Page 14 of Cowboy Peril

“Okay, but no need to do background checks. Save yourself the time. My company does them before we hire anyone.”

“Have you received them all back?”

“Except for a few. The last few should be in any day now. If something looks off, the man will be fired on the spot.”

Colt nodded. The results of Townsend’s vetting would come back before any Colt requested. “Your company come highly recommended.”

“I sure hope so.” The man grinned. “My competitor ended up being a cold-blooded killer. No one else has arrived to take any business from me. Misty Hollow would be up a creek if I didn’t run a company they could count on.”

“How many men?”

“Twelve. We’ll be here at six a.m. and work until three, weather permitting. Do you have the plans so I can make sure I have the supplies by tomorrow?”

Colt handed him rolled-up blueprints. “Have the supplies billed to the ranch unless they were included in the contract.”

“Mr. Wyatt approved them in the contract. Nothing for you to worry about.”

Great. Colt had enough on his plate.

For the next couple of hours, men came in and out of the revolving door of his office. Colt breathed a sigh of relief when the last man entered.

“Mark Collins. I’m new to Misty Hollow.” The man sat across from him. “Couldn’t believe my luck in landing a job so soon.” He smiled. “Nice ranch.”

“Thanks.” Colt hoped he worked as much as he liked to talk.

“Those tiny houses out back are cute. They for rent?”

“No, sir, those are for ranch hands only. If you’re looking for a place to rent, the realtor in town should know of some rentals. What brought you to Misty Hollow?”

“I used to vacation up this way as a kid. Liked it then and hope I like it as much now. Guess I’ll know whether I stay or go after this job is done.”

Colt thanked the man for his time and excused him, waiting a few seconds before leaving the office. He didn’t want to getcaught up in a full-blown conversation with any of the workers who might be wandering around getting a feel for the place.

Sure enough, several of them leaned against the corral and watched as River Swanson, one of the hands, put a yearling through its paces. Let them see it all today, so they’d focus on building the next day.

~

Once the interviews were over, Parker had nothing to do. She took her laptop to the back deck of the main house, set a glass of sweet tea on the table next to a chair, and then settled down to dig into the accident that took the life of her parents.

Parker had read the report before, but there had to be more. She’d posted several things online herself voicing her beliefs. Eventually, she’d get a clue that would help her. She refused to give up hope.

Her heart had almost stopped that morning when she’d spotted a shirtless Colt two doors down. Then, she’d scurried into her house like a frightened rabbit. Real mature, Parker.

Once her laptop booted up, she went through emails from her query into a private investigator. The man agreed to take the case for fifty bucks an hour. Parker agreed. Finally, some help.

Not that she didn’t intend to do some of the footwork herself, because she did, but having the investigator pounding the pavements, too, would only be a good thing. Divide up the work and all that. Parker drummed her fingers on the arm of the deck chair. She needed a full day off to drive to Little Rock and pay another visit to the police department there. They still hadn’t given her a copy of the police report from Tanya’s death or her parents. Would Sheriff Westbrook get them for her?

As far as she knew, nothing was happening on the ranch that warranted her being there. Except for the construction workers. Would she be expected to do something for them? If not, she could head to Little Rock. Otherwise, maybe next week?Definitely not the weekend. They always had guests Friday and Saturday nights, she’d been told.

Colt rode by on a black horse, a cowboy hat on his head that matched the color of the horse, one hand holding the reins.

Parker’s mouth dried, and she reached for her tea, keeping her gaze on Colt. Her hand knocked the glass, sending tea and ice onto her lap, barely missing the laptop on the side table. She shrieked and jumped to her feet.

“Whoa!” Colt reined his horse to a halt and reached for the gun on his hip. “What is it?”

“Oh. I…uh…” She waved at the puddle in her lap. “Spilled my tea.”

He glowered. “I thought you saw a snake.” Shaking his head, he clicked his tongue for the horse to move on.

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