Page 16 of Cowboy Jeopardy

Eric snorted. “It’ll take more than one summer.”

Dani widened her eyes and stifled a giggle. The two boys really were too much.

The horse’s bucking slowed, then stopped, and Dylan rode him at a slow trot around the paddock before sliding from the saddle and handing the reins to a waiting cowboy. He snatched his hat from the dirt, slapped it against his thigh, then smiled as he approached Dani and the boys.

“Nothing better for relieving stress than to have it pounded out of you.” He set his hat in place.

“I’ll do something else, thank you.” Dani chuckled.

The bell signaling supper rang.

~

“Let’s get cleaned up, boys.” Dylan put a hand on the shoulder of each of his sons. “There should be a new ranch hand at the table for you to pester.”

Rather than go in the house, he led the boys to a trough recently filled with water. Mrs. White didn’t take kindly to dust in her kitchen. He hung his hat on a nearby tree, then splashed water over his face and neck. The boys took turns doing the same. Dylan glanced up to see Dani watching with an arched brow. “What?”

“I thought that only happened in the movies.”

“Washing up this way? It’s great when you don’t have time for a shower and it’s mealtime.” Who wanted to stall when it was time to eat? It wasn’t as if they were washing in dirty water.

Marilyn stepped onto the deck. “There you are. Make it snappy. You’re making the new cowboy have to wait.” Eyes wide, cheeks flushed, she dashed back into the house.

“Uh-oh.” Dani grimaced. “The new guy must be handsome and close to her age. My mom has a soft spot for cowboys, and the look on her face says she’s on the hunt. Plus, she’s wearing lipstick.”

“Should I tell the man to run?”

“I would.”

Dylan laughed at the confused look on his sons’ faces. “Just a joke, boys.” He was eager to meet the man the sheriff thought could help keep the ranch safe.

“Meet Buster Jones.” Marilyn’s starry eyes gazed on the middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair cut short in a military style.

“Glad to have you here.” Dylan thrust out his hand. “We’ll talk after supper if that’s all right with you.”

“Absolutely.” He returned Dylan’s shake, nodded at Dani, then ruffled both boys’ hair, seeming oblivious to the two older women’s stares. Dylan sure hoped there wouldn’t be trouble between the two women. He had enough to worry about without adding a kitchen rivalry.

Supper consisted of goulash and corn bread. Once he’d eaten and the women started clearing the table, Dylan asked Buster to follow him to his office. He closed the door behind them. “Have a seat, please.” He folded his hands on the desktop. “I don’t recognize you as one of the deputies.”

“That’s because I’m not. While most of Misty Hollow knows me, no newcomer will. I’m retired PD and sometimes hire myself out where I’m needed. Anyone who goes looking for a Deputy Jones won’t find me.” He grinned.

“Ever worked with horses before?”

“Not as a job, but my family had a couple when I was a kid. I know enough to fake it.” He sobered and crossed his arms. “Don’t worry, Mr. Wyatt. I’m good at what I do.”

“Call me Dylan or Wyatt. Adding the mister is a dead giveaway.” Having a retired PD working for him might be a good thing indeed. His reasoning made sense. “Have you told anyone?”

“Everyone I could. I thought it smart to let people think I got bored with retirement and hired on as temporary help for the summer. That way, if someone does go asking questions, well…it ain’t far from the truth, now is it?”

Dylan chuckled. “I don’t guess so. Always keep the lies at a minimum. My boys said they learned that truth from a friend at school.” He stood. “Come on. I’ll show you around. As far as the other men know, you’re here helping out temporarily, just as you said. They won’t question it.”

“For a short while after retiring, I worked for a security firm. Mind if I make some safety suggestions while we’re out walking around?”

“Not at all.” He’d do whatever it took to keep his children and hired hands safe for as long as the funds held out. Hopefully, his grand plans of camps and tours would give him a nice padding in his bank account by the summer’s end, and the person behind the text messages to Dani turned out to be more bark than bite.

“The sheriff said someone watched from the woods?” Buster stopped and stared in that direction. “I’m thinking you might want some motion lights out there that warn you inside the house that someone is prowling around.”

Dylan heard the cha-ching of dropping money. “We’ve got a dog.”

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