Page 36 of Mystery at Rescue Ridge

He gave her a quick rundown of the Texas millionaires in secret breeding deals with Beaumont and the kind of money being passed around.“We’re still figuring out some of them.Beaumont knew how to set up a secret deal.”

“Secrets.I’m learning to hate ’em.”She said that with the full knowledge that she was keeping a massive one from her best friend.Why was it so hard to admit that she’d been in love with him and that was the real reason she’d taken off?Because you still love him,a little voice in the back of her mind offered.

Was it true?

“Thanks for takingthe time to answer my questions,” Travis said to Ms.Bart.

Owen nodded toward Travis.“Guess we should join the others in the living room.You haven’t eaten, and we need to get on the road if you want to get back by supper.”

Evie nodded as an emotion passed behind her eyes.Anger?Regret?

He couldn’t quite pinpoint it.She’d gone to a different place in her thoughts when she’d said the wordsecrets.

After pushing up to standing, he offered a hand up.Her hand was small by comparison, but he would never use words like fragile or delicate to describe Evie.Words like strong, smart, and capable came to mind.Those traits were somehow wrapped around a vulnerable person on the inside—a side to Evie that precious few ever got to see.Owen realized he was in an elite club.Or, had been.There was no telling who she talked to now.

Evie cleared her throat as they walked into the open concept space.She zeroed in on Ms.Bart.“Are you staying?Owen and I have an important errand to run to get security equipment for the house.”

“Nothing’s changed as far as I’m concerned.”Ms.Bart held Evie’s gaze.Defiance in her eyes, the widow almost dared Evie to judge her.

Evie smiled.“Good.Because I need you now more than ever.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Ms.Bart said, returning the smile.She straightened up again when Travis excused himself, saying he would be on the property for a little while to record as many tracks as possible.

“We can grab lunch on the road,” Evie said.

“No, you won’t.”Ms.Bart jumped to her feet and scurried into the kitchen.“I’ll fix you to-go lunches so you can take food with you.No sense eating at one of those ‘squat and gobbles’ masquerading as real food.”

Evie’s laugh broke a little more of the tension in the house.Ms.Bart stepped lighter, too.A breakthrough between the pair would be a welcome relief.Evie could use a few friends in the area.And if not friends, then alliances.Ms.Bart had proved she could be trusted.

After sandwiches were made, stuffed into baggies, and then paired with fruit, they headed toward his Jeep.A minute later, they headed toward town.

“Simone must have picked up a stalker,” Evie said after the bags were emptied.“It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

“Someone who was smart enough to find out where she lived.”It could be done easier than most realized.

“These days, you can find out almost anything on the internet.You can even find floor plans for houses.You can virtually walk down someone’s street.”She shivered.“Someone should put a stop to the violation of privacy.”

“Agreed.”

They drove in silence for the next few minutes.The storm that had ripped through had left broken branches littering the landscape.In the Jeep, he was able to maneuver around them easily.Precisely the reason he didn’t own a truck.Besides, the ranch had several company trucks if he needed to haul anything.

Navigating around the fallen trunks, he slowed the speed considerably.

“Do you think Travis’s tech person will be able to track down the Size Eleven?”she asked.

“It’s our best bet right now.”

“I hate feeling like I’m doing nothing,” she said.“Being away from the children is surprisingly stressful.”

“I wouldn’t worry about them as long as they’re with Ms.Bart.She’s formidable, and the sheriff is walking the property while his tech person tries to unlock the internet’s secrets.”

“People would use fake identities to visit those kinds of websites and chat rooms, wouldn’t they?”

“I’m not sure.”He had no personal experience with any of those things.“If they were married or held positions in society, they might be more careful.It’s not illegal to engage in an online relationship between two consenting adults.”

“True.”

He cut the wheel to the left to avoid hitting a tree trunk and misjudged the ditch, landing them tire-deep in mud.“Shit.”

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