His question sticks, warm and possessive. My skin prickles. “Depends on how much dirt the town has to dish.”
“So, lunch, in that case?”
I chuckle. “Let him know breakfast is on the counter if he’s got the guts for it.”
Ash’s dark eyes dance with curiosity; mine skitter away. “Breakfast for all or just for Anson?” he asks, arching an eyebrow.
Willow scowls at him, and he adds quickly, “Not that we need anything more. Eldon keeps us well-fed. Should’ve invited you to breakfast this morning. Only found out a couple of hours ago you’re staying with Anson.”
My cheeks heat, though I try to play cool. “Anson’s staying in the bunkhouse.”
He nods. “None of my business.”
Willow doesn’t look so convinced.
I add too quickly, “Apparently, the Forest Grove Inn lives up to its reputation.”
“That it does. And you won’t find a better man than Anson. Or a safer location than the ranch.”
The way he emphasizes the words makes me wonder what Anson has told him. “Where’s Anson this morning?” My tongue betrays me—the way his name heats my throat says too much.
“You didn’t hear? The guys are out patching fences. Cut by someone in the night. Let wolves in, cattle out. Not sure how many head we may have lost. Fortunately, the main pasture still has a bull in it. But he had quite a night keeping his girls safe.” He shakes his head.
I shiver. “Grizzly bears? Wolves? Cut fences? Are those normal around here?”
“Grizzly bears. Thankfully, no. Wolves, more so. As for cut fences, haven’t heard of it since cattle rustling days. Strange. Anyway, won’t keep you any longer. Have a nice drive into town and tell folks ‘hello’ from Off-Duty,” he finishes with a wink before tipping his hat and riding away with Willow and Ro tailing him.
As I drive towards town along the long dirt road that brought me here, three words haunt my thoughts:hell to pay. Are cut fences whathemeant?
In the distance, men on horseback come into view, riding through an expansive swathe of golden prairie. They’re breathtaking, like a vision from another time. I can’t help myself. I pull onto the embankment, jump out, and snap pictures.
One man straightens in his saddle, removes his brown hat, and waves my direction. My heart skips, zooming in closer. Pretty damn sure it’s Anson.
Ash’s words wash back over me.He is a good man. Too good for the kind of trouble that comes with me. Anson said it himself. He came here to feel human again. He doesn’t need the nightmare chasing at my heels.
But if I go, I’ll never stop running. And I’ll never escape. Can’t do that anymore.
I wave back, big and bold, stirring the spice and heat hidden in his scarf. I breathe it in. Safe again. I can imagine a grumpy grin lighting up Anson’s face, though he’s too far away to be anything more than a grainy image.
Fluorescent lights hum overhead,leeching color from everything as I file a report with Chief Patrick.
“Off-Duty Ranch, eh? Can’t imagine any place safer,” the somber man says as I hand him the form I filled out in the waiting room before getting ushered back.
“That’s what everyone says. But you heard what happened last night?” I ask, forehead knitting.
He nods. “About the fences? Yes. Wait—you don’t think…” His gaze drops to the form. “That Mr. Brantley followed you here? That he’s capable of something like that?”
I unlock my phone, find the photo of Forest Grove in his texts, and hand it to him.
Patrick shrugs, leaning back. “Don’t mean to play Devil’s advocate, but civic welcome signs are a dime a dozen on the internet.”
He hands it back, and I swipe up to reveal the metadata. Show him again. “Date and time. Yesterday afternoon. Location services are off.”
He peers at the screen, unimpressed. “Compelling, sure. But all it proves is that whoever took this was in Forest Grove. Not necessarily Mr. Brantley.”
Of course. I smile bitterly. “Read the report.” The words scrape my throat, metallic as the coffee cooling between us. “Former Marine. Charged with war crimes at one point, though somehow, his record was later expunged.”
Only after our breakup did I really start digging in, uncover the monster I let into my life. “He’s tampered with my brakes, placed multiple tracking devices on my car over the past year. Installed surveillance equipment to monitor me at work.”And scared the shit out of any man who even looked at me twice.
