Page 31 of The Cowboy’s Reckoning

“Or someone shot the cow on purpose,” Hayes stated, echoing Jordan’s thoughts.

“People are assholes sometimes,” Dane agreed.

“Did you tell them about the fences?” Jordan asked Lil.

She nodded stonily. Gone was the woman who’d allowed him to comfort her for all of a nanosecond.

“She said that you were going to sell, but the buyer didn’t want tenants,” Dane said.

“I backed out of the sale.” Both brothers gave him sharp looks. “I planned to tell you when you got done with the baler.”

“What’s the buyer’s name?”

“I only have the name of their rep, Jess Connery. He has an office in Livingston.”

“When did you back out?”

“Earlier today.”

“Do you have any enemies?” Dane asked Lil, but it was Meg, who’d been hovering nearby, who answered, drawing the everyone’s attention.

“I have an ex who stalked me for a few months. He’s in Alaska.”

Jordan’s gaze sharpened. “You’re sure?” he asked before the deputy could speak.

“I keep tabs on him.” Meg took a step closer to her sister. “I called his work after the fence was cut. They said he was on shift but couldn’t come to the phone. Anyway, I thought you should know about him. Just in case.”

“Better give me his name,” Dane said.

They started back across the pasture to the parked trucks, following the vet who’d hung around to listen. Jordan couldn’t say he blamed the guy. High drama on the Willow Creek Ranch with unfortunate consequences.

The brand inspector went to his truck after a short conversation with Dane, who was also in no hurry to leave. He and Trev and Hayes waited near his SUV while Jordan continued to the house with Lil and Meg. They stopped at the gate while Meg continued on up the walk, accompanied by the big white dog who’d been waiting in the yard.

“Why didn’t you tell me that your sister had a stalker?”

Lil shifted her weight, pulled in a short breath. “It’s been over a year without a word.”

“What did he do?”

“Stalker stuff. He kept showing up wherever Meg was. Approaching her in odd places. Leaving evidence that he’d been to our ranch when we were gone. He visited my dad at the care center, but fortunately, Dad didn’t recognize him. The staff told us, which creeped us out. Nothing he did was overt enough to report, but it was wildly uncomfortable. Threatening, yet not.”

Kind of like what had been going on here.

“It was just one more thing to deal with.”

“You’re not alone, Lil. This is my business too.”

She looked like she wanted to argue, but she couldn’t. Jordan pushed his hands deep in his pockets as he regarded her. His protective instincts were in overdrive, but it was clear that he was dealing with a woman who didn’t want to need anyone. Not yet anyway. He understood the logic of being safer on one’s own.

He also thought it was flawed. “I take it that you two are staying here tonight?”

She responded with a quick lift of her chin. “Where would we go?” She shook her head as the obvious answer popped into her mind. “We’re not going to your ranch.” Not yet anyway.

“I have a different idea.”

“Yeah?” She folded her arms across her chest as the wary answer slipped from her lips.

“Let me stay here. For a few days anyway.” She opened her mouth, but he raised his hand before she could protest. “I have a trailer. I’m living in it now. I just need a plugin. I’d feel better if I were here on the property with you.”