Twice A Target (Task Force Eagle) by Vaughan Susan

Author:Vaughan, Susan [Vaughan, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Gullwood Press
Published: 2013-06-03T03:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Holt caught up with Maddy in the barn as she was unsaddling Chica. He’d deliberately hung back to quell the storm raging inside him.

Her impetuosity had cornered him into accepting help. Or maybe she’d planned it. Maddy plan? Maybe. But that wasn’t what put a burr under his saddle. She’d gone racing off across that field with no thought to the possibility of the gunman’s return. Having her around would turn his hair white.

Once this custody problem with Bobby ended, she’d leave. But what if she went only as far as the Circle-S? Not that he ought to care. Aggravating woman. He shook his head.

Lust, on the other hand, was familiar and manageable, but he had to rein in unwanted possessive urges and protective instincts. If he’d jumped into that corral while that pimply-faced prick had his hands on Maddy, he’d have decked him. Not cool. Maybe acting engaged had simply confused his libido. Like hell.

He walked his horse into the stall and peered across at Maddy. “Okay, Sherlock, just what the hell did you find out?”

“Just a doggone minute, Donovan. I won our little horse race, so you have to wait. You go first.”

He flipped up the stirrup and fender. Working his jaw, he loosened the cinch. Sensing the strain in his hands, Bandito shook his head. Holt soothed a palm down the sleek neck. “Will told me about a hand they had who left the day after Rob and Sara died.”

Maddy’s single blink wasn’t the reaction he expected. Not surprised? But she’d tell him her news in her own damn good time. The woman could give lessons in obstinate.

He explained the Circle-S boss’s offer for Ghost Mountain. “I wonder if his stubborn pride got him killed.”

Maddy shook her head. “I can’t see Will Rafferty committing murder for Ghost Mountain. Hey, maybe there’s silver in that old mine someone wants. But Will? No.”

“What little silver there was played out long ago. But that wasn’t what I meant. I don’t know what I meant.” He scrubbed a hand over his eyes.

Maddy lugged her saddle off the mare and deposited it beside the other. “Family pride may not’ve caused Rob’s death, but it may have kept the ranch from prospering. Like his older brother, he didn’t like accepting help from others. Even old friends.”

She was something. Holt felt his mouth tilt in spite of his doldrums. “Think you’re pretty smart herding me into having extra hands for the branding.”

“Quid pro quo. The cowboy action shooting should be fun.” She grinned and picked up a curry brush. Starting on her mount’s coat, she said, “What did Will say about the drifter?”

“In March, he hired an extra hand to help finish the stable. Fellow named K.C. Riggs was thirty-six according to his driver’s license. Drove a small RV and kept to himself.”

“I imagine most of these drifters who sign on as temporary hands are loners. So what else?”

“After he left, Will checked out his Social Security number. No such animal. Keeping to yourself isn’t damning, but high-tailing it when he did sure is suspicious.

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