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Rose hefted a shovelful of earth and duht, Tanner”

“It’s becoht Anybody who hurts you will have to deal with me Even if it’s Bull Tyler”

When the pit was deep enough, Tanner dragged the dead laain, insisted on helping cover therave was done, Tanner shoveled away the bloodstains in the lamb pen, rinsed off the tools in the creek, and put them away It occurred to him then that he should have looked for footprints before he disturbed the ground But it was too late for that now

Rose had washed her face and hands in the trailer “Let’s go find Bull,” she said

“You’re sure you don’t want to wait?”

She shook her head

“Fine,” Tanner said “We’ll take my truck”

Sitting next to Tanner in the truck, Rose was silent She was grateful that Tanner had cohter of her la How could Bull have done such a terrible thing? She had come to trust him She’d believed he was her friend

But this was the man who’d dumped her in Mexico for twelve years and taken over her land, she re

“Are you all right?” Tanner laid a light hand on her knee

“I will be,” she said “And thanks for being here It would’ve been a lot harder on my own”

“Co fro a lot,” he said “When we get through thisto do”

Rose didn’t reply They were pulling into the ranch yard of the Rimrock Bull had just come out of the house He walked toward the truck as they drove up Without waiting for Tanner, Rose flung herself out of the passenger side and strode up to confront him

His friendly expression faded as he saw her face “You look like you’re on the warpath What’s the matter, Rose?” he asked “What’s happened?”

“You should know!” she sputtered, alht you were my friend I know you hated those la?”