Page 46 of The Cowboy’s Reckoning

“How did you know that I met with him?”

“I called him.” And before he could point out that was similar to what he’d just done, she added, “I planned to set up a meeting with the three of us. If nothing else, we could discuss the fences that keep coming down. We shouldn’t be working at cross purposes.”

“I understand that.” And he was beginning to understand that this was not a solo mission.

His instinct was to get to the bottom of things quickly and efficiently, and that meant acting alone. He was used to being in charge. Calling the shots, managing chaos. He occasionally dragged his brothers into situations, and they returned the favor, but in general, he liked to work alone.

Looking at the perturbed woman standing in front of him, he wondered how long he was going to feel that way.

“He didn’t have much to say other than seeing a guy looking for a dog on his property in May. He didn’t know my dad. He knew of my mom.”

“Things got personal.”

“They kind of had to. There was a great big elephant in the room.”

Lil pulled in a breath. “Okay, maybe I didn’t need to be there for that. But I want to know what the plan is. Who’s doing what.”

She had a point.

“Okay. We’ll coordinate.”

“Until this thing is solved.”

“What if that never happens?”

“That’s it. Cheer me up.”

He smiled. “Just trying to be realistic. We can look, but we may find squat.”

She considered the ground for a moment. “You want to check the fence with me?”

“There is never a time when I don’t jump at the chance to check a fence.”

She gave him a ha-ha look, but there was genuine amusement in her eyes. “We can take the quad. I’ll drive.”

Jordan hadn’t ridden on the back of an ATV since leaving for college. He didn’t remember it being this much fun, but he hadn’t had Lil in front of him, her ponytail occasionally tickling his face as he hung on to her waist.

They hit a bump and she threw a quick sorry over her shoulder as he recalled why the back wasn’t the best place to ride. He’d nearly been bucked off the thing.

“I’ll drive back,” he said into her ear, tightening his grip on her waist.

He liked the way she smelled, all fresh and floral, with just a hint of barn dust.

“No. I get the front.”

“I’ll wrestle you for it.” He felt her laugh and his groin stirred.

They found one area where a deer had quite possibly hung up and the rest of the fence was trouble-free. Stretched wire was easy to ratchet tight again and they were back at the ranch sooner than Jordan anticipated.

And maybe because the fences hadn’t been messed with and the day was sunny and unusually optimistic, Lil felt the need to bring up the subject that had probably been playing on both of their minds. Definitely on his.

“How long do you plan to stay, Jordan?” she asked driving the ATV to the gas tank for a fill-up. “I mean, you have a life.”

He ran a hand over the side of his face. “Right now, my life is kind of this ranch. I put in the mortgage application yesterday. Should hear in a week or so.”

She nodded. Waited.

He shifted his weight under her scrutiny. “I’d like to stay a little longer. Just because it’s quiet it doesn’t mean things are over.”