Free UlteriorMotives by Chandra Ryan

getting really hard for her to keep her eyes open,
but she had to say something to make him feel better. “It’s not your fault. One
man can’t bring down a system.”
    His chuckle was full of self-deprecation. “That’s what my
father keeps telling me.”
    “You don’t have to sink to his level to win.”
    “LMX-3 has Loase and possibly the Land Authority in its
corner. Who do you have in yours? If you’d gone to my father, at least you
would have a shot at winning.”
    “I have you and the truth. I refuse to believe that’s not
enough.” She couldn’t fight against the pull of the medication any longer so
she allowed the calming darkness that pressed around her to drag her under.
    She slept until the sound of loud footsteps on her bedroom
floor woke her. Her brain felt muffled and her mouth dry from the medicine, but
she instantly knew it wasn’t Jasper standing over her. The person reeked of
tobacco and stale alcohol. As much as she’d like to ignore whomever it was and
continue sleeping, she forced her eyes to open. With all the “accidents” of the
past couple of days, she didn’t want anyone seeing her as an easy target.
    “Jake?” Her voice was thick, causing the word to slur
slightly. “What are you doing out here?”
    His patronizing smile made her skin crawl. “Heard what
happened, wanted to come by and see if I could help in any way.”
    Yeah, listen to her bellyache about how bad things were,
just like Mark used to? No thank you. She forced her hand to make a swipe over
her face to try to clear off the rest of the haze left by the drugged sleep.
“We’ve got everything taken care of for today. And I’ll be up and about
tomorrow. But thank you.”
    His brow scrunched together as if he were upset but then the
expression dissolved into a mask of sympathy. “Glad to hear that. I was
concerned your guest would be an encumbrance in your current state.”
    “Jasper isn’t a guest and he’s been a big help.”
    Jake sat down in the chair next to the bed and leaned
forward as if he were in on some secret. “You don’t have to keep up appearances
for my sake. I know he’s here doing an investigation. An investigation, I might
add, that can’t be going well for you. Why don’t you let me get him out of your
hair before one of these mishaps injures him?”
    Her head pounded but she refused to let Jake see how much
pain she was in. The weak were eaten this far away from civilization. And if he
knew about Jasper and the investigation, he’d already smelled blood. She
refused to add to it. “I don’t gossip about my business. You should know that
by now. Jasper can stay here as long as he wants. You, on the other hand,
should probably go. Now.”
    The man stood suddenly and glared at her. “Fine. But when
something bad happens to him, you won’t have anyone but yourself to blame.”
    “Is that a threat?” Headache or no, she definitely didn’t
care for his tone and needed to call him on it.
    “No, just a suggestion. He’s too soft for this ranch in the
best of times.”
    “It’s my ranch so it’s my decision. And I already told you
where I stand.”
    “You’re going to regret that decision.”
    As he started to leave, bits and pieces of the last couple
days started to clear in her head. Mark looked guilty as hell but her
conversation with the sheriff had included someone else. And, currently, that
person stood in front of her, making threats. “Jake?”
    “What?” He turned back to face her, his eyes cold and hard.
    “Did Mark go to your tavern last night?”
    His gaze immediately shifted to his feet. “Mark?” He
shuffled his shoes. “Can’t say he did. Why would you ask?”
    “Just heard he’s been a regular of yours for the past few
months.”
    “That he has. Didn’t see him last night though.” He was
already backing toward the door.
    “Mighty nice of you to let him blow off so much steam. I can
only imagine how tired of hearing about me and my ranch you must