Shielded by the Cowboy SEAL by Bonnie Vanak

Author:Bonnie Vanak
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

When they returned from their ride, Cooper thoroughly questioned all the staff at the Sunnyside Farm, and even questioned the guests.

As far as Meg’s safety was concerned, he took no chances.

All the staff were accounted for and most of the guests. Except Richard Kimball, the nature photographer. Fiona had not seen him since breakfast. He’d mentioned something about shooting the scenery in the White Mountains.

Awfully odd for a nature photographer to take photos when the season was mostly over. Cooper made a note to question the man upon his return.

Cooper didn’t want to let Meg out of his sight. It seemed too convenient that her ex had found her so easily, but one thing was certain. The series of disturbing incidents was aimed to deeply rattle or hurt Meg.

He checked all the security cameras, but saw only the staff and guests on the grounds. The river, though, was an unprotected area. Cooper vowed to never let Meg ride alone again. It was too risky.

Most troubling was the idea that his family was involved. His mother told him her cell phone had gone missing that afternoon. They searched the entire inn, and the staff searched the barn and grounds.

Nothing.

But later that night while Meg watched a movie with his mother and sister, he headed out of the inn to patrol the perimeter. Fiona’s cell phone was sitting on the hallway table.

Cooper picked it up, checked it. Maybe someone had found it and placed it there for Fiona.

Or someone had stolen it to lure him away from Meg.

A noise sounded in the living room behind him. He whirled and saw a woman quickly head for the stairs.

Cooper caught up to her. “Hey!”

The woman turned. Jenny, the new live-in housekeeper, the same one who’d admitted to being in the cottage. She kept her gaze focused downward. “Sir? Do you need something? I was returning to my room.”

He held out the phone. “Did you put this on the table?”

A head shake.

“Did you see anyone who put it there?”

Another head shake. “I—I have to go now.”

“No. You’re staying here until I get answers.” Cooper softened his voice, but he wasn’t letting her get away so easily. Not with Meg’s life at stake.

He questioned her for a good ten minutes, but Jenny kept shaking her head and stammering she didn’t know anything.

Finally, he told her to return to work. Jenny fled up the stairs as if the ghost of Cooper’s grandfather, rumored to haunt the inn, chased her.

Was Jenny playing these tricks on Meg and her fear was all an act? Was she conspiring to frighten Meg, get her to run? If so, why?

He wasn’t certain. But Cooper knew one thing. If Jenny was guilty, sooner or later he would catch her in the act.

* * *

“Do you think I saw my ex?”

The question, asked over dinner in the cottage the next day, made Cooper pause. He lowered his fork onto the table.

“I believe you think you saw him. That’s good enough for me to take extra precautions.

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