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“Okay,” Ty said hesitantly. “Gotta tell you, Sheriff, I only really know the people on our ranch. Unless this person works at a store or restaurant in town, I won’t recognize them.”
“It’s worth a shot,” Burke said.
“I’ll do anything I can to help.” Tyler’s eagerness was one of his most endearing traits.
Burke turned his computer monitor around so Tyler could see it better, then cued up the first clip. It showed a slender man wearing a white long-sleeved T-shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots walking down the street with an oversized canvas bag. The guy wore a ball cap pulled down low over his forehead and kept his profile toward the cameras, even when he dumped the tools into the bed of the truck. Burke paused the video and zoomed in.
“I’ll be damned,” Tyler whispered.
“Do you know him?” Burke asked with urgency.
Tyler shook his head. “Sorry. I was just shocked by his boldness.”
Burke continued playing the video clips to show the man walking down the sidewalk. He discarded the canvas bag in a trash can and continued toward a parked sheriff’s cruiser. They watched as the man approached a deputy who exited the diner with two large sacks of food. He gestured animatedly toward the parked truck, now out of frame. Burke paused the action again. The security camera footage came from across the street, so he zoomed in again to look for any identifying features like scars or tattoos. The only feature that stood out to Cash was the man’s nose. It had a slight bump on the bridge as if it had healed poorly after an injury, which gave the nose a hooked appearance.
“Sorry, sir,” Tyler said. “I can’t help you. I’ve never seen that man before in my life.”
The sheriff sighed. “I’ll keep working on this. Can you think of anyone who holds a grudge against you?”
“Me personally or the ranch?” Tyler asked. “Because I’ve never exchanged a harsh word with anyone.” He scrunched up his face. “Well, a few of the guys from Salvation Anew said some shitty things to me once in town. I just ignored them and kept walking.” Tyler looked at Cash. “Do you think they’re behind this? The logo on the truck doors clearly identifies it as ours. Could this have happened to any of us who drove into town? We’re here often enough. Dude could’ve just been waiting for the opportunity.”
“That’s for me to figure out.” Burke’s voice had regained its sharp edge, and he locked his gaze with Cash’s in a warning. He didn’t want Nick interfering more than he already had with the errands that had caused him to part ways with Cash earlier. “You’ve been as helpful as can be, but I’ll take it from here.”
Tyler held up both hands in surrender. “Fine by me, sir.”
Burke arched a brow at Cash, who grinned to let the sheriff know he’d received the message. Now he just needed to convince his…um…Nick to stay out of it. Burke stood up and said, “I’ll walk you out.”
Tyler didn’t let on if he thought that was weird. Then again, he was probably too eager to leave the station to pick up on nuance. Burke had ordered Tyler’s truck to be returned, and a deputy had parked it in front of the station for them.
“You mind driving?” Tyler asked Cash when Burke held out the keys.
“No problem.”
Cash mentally braced himself for an accusation or snide remark once Tyler climbed into the passenger side of his vehicle and shut the door. Instead, Burke chuckled as he dropped the keys into Cash’s open palm.
“You know,” he said, crossing his arms, “you could’ve just told me you were in love with someone else. I wouldn’t have been upset.” Burke tipped his head to the side. “I think I already knew but continued to hope I had a chance.” With a heavy sigh, he added, “Tell that arrogant asshole that you and I are still having our weekly lunches. I’m not losing my friend over this.”
Cash’s muscles unclenched, and relief flooded his body. He reached over and clasped Burke’s shoulder. “I’ll see you Wednesday at one, Seth.”
“Looking forward to it.” The twinkle returned to his gray eyes. “Hey, Cash,” Burke called out before he could open the driver’s door. “Be careful and stay alert.”
Burke’s caution held an ominous tone, but Cash tried to smile through his unease. “Will do.”
Tyler said little on the way home. He appeared to lock himself down tight, though Cash caught a telltale shiver every once in a while. Cash’s mind was in a million places too, so he embraced the quiet instead of trying to guess the assurances Tyler needed to hear. Owen would know the perfect way to reach Ty just as Nick would calm the tumultuous feelings troubling Cash. They were going home to their respective people, and that was better than idle chitchat.
Tyler didn’t launch himself out of the truck when Cash parked it in the usual space next to the barn. He turned solemn eyes on Cash and said, “Thanks for coming for me.”
Cash laid his hand on Tyler’s shoulder. “Always, Ty. And I mean that. There may come a day when your dreams take you away from the ranch, but I’ll always be just a phone call away.”
Tyler’s lower lip trembled for an instant before he stiffened it. “Landing in lockup was the best thing to happen to me. It forced me to get clean. I found Owen. Then I met you.” Tyler took a deep breath and scanned the ranch for a few moments before meeting Cash’s gaze. “This ranch and the people on it mean everything to me.”
“And all of you enrich my life in ways I never dreamed possible,” Cash told him.
“I’ll never be able to repay your kindness, but I promise to never betray it.” Tyler puffed up his cheeks and blew out slowly.
Movement in his periphery caught his attention. Cash glanced out the rear window and saw Owen and Rueben advancing on them. “Heads up. Incoming.”
Tyler looked in his side mirror and smiled as he removed his seat belt. “My favorite welcome wagon.” He opened the door, and Owen was on Ty as soon as he stepped down.
