Page 91 of Sheriff's City Girl

“No, not in that way,” Mason agreed, nodding. “But taking them in a way where they basically just vanish from thin air requires a certain level of skill.”

“Or just knowing the area,” I added, thinking aloud. “If they knew this area, and all the farmers and ranchers, they would be able to move under the radar without any problem, really. No one would think anything if they saw them.”

“She’s got a point,” Lily said.

“Yeah, but a big-ass cattle truck would catch someone’s attention,” Jackson countered, leaning against the counter. “There’s no way that you could ignore a semi-full of cattle running down the highway. At this point, we’ve been stopping every single one that we come across.”

Lily and I both nodded, and my head was swimming with ideas and possibilities. It felt like they were just… missing something. I had a feeling the answer was right under our noses…

“We have to celebrate this win though,” Jackson’s voice broke the silence that had settled between us. “I can’t wait to see the look on Annie Calvin’s face when her precious cattle are returned to her. Lord knows the woman might just fall over with excitement.”

“Yeah, and then maybe she won’t hate us so much,” Mason chuckled, making a funny face. “She’s a cantankerous thing.”

“That’s being nice,” Jackson laughed, before nodding to one of the muffins behind the glass. “Can I get one of those? All this success has me starving.”

“Of course,” I beamed, reaching in and plucking the blueberry muffin from where it was sitting in the case. “On the house. Would you like anything?” I turned to Mason, my eyes studying the pale look on his face.

He doesn’t feel good.

“Um, nah, I have the privilege of getting to eat your food every day and?—”

“And you don’t feel good right now,” I cut in, my voice growing chiding again. “You really shouldn’t be overdoing it. You look like you’re about to be sick.”

His face hardened. “I had work to do, Emma. I needed to go put eyes on those cattle, and make sure they would get back home to the Calvin’s.”

I took a deep breath, fighting the urge to argue with him right then and there. “If you say so.”

Jackson chuckled, biting into his muffin. “Dude, you’re gonna be in the doghouse when you get home tonight.”

“Well, I think I might just stay at my own house tonight,” I said, watching Mason’s face fall. “Unless you head on home and get some rest.”

“Well played,” Mason grunted, shaking his head at me. “I’ll go home, but only if you promise to come over.”

I laughed, a smile tugging at my lips. “Okay, I promise.”

“Deal,” he shot me a wink, and then leaned over the counter, kissing me on the cheek. “Thanks for not killing me.”

“I haven’t said that I won’t,” I teased, as the two of them headed for the door. “You make sure he gets home, Jackson,” I called after them.

“I’ll escort him myself,” Jackson looked back over his shoulder, a smirk on his face. “You ladies have a nice afternoon. Don’t work too hard.”

Lily and I watched as they headed out, climbing into Jackson’s patrol car and pulling away. I wondered if they’d actually go home like I asked, or if they’d take the long way, making sure the cattle got back to the Calvin’s. I couldn’t blame Mason for wanting to be a part of it…

But I was still worried about his health.

“He’s a stubborn man,” Lily mused, grabbing the broom and sweeping. “But I do get why he went to double check the cattle himself. I think this investigation is personal for him with everything going on with Lucas. He needs his cattle back in order to make the payments and not lose the ranch.”

I nodded, sympathy creeping in. “I know, and I can’t believe they haven’t found any of Lucas’s cattle. So many have gone missing… You’d think a load would be bound to turn up.”

Lily shrugged. “I don’t remember much from the last time that we had a stent of rustlers, but I remember that it took my grandparents’ cattle. Crippled them, really. They never found them.”

My shoulders slumped. “Really?”

Lily nodded. “But that was before all the technology they have now. Those missing cattle are blasted all over the internet and what not. You’d think they’d show up somewhere.”

I paused, my brow furrowed with thought. “Unless someone is hiding them.”

Chapter Forty

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