THE RENEGADE RANCHER Read Online Free PDF Page B

didn’t tell the cops my name.”
    “How did you know?”
    “I don’t seem to be in police custody on suspicion of murder.”
    “Right. The police already thought I was drunk or high or just crazy. Then there was the mess when they thought I’d stolen Jeremy’s car. That took forever to clear up. So I let them take me home and used the internet.”
    “Wait, go back. They thought you stole a car?”
    “That’s beside the point, but if you must know, Jeremy left me his car. I’ve been making the payments. The bank wouldn’t put it in my name. When I told the cop at the accident that the owner was dead...” She rubbed the scratches she’d gotten from the handcuffs they used while escorting her to the police station to sort things out. “Part of the reason it was so late when I found you was that it took a long time to find Jeremy’s lawyer and verify everything.”
    “Is this your place?”
    “Jeremy’s, really.”
    “If it’s got a lock on the door, you’ll be fine. Want me to walk you to the door?”
    “Yes. I mean, aren’t we going to talk? You can tell me what your plans are. How do you plan to catch this guy? Oh, wait, we should talk inside. But what if it’s bugged or something?”
    “Lindsey.” He lifted a hand as a universal stop sign. “Lindsey, slow down. I’m not that guy.”
    He reached forward and gently popped her seat belt loose. At some point he’d already undone his and twisted on the old vinyl. Draping his arm over the back of the seat, he rested his head in his hand.
    He arched his brows, waiting, but she didn’t know how to respond. She didn’t completely understand the question, so what did he want?
    “Look, kid—”
    “Stop right there. I’m not a kid. You can’t be more than three or four years older than me. Remember, I did research on you, too. So I’m not your kid, sweetheart, baby, doll or whatever nickname you can create. My name’s Lindsey.”
    “Yes ma’am. Like I was saying, I’m not the guy you want defending you. I have no resources, no knowledge, no experience or desire to protect you. You need someone who knows what they’re doing.”
    “But who else is going to believe me, Brian?”
    “You’ve got me there. I had a helluva time just getting myself to believe me. Then Mabel did some research and all those accidents didn’t seem so accidental.”
    “You’ll help?” She focused on his eyes, the slight tilt of his mouth that was much more comforting than those tight, strained lips.
    “I don’t know what I can do, Lindsey, but I’ll tell you what I know. Stay there and I’ll help you out before you hurt that shoulder again. The muscles are probably stiffening up about now.”
    He scooped the folder from the seat and she waited while he walked around the truck. If he wanted to be gallant, she’d let him. Allowing him to open the door for her wasn’t being a pushover—especially if he wasn’t doing any pushing.
    She creaked to the edge and stepped down. Brian was right. She ached all over.
    “Aw, I told you.”
    The wince had probably given her away. She would have stumbled to the ground if he hadn’t been there helping. “I can’t believe how sore I am all of a sudden.”
    “The adrenaline’s wearing off and I bet you’ll be out as soon as your head hits the pillow.”
    “No way. We have things to discuss. I want to know everything you know.”
    “And I’ll be here in the morning. Does that perplexed look indicate you don’t know if it’s a good idea or not?”
    “I just... I mean, just because I tracked you down doesn’t mean I invited you to spend the night.” Remember, someone’s trying to kill you. A little voice in her head, sounding so much like Jeremy, kept reminding her to look around. The paranoia had her doubting Brian’s motives.
    “I thought we were past all that. I didn’t try to kill you. You can trust me.”
    Fear made her anxious. She could feel it trying to take over again. Then Jeremy’s voice prodded her,