Page 44 of The Cowboy’s Reckoning

“You’re sure?”

“I like the kid.”

“Great.” Between the two ranches, he’d have a steady paycheck.

Her phone rang as she drove to the Willow Creek. It’d been days since she’d heard from Aubrey.

“What’s up?” she asked after the call switched to Bluetooth.

“I ran into the lady that you chased cows with at the Graff Hotel,” Aubrey said.

“Think about what a unique statement you just made,” Lil replied dryly.

Aubrey laughed. “Yes. It was an experience, although I didn’t exactly help you guys. That said, I hope you give Jordan crap about it every now and then. Anyway, I told her about your horse training thing and she’s interested.”

“She has a horse that needs to be ridden?”

“I gave her your number, but you can stop and see her if you prefer. She works at the courthouse. I met her when I was dropping off my property taxes.”

“She works in the treasurer’s office?”

“The assessor’s office. We had a nice long chat because it was lunchtime and she was holding down both offices alone. Nice lady.”

“What’s her name? She gave it, but I can’t recall.”

“Sara. I never got the last name.”

“Sara will do.”

After ending the call, Lil felt like high-fiving the air for all of two seconds. She’d have to confess about the shooting if the woman didn’t already know. Operations were tight in a small county courthouse, so chances were that she did.

Lil was going to stop by and see if she could get another horse to replace Luke. And maybe by the time the next horses were due, in two weeks, she would be able to carry on business as usual without having to make big confessions.

*

Tom Baxter was a hard man to pin down. Calls went unanswered, messages ignored. Finally, Jordan resorted to ambushing the man. Tom had a haircut every Saturday, so Jordan loitered outside until the man left. When Tom spotted him standing next to the window as he came out of the storefront, his shoulders drooped.

“I’ve been meaning to return your calls.”

“That’s okay. I know you’re busy.”

“You have no idea.” Tom shoved his hands into his denim jacket pockets. “I just got back from Oregon yesterday. My daughter had twins. I practically had to carry my wife to the car in order to get back here in time for first cutting.”

“Which daughter?”

“Kate.” Tom’s face broke into a grudging smile. “Boys. Will and Mason.”

“Congratulations.”

Jordan knew Tom more by reputation than acquaintanceship. He was pretty certain, having gone to school with Tom’s daughters, that Tom knew Jordan by reputation too.

“You own the Willow Creek now.”

“I do.”

“That’s kind of a fantastic turn of events.” Tom obviously meant mind-bending.

“You’re telling me.” Jordan jerked his head toward the Main Street Diner. “Have time for a cup of coffee?”