Page 12 of Big Daddy Bull Riders

So, she could poke her nose around, do some old-school investigating, and see what she turned up.

That was all on her mind when a voice said, “What are you doing back here, little missy?”

Startled, she jumped high.

“Whoa there,” Slater said. “A mite touchy.” He looked over at Jackson who was walking beside him as they approached. “You know, pard, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say this cutie is up to something she shouldn’t be.”

Jackson nodded. “Up to no good, I reckon.”

“Oh, hey guys,” Mina said, trying to appear and sound as casual as possible while she stepped toward them. She hoped the conversation wasn’t drifting into the windows the way the sheriff’s conversation had drifted out. How would she explain all this?

“What are you doing back here?” Jackson asked, arching an eyebrow and cocking his head to the side.

“Just… uh… well…” She sighed, her shoulders slumped as she hung her head in defeat. “Some fancy guy stopped by my place a few minutes ago. I was curious why he was in town so I came over here to try and see.”

“Being nosy, huh?” Slater questioned, though the smirk he wore revealed that he wasn’t upset.

Mina relaxed a little.

“Or she’s being a reporter,” Jackson said.

“Oh, that’s right,” Slater conceded while nodding. “Forgot her occupation.”

“Did someone call a meeting back here?” Quinn asked.

A moment later, Mina saw him step around the corner, grinning.

She groaned. Busted. No way around it.

“No. I was snooping around,” she admitted glumly.

The sheriff laughed. “I know. I saw you.”

“You did?” Mina winced, angry with herself for not being better at her craft.

He nodded. “Saw you when you looked in the front window.”

“Oh.”

He just chuckled. “Guess you were looking for a juicy story.”

“Yeah! What did that guy want? He stopped by my place first,” she told them.

“Did he step out of line?” Jackson asked.

All three of the men stared at her, intent to hear the answer.

“No, no. Nothing like that,” she replied. “He said a property search online revealed the newspaper building was owned by the city. So, he assumed it was City Hall.”

“Or so he says,” Quinn said.

“You don’t believe him?” Mina asked, inching closer as her reporter instincts once again took over.

There was a story there. She just knew it!

“Well, you’ll find out soon enough. I suspect much doesn’t get by you. So, I might as well spill it,” Quinn said.

That was a compliment, as far as she was concerned. She laughed, feeling her cheeks glow a rosy hue. “Thank you.”

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