Page 17 of Desert Angel

She tilted her head at him then turned toward the house. What was that, he wondered then realized. He was planning on being there for a while. With a mental smile, he followed her toward the house and a welcome shower.

After they’d washed the dirt of the day off and Nikki started some food cooking Dylan asked to borrow her laptop. “Sure. If you need some privacy, the office is there.” When he shook his head, she gestured at the kitchen table. “That’s where I usually end up. The office is small and it reminds me too much of Grandad.”

Dylan entered the small room with its large wooden desk set up against the wall, the window looking out over the desert above it. A small laptop rested atop it, looking very out of place on the scratched surface. Dylan expected to see ledgers and fountain pens instead of a sticky note pad and thin-point felt tip makers. He gathered the computer up and headed out of the room but not before spying a collage of photographs tucked into a framed topographical map of the region. A tall, lean man with curly gray hair stood with a young girl sitting on a small pony beside him, grinning from ear to ear. Dylan smiled and leaned closer, seeing the resemblance between the man and his granddaughter. Other photos, including a graduation photo, a picture of a man holding a small bundle with several other people clustered around him ranged along the bottom of the frame. Her history, Dylan noted as he walked into the kitchen.

“Grilled chicken okay?” Nikki said, her back to him as she chopped vegetables.

“Great. Need help?” At the shake of her head, he set up the laptop and pulled the scrap of paper from his jeans pocket. He opened a browser and typed in the information Dan had given him. The news website that popped up covered the southwest and had some human interest stories as well. The site looked professional and featured some reporters that were members of the Associated Press. Dylan searched the site with a sense of foreboding. What had Dan found that made him bring it to Dylan’s attention?

Nikki set a glass of iced water at his side and sat down in a chair near him. “Your brother-in-law really likes you.”

“I like him, too,” Dylan said and smiled at her. “Merry and he have a good relationship and great kids, too.”

“He seems to care about his job, too.” She took a sip of her water and then looked at him. “What did he hand you when we were leaving?”

Dylan gave her a sheepish grin and nodded at the computer. “He said you’re getting talked about.”

She arched a brow in surprise. “Me? I don’t even get online more than once a week and that’s to check to see if there are any events I need to know about in town.”

He shrugged. “That’s what he said.”

She shook her head and stood to go to the stove. “Maybe it’s the church page. I’ve helped out with some things there. But that’s the only thing I can think of.”

He read through articles that featured the surrounding area without any luck then turned to her. “I’m going to make a call and give Hank an update. I’ll use the office so I don’t disturb you.”

She closed the oven door and stared at him. “If you’re going to update him about me, I need to hear it, Dylan. I don’t want you hiding anything from me.”

He nodded. “Let me get my sat phone.”

He dialed the number, all the time watching her as she turned the chicken on the stove. Her back was ramrod straight. He’d irritated her with his last remark but he’d hoped to speak to Hank without her hearing. Maybe he’d be able to do so later, when he made his evening security sweep.

Hank’s voice came through clear and Dylan greeted him, letting him in on the latest on the ranch. At the news of the hut fire, Hank uttered an expletive and Dylan realized he hadn’t cursed since he’d been on the ranch. Huh. Ex-military men and women had reputations for having salty speech and he’d been no exception, but being around Nikki had cleansed his palate, so to speak.

“You sure you’re both okay?” Hank said and Dylan assured him of their health. “We went into the nearest towns to talk to some people. And then we talked to the border patrol agent.”

“That your brother-in-law?”

“Yeah. And we found out a body was in the desert. I think it was just a sad case of a man traveling north who wasn’t up to the trek. I got some pictures and took some samples for Dan to send off.”

Nikki was still working at the stove but Dylan noted her movements were more deliberate, evidence she was listening closely.

“Listen, there is one thing I’d like for you to check up on.” He filled Hank in on the website Dan had given him. “I didn’t find anything in particular, but someone with more time and equipment might find something faster than reading through old features would.”

“I’ll put Swede or one of his guys on it. You think Nikki’s getting known outside of the ranch?”

“Maybe.”

“And she may be attracting attention from people who disapprove of her actions and aren’t afraid to use force.”

“Obviously.” Why else was he here, Dylan thought, but Hank’s next comment made it clear.

“We know someone is upset with her. But people who know her may only want property damage, like you’re seeing right now. If she gets known outside of her immediate sphere, groups may want more direct involvement, if you know what I mean.”

“Yeah,” Dylan said darkly and then grimaced as Nikki turned to face him. She narrowed her eyes at him and started toward the table with a plate of chicken.

“I’ll get on the website. Anything else?”

“Not that I can think of. I’ll check in with you later.”

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