Page 14 of Reins

When she points directly at me and then curls her index finger, that answers my question.

Shit.

There’s no way in hell I’m getting anywhere near her. Dropping my binoculars to hang around my neck, I turn back to my horse and hop into the saddle quickly.

“Let’s go, Bessy.” Dragging my reins around, I guide her at a fast trot in the opposite direction of the Triple Bar Ranch.

Fuck. That did not go as planned.

I was hoping to be able to sneak in and keep watch for a while, learning their routines. Getting busted in my first few hours spells bad news for this whole damn idea.

My mare makes easy work of the trails. I’m guessing she’s happy to be out stretching her legs after that long ass ride up from Texas.

By the time I load her up and make it back to Pete’s place, it’s nearly dark.

“Well?” He appears in the doorway of the barn as I’m brushing Bessy down.

“What? I got spotted and had to high tail it out of there.” I grimace with the unscarred side of my face.

“Fuck,” he grunts, furrowing his bushy brows. “Did they recognize you?”

I shake my head as I shut the gate to the stall. “I was too far.” I was on fifty magnification to even recognize Rosalyn.

Ava used to tell me about her parents and the cruelty they’ve often inflicted on their kids. She showed me her scars and how she got them. Even with both of them gone, I wonder how much of that has trickled down to Rosalyn?

But what if that evil streak carried into her and she’s helping to facilitate the atrocities against Black Gulch?

Maybe next time I should be looking through the lens of my rifle scope?

“I told you this was a bad plan,” Pete groans, moving to match my stride back to the house. “Not only could you have been charged with tresspassing, who knows what lengths they’ll go to covering up their crimes?”

I stop at the base of the porch stairs and turn to him. “Don’t you get it though? That’s the fucking problem. They won’t stop, and that’s my damn family they’re messing with.” My finger jabs in the air. “You’re the one who brought me here, I’m gonna find out what the hell is going on if it’s the last thing I do.”

Even if it means finding out why Ava’s little sister was beckoning at a total stranger from the woods. Who was she expecting? How do I take advantage of that?

“It doesn’t mean I want you to go and get yourself killed,” he grumbles, pushing open the door.

I pat him on the shoulder as I pass. “You’re the only person who would even know I’m gone, Pete.”

“Horseshit.” He drops his coat on the rack and gestures at his bourbon. “Want a drink?”

“Nah, I need to do some more research on the Baileys. Everything I’ve seen has the brother’s names attached. For some reason, I didn’t even take into account that the sister would still be around.” It irks me that I’d overlook something that vital.

But he pauses with the crystal decanter poised in the air. “The girl is the one who saw you?”

“She ain’t a girl, Pete. She’s probably about the same age as Ava was when she died.” Another thing I need to double check.

There’s a very real possibility that she might not be affiliated with all the crap that’s happened just due to how young she is.

Her blue eyes are old, though, like she’s carrying an ancient soul. They’re haunting in how she was trying to call me to her.

I wonder if a part of her didn’t care that I could be dangerous? Better yet, is there some way I can get close enough to her to learn more about what her brothers are doing?

“Even so, she could be bad news, Cade.” He sips his drink, then lowers himself slowly to his leather chair.

I can’t get the vision of her curling her finger at me out of my head.

“She has no idea what I’m capable of,” I say before leaving.