Page 25 of The Unbuttoned Ranger
“What brings you out here?”
“I needed a job.” She didn’t look at him.
“That might cut it for a lot of folks here in Fin’s Creek but it doesn’t make sense to me.”
She knew this would come. He put off those vibes. Setting the rake aside, she focused on him.“Sometimes people just want a change of scenery.”
“Right, they do, but not all those people have bruises.”
She wouldn’t entertain his concerns.“I need a break to go check on my son. Piper said she was leaving after breakfast.” She paused at the double doors.“Just for the record, I’m a privateperson. Thanks for showing me the ropes but I’ve got it from here.”
Chapter Eleven
Sharp surveyed the fence he’d spent two days building—it was taking shape. It should do the job to keep Piper’s cows where they belong. Somehow his to-do list had grown tenfold after he added things that needed repaired at Loveland.
He didn’t mind, not really.
Keeping busy kept his mind focused. He hadn’t spoken to any of the Texas Heat team in days. He guessed no news was good news.
His eyes wandered over the land. He saw CaDee every day, but she didn’t acknowledge him—hadn’t since they were mucking the barn days ago and she left in a huff. He couldn’t quite describe what he’d felt when he saw the bruising on her skin outside of thinking it explained a lot. A single woman showing up with a young kid always made people ask questions, but Sharp saw something in her that was more than needing a change of scenery. Maybe the way she gave a little jump at loud sounds, and the way she pulled away when he asked about the marks, or how she was guarded over the simplest questions. It all made him more curious.
Hell, he shouldn’t have asked. He knew he could be tactless at times. The best detective was the one who observed first then asked questions second.
He could chalk it up to the rough military part of him.
After taking a long guzzle of water from his jug, he reflected on how farm work deepened his respect for hard labor—gave him time to clear his head.
Though he grew up here, he left for the military at eighteen and later joined the Texas Rangers, only returning to the farm occasionally when his schedule allowed.
He set down his water jug and saw Carsen near the tire swing, pretending a stick was a sword and battled invisible enemies.
Then Sharp saw CaDee.
She was inside the pig pen dumping slop. There was nothing elegant about the chore and she didn’t try hiding her disapproval. Her hair was piled high on her head and the bun flopped around as if she’d done a haphazard job at pulling it up. She wore those loose-fitting pair of jean bibs.
With bucket in hand, she weaved her way through the cluster of hungry pigs, and through the gate. That was when she saw him. Her eyes widened slightly, and she frowned. Something told him she didn’t trust him anymore than he trusted her.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her, but he could see she had a story to tell.
What he didn’t tell her was that he had Skeeter tow her car to Creed’s Creek so he could do the work himself. He wanted to save her a dime, and he enjoyed working on cars. He’d also made an oil change and put some air in her tires.
But what had him in a vice was what he found while he was under the car. Why would she have a tracker? A“slap-and-track” device. Sharp recognized it as one law enforcement used to track suspects and vehicles.
This only made his suspicions grow.
He knew criminals. She didn’t fit the MO, but before he mentioned the tracker, and what he’d dug up on her, he first needed to observe.
“Look at my sword.”
Sharp looked down. Carsen had come over and held up the stick proudly.
“That’s a nice one you have there.” Sharp liked the kid. Over the last few days, he’d wandered up to Sharp just to say“hi” and sometimes wanting to help build the fence. The kid was smart, no doubt, but somewhat sheltered. CaDee didn’t let him far out of her sight.
“Carsen!” CaDee came rushing over, breathless.“I told you to play near the tree.”
“I had to show Sharp my sword,” Carsen said.
“We don’t want to bother him. He’s busy. Let’s go back toward the house.”
