Spurred (Steele Ranch 1)

“Two.”

“Not enough to make enemies who might want to harm you?”

She gave a dry laugh. “I’ve met Jamison and Sutton. I’ve been with Cord and Riley except to sleep and when I went into town yesterday. I bought clothes at the western store.”

“You met Betty then.”

“She’s got to be in her late sixties. You can’t think she was behind this.”

Archer didn’t think that at all. Betty wouldn’t hurt anyone. He was just softening Kady up for the hard questions.

“One of my deputies found an abandoned car just past the turnoff for the ranch. None of us would have seen it since we all came and went to town except he lives down that way. Found the fu—the guy’s ID. New Jersey DMV lists him as Dwight Sampers. Ever heard of him?”

“New Jersey?” Kady licked her lips, put her hands on top of the counter.

“Camden.”

“That’s just outside of Philadelphia.” She paused, grabbed the glass salt shaker and fiddled with it. I didn’t think she even realized she picked it up. “Are you saying this person followed me here? Why?”

“Don’t know, but we’re looking into it now. It’s best to not be alone for now, to skip sleeping at the ranch, but looking at your men, I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”

I shook my head. Fuck no. She wasn’t going to be alone, or even out of the same room.

“I know the ranch is mine, at least part of it. It’s beautiful, but to be honest, the place scares me.”

Cord shifted so he could look her in the eye. He took her chin, tilted it up. “Why? What else happened there?”

She shook her head, his fingers falling away. “Nothing. I’ve lived in my house, my parents’ house, since they got married. I was two, so pretty much my entire life. There are neighbors. People around. The ranch is beautiful, but I don’t like being there alone. And after last night…maybe one of my half-sisters might like it better.”

Did this mean she wanted to move back to Philadelphia? That even Barlow was too small?

Archer listened with the quiet intensity of an experienced sheriff. He learned things by what people didn’t say, their reactions, as much as words. “I can understand. Barlow might not be the big city, but my neighbor told me yesterday that the sixth-grade teacher married a woman from Iowa and moved there. Guess his new wife wanted to live close to her family. So there’s an opening at the school.” Archer gave Kady a meaningful look. “Word’s spread that you’re a schoolteacher, so I would assume you could fill the vacancy if you wanted. You’d have to live in town though. It’s a far drive from the ranch, especially during the winter to get to the school every day.”

I owed Archer a beer. A whole six-pack. Fuck, maybe even a keg. He was giving her a reason to stay. A reason that had nothing to do with the ranch. Or us. This would be for her, and her alone.

“Wow, um. Are you trying to keep me here?”

Archer shrugged. “You have a job, a life back there. Most people don’t just move to a small town like Barlow on a whim or without a job lined up. Just thought this might help your decision making.”

Kady looked thoughtful, as if she were considering the possibility. Cord and I wanted her to stay. We expected her to do so just because of our love for her. Yes, love. But that wasn’t going to be enough. She couldn’t just sit around all day while we went off to work. She might be a millionaire now and not need a job, but she’d want one. She’d need it. It was just her nature. “Okay.”

Archer stood, put on his hat. “Something to think about. I assume I’ll find you here?” he asked her.

“Yes,” Cord and I answered at the same time.

“I’ll be in touch.” Archer grinned, then left. We didn’t walk him to the door.

Kady spun about, leaned against the counter. “Why is someone trying to kill me?”

Neither of us answered, because what could we say? While it felt like my life was now based on days After-Kady, we’d only known her for such a short time. Insane, considering the depth of my feelings for her. I knew Cord felt the same. There was so much we didn’t know about each other, and I’d assumed we’d have the rest of our lives to learn it all. But it seemed like a dead fucker could have changed that. I glanced at Cord, then at Kady, and said the only thing I could. “We’ll let Archer do his job.”

She frowned, glanced up at me. “What am I supposed to do then? Hide?”

“We’re not leaving your side, sweetness, so no hiding. We’ll keep you safe. Trust me, nothing is going to happen to you.” Cord’s tone, his entire demeanor backed his words. She had to feel safe with him—a veteran the size of a Sequoia—by her side. And while I didn’t have the same training as he, or the size, no one was fucking with our woman.

“What are you going to do?” I said. “Take a shower, then let your men fuck you.”

Her mouth fell open. “Speaking of that, I can’t believe you let me have a conversation with the sheriff with a plug in my…in my, me!” Her hands went to her hips and she looked sassy and perfect.