Page 56 of Maggie’s Match

The four of them sat in the fast-food place, waiting for their food. Maggie could tell that Becca was warming up to the idea of Colton being there. Especially since Rick was having a very easy conversation with the man.

Whatever caution Becca extended towards men, it didn’t apply to Rick. She knew her cousin liked and accepted her fiancé.

God. Rick was her fiancé.

She caught herself smiling and reached under the table to take Rick’s good hand in her own. He didn’t even skip a beat but continued chatting with Colton about his construction business.

Just before the food arrived, Becca leaned over and whispered, “Bathroom.”

Maggie and Becca excused themselves and made their way to the restroom together.

“What is going on?” Becca asked, pacing the floor of the single-room bathroom.

“What do you mean?” Maggie asked.

“I mean with Colton.” She motioned to the door. “Are we just going to forgive him? I mean, he knew who Royce was.”

“So did a lot of people in town. It seems to me that everyone knew who he was except us,” Maggie supplied. “Which makes me think he wanted it that way.”

“Yeah, most likely to get to you. No wonder Royce was never really nice to me. He was only ever trying to get his hands on you.”

Maggie felt a shiver race down her spine. “Okay, so how is this Colton’s fault?”

“It’s not, it’s just… I’ve known him forever. I mean, like you and Rick kind of forever. What would you do if Rick betrayed you like Colton just did?” Becca asked.

“First, Rick has done some pretty stupid things in his past. He once invited me to a dinner party at his parents’ house,” Maggie pointed out.

Becca stopped pacing and then laughed. “How is that remotely like Colton keeping who Royce was from us?”

Maggie smiled and leaned against the countertop. “He knew that doing so would let the entire town know that we were an item.” Becca waved her hands as if to say, go on. “Without discussing it with me,” she added.

Becca’s shoulders slumped, and she shook her head. “I don’t see how that’s a big deal.”

Maggie walked over to her cousin and took her shoulders in her hands. “It was to me at that time. Right now, Colton’s betrayal seems big and, well, probably the most important things in your life. Give it some time. You’ll change your mind. I think he’s a really nice guy. It seems like the two of you really enjoy spending time together. Plus, he’s agreed to help us with all of our construction needs.” She hugged her cousin. “He’s even going to paint all the walls for us.”

Becca’s shoulders slumped, and Maggie knew at that moment that her cousin was as much of a goner for Colton as she was for Rick.

Chapter Twenty

Rick felt like a complete invalid. Since Bent and Colton were at the shop helping Maggie and Becca, he decided to help Bryson vaccinate the herd.

Since the doctor hadn’t cleared him to ride yet, Bryson drove him out to the field.

When they got there, they discovered two dead animals, one a calf only a few weeks old and another a little over a year old. Derogatory messages had been written on their hides in bright white paint.

“Shit, I’d hoped that all of this would have stopped with the arrest of the Tillersons,” Bryson said, standing over the newly poisoned animals.

“It could be someone else in the family,” he suggested.

“Could be.” Bryson glanced around, then motioned to the pump house. “Do you think that camera picked up anything?”

“Let me look.” Rick pulled out his new phone and opened the app. He quickly scanned through the hours of images from the night before. When he spotted a dark figure pass by around two in the morning, he showed Bryson, who was busy helping his men load up the two dead animals to haul away.

“Any clue who it might be?” he asked Bryson.

“No, but…” The man took the phone from him and then replayed the video several times. “There,” he said, showing Rick the screen. “They came from over there.” He glanced around and then started walking to where the figure had appeared from.

Rick tried to keep in step with the older man, but he lagged behind as he stepped into the wooded area. When he reached a fence, he did his best to step through it but snagged his shirt on the barbed wire.