Page 61 of Claimed by the Lawman

She took a step back and wrapped her arms around her waist to ease the butterflies. “I couldn’t eat anything, but I could use coffee.”

He nodded. “You take a seat and I’ll grab us both a cup. I could use one too.”

She sat down and watched him leave, then pressed her face into her palms, when she heard… “Ms. Posey. I do hope your father is better.”

Bringing her head up, she gritted her teeth. Standing over her was none other than Bane himself. “What are you doing here?” Seeing him made her anger rise.

“I came to pay my respects. It’s the neighborly thing to do.” One corner of his mouth lifted in a grin that made her want to vomit.

Not liking that he was standing over her in a domineering fashion, she stood and, although he still stood at least four inches taller than her, she felt better. “If you’re here hoping that he died you’re out of luck.” She crossed her arms over her chest, mostly to keep her hands to herself. The urge to slap the man was strong.

“Now, now, young lady. I don’t mean your father any harm. In fact, I’d like to reach out and offer my help.” He scratched his temple.

“The only help my family needs from you is for you to move the hell out of Bohannan. Better yet, out of Wyoming.” She tilted her jaw stubbornly.

Bane laughed, then said, “You shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds you.” He pushed his hat further up on his forehead.

“What are you talking about?”

“Soon you’ll be begging me to take the ranch off your hands. You’re losing cattle, my dear.”

“Because you’re stealing them.”

He acted offended. “Me? Stealing? You don’t think I need to steal livestock, do you? But if your father won’t keep up on the maintenance of his fence, I can’t help that a few stray cattle mosey on over to my land. They like it better.”

She blinked. Was he serious? “You should leave.”

“Not before I make an offer.”

“You can stick that offer where the sun doesn’t—”

“Tsk. Tsk. What anger you have, Ms. Posey.” He smiled and took several steps, then turned. “Isn’t it odd that we’ve had two calamities today. Poor Mansfield. He just couldn’t handle the pressure of what he did to your sister.”

It took her a good minute to wrap her mind around what Bane said, and before she could ask him, he was on the elevator. He gave her a cocky wave as the doors closed. She dropped down onto the chair.

“Here’s your coffee.”

Looking up, she met Kace’s gaze. His brows scrunched. “What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”

“What happened to Kyle Mansfield? And what did Bane mean that Mansfield couldn’t take the pressure of what he did to my sister?”

Kace frowned, placed the cups on the table and took the seat next to her. She saw the concerned lines around his eyes. “Bane was here?”

“Tell me what he meant.”

He dragged off his hat and hooked it on his knee. “We got a clue today that Mansfield was involved in Susy’s death, but before I could validate the information, he shot himself.”

“He killed Susy? He shot himself?”

“It hasn’t been confirmed about Susy, Tyler. I was coming to see you when Mildred called me about your father. I wanted to be the one who told you.”

She clasped her hands tight in her lap. “You were coming to tell me?”

He nodded. “As of right now, it looks like the brand on your sister was an M for Mansfield, but I’m not convinced.”

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