Free Twice A Target (Task Force Eagle) by Susan Vaughan Page A

pets.”
     
    *****
     
    Shivering in the dawn chill, Holt traipsed to the
barn. Fog spirits hovered above the pond, but the rising sun would soon banish
them. Mares’ tails over the mountains predicted showers. With May’s advent,
April’s wet snows on these high valleys yielded to rain.
    He heard Bronc’s drawl before he saw him. “You put the
lie to all those stories about taciturn cowboys. You ever shut up?”
    The old wrangler poked his head above the second
stall, where he was saddling Quickstep, the roan gelding. “Horses like it.
Calms ‘em down. I tell ‘em about where we’re goin’. Up to the northwest fence
line, if that’s okay with the boss.” Accustomed to Holt’s teasing, he offered a
toothy grin.
    “Sounds like a plan.”
    “You have any luck the other day talking to the
neighbors?”
    “Not much. Only verification of what I already knew.
Rob had a temper that might’ve riled somebody. Who that somebody was is still a
mystery. All three ranch owners promised to ask their cowboys if any of them
had a run-in with him.”
    He didn’t hold out much hope. Sure hadn’t heard a word
in the two days since the marathon drive. Who would admit a dispute and heap
suspicion on his own head? The only possibility as he saw it was if a cowboy
knew of another’s argument with Rob.
    Rob’s jealousy and protectiveness were news but no
shock. No wonder, given his history of obsession with Maddy. How Sara had
responded bore looking into further, even if she’d seemed passive. Could the
new mother have rebelled, maybe with another guy? He hoped to hell not and put
the notion out of his head in favor of physical chores.
    “I can muck out the horse stalls and tend the other
critters,” he said.
    Finished saddling up, Bronc let the other three horses
into the back corral. “These stalls can wait, but the cattle won’t. I’ll help
with the calves afore I mount up.” A sly look quirked his mouth. “Espie shooed
Maddy outside to ride fence with me. She was good company. You want me to fetch
her to help you out?”
    “Not what that pampered female signed on to do. She’s
tending to Bobby today.” Grateful for chores that kept his mind and body busy,
Holt strode outside to the sheltered pen where the sickly calves and new moms
were isolated.
    What was he going to do about Maddy? He ought to send
her packing, but he couldn’t. Bobby needed her. And she was proving to be an
asset in his search for the murderer. Why couldn’t he just treat her like hired
help?
    Shit, he knew damned well why. He wanted her more than
he’d ever wanted a woman before. He was as bad as Rob. What stopped him from
taking her to his bed was the knowledge she’d take off at any time. He wanted
no woman he couldn’t rely on. Enough. He splashed water from the faucet on his
face.
    “You workin’ up a sweat already, boy?” Bronc chuckled
as he tugged one of the calves toward him.
    “Just getting warmed up.” So much for keeping his
brain occupied with chores. “Two of these Hereford babies look more alert.”
They had to watch the newborns closely. Diarrhea could kill a calf in a matter
of hours.
    “Yup, their backsides are clean. The meds are beatin’
the scours.” Bronc sent them with their moms to the common pen.
    Afterward, the hired man led his mount out of the
barn. As he trotted away, Holt heard him discussing the sunrise with the horse.
    On a sigh, he ordered himself to ease up on Maddy. He
had to give her credit for pitching in. Besides riding with Bronc, Maddy helped
with tagging the calves. Maybe she wasn’t as pampered as he expected or as he
claimed to one and all. He just had to keep his distance. His participation in
her betrayal of Rob didn’t exonerate her one whit. Having her here only
reminded him of that night. He wouldn’t trust her or let himself depend on her.
If an impulse brought her here, another would take her away.
    And the mysteries about Maddy bothered him.
    Like how come a big-time