He sucked in his breath, marveling over her ambition. “From the amount of fans who flood your website for training tips, I have no doubt you’ll be so busy you’ll have to turn some away.”
“All in good time, I hope.”
Enjoying this too much, Cy sat up and pulled on his cowboy boots before he got to his feet. He stared down at her. “Speaking of your website, I happened to look at your schedule before Montana and noticed you competed in rodeos back east.”
“Yes. As I told you, Sally’s husband, Manny, is a bull rider and we decided to enter those rodeos for points. It was also a fun vacation.”
Cy rubbed the side of his jaw. “Since the stalkers were operating in the East, it occurred to me one of them would have seen you perform, possibly in Virginia or more likely in South Carolina. We know Charleston was one of the murder scenes. Since Walterboro is only forty minutes away, I’m thinking he might have gone to that rodeo and decided you were his next victim.”
“I had the best time in the ratings that night,” she murmured.
“The spotlight was on you. It makes perfect sense. We hope to pinpoint the exact location of their births in one of those two areas. It’s possible they maintained a home there.”
A delicate frown marred her brows. “To think they might have been following me since January...”
“While Dan tracked you all the way until he showed up in Oregon, his brother broke into the files at the WPRA and obtained your cell-phone number. But remember that there’s only one of them now and I’m going to catch him. Excuse me for a minute while I freshen up, then we’ll leave for your parents’ ranch.”
He put the gun in his side-waist holster. After making the bed, he left the living room and went upstairs to the guest bedroom. He shut the door and phoned Vic, who picked up on the second ring. “I wondered when I’d hear from you.”
“I was catching up on some sleep.”
“Which plan did Kellie go with?” Vic had been in on the meeting with TJ.
Cy stopped pacing. “I gave her a choice.”
“And?”
“We’re going to carry on as we have been.”
“In other words she doesn’t want anyone else being her bodyguard. Between you and me, the captain’s worried you’re going to lose your focus.”
His jaw hardened. “Is that what you think, too?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think.”
“The hell it doesn’t!”
“Honestly?” Vic questioned. “I’ve worked with you for three years and trust you with my life. If you think your plan is the best way to keep her safe and catch this predator, I back you all the way.”
“Thanks, Vic. I’m going to need your help.”
“You’ve got it.”
“We’re leaving for her parents’ ranch in a few minutes so she can exercise her horses. The crew will be watching the condo while we’re gone.”
“While you do that I’m going to see if I can get any information out of our prisoner.”
“If he talks, it’ll be lies.”
“Yup. But coming down off his latest fix, he might make a mistake that could be valuable. I’ll catch up with you later. Watch your back, Cy.”
“Always.”
He clicked off and reached for his Stetson.
* * *
CY DROVE THEM up to the barn. Kellie got out and headed for the entrance. Cy followed and they walked over to the first stall. “Trixie? I want you to meet a very important person.” Kellie’s palomino nickered and her ears pointed. “This is Cy. He’s going to ride Paladin while we do some circles.”