Cole shouted. “Get over here and give us a hand.”
“On my way.” Tony shot her an even stare, making the fine hairs rise on the nape of her neck, then wheeled his horse around. Bethany didn’t move as he rode off, her hands trembling, anger still pumping through her veins. Then she signaled for Red to get moving and headed downstream to join the men monitoring the thirsty cows.
So Tony was still a creep. That much hadn’t changed. She frowned, wondering if he was behind Cole’s problems. Killing helpless cows sounded like something he’d do.
But criminal or not, she’d be smart to watch her back. Instead of finding answers, she’d ticked off an old enemy—a dangerous one at that.
She reached the herd, then gave her father’s veteran cutting horse free rein. Red sprang into action like a kindergartener let out for recess, charging across the field, dancing back and forth to head off the bolting cows.
But as she worked, her plans for a relaxing vacation crumbled fast. She hadn’t found any answers. She still didn’t know why her father had lied. But if there was any chance her father’s fall was more than a simple accident, she had to find out.
Red pivoted sharply and changed directions, and she spared a glance at Cole. He stood with his feet planted wide, his hat tilted low, his big hands braced on his hips. His gaze connected with hers through the shifting dust, and her heart made a heavy thud.
She had to get answers, all right—which meant she had to stick close to the men. But she was doing this for her father’s sake and her own peace of mind—not to be around Cole.
She just hoped she’d remember that.
“All right. Listen up,” Cole said. He stood on the bank of the stream they’d cleared, waiting for his tired men to gather around. The vet had returned to town an hour earlier. The sheriff had taken his statement and gone. They’d carted the dead cattle to a local food bank and made sure the wells were working again.
His head pounding, he whistled again for his men. Bethany rode to the edge of the group, then leaped off her horse. She’d done an amazing job controlling the cattle, putting his ranch hands to shame. But she’d always been an expert rider. Watching her on a cutting horse was like viewing a work of art.
A fact not lost on the men. Tony hadn’t taken his eyes off her all day.
Scowling, he cleared his throat. “I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that we’ve got a problem.” And he was tired of being caught off guard. “So I’m moving up our schedule. We need to get these calves shipped off before anything else goes wrong.”
“I thought the trucks weren’t available until next week,” Kenny said.
“I’ll find some trucks somewhere.” He hoped. He’d originally planned to ship his cattle to market last week during the round up. But his herd had splintered in the mountains, stranding a hundred head near the divide. He’d rescheduled the trucks, hoping to use the delay to his advantage, getting the calves’ weight up while he rescued the rest of the herd. But now, with someone killing his cattle, he couldn’t afford to wait.
“First thing in the morning we’ll start in the southern section. We also need to start patrolling at night,” he added. “I’ll draw up a schedule.”
The men grumbled. Cole couldn’t blame them. They already worked long hours. But what choice did he have? If he lost enough money, the ranch would fold, and they’d all be out of a job.
“If you know anyone looking for work, let me know.” He scanned the group, but no one answered. His gaze stalled on Tony, who was staring at Bethany again.
Cole’s mood darkened. He didn’t care who she dated. He had no claim on her. But he didn’t need her distracting the men.
Bethany swung up on the mare and trotted off. Tony vaulted into his saddle a second later, turning his gelding to go in pursuit.
“Tony,” he barked. “Take my truck and drive into Maple Cove. Leave word at the bars that we’re looking for extra men. Do the same in Honey Creek. I’ll ride your horse back to the barn and check fences along the way.” He glanced around at the men. “The rest of you get something to eat. I’ll bring the schedule by later.”
The ranch hands began to disperse. His eyes simmering with resentment, Tony dismounted and handed Cole his gelding’s reins. Cole fished his keys from his pocket and tossed them his way. “Tell them I’m paying overtime,” he added.
He hoisted himself into the saddle, then took off after Bethany, ignoring the men’s speculative looks. He needed to check his fences—nothing more. And if Bethany happened to be riding the same way …
He caught up with her a few minutes later as she climbed the hill. “Thanks for helping today.”
Her eyes met his, and a familiar jolt changed the rhythm of his pulse. She’d always had the damnedest effect on him. One glance across the cafeteria in high school, and he’d fallen for her hard.
“I enjoyed it,” she said, her throaty voice conjuring up erotic memories he’d tried for years to forget. “It feels good to be on a horse again.”
“I’ll bet.” They’d spent some of their best moments together on horseback, racing across these hills. He guided the gelding toward the fence, checking the barbed wire for problems as he rode along, but his eyes kept returning to her. A flush tinged her sculpted cheeks. Her straight black hair fluttered against her back. She looked good riding beside him. Right.
But she hadn’t cared enough about him to stay.
“I’m sorry about the cows,” she said.
“Yeah.” He shifted his gaze to the land bordering his fence. “I was hoping to turn a profit this year, enough for a down payment on Del Harvey’s place.”
“He’s selling?”
Cole nodded. “He can’t make a go of it anymore, not with property taxes so high.” Ever since celebrities had discovered the valley, real estate prices had soared.
“How big is his ranch?”
“A thousand acres. The land’s good. Lots of native grasses, year-round herds of elk. There’s a movement underway to get cattle off federal lands,” he explained. “If that goes through I could lose my BLM lease. Del’s ranch would provide me with summer pasture, enough so I wouldn’t have to reduce my herd.” But every dead cow—and dollar lost—jeopardized that plan.
Bethany looked toward the mountains, a small crease bisecting her brow. “How long will he hold on?”
“I don’t know. He’s been getting calls from developers. They’re offering him a lot of money. He wants to keep the ranch intact, but if I don’t come up with the down payment soon …”
His chest tight, he scanned the huge granite peaks scraping the sky, the aspens glimmering in the waning sunlight like burnished gold. He inhaled deeply, soaking in the beauty of the land. He couldn’t begin to express his feelings for this place. This wild land touched something inside him, giving him a reason to live.
And he’d do everything in his power to
