“You wanted to see me?”
Rory got to her feet, strolled to him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and kissed his lightly whiskered jaw.
“Every chance I get.”
His arms wrapped around her, and he pulled her tight against him.
“I’m glad you played along out there.”
“Me too. It got you in my kitchen.” She looked up at him.
Wilder grinned, lowered his head, and kissed her lips.
“Too bad you can’t get me to your bedroom.”
“Maybe later.” She stepped back from him and frowned. “I hate losing more cows.”
“We have to do what we can to catch these thieves. If the cows come up missing this time, it has to be one of your men. I hate to say that because I like them, but I think it is one of them. I think I recognized a voice...” He mentally swore at letting that slip.
“You recognized a voice? Who is it?”
Wilder shook his head. “I said, IthinkI recognized it. I’m not saying until I’m positive.”
“I have a right to know, Wilder,” she snapped.
“Why? So you can go halfcocked into the barn after him?”
“I wouldn’t—”
“Bullshit, Rory. You were in the damn woods the other night.Alone,” he growled out.
“I wish I could have heard it. I know them all so well. I’m sure I would have known who it belonged to.”
“Yeah, and I know exactly how that would go.”
“I can’t believe it’s one of my men,” she said and drew in a ragged breath.
“I know. I’m sorry. You trust them, and now to find out they could be stealing from you…” Wilder shook his head.
“Maybe you didn’t recognize the voice. They were whispering—” She stopped at the look on Wilder’s face. “I know. I’m reaching.”
“I’ve been an agent long enough to not make assumptions, but I’m almost positive that voice belongs to one of your men, and I have to find out which one.”
Rory gasped. “What if it’s all of them?”
“Then I’ll arrest all of them. Did you do background checks when you hired them?”
“Yes, except Buster. He was here before I was.”
“I see. Since your in-laws owned it? Then I doubt it would be him.”
“Youdoubtit?”
“Darlin’, I have to suspect everyone. I know you trust them because you’re close to them. I’m not. I can see what you can’t.”
“I suppose.” She put her hands over her cheeks. “I just can’t believe one or more of them would do that to me.”
Wilder pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry, baby. I really am. I’ll have to arrest whoever it is. Back in the old west, it was a hanging offense.”
“They’ll go to prison, won’t they?”
“Probably, and ordered to pay restitution. It could mean heavy fines, jail time, or both. There was a case where a thief received thirty months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and had to pay four-hundred thousand dollars in restitution. It’s not a crime that’s taken lightly.”
“I know it goes on more than people think it does, but I never thought—” she choked on a sob.
“I’m sorry, Rory. I’ll do my best to get them. No matter who it is.” He cupped her face in his hands. “I don’t think it’s Joel, so have someone else move the cows.” He shook his head when she frowned. “Trust me on this. Now I have to get back to work, or Buster will come looking for me. I’m hoping this will all end soon.” He gave her a quick kiss, turned, and walked out.
Rory strolled to the door to watch him heading for the barn. She knew it was going to be a long day.