Chapter Two
As Wilder drove home, he couldn’t stop thinking about Rory Heston. She was beautiful, with her red hair and blue eyes. She was petite, but he never let a woman’s height sway him. Of course, he could always pick her up, he thought with a grin.
“She’s married,” he muttered, then shook his head.Why is it that a woman always makes a man talk to himself?With a grin, he knew that was one question no man could answer.
He pulled into the driveway, up to the house, parked, and headed inside. He’d go to Trent Donovan’s place tomorrow. He wanted to download the photos from his phone, then grab a shower, something to eat, and head to bed. So much for having the weekend off.
As he strode through the house to head for his bedroom, he wondered where Nick was. Was he still working, or did he go out for a night on the town? Wilder grinned, since either could be a possibility.
The next day, Wilder pulled to a stop by the log home, looked toward the barn, then back to the porch. He threw the door open, then climbed the steps with a deep breath.
He was about to knock when the door opened, and a tall man stood in the doorway. Wilder noticed he looked at his vest, then back at his face.
“Can I help you?”
“Yes, sir. I’m Agent Richards with the Montana Department of Livestock.” He removed his badge from his belt to show it to the man. “I’m looking for Mr. Trent Donovan.”
“That’s me. What can I help you with, Agent Richards?”
Wilder explained about Rory Heston’s cows, and Trent Donovan waved for him to come in. He wiped his feet on the mat and entered the kitchen.
“Have a seat. I’m sorry to hear about Rory’s cows, but what does that have to do with me?”
“I need your permission to go onto your property to check out some tire tracks, Mr. Donovan.” Wilder stood by the table but didn’t sit.
“Please call me Trent. Tire tracks? Where?”
“The east pasture of Mrs. Heston’s property had a section of fence cut, and I walked onto your property and saw the tracks.”
“Surely, you’re not accusing me.”
“I’m not accusing anyone right now. I just need to check them out. If I can’t get your permission, I’ll have to get a search warrant.”
“No need for that. You can go anywhere you like on my property. My land butts up to hers, but no one uses that road. At least, not by me or any of the ranch hands. Since Rory has the fence checked every day, I don’t bother doing it in that pasture.”
“I appreciate you letting me go up there. Can you show me how to get there?”
“Sure.”
Once outside, Trent showed Wilder the road to take. He removed one of his cards from his wallet, handed it to Trent, put his fingers to the brim of his hat, and started down the steps.
“Should I be worried about my cattle?”
Wilder turned to look back at him.
“I think you should keep an eye on them. Rustling goes on all the time, and if a thief knows he can get money for the animals, he won’t care who they steal them from.”
“All right. I’ll have my men round them up and get them closer to the barns.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“My sister-in-law is married to a livestock agent. Reece Maddox. Do you know him?”
“I do. Reece is a good friend of mine. So, Rissa is your sister-in-law?”
“Yes. I’m married to Delaney.”
“I’ve never had the privilege of meeting Rissa’s sisters, but Reece mentioned them a few times, along with a cousin,” Wilder said.