Page 61 of Wyoming Bodyguard
She started off in the direction of the stables.
Madden slapped a hand on Reid’s shoulder. “Thanks, man. Seriously. This goes above and beyond your job.”
“My job is to protect Lily. This helps protect her mental health as much as she helps yours.”
Not wanting to let Lily out of his sight, he hurried after her. “Appreciate that.”
Reid fell into step beside him. “That’s not all I did last night. Since no one came around, I spent time on the cattle tags. I matched a few more cattle tags with ranches in the area, a couple on the other side of the state and one in Montana. I put in some calls but haven’t heard back from anyone yet.”
“Good work,” Madden said, stepping into the stable.
He breathed in deep, filling his lungs with scents of hay and horses that he’d missed so much. He loved his job, and was proud of the business he was building, but he’d missed being outdoors. Caring for the land and animals. He needed to find a way to stay connected to the things that made him who he was.
“Can you pass me along a list of names?” Madden asked. “Maybe Lily or I know some of the owners.”
“I might know who?” Lily popped her head out of the feed room.
“Some of the ranches where the cattle tags are from,” Reid said. “Is the sink in there?”
“Yes, please, come in.” Lily shifted to make room for him to enter. “And yes. I’d like to see the list, although I’m not sure if it will make things better or worse if I know any of the owners. It’s bad enough to think someone from this ranch was stealing. It’s worse if they stole from someone they know.”
Madden hated the doubt in her voice. She loved her father, and everyone else who worked for her. Suspecting one of them of foul play that put both her and her father’s life in danger was a tough pill to swallow. “If nothing else, having a personal connection to one of these people may give us better information.”
Reid turned on the faucet. Water sprayed out, and he washed the paint from the brush’s bristles. Red oozed from the tool and coated the sink.
“We can look at lists later. For now, we need to water and feed the horses then turn them out in the field for a bit. I told Charlie not to come in today so the work falls on you and me, Madden. You up for it?” She wiggled her eyebrows as if in challenge.
“Honey, I’m up for anything you throw at me.”
“Good. Then catch this.” She threw a pitchfork his way, and he snatched it from the air. “You can clean the stalls.”
He could hear her laugh as she walked down the aisle.
“I can help with that. Just let me finish cleaning up.” Reid set the now-clean brush on the side of the sink then pumped soap in his hands before scrubbing them under the water.
“No need. You’ve got to be exhausted. Go home and get some rest. Besides, Lily and I have found a good rhythm. It’s been nice pitching in at a ranch again. Didn’t realize how much I missed it.”
Shutting off the water, Reid wiped the back of his wrist across his forehead. “Things sure have changed quick around here. You two an item now?”
Madden shrugged. He might know what he wanted from Lily, but that didn’t mean her heart was in the same place. “To be determined, but God, I hope so.”
A vibration against his thigh had him plucking his phone from his pocket. “Madden McKay, Sunrise Security.”
“Madden, it’s Deputy Silver. Are you with Ms. Tremont?”
The urgency in her tone set Madden on edge. “I am, why?”
“I tried to contact her, but her phone goes straight to voicemail. You might want to get her down to the hospital now. The deputy standing guard by Mr. Tremont’s room just called and he’s taken a turn for the worse. It doesn’t look good.”
Madden didn’t waste another second asking questions. He raced into the corridor. “Lily! We have to go!”
Lily stood in Queenie’s stall. She ran a palm down the horse’s wide nose. “Go where?”
“We have to go see your dad. Now. Something happened.”
All the color drained from her face. Her bottom lip trembled, and tears leaked from her eyes.
He pulled her against him and pressed his lips to her temple. He’d give her all his strength right now if he could. But she was strong and could face whatever waited.
