Page 30 of The Cowboy's Magic Touch

“Ohh… I get it.”

“She’ll come to her senses, but I don’t know how long it will take. Tell the FBI Annie wants out of her contract and telling lies about me is how she’s trying to do it.”

“Okay. Anything else?”

“Yes. Put the word out—remind people that I have friends everywhere, and they’ll be keeping their eyes and ears open. If anyone says anything defamatory about me or my company they’ll be hit with a lawsuit.“

“That’s a really good idea, Geoff. I know how people gossip. It was terrible when Patty Henderson had that car accident.”

“Exactly. It’s jealousy. I came from nothing and became one of the most influential and successful people in the country music business. I’m either loved or hated. There’s no middle ground.”

“Sad but true,” Barry muttered with a sigh. “Is that it?”

“For the moment. I’ll be in touch again soon.”

“Okay, and you don’t have to worry, I’ll handle everything on this end.”

“I know you will. Thanks, Barry.

“Bye, Geoff. Good luck with everything.”

“What’s that old saying? Luck is for rabbits. Bye, Barry.”

Ending the call, Geoff opened his phone, removed the SIM card, then retrieved his small pouch from the glove compartment. Inside was an engraved, solid silver, fold-out knife. As he cut the card in half and tossed it out the window, a dark frown crossed his brow.

No-one walked away from him.

Especially not a young woman like Annie Baker.

She’d been just another young hopeful waiting tables trying to make a living when he’d plucked her out of obscurity. If he hadn’t invested all his time, energy and effort, she’d still be there.

“No, Annie,” he muttered under his breath. “You’re coming home with me and I’ll give you one more chance. But just one. If you fuck with me again you can join Patty Henderson in hell.”

But even as he spoke he knew it wouldn’t be easy.

Now he was working alone.

Though it was possible Gabe and John would see the error of their ways and return, Geoff wasn’t about to wait around.

He estimated Brody’s ranch was only about ten minutes away. Fifteen at the most. Starting his car and turning around, he headed down the deserted road.

CHAPTER TWENTY

With the FBI now involved, Geoff wasn’t about to take any chances, and he was fairly certain Brody’s house would have police protection. Approaching the turn in the road a short distance from the ranch, he slowly pulled to the side, then drove up a gentle bank into a thicket so his car couldn’t be seen. Leaving his vehicle and walking quickly around the bend he wasn’t surprised to see a sheriff’s cruiser parked near Brody’s gate. But luck was on his side. The car was facing away from him. Breaking into a jog, he entered the open field neighboring Brody’s property, but as he headed to the fence to climb through the thin wire he noticed a warning sign stating it was electrified.

“Why the hell do you have a fucking electric fence?” he grunted angrily, then turned his eyes to the only other option.

The forest.

It was a daunting prospect.

Summoning his courage, he strode across the uneven ground to the heavily wooded area. As he stopped and looked behind him, the house, barn and paddocks were easy to see. It brought a smile to his lips, but as he doubled back through the spooky, intimidating forest towards the grounds, he began to feel uneasy. It was much darker than he thought it would be, and the unfamiliar sounds were unnerving. Picking up his pace as he approached the edge of the trees, though he didn’t encounter the electric fence he heard a low, menacing growl.

He paused his step.

Afraid to turn around and afraid not to, he froze…then out of the blue an idea flashed through his head. Slowly lifting out his phone, he turned on the flashlight feature and spun around.

Perilously close, a huge, snarling dog stared at him with its teeth bared.

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