Page 39 of Sheriff's City Girl

“Jerry Houser?” Lily tilted her head. “That’s the only Jerry I know.”

“I have no idea what his last name is,” I admitted with a shrug, not having paid any attention to who paid the bill. “But they were talking about buying some land that butted up to the town limits… Do you know whose land that is?” It was a question mostly out of curiosity, but also… I didn’t want to see some massive shopping center built in the town.

“I do…” Lily’s voice trailed off in a way that made my heart sink. “Graham has been working really hard on Drew. He’s had his eye on a portion of the Lowe Ranch for a while now, and he’s been pressuring Drew to convince Lucas to sell.”

I nodded, connecting the dots in my head. “And Lucas won’t?”

“No way,” Lily laughed. “I think that man would give up every material item he owned in order not to part with his family’s land. Drew said that Lucas was absolutely insulted that Graham even thought to approach him.”

“But then why is Graham still talking about it? I mean, I guess it was a month ago. Maybe it didn’t go anywhere. It’s just interesting because he said something about bad debts?”

Lily furrowed her brow. “I don’t think there’re any bad debts when it comes to the ranch. I don’t know for sure, but that doesn’t seem to line up with anything that I know.”

I nodded, taking the answer for what it was. “This town is so complicated.”

Lily laughed, grabbing up her third slice of cheese pizza. “All small towns are. You just have to get used to it.”

Chapter Seventeen

Mason

“Been a hell of a day,” Lucas grumbled, tossing his torn pair of deerskin gloves into the trash. The pair hit the rim of the galvanized can with a thud, and one popped over the side, landing on the concrete floor.

I bent over and swooped it up from the barn’s concrete floor, trying to do my best friend a favor after a long day—albeit a very small one. But minuscule or not, it didn’t take much to set him off, so for all I know, it might’ve been saving me from witnessing another temper tantrum. I eyed the glove as Lucas kept muttering incoherent complaints to himself. It was worn slam out—more so than he usually would’ve let his gloves get. The stitching was coming out down the fingers, and the deerskin was torn straight across the palm.

Hardly a glove at all. No wonder he cut himself fixing the fence.

I opened my mouth to say something to him about it, but changed my mind. There was no point in picking it apart. That would guarantee him going off… On the other hand, I needed to figure out what the hell was going on with him. Beyond the investigation, he was my best friend…

And I was worried about him.

I glanced around the barn, tuning in to make sure there were no other ranch hands hanging around. I never had serious conversations in front of them—just wasn’t the right thing to do.

“Hey, Lucas,” I said once I was sure there was no one around. “Can we talk?” I’d been silent all evening, helping him with chores without saying more than a handful of words.

He let out a sharp sigh, his hand on the office door. “I need to get to doin’ the office work. I’m behind.”

“Why don’t you have Laura do it like usual?” I mentioned the accountant that used to come around every now and then. For a long time, I thought they might have more than just a working relationship, but I was never sure. Lucas didn’t spill about that part of his life unless it was a solid relationship.

“I ain’t got time to wait for Laura to do it,” he grunted, ripping the door open and disappearing inside. “Thanks for helping out this evening.” With that, the door slammed shut and he left me standing in the barn aisle alone.

What the hell is wrong with him?

Anger started to boil as I stood there for a few more agonizing seconds, wondering what in the world had happened to my happy-go-lucky best friend. He never treated me this way—he never treated anyone this way. Something was bothering him beyond just the day-to-day grime, and maybe even beyond the cattle that had gone missing. He was the glass half-full guy, and I barely recognized him right now.

My boots scraped across the floor as I went straight for the office door, trying for the handle. Surprise rattled me when the knob didn’t turn.

“Lucas,” I called, beating on the door. “Open the damn door.”

He didn’t say anything.

“Lucas,” I shouted, anger and concern kickstarting my heart. “Open this door, or I’ll kick it in!”

“Jeez, man,” Lucas grunted, the knob fumbling on the other side and the door swinging open. “What the hell is your problem?”

I shook my head. “Nah, the real question is, what the hell is your problem? You’ve been acting off since the cattle were stolen, and I know good and well that something ain’t right with you. You’re pissed off and moody all the time, and you don’t want nothin’ to do with no one. You even got your ranch hands worried. They’re coming up with conspiracies about you and the way all this shit is going down. I always give ya space, but now I’m just worried—and pissed.”

Lucas stared at me for a few long moments, and at first, I thought he might just slam the door right in my face. But instead, he stepped back, opening it wider. “Come in.”

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