“I will be.”
Wilder watched him walk away and wanted to punch him, but he held his temper… for now. Bernie had told him earlier that he was talking with the man in charge, but he still wouldn’t say who it was, and it looked like Wilder would have to wait.
After he knew Rory had gone to the house, he headed there. He had no idea what she wanted, but he needed to find out.
He walked across the porch and was about to knock when it opened, and she waved him in. He stepped into the kitchen and sighed at the cooler air.
“Why did you go to the west pasture? Damn it, Rory. If you tipped him off, then I’ll never catch them.”
“So, you know it’s Hal.”
“I do.”
“You should have told me. I wanted to kick his ass.”
“Yeah, okay. That right there is why I didn’t tell you. Besides, I just found out.”
“So, arrest him.”
“He’s not the only one. I want the man in charge, and I can’t get him if I don’t get in with B-him.”
“Who else were you going to say?”
“Let it go, Rory. It’s bad enough that I can’t trust you around Hal. I’m not saying anything more. You just go about doing what you do. I can’t have them bolting on me.”
“All right. I don’t like it, but I understand.” She tilted her head. “I thought you were working with Duane today, so why were you with Bernie?”
Wilder huffed. “Damn it.”
“Is he in on it?” Rory asked in a shocked voice.
“Yes, but I’m not saying more. I cannot chance you going off on them.”
“I won’t. I promise.” She pulled a chair out from the table and plopped down on it. “I can’t believe they’d do this.” She looked at Wilder. “And they aren’t the only ones, are they?”
“No. I’m going back to work. I’ll talk to you later.” He looked at her for a few seconds, then went out the door.
After taking a deep breath, he strode across the yard and into the barn. He still had several stalls to muck. Then he could head for the bunkhouse. There was no way he would tell her about tonight because she’d probably sneak up there and jump out at them. That would be precisely what she’d do. He chuckled.
Later that night, he sat on his bed and watched the men playing poker again.
“Want to get in the game, Wilder?” Joel asked him.
“No thanks. I think I’m going to get some sleep. I’ll see you all in the morning.”
“Night.” Joel got back to the game.
Wilder saw Bernie watching him, but he didn’t say anything. Hal was nowhere around, and he wondered if he was getting what they needed for tonight. Wilder hated this, but he had to keep playing along if he wanted whoever oversaw the rustling.
Someone shaking his shoulder woke him. He grabbed their arm and then looked up to see Bernie standing over him.
“Come on,” he whispered.
Wilder nodded, sat up, grabbed his hat, and waited for Bernie to reach the door before reaching under his mattress and getting his gun. After sticking it in the back of his jeans, he pulled his shirt over it and followed Bernie out the door. He was glad he’d fallen asleep with his clothes on because he was sure someone would wake up if he had to get dressed.
He glanced over his shoulder, but it was too dark to see who was in their bunks and who wasn’t, but Bernie had told him it was just three of them tonight.
Once outside, he looked at his watch to see it was three in the morning. They had two hours to take the cows and get back, so it couldn’t be too far.