Page 52 of Rancher to the Rescue

“It?” Prudence’s disgust mirrored his own.

“I mean, none of our friends know and I can’t see any reason for this situation to come to light,” Mr. Warrington continued. “No good could come from it.”

Adam wished he could see Lawler’s face right about then.

“Is it safe to say, then, you want nothing to do with your granddaughter?” Lawler asked, his voice a study in calm. It dawned on Adam that a man in Lawler’s line of work probably saw and heard just about everything.

“We aren’t saying that exactly,” Mr. Warrington hemmed.

“This would be a good time for a grandmother to step in and shut her husband up,” Prudence whispered.

“Is it wrong that I’d rather they not want to be involved?” Adam would do whatever was best for Angel. Still, he figured she was far better off without those cold-hearted people. He still couldn’t get over the fact Mr. Warrington had called his own grandchild an “it.”

“No. They make my skin crawl just looking at them,” Prudence admitted. “I don’t want them anywhere near our Angel.”

She squeezed his hand as she studied the couple on the other side of the mirror. Did she realize she’d just called Angel theirs?

Stranger yet, his heart didn’t protest.

He’d never felt this way about another person, not even Libby and he’d been intent on marrying her. He realized now that she’d done him a favor in walking away, but he stopped short of calling Angel a mistake. If the child belonged to him, he planned to give her everything she deserved. If she didn’t, he intended to make certain her father did.

The thought occurred to him Libby might have been on the run from Angel’s birth father. The paternity test would tell. Waiting for the results, not knowing when so many lives hung in the balance was the worst.

After seeing Libby’s parents in action, he now understood why she kept the pregnancy from them. If they didn’t want anything to do with their dead daughter’s child, they weren’t worth her time.

“I can’t promise the news won’t connect the dots or run their own investigation,” Lawler said, his voice flat. He rarely gave his mood away. So, Adam was surprised at how much his tone changed toward the Warringtons.

“I’ve seen enough. Should we head out before these jerks leave?” Adam said to Prudence. They’d been away from the house for an hour and a half already. His mother hadn’t called or texted, so that was a good sign.

“They aren’t worth our time, let alone hers.” Prudence stood up.

Without any fanfare, they exited the building. In the parking lot, Adam noticed a man in a suit who was leaning against the opened door of his truck and smoking a cigarette. From this distance, he looked to be in his late thirties and had a runner’s build. He had sandy-blond hair that had a deep part on one side and was combed over the front. His crisp suit gave him an air of importance. Businessman? Lawyer?

The second made more sense outside of a sheriff’s office. So, why was he trying to cover the fact he watched every step Prudence took?

A chill raced down Prudence’s spine, like the sensation people referred to when they said a cat walked over their grave. She scanned the parking lot, her gaze stopping on a man in a suit three rows over.

“Do you know who that is?” she asked Adam.

“Never seen him before in my life,” Adam confirmed.

“Something about him gives me the creeps,” she admitted. “I can’t put a finger on it, though.”

“He seems a little too interested in you.” Anger laced Adam’s voice. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t follow us.”

Prudence climbed inside the cab of the truck. She touched Adam’s arm after he took the driver’s seat. “Maybe we should see if he does first.”

Adam stared at the rearview for a long moment.

“You’re right. Let’s see if he takes the bait.” He started the engine and put the gearshift in reverse.

As he was backing out of the spot, Prudence noticed the Warringtons leaving the sheriff’s office.

“Hey, check that out.” She motioned toward them.

Adam followed along.

“If I head toward them with my foot on the pedal, do me a favor. Grab the wheel,” he said. There was a hint of truth in that statement. He wouldn’t do anything to put himself in legal jeopardy, but she didn’t blame him for having half a mind to run them over.