Page 56 of Wyoming Tough

Mallory seemed puzzled. “This is my friend, Gelly Bruner.”

“Mr. Brannt, I’ve heard so much about you,” she purred.

King didn’t even look at her.

“I’ve never seen so many famous people,” Gelly was gushing. “You must know all the rich people on earth!”

“They’re friends, Miss Bruner,” King said curtly. “I don’t choose them for their bank balances.”

“Of course not,” she said quickly.

“Hello, there,” Danny Brant said to Mallory, and he did shake hands. “How are your brothers?”

“Working, as usual. Good to see you again.”

“Same here.” He glanced at his brother, who was still seething. “We’re always happy to have fellow cattlemen visit.”

“I can’t get over the decorations,” Gelly enthused. “I’d love to know where you found so many antique roses!”

“Oh, that would be my niece. She’s crazy about them,” Danny said easily. “Her fiancé had a set of rings made for her with the design. There she is! Come over here, honey.”

He was setting the cat among the pigeons and grinning. King was irritated that his brother had stolen his thunder, because he’d had something else in mind for the introduction.

Morie clung to Daryl’s big hand as she joined them.

“This is my niece, Morena,” Danny introduced. “And her fiancé, Daryl Coleman. He’s CEO of an oil corporation.”

Morena lifted her head proudly. She was aware of Gelly’s suddenly white face, and Mallory’s utter stillness as he registered who she was.

“Yes, my daughter worked for you for several weeks, I believe,” King said in a voice that promised retribution. “And was allowed to quit rather than be prosecuted for theft. It might interest you to know that I’ve retained a private detective to investigate those charges. And I assure you,” he growled, “countercharges will be forthcoming. Nobody accuses my daughter of being a damned thief!”

Mallory gaped at her. This elegant young woman, dressed in couture, living in luxury, engaged to be married, was the same ragged little cowgirl who’d turned his life upside down and left under a cloud of suspicion.

“Well…well, what a surprise,” Gelly managed with a nervous laugh.

“Isn’t it?” Morie asked. “By the way, Ms. Bruner, that friend of yours who wanted to buy the scrubland on the ranch, his name wouldn’t be Cardman, by any chance, would it? Because Daryl has had some very interesting things to say about his past, and the lawsuits he’s facing in several states for unsafe drilling practices.”

“It was Cardman,” Mallory replied, and stared at Gelly blankly. He’d had one too many surprises for one night.

“You should sell him the land,” Morie advised with a pleasant smile. “Then when you want to see fireworks, all you’ll have to do is set a match to your water.”

He glared at her. “You lied,” he said in a rasping tone.

“Well, thieves do lie, don’t they?” she shot back.

He looked uncomfortable.

“My daughter is no thief,” King told Mallory with glittering eyes. “She has no need to steal. I understand a priceless jeweled egg is missing from your ranch. Since my daughter seems to be involved in the case, I’ve hired Dane Lassiter out of Houston to investigate the theft for me.”

“Cane hired him to investigate it for us,” Mallory said stiffly. “And I don’t think Morie took it,” he added without meeting her eyes. “It was stolen after she left the ranch.”

“How kind of you to move me off the suspect list,” she said. “A few weeks late, of course.” She was looking at Gelly, who was pale and unsteady on her feet. “Perhaps in the future, you’ll be more careful about whom you set up for a burglary charge, Ms. Bruner. This one seems to have backfired on you.”

“I didn’t set anybody up,” Gelly muttered. She pressed close to Mallory. “Could we leave? I won’t be harassed like this!”

“You didn’t mind harassing me, as I recall,” Morie replied. “Or that poor cowboy who was fired for a missing drill that conveniently turned up in his suitcase.”

“We need to go!” Gelly said. She was sounding hysterical.

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