Dangerous Refuge Read Free Page B

back up into the light so she could see him better. Or back up, period.
    “He wasn’t a talkative man,” Tanner said.
    “It must run in the family.”
    He didn’t say anything.
    “Look, I’m sorry to bother you,” she said. “I just wanted to check on Dingo and the other animals.”
    “Very neighborly of you.”
    “You make it sound like an accusation,” she said, not bothering to hide her irritation. If he just weren’t so damn big. “Since you’re here, I won’t worry about the livestock. You do know how to take care of the animals, right?”
    “Yes.”
    The man shifted, turning just enough that she could see some of the angles of his face. His eyes were still shadowed. He looked as tired as she felt.
    “Ms. Townsend. Or is it Mrs.?”
    “Ms.”
    “I’ve had a hell of a day getting up here from L.A.”
    She made a face at the mention of the city. “Los Angeles? I’m sorry.”
    “I’m not. Beats a one-horse town like Refuge.”
    “You should meet my mother,” she muttered. Then, more clearly, “I happen to love Refuge.”
    “That’s nice.” His voice was rough. “Anything else on your mind?”
    “I just wanted to help out.”
    “I’m sure if Lorne was here, he’d appreciate it,” Tanner said. “I’m here for as long as it takes to settle his estate. Today sucked and tomorrow doesn’t look much better. Go home. You look like you could use the sleep.”
    “I’m sure you’ll be free to go back to your chosen hell real soon,” she said before she could think better of it. “Lorne was in the middle of a deal with the Conservancy I work for. We were going to hold the land in trust while he worked it until he—”
    “Died,” Tanner cut in. “The old buzzard has punched that particular button. Game over.”
    She gritted her teeth. “I won’t bother telling you I’m sorry for your loss. Obviously you didn’t lose anything but gas for the trip here.”
    Though Tanner didn’t move, he seemed to get bigger. “Lady, I’m a homicide cop. In a homicide capital. I spend too much time talking to people about how they coulda, woulda, shoulda done something to or for their loved one who recently died. Guess how much good the hand-wringing does?”
    Shaye turned her back and headed for her car. Tanner was worse than Lorne had ever been.
    But the land was still incredible. Somehow, she had to save it, despite Lorne’s looming, abrupt nephew.
    She stopped, turned back, and asked, “What are your plans for the ranch?”
    “When I decide what business it is of yours, I’ll let you know.”
    “Did you train to be rude or is it a special gift?”
    “I deal with corpses and bureaucrats all day. The dead don’t care if you push them around and desk jockeys expect it.” He raked a hand through his short hair. “Come back some other time when I haven’t had back-to-back shifts and an eight-hour drive. Then we can have a discussion like civilized human beings.”
    She started to say that she doubted that, but he was still talking.
    “Dingo is at the vet. They don’t know if he’ll make it.”
    “The vet? What happened?”
    “Rat poison, likely.”
    “That doesn’t sound like Dingo,” she said. “And Lorne didn’t keep rat poison around here. He lectured me on it when I brought a box over because the cats weren’t keeping up with the mice.”
    Tanner waited, still blocking the door with his big body. He seemed to expect something from her. She didn’t have a clue as to what and she was too tired to play games. Like him, she had been up for the last twenty-four hours.
    She turned back toward her car, then remembered. “The mineral lick for the cattle is low.”
    Silence answered.
    “And you don’t care about it, either. Gotcha,” she said.
    Tanner stood without moving as she climbed into the old Bronco and drove off without looking back or waving.
    No wonder my captain wants me to go to charm school, Tanner thought, yawning wide enough to put his fist in his mouth. Too bad.