Page 25 of The Rancher's Fake Fiancée

He did as instructed.

“Now listen carefully and then laugh when I am done. Understand?”

“I am thinking they can’t hear me in the house so what is all of this?”

“The person beside you is not Rowdy. He just is a fan of old cowboy TV heroes and chose that name. His name is Randall Keyes and he works with me. He will be driving the Jeep today while you give your guided tour. You want to give your full attention to your guests and that enables you to do so and not bother with the driving. He has learned a good deal of the ranch and if he takes you off road in some areas, go with it. Understand?”

Cole laughed. And then gave a slight nod. “This is ridiculous.”

“But necessary. Let them talk and ask questions. I’ll be listening to all of it. Trust that we know what we are doing,” the male agent said and nodded and smiled. Then he touched the brim of his hat in goodbye to Jesse and headed for the Jeep parked in front of the main house.

“Rowdy is not a cowboy, but a secret agent named Randall.” He responded as Jessie put her arm through his and moved them both to walk more slowly towards the house.

“That’s right. Very good, you catch on quick. But neither of us are secret agents. Just U.S. marshals on special assignment with a DEA task force.” She smiled at him. And that smile bordered on something more than friendly. It threw him off track for a few moments. He steadied his thoughts by placing his free hand on top of the one claiming proprietary rights on his arm. Something that felt very pleasing.

“You are a host showing off your land and just be yourself. This will soon be over.” They moved to the Jeep where Madeleine and Philippe approached.

“He doesn’t look so besotted,” Cole whispered. “I have to wonder what got into this ex of mine. What does she hope to get out of him and all of this?”

The voice she used was out of character even for Madeleine as far as Cole was concerned. He cast a cool look on the woman grasping the arm of her own fiancé. Perhaps a bit too possessive in its claim? He noted Philippe did not respond to it. Trouble in paradise already?

Good. He could almost pity the man.Almost.

“We have a driver?” The priest was noting Rowdy seated behind the wheel.

“Better to allow me to pay attention and make sure to show you all the things you might not see if I have to keep an eye on the road at the same time. He knows the land quite well, too. Hop in gentlemen.”

Cole turned to Jesse who placed her back to the occupants of the Jeep and the woman who had moved to stand on the steps. She gave a quick wink. “Hurry back dearest. We’ll have dinner on the patio at sunset.”

She leaned up on tiptoe meaning to kiss his cheek, but he was faster, and his lips caught hers. A slight cough from Rowdy in the front driver’s seat reminded him that daylight was wasting. He responded with a quick wink of his own at Jessie’s surprised look before he stepped around her and took his seat. “Take care!” And they were off in a small cloud of dust.

The two women were left facing each other.

“Would you like to take time to have a nap before they return?” Jesse offered as a good hostess. She felt it might be too much if she pointed out the woman looked like she might need an extra hour or two or three of beauty rest given the lines and dark circles around her heavily made-up eyes. Makeup could only conceal so much before it became a highlighter of imperfections. But that might not go over too well so she left her diplomatic question short and sweet.

Madeleine simply turned on her heel and left without a response.

“Guess I’ll just go and take care of Emmie’s chores,” she replied to herself. It was a whole lot more fun than playing hostess to Cole’s ex.

Jesse’s mind traveled to the Jeep and wherever they might be on the ranch. Rowdy knew how to reach her and their boss if anything was amiss or needed. She didn’t share with Cole the extent to the surveillance on hand. People needed to move and act as naturally as possible to avoid unnecessary danger. Even Uncle Joe and Emmie were safeguarded. She wished she could get rid of the uneasy feeling that had stayed with her since meeting Madeleine’s priest friend.

There was nothing she could point to, but the feeling was there. She looked towards the western ridge of hills and hoped all was well just in case.

Chapter Twelve

“Other than astop at Destiny’s River and then at the fire road on the southwest corner of Lattigo pasture where they saw a bunch of wild turkeys, there isn’t much to report,” Rowdy said as he fueled the Jeep’s tank at the pumps beyond the last stable.

“You think this is erroneous information that the informant gave to our boss?”

Rowdy shook his head. “I don’t think so. He wouldn’t have moved us off a setup like we had established over these weeks unless it was gold. Got to hand it to this rancher of yours, he can play things cool.”

“He isn’tmyrancher.” Jesse stated that fact so Rowdy would move on to something else. She didn’t care for the way the words made her feel. And her fellow co-worker certainly didn’t need to pick up on anything else.

Rowdy smiled. “Just remember that a long lens doesn’t lie most of the time. I think one of you is kidding yourselves about that being the case. Or maybebothof you.” He stepped faster than the fist she sent to make contact with his shoulder. “Don’t worry…those shots don’t make it into the report.”

“Drop it.”

“You’re talking tome, remember? I have a few years’ memory and saw your heart broken back then. I am the first to say good for you if you find that guy who can make you smile like this one does. I know what my Kacey means to me. And you deserve to be just as happy. But I’ll drop it for now. Except for this…your job will end. Life doesn’t have to…just don’t let it pass you by. Now, I’m done, and I have a report to make elsewhere.” He jumped back inside the Jeep and gave a brief wave.

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