Page 51 of Feral

“Oh, okay. Maybe you can help me. The other day, I found his bull on my property.”

The young man’s eyes widened. “Oh no.”

“Yeah, it scared the bejeezus out of me. Lucky for me it wandered back, but I was wondering if you knew how it got over to my side of the fence?” I laughed gently. “I mean, it didn’t fly over.”

Jack took his hat off and scratched his head. “No ma’am, I don’t. I’m sorry. I will check all the fences right away.”

“Thanks, I would appreciate that.” I played dumb. “What’s the bull for, anyway? Are you going to sell him?”

“No, he’s here for breeding. We just sell a few cows off every so often.”

“Oh yeah?” I twirled a lock of hair around my finger and sat into one hip. “Just a few?”

His eyes tracked my movements.

“I know, it’s strange if you ask me. Seems like it’d make more sense to sell them all at once. Maybe he don’t want to buy another trailer. Not the way I’d do it, but it’s not my ranch.” He shrugged.

“Well, I’d love to watch you load them up. The cows, I mean. I’ve never seen a working ranch before.”

A grin creased his youthful face. “Well, I don’t load them. I just bring ‘em down into the chute. Mr. Markle likes to load them himself after sundown and transport at night, so it’s not too hot and uncomfortable for the cattle.”

Uh huh. Sure. The only way Markle probably liked a cow was medium rare.

“Well, that’s very humane of him. When will that be? I’d love to watch that part.”

His grin broadened like he thought I was cute. “Well, sure. I’m bringin’ “em down tomorrow evening. You’re welcome to come down.”

“It wouldn’t be too much of a bother if I came back to watch? I’ll stay out of the way, I promise.”

Jack’s gaze darted toward Markle’s house, like he was suddenly unsure. I wasn’t surprised considering what an asshole Markle was. “Uh, yeah. I think that would be fine. I mean, it’s fine with me. I don’t think Mr. Markle would care.”

“Well, I’ll ask him when I come,” I said sweetly. “Thanks.”

I turned and headed back toward my place.

Perfect. If Markle followed routine, which most drug runners did once they found a method that worked, he’d load the drugs in after the cows, like I saw last time. If I could get down there and check out the crates before they were loaded, I’d have everything I needed to take Markle down.

And Jack just gave me an excuse for being there if I got caught.

I walked back to the house, trying to keep my gaze from lifting toward Wolf Ranch.

Trying to ignore the stab of pain in my chest that seemed like it would never go away. I ached for Rob. For the life he had here, the family. For his dick. And his heart.

Focus on the job, Willow.

It was the only thing I had left.

25

ROB

The shakingof my bed made me groan.

“Get up, asshole.”

“What the fuck?” I growled.

“You’ve had two days.”