“But he wouldn’t risk being sent back to prison and leave his father with no one to care for him.”
“If you want to believe in his innocence, go ahead,” Ty growled and struck out for the corral, leaving her standing there. This time Tara didn’t attempt to accompany him.
Buck was inside the corral, standing by the head of the gray gelding, making a final adjustment on the fit of the bridle when Ty walked up. Ears pricked, the gray swung its head in Ty’s direction.
Buck glanced over his shoulder, then unbuckled the throatlatch and slipped off the bridle. “What can I do for you, Calder?” Bridle in hand, he sauntered toward the rail where Ty stood.
“I understand you were fixing a windmill yesterday afternoon.”
Buck’s glance traveled past Ty, as if seeking the source of his information. “That’s right.” Bending down, he stepped between the rails and straightened.
“And I say you’re a liar,” Ty accused without emotion.
Buck shrugged it off. “It’s a free country. You can say anything you want.” He turned to face him and casually leaned a shoulder against a post. “Just what is it you seem to think I’ve done?”
“Shot out the tires on my truck.”
Grinning, Buck reached up and scratched the back of his head. “You can’t prove it, though, or you wouldn’t be here. Your brother-in-law would be standing there instead, ready to haul my ass off to jail. That’s just a guess, mind you.”
“Here’s something you don’t have to guess about—don’t try it again. I am only going to say that once.”
Buck made a show of whistling silently as he pushed his hat to the back of his head. “You sound like a Calder instead of an O’Rourke. Maybe you’ve got more of your old man in you than I thought.”
“I’ll do what I say. Remember that,” Ty stated and pivoted on his heel, the warning given. And a Calder only issued one.
“You’re wastin’ your breath,” Buck informed. “You’d better start lookin’ somewhere else ’cause I’m not after you.”
Ty had expected a denial. “I suppose that’s why you tried to make it look like an accident—just like the last time when you planned to make it appear like I had been thrown from my horse.”
With firm, purposeful strides, Ty retraced his way to the pickup, ignoring Tara when she attempted to speak with him. She was still standing by the steps when he drove away.
Dark eyes ablaze, Tara wasted no time cornering Buck at the corral. “What do you know about this?” she demanded. “Was it an accident?”
“If Calder said it wasn’t, he probably knows what he’s talkin’ about.” Bridle in hand, Buck ambled toward the portable tack shed.
“Don’t you walk away when I’m talking to you,” Tara snapped in icy temper.
Buck paused and squared around to face her with an almost insolent lack of haste. “You bark out orders about as good as a prison guard.”
His lazy smile infuriated Tara. Her palm itched to slap it from his face. “Did you have anything to do with it?”
“You’ve got a suspicious mind, Duchess. About as bad as Calder’s.”
“I want a straight answer, and I want it now!”
After a full beat of silence, Buck reminded her, “You know I was miles from here fixin’ the windmill.”
“I know that’s what you told me. But I have no way of knowing whether it’s true.”
Buck easily met the hot, accusing glare of her eyes, his mouth still wearing its lazy curve. “I guess you’ll just have to take my word for it.”
“So help me God, if you’re lying to me, I swear you’ll regret the day you were ever released from prison.” Tara’s voice was low and thick with promise. “I have told you before—you do what I say and only what I say.”
“Now, that’s the second time I’ve been threatened today.” Buck shook his head in mock amazement. “First Ty warns me that he’ll bring the wrath of the Calders on my head, and now you.”
Her look was hard and cold. “If anything happens to Ty, I wouldn’t worry about the wrath of the Calders if I were you. If you think they can make your life hell, you haven’t seen what I can do.”
Stiff with controlled anger, Tara swung away and marched toward the construction office. Buck watched her, the smile fading from his face.