Page 34 of The Cowboy's Justice

“And what will I be doing?”

“Helpin’ Jimmy and Mike, cleanin’ the tack like I showed you, fillin’ hay nets, whatever they need.”

“You don’t have to worry. I’m ready to tackle whatever you throw at me. Oh, look. We have an audience,” she added with a grin.

Turning his head he saw Jethro and Jezebel sitting side by side staring at them.

“They look like they’ve been up to no good,” Portia exclaimed.

“They’ve probably been next door.”

“To Annie Baker’s place?”

“Yep. It’s their home away from home. When her musicians are there those two mutts can’t wait to join the fun. Annie claims the guys spend more time playin’ with them than they do rehearsin’.”

“That’s so funny.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s doggie party time. Is that where you’ve been?” Devlin asked as they suddenly jumped on the bed. “Yep,that’s where they’ve been. They always come back rambunctious like this. Come on, we need to get up anyway.”

The dogs jumped down, then started barking and ran from the room.

“What’s up with that?” She asked. “Did they hear someone?”

“Nope, it’s Milk Bone time.”

“They’re so demanding.”

“They can be,” he replied with a chuckle as he quickly dressed. “I’ll see you in the kitchen.”

“I’m right behind you,” she called after him, but as she picked up her jeans her phone rang in the pocket. Sitting back down she lifted it out and was surprised to see it was her father.

“Dad, I’m so happy to hear from you.”

“How is everything working out? Are you getting along with that cowboy? After your email we didn’t hear anything.”

“Sorry, the hours have just flown by. Everything’s great. I love it here, especially being around horses.”

”Good, good, but, Portia, Sharon just called and told us what William Buckley tried to do.”

“Oh, yes, it’s so bad. I was going to call you and let you know, I just haven’t had a chance, but I figured she’d be in touch. Has anything happened? Has he been fired? I assume his firm knows.”

“Oh, yes, everyone knows but he’s disappeared. Your mother and I are a bit worried. There’s no telling what he might do. No-one had any idea he was so crooked…or apparently unstable.”

“He can’t get to me on this ranch, no way, and I won’t go off anywhere by myself. I will have to go back to my house at some point to pick up a few things, but Devlin will take me, so I’ll be fine.”

“Please keep your eyes open. All sorts of things are coming out about that young man. It’s truly shocking.”

“Like what?”

“A couple of the secretaries at his law firm have come forward and claimed he drugged them.”

“Oh, dad, he probably did. He tried to drug me.”

“No! When? What happened.”

“It’s okay, sorry, I didn’t mean to panic you. Devlin came to my rescue.”

“Have you contacted the police there?”

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