Page 16 of Cowboy Peril

“So be it.” She stepped around him and set the utensils on the table with the plates. “I’m going to do this, Colton. You can either help me or stay out of my way.”

He made a noise deep in his throat then marched to survey the work around the barn.

Infuriating man. She stomped back to the kitchen. Half an hour later, she helped Mrs. White carry platters heaping with food to the table where the men would serve themselves. Parkerfilled a plate for herself and carried it into the house. Heaven forbid she should encourage anyone to talk to her instead of finish eating in the short time Colt had allowed for lunch.

At the last minute, she veered toward her house. With at least a half an hour to spare, she could start going through one of the boxes while she ate. She sat cross-legged on the floor and opened the first box. Tax receipts. She quickly scanned through them as she bit into a chicken leg. Crunchy and golden brown on the outside, moist on the inside. Would Mrs. White teach her to cook if she asked? She’d love to know how to do more than make the simplest of dishes.

The tax records told her nothing more than how much her father was worth and the myriad of deductions he used. One of the sheets listed employees. People who had been laid off shortly after his death.

Parker had hated doing that, but she knew nothing about the construction business. She glanced out her open door to where the men worked. As the pampered daughter of a wealthy man, she’d kept her head in the sand. That was all about to change.

After finishing her lunch and helping Mrs. White clean up after the noon meal, Parker had a few hours before she was needed again. She returned to the boxes. Soon the area around here was filled with printed emails, receipts, handwritten notes, and a leather journal she’d found wrapped in a newspaper.

Tears filled her eyes as she opened the book and saw her father’s handwriting. She hugged the book to her chest, then carried it outside to her chair on the porch, intending to spend the next few hours visiting with her father.

~

Look at her sitting there like a queen reading a book instead of working. Spoiled, pampered princess. Mark swiped his arm across his sweating brow. Just like her father had been. Notbothering to lift a finger or get his hands dirty. The man had morals, he’d said. Well, Mark had shown him just what those morals had been worth.

He jerked his attention back to the job at hand before the foreman caught him watching her again. Mark couldn’t afford to be fired. Not yet. Not until he’d accomplished what he’d come for. Before he killed her, he’d have her transfer her father’s accounts to an offshore account only Mark had access to. Then, the world would be rid of the Wells family.

“Hey, Collins, hand me that shovel, would you?” One of the other workers looked up from where he stacked planks.

“Sure.” Mark took a shovel from where it leaned against the metal building being used as a barn and tossed it. It landed near the man’s feet.

“Hey, Dude! You almost hit me.” He shook his head and returned to his job.

No thank you. See if he’d help that guy again. He ducked his head and smiled, envisioning himself killing everyone who ticked him off. Every person who got in his way. He glared at the back of the foreman who headed toward Parker. Starting with him.

~

“Mrs. White is looking for you.” Colt rested his right foot on the bottom step.

“Oh, no.” She snapped shut the book in her hand. “I’ve forgotten the time.” She dashed inside, returning without the book, and locked the door.

“You expecting someone to rob you?” He arched a brow.

“One never knows. I have my father’s records in there.” She motioned with her head toward the group of working men. “What if one of them is the killer?”

“They’ve all been cleared.”

“Just because they don’t have a record doesn’t mean they didn’t kill my parents and Tanya.” She jumped off the porch and headed for the main house.

He fell into step beside her. “You seemed very engrossed in your book.”

“My father’s journal. Full of mundane daily tasks, some innermost thoughts…” she sighed. “It brings him back to me for a while.”

He felt bad about pulling her away, but with Marilyn gone, the ranch cook needed Parker’s help. “See you at supper.”

Walking next to her had seemed like second nature, not something he wanted to fall back into. Parker worked on the ranch, nothing more. He couldn’t let the wounded glint in her eyes when she spoke about her parents get to him. She’d grow bored of the ranch life soon enough and be on her way.

He studied the workers. What if Parker was right? Working on the ranch allowed them access to her. Colt needed to find a way to keep her away from the men. Anyone who got close to her then would rouse suspicion.

His heart faltered as images of the last woman he’d failed filled his mind. Somehow, he’d find a way to keep Parker safe. In order to do so, he’d have to spend time with her. Which meant steeling his heart. Something he could do. He was a special-ops, ex-Marine after all. He knew how to shut off his emotions.

Needing to settle his jumble of thoughts, he stepped into the barn and headed for Crystal, his white mare. “You’re the only girl I need, aren’t you?” He rubbed her muzzle.

She leaned her head on his shoulder. “How about we go for a ride? I took your brother out last time, but you’re my favorite.”

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