I knew I’d grown as a person when I told my brothers and they both had the same response as me—a little pissed she didn’t tell us earlier but could understand why.
“It’s not like she knows anything that might have helped him.” Nash shrugged. “Nothing for him to use as leverage. Besides, it was all decided before she even came to work here.”
“Yeah, and Nate has been nothing but great with us,” Gunner added. “I agree, wish she’d told us but understand why she didn’t. Right, I need to go over some invoices with Ruthie.”
“No, wait.” I put a hand on his shoulder to stop his getting up from his seat. “There’s something else.”
“You haven’t knocked her up have you?” Nash asked, grinning.
“No, you idiot.” Weird that didn’t sound like such a bad idea. “It’s about some messages that she’s been getting.”
“What kind of messages?” Gunner frowned, gripping the arms of the chair. “I don’t like that look on your face. You look like you’re ready to strangle someone with your bare hands.”
“I am.”
I showed them the two messages that I’d got Tally to forward to me. After reading them both my brothers looked like they were happy to join me in the strangulation of whoever had sent them.
“We both think it’s Declan, her ex.”
“It’s logical,” Nash said, handing my phone back to me. “Have you spoken to him about it?”
“Nope.” Tally tried to call him, but she said he didn’t answer. I made her call again before I left her cabin but still no response.”
“Want to go look for him? Did you say he was staying at The Maple Hotel?” Nash shrugged. “We have shotguns.”
“I mean I would.” I shrugged. “But I think Tally would be pissed at me for ending up behind bars for life.”
“We could just maim him,” Gunner offered. “End his career with a well-aimed shot at his kneecap?”
Chuckling, I shook my head. “No. I think I’d just like to ramp up our vigilance and let the sheriff know that the little guy might be trying to threaten my woman.”
Gunner grinned. “Your woman, hey.” He leaned forward and slapped my thigh. “Little bro grew up.”
“Fuck off, Gun.” I turned to my slightly more sensible brother. “I’m going to get Tally a new phone and number but in the meantime we need to get the guys to keep an eye out.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’m taking Billy and Bertie to Jungle Jacks later, so I’ll call in and see the sheriff while I’m passing through town.”
Lily and Cassidy had gone to the city for some Black Friday shopping, so Nash was on kid duty. It was a toss-up who was more excited about the new Jungle Jacks on the road out of town, the kids or Nash. My eldest brother loved a slide and a ball pit.
“Seems like a plan,” I told him. “In the meantime, I’ll try and track the little fucker down.”
Nash nodded. “Okay, but keep your cool, Wild. I’m with Tally, I don’t want you spending a life behind bars, you’re too pretty and would end up someone’s bitch on day one.”
Grateful for my brothers, even if they were both idiots, I left them to let Ray know what needed to be done for the day, so that I could go Irish leprechaun hunting.
There was no sign of Declan Mullaney anywhere. While they couldn’t confirm at The Maple Hotel whether he was staying there, something to do with customer privacy or something, Anna-Marie on reception did say one guest who’d recently checked out told her how lovely Kentucky was. It paid to be nice to your old high school friends. I asked in a couple of stores and a couple of the local bars, but no one remembered seeing him. It all seemed pointless, so I went back to the ranch.
“Hey Brownie.”
She was hugging Dreamy around neck, talking to him like he was a baby. It made something pull in my chest. I’d do anything to make sure she got to keep him. She adored that horse and I was going to make sure her exnever got his hands on him.
Tally slowly turned and beamed at me. “Hey you. Where’ve you been this morning?”
“Trying to find Declan.” I pulled her close, dropping a kiss to her pouty lips.
“Wilder!”
Wrapping my arms around her, I held her tight. “Don’t worry, I didn’t find him. He’s checked out of the hotel, and no one has seen him around Sweet Maple Falls.”
