“I need you to get warrants for bank accounts for a Buster Jones, Hal Smith, Bernie Dunn, Abe Thomas, Duane White, and Joel Clark.”
“Okay. Anyone else?”
Wilder leaned back against the building and stared down at his boots.
“That’s all of them working here.”
“I’ll see about getting the warrants. Any idea if they’re from around here?”
Wilder told Reece where the men were from, then they hung up, with Reece telling him he’d get on it. Wilder knew he would. He had to be patient while Reece got warrants for the bank accounts. Easier said than done.
****
Rory entered the barn a few days later, looking for Wilder. Not finding him, she strolled down the aisle but stopped when she heard voices. Again, they were talking in low tones, and if it was Bernie and Hal, she would go off on them.
She crept closer but jumped back when Hal walked out of the room and landed on her ass.
“Rory, are you all right?” Bernie asked her as he came out behind Hal.
“Yes. I didn’t expect anyone to come out of there,” she said as she got to her feet and dusted the back of her jeans off.
“I didn’t see you. I’m sorry,” Hal said.
She wanted to scream at him that he wasn’t sorry about anything. He was taking her cows. It still made her ache at Boo-boo being gone. And to stand here looking at the men responsible had her seeing red.
“You’re sorry?” she snapped.
“Rory.”
She glanced over her shoulder to see Wilder sauntering down the aisle toward her, and she knew he had heard her. She took a deep breath and gave Hal and Bernie a tightlipped smile, then walked to meet Wilder.
“What?” she asked when she reached him.
“Don’t go getting pissed,” he said.
“Iampissed, Wilder. More than you could possibly know.”
“I do know, darlin’, but you can’t mess this up for me. I’ll get them.”
“I know, but it rubbed me wrong when he said he was sorry.”
“What was he apologizing for?”
“I heard them talking and moved closer. Then Hal came out of the room. I jumped back and fell on my ass.”
“I see. Do you need me to kiss it and make it better?”
She grinned. “Maybe later. I’m heading over to the second parlor. I need this to stop, Wilder.”
“I’m working on it. I promise.”
“I know you are. I’ll see you later.”
“Will you?” he murmured.
“Yes, come to the house tonight.”
“Yes, ma’am. I aim to please, ma’am.”