Page 98 of This Time Around
“No, but thank you.I’ll be okay.”
I always loved having a friend as a police officer.It made me feel safer in a small town that was already relatively free of crime.With Ryan standing in front of me, his face an equal mixture of compassion and anger, I was more than thankful.
He was fit to be tied with what they found on my land, and there was no doubt in my mind he’d do everything in his power to figure out what in the hell happened last night.
Two of my calves.Gone.One with a bullet lodged in his head.The other one was ripped the length of his gut, consistent with a coyote.Obviously, Shawn was going with someone shooting at a coyote theory, but it still didn’t explain how they got to my animals to shoot unless they were already on my land.
I’d already pointed my finger across the land toward the Jeffersons.
Any evidence they’d found had already been bagged and removed, and then they’d told me I could come see the calves.Without thought, I tossed Cooper the keys to one of the four-wheelers and climbed on behind him.I wrapped my arms around his stomach, held him tight, and rested my forehead on his shoulder, dreading what I’d find.
Seeing it in person was just as, if not more, dreadful than I could have imagined.
To some, they were cows, to me, they were my livelihood and I did my best to treat them as respectfully as possible.It was my honor to raise healthy livestock to aid in healthy diets.Someone had just murdered them.
“We should get out of here,” Cooper said, already guiding me back to the four-wheeler.
I rested my head on his shoulder again and then reached around and took his hand in mine, holding his hand while we walked.
“We need to get them buried.I should call Jordan and see if he’ll help.Or maybe Peter can send a few men over.”No way in hell was I inviting the Jeffersons onto my property to help bury them.
“I’ll do it.You rest when we get back.”
“They’re my responsibility—” I started to say but he squeezed my hand and talked over me.
“And I’m here to help.Let me do this.”
I considered arguing further, but damn, I really was exhausted.
“Thanks, Cooper,” I said as I climbed onto the ATV again behind him.“I think I could use a nap.”
“Good.Because I want you well rested for our talk later—and afterward.”
His salacious grin told me exactly what he wanted.
Thank goodness I’d called Brooke.
“Wake up!Wake up!”
My bed jiggled and wiggled and I bounced along with it, forcing one eye open.
“Ugh.”I grabbed a pillow and flung it at Brooke before rolling over.“Go away.”
“No.”Small taps of what felt like plastic rained down all over my back, almost making me itch.One slapped my face and landed on the bed next to me.
Barely opening my eyes, I reached for it, and held it up to my face.
“Are you serious?”I asked, rolling to my back.All the foil packets she’d dumped all over me crinkled as I moved.“How many did you get?”
My bed was covered in condoms.She had to have bought out the store.A quick scan showed she’d bought different sizes, different colors, and was that ribbed and dotted for her pleasure?
I reached for it.
“Yeah.I like those too.”
“You’re insane.I asked for a box, not for you to rob the warehouse where they store them.”
She shrugged and plopped down on the bed, sitting on her knees with her feet tucked beneath her.“I didn’t know what you’d like.Or what he’d need.See?”She held up one that had one or two more X’s than I was used to seeing on a package.“I mean, he looks like he could have some serious equipment to work with.”
