Page 17 of The Soldier and the Cowboy

“The diner is…people are going to talk about us.”

“What will they say?” she asked.

“That we’re a thing, that I’m using you to get back at Isabel, that I brought you on because you’re pretty and I want you in my bed.”

“Okay,” she said, nodding once decisively.

“Okay?”

“People will talk, sir. It’s the nature of things. As long as they don’t say I’m incompetent, I don’t care what they say.”

“I don’t think your competence will be foremost in people’s minds,” he said.

“It’s always foremost in mine,” she said.

“Very good. Keep focused on that and block out everythingelse,” he prompted.

“I always do, sir,” she said, and they walked side by side to the diner.

Chapter 8

“I’ve spent the last few days inspecting the ranch, making observations, talking to people, and taking an aerial view, and I have some thoughts.”

“Yes?” he prompted. If there was a hint of defensiveness in his tone, it was because he was so incredibly protective of his ranch.

“First of all, I want you to know I think it’s spectacular. I don’t think you can appreciate the beauty of flat nothingness unless you’ve grown up with it. It reminds me so much of home, and I’ve really enjoyed my time there.”

“Thank you, but this sounds a bit like a benediction.”

“Not a benediction, simply a frank assessment. Your ranch is beautiful, Mr. Ridge, and I enjoy it immensely.”

“Thank you,” he said, relaxing a bit.Oh, geez, she’s working me over and doing it well.“Have you ever considered politics, Bailey? I think you’d have a good shot at being president.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’d spend ninety percent of my presidency saying, ‘Yes, I am a woman, what of it?’” They shared a smile and she continued. “You believe you have two problem areas on the ranch—the rustlers in the north and the smugglers in the south. I submit to you they’re the same problem.”

“You think the cartels are stealing my cows?” he asked, eyebrows raised.

“Not exactly, but I think the endgame is the same—drug money. One way or another, and I’m not sure how yet, but I think both things are connected to drugs. One we know for sure is a seller, the smugglers. I find it highly possible that the rustlers are buyers.”

“When you put it together like that, I can see it. We’ve had a raging drug problem here, like everywhere.”

“I have some ideas about increasing patrols, including an air patrol by me, and mixing up your schedule and routine. Vary feeding times, etcetera. I think that might be enough to stem the thieves who are looking for a quick, easy buck. Let’s not make it quick or easy.”

“Sounds good,” he said.

“Now, about the smugglers. Clearly it’s a tense, complex situation that’s going to require a light touch. I don’t want to do anything to start a war, but I do think there are some subtle ways we can make things harder for them.”

“Like what?”

“How would you feel about unflattening that nice, flat road?” she asked.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean right now it’s like a paradise of flat land and easy walking. Let’s make it not easy.” She huffed a frustrated little sigh. “I really wanted to talk to that Ranger, get his input on the situation, but he’s apparently less than useless.”

“And speak of the devil, here he is,” Cal said as Sully Langford pulled up a chair and joined their table.

“Have you really killed eleven people, or is that something you say to impress people?” he asked Bailey.

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