Page 35 of Cowboy Peril

Clutching the newspaper, she dashed from her house in search of Colt.

~

Mark narrowed his eyes as Parker darted across the lawn. Her furtive glance his way told him all he needed to know. She recognized him.

He scurried down the ladder and made a beeline for his truck. Minutes later, he spun gravel speeding away from the ranch. He’d have to check out of the motel and find another place to hole up until he made his final confrontation.

Misty Hollow would be swarming with law enforcement and cowboys—neither of which he was ready to face yet.

How had she found out? They’d never met each other face-to-face. Her father’s refusal to introduce him to his daughter had kept that from happening. Then the accusation had come, and Mark had to kill the man. The wife had just been collateral damage.

Knowing Parker would never agree to date him once she found out, he refrained from approaching her. She’d been in a time of mourning. No, the only way he could get the money he felt was due him was to convince her to give it to him. Then, he’d kill her—in that order.

His knuckles whitened on the steering wheel as he took the mountain curves too sharply. Slow down, man, before you go over the cliff.

There’d been no time for her to sound the alarm yet. Mark knew the drill. First, she’d have to talk to the foreman, then they’d call the sheriff. Then, the law would show up at the ranch, but he would be nowhere around. He’d planned everythingdown to the tiniest detail with a plan A and a plan B. A wiseman always knew his next move.

~

Colt sprang into action after scanning the newspaper article. “Are there more in the box?”

“Yes.”

“I want to go through them once we alert the sheriff.” He placed the call. The sheriff said he’d be there in twenty minutes.

Back at Parker’s house, Colt dug through the papers until he found the last article written about the embezzlement—the one referring to the accident her parents had died in. “Your father named Mark Cooper as the embezzler, except Cooper goes by Collins now.” Why hadn’t this shown up in his background check? “I need to make another call.” He dialed the construction company building the barn.

Parker nodded and dropped to the sofa.

“Hey, Townsend, did you ever get all the background checks back on your workers?”

“Sure, but I haven’t gone through them. The barn is almost finished, so I didn’t see the rush.”

“One of the men, Collins, is actually Mark Cooper, an embezzler and murderer. This isn’t going to look good for your business, Mr. Townsend.” His hand tightened around his phone.

“You threatening me?”

“No, just letting you know what happens when a man doesn’t do his job properly. I want an inspector, at your expense, here today to go over the work on the barn. I can’t have shoddy work, which Collins is known for.”

“You got it.” Townsend hung up.

“What do we do now?” Parker hugged a throw pillow to her chest.

“Wait for the sheriff.” He went to the window and stared out. “Did you see Collins on your way to the house?”

“He was on the barn roof.”

“Well, he isn’t there now.” He fled most likely. “The sheriff’s here.” He grabbed the newspapers from where he’d set them on the desk and led the way to the front porch.

Sheriff Westbrook removed his hat as he approached the house. “Sounds like we’re finally getting somewhere.”

“Yes, sir.” Colt handed him the articles. “We know the identity and the motive. I don’t think Collins is on the ranch anymore.”

“That would make it too easy.” The sheriff tucked the newspapers under his arm. “The man will be desperate now. The two of you need to be more vigilant than ever. If you see him, do not engage him. Call the department. We don’t need any more casualties.” His gaze flicked to Parker. “You holding up?”

She nodded. “Yup, I’m determined to see this through to the end, so I can resume my life.”

Did that mean she’d be leaving the ranch? Colt frowned. Isn’t that what he’d wanted from the moment he set eyes on her again?

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