Page 28 of Cowboy Elite 2: Mike

"You got a minute?" Mike asked, closing the door behind him.

Joe looked up. Took in his brother's expression. "What happened?"

"Some drunk idiot at the rodeo called Liv by a different name. Olivia Langford. She shut down. Wouldn't talk about it."

Joe leaned back in his chair. Didn't look surprised.

"You knew," Mike said flatly.

"I suspected." Joe turned the laptop so Mike could see the screen. Public records. Sparse. A social security number that had only been activated two months ago. “Her name doesn't exist online, Mike. No social media. No restaurant reviews. No culinary press. Nothing. That's not normal for someone who supposedly owned a bakery in Manhattan."

The door opened without a knock.

Kenny stepped in, arms crossed.

"You recognize the guy at the fairground?" Joe asked him.

Kenny nodded. "Tony Driscoll. Owns a bed-and-breakfast out toward Stillwater. Travels a lot. Talks more."

"He a threat?"

"Not him. But his mouth is."

Joe typed something into his search bar. Paused. "Kenny?"

"I know," Kenny said quietly. "She's not who she says she is."

"But something tells me she's not running from something she did," Joe said, fingers still on the keys. "She's running from something done to her."

The brothers exchanged a look, quiet understanding passing between them.

Mike scrubbed a hand over his face. "So what do we do?"

"We find out who's looking for Olivia Langford," Joe said. "And we make sure they don't find her here."

Out on the porch, Liv sipped chamomile tea while Heather rocked beside her. The stars blinked above. The crickets harmonized with the wind brushing through the hay fields.

At the fairgrounds she'd tried to pretend nothing had happened, that she hadn't been shaken to her core. But the Watkins family were an astute, watchful bunch. Almost by silent communication, every one of them had circled around her. Not to ask questions. Just to be there.

Liv had no experience with that kind of family closeness.

Heather didn't speak at first. Didn't need to. Finally, she asked, "Want to talk about it?"

Liv sighed. "Someone called me by my real name today."

Heather didn't flinch. "Is that the name you're hiding from?"

"I think so. I've gotten used to being Liv Ramsey. It feels safer than who I really am."

"I don't need to know the details unless and until you want to tell me."

"I'm not a criminal," Liv said quickly. "I swear."

"I believe that. I also believe you were scared today. And rightfully so. But you're not alone anymore."

Liv looked out across the land she was learning to love. "Thanks, Heather."

Mike appeared then, carrying a flannel blanket over one arm. "Scoot over."