Page 51 of Wyoming True

“You won’t, well, make them feel as if they’re under suspicion or anything?” she asked. “They’re such good men.”

Dirk cocked his head and looked down at her. Even with red eyes, she was beautiful. “I won’t make waves. But we need to know if there’s any connection. One of them might have a relative or a friend who’d do something for your ex-husband.”

“Oh, I see,” she returned, nodding.

He smiled. His gray eyes sparkled. He was very good-looking. “If your ex-husband was behind this, we’ll find out. And he’ll be very sorry that we did.”

She relaxed and smiled back. “Okay. Thanks.”

Jake moved closer and took her hand gently in his. “Yes. Thanks very much,” he added pleasantly, but his pale gray eyes, just a shade lighter than the investigator’s, were throwing off sparks.

Dirk laughed inwardly, wished them both a good night and went back out to the car with the evidence.

“He’ll get the blood to the state crime lab office,” Cody told them. “I’m almost certain there’s enough to get DNA from. I’ll let you both know when we get the results.”

“Thanks so much,” Ida said.

Cody smiled. “No problem. Good night.”

JAKEGLAREDAFTERTHEM.He turned back to Ida and the frown was quickly erased. “Finish packing and we’ll be off,” he said softly.

“Okay.” She smiled. “Thanks, Jake. I’m not comfortable staying here by myself, but I’d never have asked you...”

“I know that,” he interrupted.

“But what about the rest of my horses?” she worried. “The part-timers go home at night.”

“I’ll take care of that. You just pack, okay?” he asked gently.

She smiled. “Okay.”

He took out his cell phone and called his foreman, who said he’d have a man out at Ida’s place within the hour, armed and ready.

IDAWENTSLOWLYback into the bedroom, puzzled by Jake’s odd behavior when she was talking to the investigator. He couldn’t possibly be jealous of him, of course. She felt a wave of pleasure wash over her as she processed the unlikely thought. No, she told herself firmly, he was only being kind. Of course.

She got together enough clothes for a few days and packed them in a suitcase. It was heavy.

She went out into the hall, grimacing as she walked. “Jake, can you get the bag for me?”

“Sure thing.” He glanced around the bedroom as he picked up the piece of luggage. No frills, nothing fancy at all. The room was spartan. There was a bed and a chest of drawers, a bedside table with a lamp, several throw rugs, and a vanity with a mirror and a little chair. Nothing else. Not even a picture on the wall.

“You live simply,” he remarked.

She shrugged. “I have paintings that I’d like to put up, but they need to be matted and framed first, and it’s a long way to Casper.”

His eyebrows arched.

“I can’t really drive that far,” she confessed. “And there’s no frame shop in Catelow.”

“I get it.” He led the way into the living room, noting that she’d retrieved her cane and was using it. Most likely bad weather was on the way. People with joint injuries had a lot of pain just before a low-pressure system moved in.

“Can you make it all right?” he asked, concerned.

“I’m doing fine,” she lied. The ibuprofen was wearing off. She stopped. “Jake, my ibuprofen is in the cabinet in my bathroom...”

He put down the suitcase and went to get it. The medicine cabinet had Band-Aids, antibiotic cream and ibuprofen. He palmed the bottle. “No toothbrush?” he asked when he rejoined her.

She laughed. “Packed,” she said, indicating the luggage.