AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“So what? Get out of my business,” Raven growled.
“Why, especially when you’re stuck all up in mine?”
“And I’m extracting myself right now. That is why I’m bringing you this.” Raven pulled out his phone from his back pocket, clicked on an email and turned the screen toward Dean.
“What’s this?”
“Find out everything you can on her. She’s needing security. One man detail and probably only for a couple of weeks.”
“Who is she and why does she need protection?”
“That’s what you’re going to find out.” He lowered the phone.
“Why are you showing me this?” Dean slanted his gaze.
“It’s time you took lead on a case. Once you have the information send it to me and we’ll decide what’s next.”
“I thought I was supposed to take time and heal first?”
“Well, I’m telling you it’s time and this is the perfect case. Nothing too strenuous while you heal. I’ll send you the information that I have. While you do this I’ll be babysitting a city girl.” He sent the information to Dean’s encrypted email then stood.
“Enjoy your glammed up babysitting job,” Dean joked.
“Go ahead and laugh. You’ll have one too.”
The next morning as promised, Raven drove onto Bonner’s Farm. The sun was just making itself known casting light onto the quiet land. At this time of the day a working farm should be buzzing with movement from livestock and hands, but instead the land reminded him of an abandoned town. He’d started mending a couple of the outbuildings but more of them had unpatched roofs, doors barely hanging on their hinges and being held up by rusted nails.
He parked next to Bill’s old beat-up truck that had a flat tire, reminding himself that he’d fix that later.
Raven turned off the engine to his Dodge. The squawking of chickens was the only sign that the farm hadn’t been completely forgotten. No lights were on in the windows. Maybe the guest had decided to head on back to where she came from. That’d sure save him a lot of problems.
Climbing out, Raven walked over the ground that was less grass and more a patch of dirt, and opened the chicken container to throw out some feed. They immediately pecked at the ground. Bonnie loved her chickens, treated them more like children than farm animals.
Heading back to the house, he took the broken steps, reminding himself that was next on his list, and onto the creaky porch, knocking on the door. He waited and nothing. Knocking a second time, he still got nothing.
Jumping off the side of the porch, he rounded the house to the back and shook his head. The yard had already started showing signs of neglect. Bonnie usually kept the flower and vegetable gardens lush and vibrant and low patches of weeds were making themselves at home. Laundry still hung on the line, hanging like rags, because she left unexpectedly to go to the hospital. Raven understood all too well how fast a place could become rundown without the proper care.
Stepping through the screened in porch, he pounded on the back door.
Still nothing.
He’d just about convinced himself that the lady had given up when he heard a faint sound coming from the field behind the shed. Stepping down the path he then saw her and she wasn’t alone. Raven had to blink twice to make sure what he saw was really happening. She had Betsy attached to a rope and she seemed to be exuding a lot of energy dragging the stubborn animal back to…where? Did she even know where Betsy belonged?
With a sigh, he strode over and without acknowledging her, he grabbed the rope and petted the cow like he would a dog. “Betsy, what are you doing out of your fence, girl?” With a firm tug and a click of his tongue, Betsy moved and he took her back to the fenced in area.
He removed the rope and latched the gate.
When he turned he found Parker standing nearby, her hands planted on her hips that looked nice in the jeans. Her chest rose and fell as if she’d been working out. “That is the most stubborn animal I’ve ever been around,” she panted.
“Morning, Parker.” He tipped his hat in greeting. “I’m guessing you haven’t been around many since you were the one who mistook a dog for a wolf.” She decided to forego a comeback, or maybe she was too tired. If he were a bargaining man, he’d go with the latter. “You been up with the sun roping Betsy?” he asked, hiding his amusement.
“That cow almost sent me to my death this morning. Do all cows have the tendency to peek into windows?”
He scratched his temple. “Bonnie treats her animals like kids. Betsy here is no exception. She’s probably wondering where Bonnie has gone.”
“Do they always just roam the land freely?”
“No. I’m guessing she found a break in the fence.” He stared down the stretch of fence in the distance, stepping back to look further down and he saw the breach. Mumbling under his breath, he turned back to the guest. “First thing we’re going to do is mend this fence because we wouldn’t want Betsy to scare you again. Then we’re going to milk her.”
