Page 35 of Meant for Her

Just as she finished giving him directions, the deputy came down the drive. The tires kicking up the gravel on the driveway was hard to miss.

“You ready for your big performance?” she asked.

“Just have my back, and we’ll be good.”

She smiled, and his teeth sharpened.Fuck me.

CHAPTERELEVEN

When the knock came, Malia waved for Luke to stay put. She pulled open the door and motioned the deputy in.

“Ms. Granger.”

“Deputy Dennison.”

“Ted, please.”

She gave him a megawatt smile. Malia was rather proud of her acting skills. He’d asked her out a few times, but she’d always found an excuse why she couldn’t go. “Ted.”

The deputy nodded at Luke. “How are you feeling?”

“As good as can be expected. I really appreciate you coming out this late.”

Wow. Wasn’t he the polished and polite person? Where had that person come from?

“All part of the job.”

“Do you have any leads?” Luke asked as he pretended to sit up straighter. He even winced rather convincingly.

Ted Dennison sat in the chair next to the sofa, and Malia sat across from him. She wanted to be able to intervene if necessary.

“Not many. I contacted a few of the meat processing plants, but no cows with your brand have been delivered. Do you know how many they stole?”

“Twelve, but four of them were pregnant. I have to be honest, Ted. We needed them in order to survive this year.”

The deputy nodded. “I hear you.”

“Have these rustlers attacked any other ranches?” Luke asked.

“That’s just the thing. No. When I spoke with the sheriff, we thought it odd that they only targeted you.”

Luke glanced off to the side. “I can guess why.”

“Why is that?”

“There are just the two of us running the entire ranch. It was pure luck that Ryan and I happened to be riding to the valley at that time and spotted them.”

The deputy pulled out a notebook. “Walk me through what happened.”

When Luke described how the six men drove off in two trucks and then shot at Ryan and him when he’d tried to shoot out their tires, Malia was furious. She couldn’t imagine being robbed, shot, and then beaten.

“The sheriff found a rifle and a Smith and Wesson 357 in the field next to you. I assume they belong to you?”

“They do,” Luke said.

“I have them in the car. We processed them.”

“Can we have them back? We’ll need them in case these thieves return,” Luke said.

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