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Vaughn rubbed her brow, wishing she could believe him and let it go. But she couldn’t. She just felt like he wasn’t going to do all that he could because of his relationship to the number one suspect.

“I’ll check back with you in a couple of days,” Vaughn said.

“Now, Vaughn—”

She ended the call. She would be damned if she was going to listen to him. She wasn’t going to sit back and wait any longer. No. She was not only going to call when she saw fit, but she was going to do a little investigating of her own. She continued to rub her brow as Natalie entered the room.

“What did he say?” she asked, obviously having overheard some of the conversation.

“Not much. He said he’s got some leads but that he’s still investigating. So he won’t share them with me.”

Natalie rested her hip on the desk. “How frustrating.”

“It is.”

“Do you have a headache?”

Vaughn questioned her with a look but then lowered her hand. “A bit.”

Natalie left her and returned a few seconds later with a bottle of Advil. She opened it and poured two tablets into Vaughn’s palm. Vaughn thanked her and downed them with her root beer. She hadn’t even had to complain about her pain or ask for some painkillers. Natalie just knew and she handled it right away, being so kind and attentive.

“You’re worried about your mare,” Natalie said softly.

“Yes. She—we would’ve found her by now if she was out in the desert. Or she would’ve come back.”

“I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?”

Vaughn looked at her and fought getting lost in her caring gaze. Oh, how a part of her just wanted to get lost in her. To swim languidly in her kind and caring soul. But she couldn’t. Not now and maybe not ever. The thought made her throat tighten and raw tears threatened. Why am I reacting so strongly to her?

Gram had been right. Vaughn had had a few women in her lifetime, so she wasn’t exactly a novice when it came to attraction. But why Natalie? This stranger from Phoenix who had a crazy ex-husband and a mysterious life to boot? She didn’t want to think about it. She didn’t have time to think about it.

“No. But there’s something I can do.” She stood and headed into the kitchen. She found Gram putting away the dried dishes. “You’re going to have to do this next interview on your own or with Natalie.”

“Why’s that?” she asked, pausing as she lifted a dish to put away in the cupboard.

“I got something I gotta do.” Vaughn plucked her car keys off the key rack by the door and walked outside into the bright sun, leaving Gram alone with her questions.

Chapter Nineteen

“Where is she going?” Natalie asked June as she walked back into the kitchen. They both watched through the kitchen window as Vaughn hurriedly climbed in her truck to speed away down the drive.

“Lord, if I know.”

“I think she might be going to go look for the missing mare. She hinted as much back in the living room. Said there was something she could do about it.”

“I hope like hell she’s not going after those two birdbrains. That will only bring trouble.”

“She wouldn’t, would she?” Natalie’s stomach tightened as she imagined Vaughn confronting the men on her own. Would they hurt her?

“With that child, who knows. When she gets a bee in her bonnet, she does whatever the hell she sees fit. And right now, those boys…well, they’re on her radar and that’s not a good thing.”

“Would they…you know, hurt her?”

June met her gaze. “I don’t rightly know, Natalie. I should hope not, not if they know what’s good for them. Maybe I’d better go after her.” She removed her apron and tossed a dish towel on the counter. Then she crossed to the keyring and removed her set of keys. Natalie followed. “What about the interview?”

“We’ll have to reschedule.” June looked back at her as she opened the door. “What are you doing?”

“I’m coming with.”