Page 27 of The Cowboy's Justice

The moment William arrived at Portia’s home he hurried down to the basement and unlocked the door leading out to the side of the house. He didn’t think he’d have any reason to return, but if something went horribly wrong it could be a temporary hiding place.

Moving to his room he packed the few items he kept there, but as he headed out the front door he saw the cowboy’s truck rolling towards the house. Not wanting to speak to him or Portia, he hurried to his car and managed to climb behind the wheel and speed past them as they rolled through the gates.

* * *

“Damn, he was in a hurry,” Devlin remarked, rolling to a stop. “Something’s up, I can feel it.”

“I don’t understand,” Portia muttered as they climbed from his truck. “He tried to drug me and now he’s racing away like—”

“Like his life depends on it,” Devlin interjected with a worried frown.

Hurrying through the front door they moved around the house, but Portia found nothing out of place.

“This is crazy,” she exclaimed, throwing up her hands.

“Why don’t you pack a few things while I call Pete.”

“Who’s Pete?”

“My vet. I’ll ask him if he can analyze that coffee you put in the water bottle. It’s in my glove box. We can drop it off on the way back to the ranch. Sammy will be there by now.”

“Sammy?”

“He fills in for Jimmy and Mike. Monday’s their day off too.”

“I can’t keep up,” she said, shaking her head. “When did you put the bottle in your glove box?”

“Right after you gave it to me.”

“Is there anything else I should know about?”

“Plenty. But you go pack. I really do need to get movin’.”

As she marched away, Devlin lifted his phone from his pocket and called Pete. After a quick explanation, the vet was happy to help.

“But, Devlin, you should really give it to Sheriff Cooper,” he added. “Whatever I do will be off the record.”

“Yep, I know, and that’s how I want it, at least for now.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Quickly putting away the rest of her clothes, Portia hurried from the house and into the barn. As she entered the feed room she found Devlin standing in front of the row of containers scooping out the contents and dropping them into a bucket.

“Do you have to do this every day?”

“Jimmy and Pete do, but I do it on Mondays. It’s their day off.”

“I thought it was yours too.”

“It is, but I have to help Sammy. He’s got his hands full workin’ alone. Stand beside me and familiarize yourself with the labels. You’ll soon learn the order they’re in. As I told you before, not every horse gets the same supplements. You have to pay attention.”

“I love the smell in here,” she remarked as she watched him.

“Yeah, me too, but pay attention. When I’ve finished with each bucket, take it to the shelf with the horse’s name shown’ in the front.”

Standing quietly as he filled each of the buckets, she studied the names of the products, then the chart which he constantly checked. When they’d finished and were about to leave, he suddenly hugged her.

“What’s this for?” she asked as his arms tightened around her. “Not that I’m complaining.”

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