Best Friend's Ex Box Set

“That’s what I’m suggesting.”

I glanced over at Joe, who slowly approached the both of us. He shook his head in disbelief when I exchanged a confused frown with him.

“I think it’s time for you to go,” Joe said calmly. “Go on, Bill. You find a ride home now.”

Bill rose from his bar stool to toss a twenty-dollar bill. He tapped his temple with a stubby and greasy finger. “Think about it, Smith. That’s all I’m saying.”

“That man is a vile being,” Joe grumbled as we watched Bill stumble out into the dark night. “I hope someone pities him and takes him home. He’s

in no shape to be driving.”

“I’m sure someone will. We all know he’s a drunk.” I smoothed a hand through my hair to calm my rising temper. “Did you hear what he accused Cheyenne of doing?”

“I heard,” Joe said, nodding. “Insurance fraud? I’ve only talked to Cheyenne a handful of times, but she doesn’t strike me as the type of person to do that.”

“I don’t think that’s a possibility either,” I agreed, letting out a long breath. “She loves those horses so much. She nearly died trying to save them in the fire.”

Joe clasped me on the shoulder tightly. “Don’t let it get to you, Colt. We all know that Bill has a habit of placing the blame on others to avoid his own guilt.”

“No kidding,” I said.

We closed up a few hours later. I took the long way back to the ranch and stopped by Cheyenne’s place. The gate was still open, but all the lights were off in the house. It was utterly dark and quiet when I stepped out to inspect the gas cans that were partially melted in the rubble still. The fire marshal had told Cheyenne to leave everything be for the insurance company to look at.

Rubbing my jaw, I didn’t know what to think of it. Cheyenne loved those horses more than anything in the world. I could still remember her anguished screams when I pulled her out from the stallion. It wasn’t in her character to do something heinous. It was in Bill’s character to do it though.

I climbed back up in my truck to drive back to the ranch. The living room light was on when I stepped inside, lifting my cowboy hat to place it on a dining room chair. I found Cheyenne curled up on the couch in front of the fireplace with a paperback in her hands. Her dark hair was free and damp about her shoulders. I smelt her flowery shampoo when I sat down in the chair across from the couch.

“How was your day?” she asked.

“Fine,” I said, closing my eyes to fight off the headache pounding in my head. “It was busy as always. Nothing new.”

“What about Tiffany?”

“Tiffany?”

“Yeah. You said that you were going to see her before work today.”

“Oh, right.” I found Cheyenne’s gaze resting on me. A frown tugged at her lips as she closed her paperback. “She’s going to be fine. She’ll be home in a few days. Better to stay with a friend in town because it’s close to physical therapy.”

“That’s good,” she said. “Is everything okay, Colt? You look like you’ve had a bad night.”

I directed my gaze to rest on the fire in the fireplace. It would need a few logs before the both of us went to bed for extra heat tonight. It was already crisp outside.

“Bill Coates came into the Iron Stallion tonight,” I said. “I’m sure he was kicked out of the bar down the street, but he came in tonight.”

Cheyenne’s face tensed up at that. “What did he have to say?”

“He’s upset over the loss of his horse. That was the gist of the conversation, and he suggested his own—” I paused to search for the right word. “—theories about what caused the fire.”

“He caused the fire,” Cheyenne responded immediately. “There’s no doubt in my heart, Colt. He did it.”

“There’s no evidence of it though,” I said grimly. Sensing Cheyenne’s temper rising, I held up my hands to calm her. “I’m not taking his side. I’m here to help you any way that I can.”

“What did he suggest?”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said, shaking my head. “What is your insurance like? Have they told you what they can replace?”

“Just enough to replace the barn,” she said and picked at stray thread in the couch cushion. “That’s it. I didn’t pay higher premiums because I couldn’t afford it. I won’t know much until the claims adjuster comes out to look at the barn this week.”