Free Roping Ray McCullen by Rita Herron Page A

don’t know what he drives.”
    â€œBut he’s dangerous?”
    She nodded and sipped her coffee. “He was furious that I put his daughter into foster care. But I had no choice.”
    â€œYou said he threatened you?”
    â€œHe did,” Scarlet said. “I told him the court would require him to attend counseling if he wanted to be reunited with her. His wife’s parents are supposed to be flying in soon and are asking for custody.”
    Ray glanced into the fire, then back at her and her arm where the bruise had turned a dark purple. “When did you see Bobby?”
    â€œHe came by last night.” Scarlet relayed their conversation in her head. “I told him about our talk. He was furious that Joe included me in the will.”
    â€œThen he grabbed you?”
    â€œYes,” she said, determined not to reveal how much Bobby frightened her. “But I informed him that Joe also included him, and that appeased him slightly.”
    â€œSo he left peacefully?”
    â€œNot exactly. I pulled my gun on him and ordered him to leave. Bobby doesn’t like to be shown up, especially by a woman.”
    â€œSo he could have come back and broken in to scare you? And he could have followed you and cut your brake lines?”
    â€œI guess it’s possible.”
    Ray cleared his throat then sat down beside her. When his hand touched her arm again, that same ripple of awareness shot through her.
    â€œMy brother Brett started building stables for the horses where he plans to expand the ranch operations.”
    She frowned, confused.
    â€œSomeone set fire to them last night, Scarlet.”
    Scarlet’s pulse clamored as the implications of his statement set in. Bobby had been upset with her and left in a rage. And he hated the McCullens.
    Had he set fire to the barns to get back at Ray and his brothers?
    * * *
    R AY STUDIED S CARLET , disturbed by the feelings she aroused. He should have been suspicious of her. But his father had included her in his will and had cared for her.
    He was beginning to understand the reason. She helped needy children and fought for what was right.
    He didn’t think she was capable of hurting anyone or causing damage to someone’s property, especially with a fire. He saw no signs of ashtrays or cigarettes in her house either, and didn’t peg her as a smoker.
    Bobby, on the other hand, might not feel he was receiving enough compensation for being Joe’s son.
    He hated to admit it, but Bobby had reason to hate him and his brothers.
    Scarlet hugged the blanket to her with a sigh.
    Ray fought the urge to pull her in his arms. “I can see the wheels turning in your head, Scarlet. What are you thinking?”
    Scarlet traced a finger around the rim of her coffee mug. “I don’t know what to think,” she said, her voice soft. Pained. “I hate to think that Lloyd Pullman would try to kill me. And I hate even more to think that Bobby set that fire at the ranch. But I know Bobby.” She rubbed her wrist in a self-conscious gesture.
    Ray arched a brow. “You think he’s capable?”
    Scarlet leaned her head back against the sofa, making Ray feel guilty. She probably had a killer of a headache and needed to lie down. “I’m sorry, if you need to rest, I’ll go.”
    She shook her head. “No, we might as well talk about the situation. If Bobby is responsible for that fire or my accident, it’s best we face it.”
    Her directness made his respect for her grow. Dammit, he didn’t want to like her, but he did. No wonder his father had...helped her.
    â€œBobby smokes, and he likes fire. He used to burn trash in the backyard all the time. A couple of times when we were teenagers some of my things went missing. I saw him set them on fire outside in a garbage can.”
    Ray hissed between his teeth. “Go on.”
    â€œI was ten when Joe first introduced me to Barbara. Bobby was