Page 39 of Smokescreen

As they sat beside each other in the truck, Reid turned toward her. “Who was that guy?”

“He’s one of the two men I saw in Skip’s office at the livestock auction—the ones who left the gun in Skip’s desk.” She’d updated him on what happened before coming in.

“And now he’s looking for you?”

“Must be afraid I’m going to turn him in or something.”

Reid let out a grunt, and for a moment, they were each lost in their own thoughts.

There was a lot to comprehend between the meeting with Wayne and seeing Edgar in town.

The mere fact Edgar was in the area made Olive anxious to get somewhere she wouldn’t be spotted. The man could blow her whole cover, and that was the last thing she wanted.

Finally, Vulture Gulch was in the rearview mirror, and she and Reid started the fifteen-mile drive back toward the ranch.

“Most of the property you see here to the right of us is mine,” Reid said.

“I can’t even comprehend the true enormity of just how many acres you own. If I remember correctly, your ranch is bigger than Grand Teton National Park.”

He gave her a look, and she shrugged.

“I have a thing for numbers,” she explained. “I can tell you other national parks that are smaller than your property. And I can tell you that Rhode Island isn’t much bigger. I believe your place is just over six hundred thousand acres. That’s crazy to think about.”

“I’ve never thought to compare the size of my land to a national park. But I do know I’m a very blessed man, and I don’t take that for granted.”

“Good to hear. To those whom much is given much is expected.”

“And there you go quoting the Bible now. You continually surprise me.”

“My father was actually a pastor—but only for a year.” Why had she just shared that? She usually tried to keep personal things private.

Reid threw her a surprised glance. “Really?”

“It’s . . . complicated.” Olive didn’t tell him that she wasn’t sure if her dad actually believed in God or if he took the job as part of a power trip.

“Life usually is complicated.”

Olive glanced behind her, partly out of habit and partly out of instinct.

As she did, her eyes narrowed. “That truck has been behind us since we left town.”

His gaze shifted to the rearview mirror, and he studied the black truck with tinted windows. “Very observant. What should I do?”

“The driver’s not closing in on us, so hold steady for now. We don’t want to show our hand too quickly.”

“Do you think this driver is the one who’s been behind the happenings at the ranch?”

“Could be. Or it could be . . . Edgar, I suppose.”

Reid’s jaw tightened. “Either way, I don’t like this.”

Olive glanced back again. This time, she noticed the vehicle was accelerating.

The last thing she wanted was for the driver to collide with Reid’s truck and send them barreling off the road.

She studied the rugged landscape surrounding them, searching for a safe solution. “Is there anywhere we can turn off this road? Somewhere that’s not a dead end. We need to lose this guy.”

Reid was silent a minute before nodding. “I know of a place, but it’s another couple of miles up the road.”

---