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Was she working with the cattle rustlers? If she was, she’dit As for whether she’d really killed Prescott’s father, Tanner would never have believed such a thing But then, as she’d brandished that pipe to defend herself, he’d seen the fury in those stunning eyes She’d reed

He recalled how she’d jumped away, more scared than startled, when he’d touched her shoulder His best guess was that Rose had been hurt in the past She’d learned to protect herself and fight back It wasn’t beyond belief that she’d even learned to kill, or maybe been forced to

But that was none of his business He was here to arrest cattle rustlers, and so far all Prescott had done was send hioose chases He’d seen no solid evidence of thieves or, apart from Prescott’s word, found any proof that cattle were even er sche used, and he didn’t like it

He could confront Prescott and de on But if the powerful rancher was involved in so claiet him booted off the ranch, or worse

Whatever was happening, so shadows and got to the truth

To the Prescott cowboys on the roundup After that, it ht not hurt to pay to visit the Rimrock, especially if he could find an excuse that wouldn’t blow his cover

He’d pulled up by the barn of the Prescott Ranch and was cli on the passenger seat The sight of it triggered a fleeting smile as he picked it up and tucked it in his pocket

It was the black silk ribbon that had slipped off Rose’s hair

It ell after dark when Bull drove his pickup into the ranch yard He was hungry, dirty, and sore after a hellish day on the roundup One of the hands had broken an ar a steer, and Jasper had driven hi calf, fleeing the rope, had fallen into a ravine and had to be shot Several other calves had diarrhea, a condition known as scours, which was never a good sign He’d isolated the animals and told the cowhands to keep an eye on them, but he’d probably need to pay a vet to come out and check the herd And vets didn’t work cheap

His arthritic hip throbbed as he eased out of the truck and felt his boots crunch gravel He didn’t want to see anybody, didn’t want to talk to anybody All he wanted tonight was so in his belly, a hot shower, and a few hours of blessed sleep before crawling out of bed at dawn to face another day

But that was not to be

As he walked around the truck, he noticed an older pickup with a can of the old Buick, but Rose aiting in the circle of the porch light, ready to pounce on hiry cat

He swore as she came partway down the front steps “We have to talk, Bull,” she said

“Not tonight” He tried toher aside, there was little he could do “I’ we have to talk about can wait till ”