Page 38 of Cowboy's Sinful Bargain

"Didn't get a name, but they are staying at the hotel in town. Been there since yesterday."

"Not the day before?" It would make sense for the lawyer that had brought Miko to us to stay overnight in a local hotel, but not for him to stick around. He hadn't seemed like a guy that wanted to stay in this part of the world very long.

"No, Mabel told me that they came to town yesterday and booked a couple of rooms at the hotel for the next week."

"Then I doubt they have any connection to Miko."

At least, I hoped they didn't.

When Miko visibly shuddered and moved closer to me, I wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him even closer. I didn't know what had freaked him out, but he was definitely upset about something.

"Can you keep an eye on those foreigners, Ken?" I asked. "It's probably nothing, but Miko had a bit of trouble back in Japan with his mother's family. If they are here to make trouble, I want to know about it."

Preferably beforehand.

Ken's eyes flickered to Miko. "Yeah, sure."

"I'd appreciate it."

"I still need to see that dog," Ken stated in his no nonsense tone. "I also need to get some pictures. This crap has been going on a little too long for my comfort. I want to have enough evidence to back up my case when I find the idiots doing this so I can give them a nice long vacation behind bars."

"He should be in the kitchen with Mrs. Gibbons."

I kept an arm around Miko as I led the way up the steps to the porch and then into the house. As soon as we stepped inside, Miko pushed away from me and hurried ahead into the kitchen. By the time I got there, he was sitting on the floor with the puppy in his lap.

"He's a big one, isn't he?" Ken mused.

"I figure he'll be upwards of a hundred pounds."

Ken let out a snort. "At least."

Yeah, I saw a lot of bags of dog food in my future.

"He seems to have taken a liking to your husband though."

I couldn't say Ken was wrong. The pup was curled up in Miko's lap, trying to lick the hand Miko was using to pet his head. From what I could see, there wasn't an aggressive bone in his body. He seemed perfectly content right where he was.

I was a little jealous.

"I need to get some picture of his injuries," Ken stated. "The vet already gave me his report, but I need corresponding pictures to go with it."

"Do we need to unwrap it?"

"That would be best," Ken replied.

"Miko, why don't you unwrap his paw and let Ken take some pictures while I go get the first aid kit?" We'd need to wrap it up again once Ken was done taking pictures.

It didn't take me more than a couple of minutes to run upstairs and get the first aid kit we'd used before and then hurry back downstairs to the kitchen, but by the time I arrived Ken was already taking pictures of the pup's injured paw. Once that was all done, we applied more medicine and wrapped the paw back up.

I smiled as I watched Miko fuss over the puppy. He seemed really enamored of the furry creature. "Have you decided on a name yet?"

"Kouki," Miko replied. "It means strong, powerful, and tough."

Once the puppy grew into his paws, the name would suit him.

"I'm going to walk Ken out and then we'll see about those riding lessons."

Miko nodded, but his attention was on the dog. I chuckled as I shook my head and followed Ken out of the kitchen. I'd bet any amount of money that that damn dog was going to end up in bed with Miko tonight.

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