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“Or someone else at the ranch. Hard to know what goes on in the mind of an arsonist.”
“I just can’t think of anyone who’d do this.” Sam crossed her arms, anger building as helplessness raced through her.
Spotting Aiden make his way toward them, Logan held out his hand. “Deputy.”
Clasping the hand, Aiden nodded at Sam and the others. “Logan.”
“Thought they caught the guy,” Logan said.
“We all thought so. Appears not. I’ll need to talk to everyone.” He glanced at what he assumed were the guests. They’d huddled together, some staring, others talking. A different group than was at the ranch for the first fire. “Is Laurel Maddox still here?”
Sam shook her head. “She moved into an apartment above the flower shop. Laurel said it was easier for her to get stuff done than driving back and forth each day.”
Aiden nodded. “Makes sense. I need to start interviewing your guests. Were any of them here during the last fire?”
“No. Well, except for Laurel.” Sam answered without turning her attention away from the activities to stop the fire. “Let me know if you need my help with anything.”
“Will do.” Aiden moved to the closest group of guests, introducing himself while extracting a small notebook and pen from a pocket.
Sam moved closer to Logan, lowering her voice. “It has to be someone who’s never been a guest at the ranch.”
“I was thinking the same. Have you noticed anyone from town lurking around?”
She gave a slow shake of her head. “No. I can’t believe someone started the fire in daylight with several of us around.” Sam looked at Logan. “I’ve been outside all morning and didn’t notice anyone who shouldn’t be here.”
“Have you considered it might be one of the ranch hands?”
She glanced around as a sigh escaped. “I’m trying not to.”
“Could be, Sam.”
“I know, but who? Everyone has been here a while. I’m one of the last people the Bonners hired.” She rubbed her temples. “I just can’t see a ranch hand doing this. Every one of them is a person I’d trust with my life.”
“You’re sure about that?”
“Absolutely. What about one of the men from Jake’s ranch?”
“I don’t know any of them well enough to say. Two of them worked for Seth Magnus before he sold the place to Jake. The others are younger and used to moving about. They’ll stay a year or two someplace, then find something else. I guess it’s possible one of them set the fires, but…” Logan thought a moment before shaking his head. “I just can’t understand what they’d have to gain. It would be a huge risk with no payoff.”
Before Sam could respond, Aiden left the guests he’d been interviewing and joined them. “Nothing from them. I wanted to double check with you two. Either of you see anything suspicious?”
“No,” each answered.
“Did anyone show up you didn’t recognize?”
Sam shot a look at Logan. “He was working at the Kelman Ranch until he saw the smoke and drove over. I didn’t see anyone who didn’t belong here.”
“The same answer as everyone else,” Aiden mumbled more to himself than to Logan and Sam. He looked at the fire. “I wonder if our arsonist is someone battling the flames.”
“They’re mostly the firefighters at this point. You aren’t implying it’s one of them, are you?” Sam asked.
“I have to consider all the possibilities. Brady Blackwolf is a volunteer firefighter, right?”
“He is, but he’s with the rest of the guests on a trip south of town.”
Aiden glanced at her. “Any other volunteers?”
“Not that I know about.” She turned away, attempting to get a better view of how the men were doing in their efforts to squelch the fire. Her heart sank. The fire had jumped to an equipment barn. “Oh, no.”
