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“Well, the more we talked, the more I realized she wasn’t interested in me at all,” Derek said with a sigh. “She finally admitted she wanted to buy this ranch, and she kept pushing even after the first couple of times I politely told her that the Double W ranch isn’t for sale and won’t be anytime soon.”
I started to feel the same bubbling, boiling wave of anger that I’d felt the last time I was face to face with Nora. I'd really thought my tolerance for her was as low as it could get before all of this, but hearing how she’d tried to manipulate Derek’s feelings just to try to get some kind of deal on his ranch? That was just gross, and I felt bad for Derek that he’d had to go through all of that.
“I honestly was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt over the poisonings and the arson before,” I said. “But now? I feel like she really might be capable of anything. I think her greed for my land—and yours, too, apparently—has pushed her over the edge. I think she’s gone crazy.”
Derek inhaled and slowly exhaled a deep breath. “I just don’t know,” he said, finally. “I wouldn’t want to think anyone was capable of doing those things, but… someone is obviously not just capable but completely willing.”
“We need to be sure to give the sheriff all of this information when he gets here,” Boone said. “We might not have any actual proof yet, but it’s sounding more and more like Nora Statler needs to be right at the top of the sheriff’s list of suspects.”
I couldn’t have agreed more.
And if Nora really was behind the poisoning?
Yeah, she’d be hoping to get arrested by the time I was done with her.
Sheriff Prescott gave me a stern look. “I wish you and your uncle would have told us about the poisonings before now, Janessa. It would have been nice to be able to compare any evidence from your ranch to what happened here.”
“I know.” I nodded, wishing for once that Uncle Justin was around to take some of the heat. But I probably deserved this lecture. I’d been the one insisting that it was my ranch and my turn to make the decisions. “And I’m sorry. We honestly thought it might have been some teenagers out causing trouble at first. If I would have known it was going to keep happening, we definitely would have called you.”
It was the truth, but I wasn’t sure if it would be enough to get me back into the sheriff’s good graces. Sheriff Prescott and his deputy, Cole, knew my family well—just like they knew every other big land owner in the county—so I was a little embarrassed that I’d done something foolish enough to earn a lecture from them.
Not that I thought they were going to arrest me or anything, but I represented a long, proud line of Thoresons, and I wanted to always make sure I stayed on the right side of the law.
“The important thing is that you know now, though, right?” Cade asked, placing a protective hand on my back as he came to stand next to me.
“We think there must be some sort of connection, Sheriff,” Boone added, taking his place on my other side. “And now that we’ve heard Derek’s side of the story, too, it seems like there might be an obvious suspect.”
The sheriff held up both hands and shook his head. “I’m not in the business of speculation and hearsay. Cole and I have taken statements from all of you, and we’ll follow up with the leads you’ve given us, but it’s important that we operate on facts, especially since we’re just now getting started on the investigation.”
He gave me a pointed look, and I had the good sense to look down at the ground in contrition. I wasn’t going to let my temper or my pride get the best of me today. Besides, he was right. I should have gotten the police involved from the beginning.
It was just hard to even consider needing anyone else’s help when I had Cade and Boone. They’d made it their business to take care of me, and I was perfectly happy with that arrangement.
“We’re certainly not trying to slander anyone’s good name around here, Sheriff,” Derek said, also looking stern and serious and very matter-of-fact. “But the evidence we have right now does seem to point in one particular direction.”
“And we’ll be sure to check that direction—and any other direction we need to check—after we’ve had a look out at the Thoresons' ranch.” The sheriff tipped his wide-brimmed cowboy hat in my direction. “Janessa, I’d like to come take a look at your stables and all the animals that have been poisoned first thing tomorrow, if I could.”
“Of course,” I said, nodding. “Uncle Justin can tell you everything he’s seen as well, and we can even try to get Logan Hensley to come back out and talk to you since he’s the one who treated the animals.”
“That would be helpful,” Sheriff Prescott said. “We need to move this investigation along as quickly as possible so we can hopefully prevent anyone else’s livestock or property being targeted.”
“Thank you for your time, Sheriff,” Derek said before turning his attention to me and the guys. “And I’m glad the three of you came over today. I hate that this has happened to us, but I can honestly say I feel a little better already knowing that we’re all in this together now.”
“Absolutely,” Boone said. “Just let us know if you need anything, Derek.”
“And we’ll keep you posted if we find out anything else,” Cade added.
“Likewise.” Derek nodded. He paused, then his lips twitched up into a small grin as he looked back over at me. “Seems like you’re in good hands here, Janessa. Just make sure you remind them who’s in charge from time to time.”
“As if I’d let them forget it.” I laughed as Cade and Boone both turned to give me matching surprised looks. “But you’re right. I’m definitely in good hands. I think I’ll keep them around for a while.”
We said our goodbyes to Derek and then piled back into Cade’s truck.
“You know,” I said, looking at Cade as I settled into the crook of Boone’s arm. “Earlier I was thinking to myself that I couldn’t really see much resemblance between you and Derek.”
Cade grinned. “Yeah, a lot of people are surprised to hear we’re cousins.”
“You both seem to be complete opposites at first glance,” I continued. “But I think I just caught a glimpse of the Winslow gene.”
