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“Buster told me to help here today, so what do you need?”
Rory stared at Abe. Was he one of them? Was he stealing from her and making money from it? She gritted her teeth before doing something stupid and just came right out and asked him. Inhaling, she blew out a breath and relaxed her tense shoulders.
“Just keep them moving, please.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Abe smiled at her.
Rory nodded. She couldn’t even make herself smile back at him because she suspected him. Hell, she suspected all of them except Buster. All of them could be stealing from her. Maybe she should tell Buster about Hal and Bernie, and he’d keep an eye on them for her. She’d talk to Wilder about it before she did that. She knew he suspected everyone so she wanted to see what he thought about that.
Rory’s temper was getting the best of her. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs that she knew who was stealing her cows, but she also knew she couldn’t blow this case for Wilder. He had to find all the men involved, and she knew he would. She trusted him, and he’d do anything to help her. God, what was she going to do? Losing more cows was not an option, and it just ripped her to pieces about Boo-boo.
She was such a sucker for animals. That was one reason she was so happy to have the farm. She just didn’t think she’d get so attached to them. They seemed to love her too because they would come to her anytime she walked toward them and called their names.
Maybe she was crazy about loving them so much, but she believed if you treat your animals well, they’d provide for you and love you back.
“You’re being silly. They’re just cows,” she whispered. “Yes, but they’remycows.”
“I’m sorry?” Abe said.
“Just talking to myself, Abe.”
“I can understand that. You’ve been through a lot lately. If I knew anything about who was doing this to you, I’d go after them.”
“Thank you, Abe. I really appreciate that.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m going to take a few out then bring more in. Do you need anything else done, Rory?”
“No, thanks, Abe. I’m going to go into the house. So, if anyone needs me, that’s where I’ll be.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He touched the brim of his hat and then headed out of the barn.
Later, as she sat in her office, she heard someone knock on the back door, so she pushed the chair back, walked to the kitchen, and opened the door to see Wilder standing there, and she waved him in.
“I just wanted to check on you. Abe said you were in here.”
“I can’t be out there right now, Wilder. I keep thinking about how my men are stealing from me. No matter how nice Abe was to me, I suspect him now. It’s not fair,” she said, and her voice cracked.
“I’m sorry,” Wilder said as he pulled her into his arms. “I didn’t want to take her, but I didn’t have a choice.”
“I know.” Her voice sounded muffled against his shirt.
She stepped back from him. He smelled entirely too good. Man, sweat, leather, horses, and hay.
“You were working in the horse barn.”
Wilder grinned. “How can you tell?”
“I think you smell wonderful.”
He kissed her forehead. “Thank you.”
“Wilder, I think I should tell Buster about Hal and Bernie—”
“No.”
“Why not? He could keep an eye on them.”
“And if he’s in on it?”
