Evidence of Trust (6 page)

What the hell does he know?

Joel took a drink before setting his glass down. He pushed his almost empty plate aside, watching for signs of nervousness across the table. Their previous exchange had been limited to a few words, and even though he’d decided to get to know the guy better, Fuller was being a little too talkative right now.

“It’s all part of the job,” he finally replied.

“Oh, come off it, Morgan.” Unexpected irritation mixed with accusation in Casey’s voice. “The whole town knows why you’re here, we just can’t figure out why the park felt they needed
you
when our rangers are more than capable.”

Yeah, exactly as he’d thought—the friendliness of a moment ago had been an act. He leaned forward in his chair and spoke in a low tone. “No one said they weren’t capable, but everyone can benefit from a fresh outlook. Just so happens, that’s my specialty.”

Casey got to his feet and spun the chair back to its original position. “Yeah, well, we don’t need you. Do us all a favor; go back where you came from and leave it to us.”

We don’t need you.
Reminded him of someone else and he shook his head while pushing up from the table. He’d had enough, and he was bone tired after that damn long, cold walk.

“I’m here to save wildlife,” he ground out, reaching in his back pocket for his wallet. “If it bothers a few people along the way—pokes at their egos—tough. Same goes for you, Fuller.” He tossed some bills down, then got right up in the guy’s face. “I suggest you be real careful as to the interest you show in my investigation, or you just might find yourself at the
top
of my suspect list.”

Chapter 7

Britt watched for Casey the next morning, desperate to know what had happened last night. He’d exited the restaurant a few minutes after Joel left. She’d gotten a temporary reprieve, but when he hadn’t returned to the hot tub to fill them in, she went right back to worrying. Back in the locker room, Jayne found a text on her phone that simply said he’d meet her at home.

She and Gina had stayed up talking at the apartment, then she’d spent a restless night tossing and turning. In the wee hours of the night, she reminded herself how she could’ve saved herself a whole lot of trouble if she’d just come clean to Joel about where she worked. Which reminded her, she needed to start considering the consequences before acting on impulse. Emotions too often got the better of her.

Casey showed up as she exercised Paelo in the riding ring. He propped his boot on the lower fence board when she pulled the stallion to a halt in front of him.

“Thanks for ditching us last night,” she accused. “What the heck happened?”

“He wasn’t looking for you. He was just there to eat.”

“And you couldn’t come tell me that? Or text it to Jayne?”

“Sorry.” He shrugged, his fingers gripping the top board tight. “He said a few things that pissed me off. I don’t like that guy.”

“Join the club.”

Casey’s eyes narrowed, full of sudden speculation. “Did something happen up there? Did he do something?”

She thought of the kiss, avoided his gaze and nudged Paelo with her heel to get him moving around the ring. “I already told you.”

“Yeah, but making him hike that far, I’m guessing in his riding boots, seems a little extreme for just a few smart-ass comments. Even for you and your tendency to not think things through before you leap.”

“The hiking thing was a stupid mistake.”
Really stupid.

“I won’t argue that. But—”

“But nothing. I’ve learned my lesson, okay?”

His grim smile told her she’d protested too much. Time to change the subject, so on her way past him again, she asked, “What’d he say to piss you off?”

“Apparently my fishing around last night moved me up on his suspect list.”

A quick pull on the reins halted the stallion. “
You’re
a suspect? But you’re practically a ranger yourself. Your application is in with Ryan and everything.”

“I doubt Morgan knows that.”

“Then I’ll tell him. I’m sorry, Case, I didn’t mean to put you in the middle.”

He shook his head and pushed away from the fence. “Don’t worry about it. I volunteered, remember?”

“Volunteered for what?”

They both turned to see Mark approach with his distinctive, bow-legged cowboy swagger.

“To clear the Twin Sister’s trail. Do you care who I take with me?”

“Jon or Mitch. I’ve got some training to do with the new wranglers today so they can get started with the guest trail rides next week.”

“Sounds good. Britt—you going to Billy’s for the Kick-off?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

“See you tonight then.”

As he headed for the barn, Britt dismounted and led Paelo to the gate. Mark swung it open for her.

“I meant to tell you yesterday, I really appreciate that you’re here.”

“I’m happy to help. Whenever you need me to fill in or pick up extra hours, just let me know.”

His chin dipped. “Thank you.”

“You took a chance on me that first summer; it’s the least I can do.”

Outside the stall, he took the saddle after she’d released the cinch and carried it to the tack room. When he returned, he leaned a shoulder against the door. “There is something else I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.”

“Shoot.”

“You really like it in Chicago?”

She cast him a surprised glance. “Well, yeah. It’s my home.”

“I don’t know, you’ve always been pretty comfortable out here.”

She swept the brush down Paelo’s gleaming black neck as she contemplated his words. “I love Colorado, but I’ve never planned to stay.”

“Well, if you change your mind, I got a job for you anytime you want it.”

She smiled.

“I’m serious.” He inclined his head toward her stallion. “What about working with horses? You’ve done an amazing job with him. Have you ever thought of becoming a trainer?”

“No.” But that was a lie, sort of. She’d thought of it, but not seriously—her father would never forgive her. “I think I’d have a hard time letting go,” she told Mark.

“Wanna give it a go this summer? See how you like it?”

She paused and raised her eyebrows.

“I found a little mustang mare. She’s pretty as can be, but meaner than the devil.”

Britt frowned as she resumed brushing. “Why would you want her?”

“No one else did.”

That didn’t surprise her one bit. Mark was tough and gruff, but he had a heart of gold soft enough to rescue a horse no one else wanted.

“If anyone could gentle her, you could.”

“Such confidence.” She gave a soft laugh and moved over to join him at the stall door. “Explain
mean
.”

“In a bullfight, you’ve got the bull and the matador…”

“Let me guess—she’s the bull.”

His silence confirmed her guess, and Britt hesitated saying more. Did she really want to spend time with an animal like that? A little leap of her pulse provided the answer.

“You have a way with animals, Britt. I saw it that first summer and that’s why I hired you. All I ask is that you look at her.”

After a long moment, she nodded her agreement.

Mark grinned, tapped a quick beat on the top edge of the stall door, and backed toward his office. “She’ll be here in the mornin’.”

She leaned her head over the partition. “How are you getting her here?”

Just before he slipped through the doorway, he said one word. “Tranquilizer.”

Chapter 8

An unseasonably warm Sunday night found Joel in the company of his fellow rangers and a multitude of other seasonal employees from around Estes Park for the Third Annual Summer Kick-off Party. Held at the Watering Hole Bar and Grill, the owner, Billy Marshall, had posted a ‘Private Party’ sign on the door.

Positioning himself at the end of the well-worn yet polished bar, Joel ordered a drink and surveyed the hot, crowded room. Most of the people did no more than nod in his direction, and some not even that, but that was fine by him. After finding another dead animal on the southeast side of the park earlier that morning, he’d come to observe, not make friends.

A redhead sitting nearby caught his attention by flashing him a sensual smile as the live band returned from their first set break. She leaned forward to allow him a clear view of her generous cleavage, then uncrossed her long legs. His gaze slid down as she slowly re-crossed them.

It was a blatant, hot invitation and he felt nothing more than a slight twinge of lukewarm interest.

You are friggin’ nuts, man.

With a smile that felt more like a grimace, he turned back to the mirrored wall that ran the length of the bar. He lifted his drink, watching the reflection as the door behind him opened. His hand halted in mid-air, then slammed his glass down on the bar so hard he was amazed it didn’t shatter.

Brittany Lucas.

He slowly turned to regard the vision face to face. Through an opening in the crowd, he got a split-second glimpse of a gray sleeveless dress, long bare legs, and black cowboy boots. Bodies shifted, and he looked up again, focusing on those blond curls cascading in wild waves past her shoulders.

Now, there was a woman who aroused his emotions. The first being anger, and the second, desire—much as he hated to admit it. The second fueled the first, and he was halfway through the crowd before he even realized he’d moved. When he reached her, he clamped a hand on her arm to spin her back toward the door.

“Hey—”

He glared down into her startled green eyes and marched her right back outside. She tried to pull away, but he refused to release her until they reached the parking lot.

The moment she was free, she whirled to confront him, eyes flashing, chest heaving with indignation. “Who do you think you are? Grabbing me like—”

“
I’m
the one who walked for hours because
you
took my horse.” He leaned forward, forcing her to tilt her chin at a very awkward angle or retreat. She took one step backward, then stood her ground.

“Maybe next time keep your smart-ass comments to yourself.”

“Excuse me?”

“
Don’t do me any favors
,” she mimicked. “Ring a bell?”

His gaze narrowed. “You couldn’t have heard that.”

“I have exceptional hearing.”

“Pity you don’t have manners to match. It still doesn’t excuse you taking my horse.”

Now she hesitated, and her gaze dropped. “About that—”

“Do you have any idea how uncomfortable it is to walk seven miles—”

“Nine.”

“Nine?” The look on her face said she wished she’d shut the hell up. He gave a short sarcastic laugh. “Well, thank you, Brittany Lucas. That makes me feel
so
much better.”

She lifted her gaze. “I’m sorry.”

“What?” He leaned close again and forced himself to ignore the fresh scent of summertime in the mountains. “My hearing must not be as exceptional as yours.”

“I’m sorry,” she repeated louder.

The genuine remorse in her voice and her willingness to look him in the eye while taking full responsibility for her actions took the wind out of his sails. As their gazes held, the air became charged with something he didn’t want to identify.

He was just thinking it was time to get the hell away from her when she broke eye contact with a glance toward the bar. “Well, I’ve apologized. I, ah, I guess I’ll see you around.”

See you around?
So much for sincerity. A single sidestep halted her move to brush past. He motioned to the sign on the door and took her arm again. “This is a private party. It appears as though I have the pleasure of escorting you off the premises—again.”

“Your first escort wasn’t so pleasurable, was it?”

His hand tightened on her arm as he led her further into the parking lot. With each step, he felt her rising temper in the stiffness of her body beside his. He didn’t care how mad she got. She didn’t belong here and she wasn’t staying.

“Where’s your car?”

She silently pointed to the next row over, then stopped him in front of a black truck. It looked so brand spanking new, he gave a low whistle. “Work hard for that, did ya?”

The sarcastic comment made her jerk free and she glared up at him.

“It’s really none of your business what I drive or how I got it. Once again, you’ve made assumptions about me when you have absolutely no idea what my life is like.”

A vehicle rolled to a stop behind her. Joel flicked a glance over her shoulder to see Casey Fuller with a female passenger.

“And another thing,” Brittany continued. “I’m sick and tired of you ordering me around. You can’t
make
me leave.”

“I can and I will.”

Casey let out a derisive laugh. Brittany glanced back as he leaned closer to the open passenger window. “No one makes Britt do anything, Morgan. Besides, as one of the best damn wranglers Highlands has ever had, she’s got more of a right to be here than you do.”