense and very deep growl coming from the bowels of the forest, every ounce of mama dog swept away any concept of fear. “Zorro!” I headed straight into the trees where he’d run, stopping within a few yards. While I was barely able to make out his figure, the intense warning growl had come from my pup.

  He remained rigid, staring into the darkness. I crept closer, lightly placing my hand on his back. I’d never seen or heard him act this way, but there was no doubt we had some kind of an intruder on the property.

  “Come on, boy. Let’s get to the house.”

  Zorro huffed then backed away slowly. I did the same, fearful of making any quick moves. If an animal was stalking us, the last thing I wanted to do was turn my back on it. Only when I was within a few feet of the truck did I bound toward the porch, Zorro scampering behind me. Once inside, I slammed and locked the door, leaning against it in order to catch my breath. I tossed my purse then finally dropped to the floor, wrapping my arms around him.

  “What did you see out there, buddy?”

  The hard thudding of his tail against the wall was followed by his wet nose nuzzling into my neck.

  “Good boy. Let’s get you that treat.” My hands shaking, I turned on several lights before making it into the kitchen, immediately hustling to shut the blinds and check the back door. The deadbolt remained in place just as I’d left it. I’d never felt unsafe in the house, not once. Tonight? I had a terrible feeling that the reason for Zorro’s growl was entirely two-legged. I managed to grab a dog biscuit then eased against the counter.

  The sound of my cell phone created bile in my throat. It was after one in the morning, for God’s sake. As I walked back into the living room, I scanned the perimeter, searching for any sign of an intruder. I doubted anyone would try breaking in given Zorro’s intense barks, but I planned on checking every window lock.

  I took a few seconds before reaching down to grab my purse. By then, the ringing had stopped. I realized I was holding my breath, fearful of seeing the display. When I yanked my iPhone into my hand, I bristled, the screen immediately showing an unknown number.

  “Bastards.”

  I waited for a few seconds to see if the asshole planned on leaving me a message. The second the phone started ringing again, the call had riled every blood cell. “Who the fuck is this?”

  The chuckle was enough to piss me off. “You should know better than to play with the big boys.” The voice was heavily disguised, the mechanical sound just like something I’d seen in the movies.

  I bit back a string of retorts. “Well, from what I’ve seen, there are no big boys anywhere in this town.” His exhale was a slight reward, his hesitation only pissing me off. “I’m hanging up now.”

  “You need to watch what you’re doing, little girl. You don’t need to be sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong.”

  “Meaning what?”

  “Meaning we play rough around these parts.”

  While I shouldn’t inflame the creep, my adrenaline fueled the courage I had flowing through my veins. “And I have one big, fat gun and I’m not afraid of using it. Am I getting too close to the truth? Do you think you can scare me? Not a chance.”

  “I’d be very concerned if I were you. You’re sleeping with the real enemy.”

  What in the hell was the jerk talking about? “What?”

  “Holt Wills. He’s one of them that you should be worried about. If you want a real story, try Big Meadow Ranch. Otherwise, keep your nose where it belongs. I would hate to break those pretty little bones of yours.”

  When the call ended abruptly, my body lurched forward, a ragged hiss pushing up from my diaphragm. I glared at the phone, prepared to call him back. What good would that do? My guess was the number had been spoofed or blocked. I leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath.

  Big Meadow Ranch.

  Holt Wills.

  The timing was interesting, but I didn’t believe in coincidences. Not a chance in hell. Perhaps I’d pay Mr. Wills a visit and find out the real story.

  That way, Mustang could answer to me.

  Dangerous.

  Big Meadow was a sprawling ranch, much larger than I would have guessed. I’d found little on the property other than the owner’s name. What surprised me was that Mustang wasn’t listed as the owner. In fact, his picture didn’t show up in any of the website’s pictures. That made little sense but was something I planned on checking out. The caller and the threat had been real, and while I didn’t want to jump to any conclusions, my guess was that there had been an actual intruder on my property the night before.

  I refused to be scared off that easily. There was definitely something going on.

  I glanced at the truck in my camera, making mental note of the ugly black thing. If Mustang had followed me to Sandra’s place, that would confirm what the caller had said.

  Leaving my truck on the side of the road, I walked toward one of the fences, a group of cattle grazing on the tall grass. I could see a series of buildings in the distance, and from what I could tell, there was no activity. No vehicles. No cowboys tending to the herd. Nothing. While I knew what I was preparing to do was risky, if not stupid, my plan was simply to get a good look inside a couple of the barns.

  If this was nothing but a wild goose chase, I’d leave Mustang and his dark and dangerous ways entirely alone. A flutter of butterflies mad
e me grimace. I’d even been stupid enough to think about the sexy cowboy in the shower that morning. I loathed the weakness.

  I walked several feet down the fence before deciding to hop it, moving quickly toward the buildings. If I was caught, I’d come up with some excuse. I was usually quick on my feet. When I made it all the way to the oversized barn without detection, I congratulated myself. If I couldn’t garner enough veterinary clients, maybe I’d have another career in a life of crime.

  Chuckling softly, I walked toward the front of the barn, peering around the corner, still unable to see any activity. That shocked the hell out of me. How did a working ranch not have some kind of activity twenty-four/seven? I studied the area, marveling at the majestic beauty, the mountains an exquisite backdrop.

  There were no horses in the corral and very few cattle within close range. While the other buildings appeared to be in good condition, if not recently built, one even reminding me of rancher’s quarters, I could swear they’d been abandoned. Discouraged, I shifted back to the barn. Flanked on either side by shed-style roofing, the massive structure even sported a cupola. There was no lock on the double doors, which likely meant nothing of value had been left behind. That meant I wasn’t technically breaking and entering. Right?

  I scanned the area double checking I was alone before tugging on the massive doors, finally managing to get one of them open. The scent of straw and some kind of feed assaulted my senses, but there was no sign of life of any kind. I was disappointed but refused to take this as a loss. There had to be other buildings somewhere on the twelve thousand or so acres.

  Checking my watch, I realized I couldn’t waste but so much time. I had two new clients coming in later today. I’d make a single sweep then at least get the lay of the rest of the ranch before calling it a day.

  What the hell are you doing, girl?

  I couldn’t answer my little voice, other than the same nasty gut feeling remained. With no proof, I certainly couldn’t turn this over to the police. The barn was beautiful in its emptiness, the stalls obviously set up for cattle with various feed stations; there was no mechanical equipment of any kind. There was even a loft overlooking the main facility. I still couldn’t understand why it was empty, unless every one of the buildings was being prepared for use.