Page 7 of Fatal Deception

His mouth almost quirked into a smile, and something very unwelcome fluttered inside her in response to that handsome face showing some humor. Or in response, maybe, to just how close they were standing.

She took a step away. “There’s something else. Maybe. When I got home last night, Mrs. Kirk told me that there’d been some damage to a fence.”

Copeland had helped with the issues at the Kirk Ranch last year, so he knew who all the players were, and how their properties butted up to each other.

“Norman went ahead and fixed it up, because some of my cattle had gotten over onto his side. But… I don’t know. It feels off. Not the normal fence wear and tear.”

“I want to take a look.”

“I’ve got a picture.”

He shook his head. “Sure, I’ll look at that, but I want to see it too.” He gestured out at the ranch. “Show me.”

She scowled at the order. Wanted to argue. God, she was cold and hungry. But he was taking this seriously, which was more than she’d hoped for. She needed to be cooperative. Not grumpy just because she’d had a long day.

But something about the idea of showing him the fence had her hesitating. Had her resenting his entire place in this. Left her with the very uncharacteristic need to needle him.

“You know how to ride?” she asked, smiling sweetly at him. “A horse, that is.” She doubted itverymuch.

She watched his expression flicker ever so minutely, and only because she’d been looking for it. Irritation. But he didn’t make any excuses.

“Yeah. Sure.”

“Then let’s saddle up.”

COPELANDDID KNOWhow to ride, no matter how dubious she looked about it.

Knowinghowto do something andlikingit were two different things though.

Hart had insisted he learn back when he’d first started filling in during Laurel’s maternity leave. Insisted that being a detective in a ranching community meant knowing how to get around in all different ways.

Copeland wasn’t one for having someone insist that he do something, but he trusted Hart. Hart might be a native, but hehadn’t grown up on a ranch, so Copeland didn’t think he was biased by any cowboy nonsense. It was a necessary tool he’d need out here in the wannabe Wild West. And Copeland had been bound and determined to make this job work. To make his way up to detective again.

To leave Denver and that life behind.

So he’d learned. Hated every minute of giving up all his control to an animal, but he’d learned. He much preferred the snowmobile Hart had taught him to drive this winter.

Audra led him to a building that was obviously the stables. Everything was clean, but it all kind of…sagged. Like the years had worn on it no matter how well kept the whole place was. Everything about the Young Ranch felt that way, actually. Especially if he compared it to the Kirk Ranch, which had a newer, more modern feel to it.

But he wasn’t a rancher. Didn’t know a damn thing about ranching. Maybe she liked things kind of old and dilapidated. Maybe it suited whatever kind of operation she ran.

Somehow, he doubted it.

She had two horses inside the building, and she went to each little stall and got the animals saddled. Copeland didn’t allow himself to watch her. He took in his surroundings instead.

Neat. Clean. But there were issues. A rotted gate here, a rusted lock there. “You handle all this on your own?”

She didn’t stop what she was doing, but he saw the way her shoulders stiffened. “Rosalie helps when she can. So does Franny.”

“So, yes, you handle all this on your own.”

She scowled at him, then led one horse out of its stall and handed him the reins. She said nothing. Then she led the other horse out and gestured for him to follow.

He gave his horse a dubious look. “You better cooperate,” he muttered, then pulled the horse out into the fading daylight behind Audra.

“You need any help getting up?” she asked, with that same fake sweet smile. For the first time in all their interactions, she actually reminded him of her annoyance of a sister.

He watched with some satisfaction as her face registered surprise with how easily he mounted the horse. He flashed a grin at her. “What did you expect?”