Page 42 of My Billionaire Cowboy Protector

“Sounds good,” Taylor said.

Willow picked her up from the hospital. She rubbed the salve on Taylor’s back and made sure she was comfortable.

“Call me if you need anything,” Willow said. “I’ll be here in a flash.”

“Thanks.”

“By the way, I have this bill of sale for Diablo for you. You should have the deed for the ranch soon,” Willow said.

“Thanks,” Taylor replied.

Taylor was just about to take a nap when Melissa called.

“Girl, you’ve done it this time.”

“What do you mean?” Taylor asked.

“It’s all over Meadow Springs that you and Lane came up with an elaborate hoax and tricked everyone into believing that you two were engaged. Everyone is talking about how it couldn’t be true because the Williams and the Johnsons were mortal enemies and that the whole thing had something to do with you getting your old ranch back.”

“Dang it,” Taylor said. “I knew that jerk would tell everyone. Lane said something about it when I was in the hospital and Anthony’s sister overheard it.”

“What are you going to do?” Melissa asked.

“I honestly don’t know,” Taylor cried.

Chapter 17: Lane

Lane and Robert were at the calving barn, adding stalls for the horses until a new barn could be built for them when a sheriff’s truck pulled up.

Pulling off his gloves, Lane held out his hand. “Sheriff Tate. It’s good to see you. How’s Sharon and the kids?”

“They’re well, thank you. The oldest is starting high school this year and thinks that he’s all grown up.”

“Pretty soon, he will be,” Robert said, offering the sheriff his hand.

“Don’t I know it,” the sheriff sighed. “I wanted to update you on the investigation. Anthony showed up at the hospital the same night of the barn fire. His face, hands, and arms were burned. According to the doctor, Anthony’s story is that he was burning some trash on his father’s property and accidentally put too much gasoline on the fire.”

“Likely story,” Robert muttered.

“Yeah. Unfortunately, we had no proof to the contrary. It’s not like we can just go onto Gentry’s property and check out his story. We can’t go on their land without a warrant, and we don’t have probable cause to get one. Old Man Gentry would shoot at us and there isn’t a darned thing we could do about it.”

Lane growled in the back of his throat.

“According to an anonymous tip we got, he had a few drinks atThe Bullhornand started bragging about how someone screwed him over and he had gotten revenge. According to the source, he said that he ‘burned them.’ We asked Anthony about it, and he said he was just running his mouth and it didn’t mean anything.”

“The fire marshal determined that the fire was arson. Gasoline was the accelerant. Unfortunately, there were no clues left at the scene that would tell us who set the fire. Any footprints that might have been left behind were covered up by the debris,” Sheriff Tate said apologetically.

“What you’re saying is that we know Anthony burned the barn, almost killed my horses and Taylor, and there isn’t a thing we can do about it,” Lane grumbled.

“That’s about it,” the sheriff said. “I’m sorry, but short of a confession, Anthony is going to walk.”

“Unless something happens and he can’t walk,” Robert spat.

“Now, don’t be saying things like that in front of me,” Sheriff Tate said.

Robert looked at Lane and said, “Did you hear anything?”

“Nope, not a word,” Lane said.

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