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“You okay?” Eli Hawkins asked him.
“Hey, Eli. Yeah, I’m fine. She’s pissed that I haven’t found out anything on her bull yet.”
“People don’t realize that we don’t just find them in a field somewhere. It takes time unless they’re caught in the act.”
“I know. I try to let people know how it can end, but they’re only focused on their animals and when we can recover them.” Alex shook his head. “It doesn’t always work out in the best way.”
“You’re right about that. I’m heading out. Let’s get lunch one day.”
“Sounds good, Eli. Be careful out there.”
“You know I will. You do the same.”
Alex nodded as Eli walked out of the offices and to the elevators. Then he picked up his hat, placed it on his head, picked up his coat, and left the building to follow a lead on the bull. He didn’t tell Dylan Walters because he didn’t want to get her hopes up and then possibly squash them.
****
Dylan strode out the back door, walked across the yard, and entered the barn. Since Justin’s wife, CeCe was watching Zoey, she was taking a ride to cool off. She was beyond pissed about her bull and Agent Reeves didn’t seem to be taking her seriously.
After saddling her horse, she spurred the mare into a run and tore off through the south pasture. She would check the fence and look for any suspicious activity on her property.
As she rode along, the brown, dry grass swooshed as the horse moved through it. The air was crisp and cold, and flurries floated around her. She halted the horse, stared at the mountains to see snow coming over them, and smiled. She loved fall, but winter was her favorite season. With it being March, the weather could be cold, as it was today, or feel like a spring day. Snow in April wasn’t a stretch for Clifton.
Winter was Marlowe’s favorite too, but Peyton loved spring and fall. She hated snow. Dylan smiled as she remembered how she and Marlowe would tease Peyton when it snowed since she rarely left her home.
Thinking of Marlowe, Dylan smiled because she was so happy for her. She found a good man. A cowboy that she didn’t want in the beginning. The three friends swore off cowboys, but Hank Barnett changed Marlowe’s mind, and now they were married.
Dylan was sure Hank would never hurt Marlowe, but she knew that she’d never find another cowboy to fall in love with. Travis Martin did such a number on her, but although he hadn’t been the first one to hurt her, he had been the worst. She would never forgive him for what he’d done.
As she rode along the fence, she noticed a section drooping, so she followed it and gasped when she saw the fence was cut. She pulled her cellphone from her pocket and called Agent Reeves.
“Reeves,” he answered.
“My fence is broken,” she snapped.
His sigh came across the line.
“I’m on my way. Please have someone saddle a horse for me and meet me at the barn. Don’t do anything.” He disconnected.
“Right. Just what am I supposed to do,Agent Reeves,” she growled.
With a heavy sigh, she turned the horse to head back to the barn. Someone was definitely interested in her other bulls.
When she rode into the barn, she saw Justin talking with a ranch hand, but he came toward her when he saw her.
“Is there a problem?”
“There’s a section of the fence down in the south pasture. I called Agent Reeves, and he’s on his way. I’m waiting for him here.”
“That fence was checked yesterday. It was fine.” Justin removed his hat, raked his fingers through his hair and resettled the hat.
“It had to have been cut last night. Maybe whoever it is, cut it last night and will come back tonight. But the bulls aren’t even in that pasture.” Dylan shook her head.
“I don’t know what they’re thinking. I’ll have some men go repair it.”
“Wait until the agent gets here. I’m sure he’ll want to look at it.”
“Okay. Let me know when I can send them to fix it.”
