Page 70 of Smokescreen

“Let’s get back to my truck and drive there then. It’ll be faster.”

“Okay,” Olive said. “Let’s not waste any more time.”

CHAPTER 30

Olive and Reid pulled to a stop in the middle of the forest, and Olive gave Reid a questioning look. This wasn’t a cabin. It was trees.

“We’ll have to go the rest of the way on foot,” Reid said as he put his truck in Park. “Weeds and underbrush covered the road to the cabin years ago, and I let it stay that way. I figured it would help keep people away.”

“If we need to go on foot, then so be it.” Olive offered a resolute nod. “Let’s go.”

They climbed out, and she let Reid take the lead. He wove between the trees of the forest, headed toward the cabin. She followed behind, watching every step and bracing herself for the unknown.

A shiver suddenly caught her muscles.

She could trust Reid, right? He had said he’d do anything to keep his property.

Just how far would he go?

She remembered that will she’d found—one she hadn’t asked him about yet. She was going to do it after they cleaned up from the barbecue. Then Trick had shown up with the news about Tevin, and she hadn’t had the chance.

Was Reid somehow involved in this mess?

The idea still seemed far-fetched. Plus, Reid had been at the ranch all day. There was no way he’d wandered out here to do something with Tevin himself.

But he could have gotten one of his guys to do his dirty work. He had enough money to hire whoever he wanted.

Olive didn’t like that thought. She didn’t want to believe Reid could be behind these things. Besides, what would his motive be? She couldn’t think of anything rational.

As she stepped over a large rock in her path, Olive accepted Reid’s outstretched hand to help her stay balanced.

She landed on the other side and kept moving.

“How many people know this cabin is out here?” Olive asked, realizing just how isolated she was. Miles separated her from anyone besides Reid. She was more likely to run into a bear or a moose than another person.

She shivered at the thought.

She was a trained fighter, but she didn’t know this terrain like Reid did. If he wanted to take her down, he could.

No, those thoughts were ridiculous. Reid was at the party when Tevin disappeared. She was overthinking this.

Reid had proven himself to be nothing but trustworthy since she’d known him.

“Not many people know this cabin is out here,” Reid answered. “Obviously, some of the old-timers do. But probably no one I’ve hired within the past few years. There’s no reason for them to come out this way.”

“What about people in town? Is there anyone local who’d know about it?”

“Not really. These cabins haven’t been used in decades. The only other people who might know they’re out here would be . . . well, I don’t know. Maybe some of the hunters I’ve caught on my property.”

“You’ve caught hunters on your property?” This was the first Olive had heard of this.

“More than once. They shouldn’t be trespassing and, if I catch them, I make sure they know that. I’ve even had a conservation officer come out on occasion to monitor the property. The last thing I want is one of my men or my cattle to get hurt because of some trigger-happy hunter.” Reid’s words held conviction.

“Are you a hunter yourself?” She kept walking, hoping this cabin wasn’t much farther away.

“Maybe if I had more time I would be. Maybe not. I’m not sure. I just know that ranching keeps me busy enough. I like to be hands-on. My dad taught me that.”

“Seems like a good principle. Besides, you have a lot of property, animals, and people to manage.”