THE RENEGADE RANCHER by Angi Morgan Read Free Book Online

of the property was firmly in his mind even after twelve years. As were the images of each building, the road, the fields, the pond...all there, creating a secret thrill he couldn’t share. He ran the idea from start to finish.
    Excitement. Anticipation. Reward.
    “Brilliant. Yes, a tip to the press connecting Brian to a possible hit-and-run accident will work nicely. A photographer should spook them sufficiently to where they are alone and vulnerable. I’ll record the details upon completion. There’s no need to repeat myself in dictation.”
    Some men were thrilled by the hunt. Some by the kill. He poured another shot. It was time to celebrate. He held the glass in the air.
    “A toast. To twenty years of excellence in murder.”
    The vodka did its job, and he rose to switch off the recorder. There was one part of himself that he refused to share with the world. They’d label him perverted if they discovered his need to hear the moans of torture. He hid his tendency, only allowing himself to indulge as a reward for his greatness.
    Fate had stepped in and brought him an opponent for his last plan. His own intelligence would be Lindsey’s downfall, and deserved to be fed and stroked. Seeing the report of another assumed overdosed prostitute in the news would meet his growing need for acknowledgment. It would also satisfy him in other pleasurable areas while she or he died.
    The perfect subject for his reward had already been chosen and would fit into his plans nicely. But not a random death on the street. He had the perfect place to carry out his deed.
    The celebration after his Cozumel success had been near Jeremy’s home. With Lindsey secure with the Sloanes, it might be risky to return there. But Jeremy’s bed would make the satisfaction all the sweeter.

Chapter Six
    Brian’s head throbbed. He was tired. Not just from hitting his temple earlier. He needed sleep and a couple of days off. It seemed like years since he’d sat down and wasn’t on the clock, looking at ranch records or researching murders. Recently, the spare hours he’d had between shifts were spent following Lindsey’s every move. His bed looked very inviting. His father’s bed even more so with Miss Blue Eyes curled under the sheets now.
    If he was lucky, he’d be under some sheets with her fairly soon. She had to be feeling the chemical reaction every time they were in the same room. Right? Hitting the hay with her could happen once they knew each other better, but not here. Not with a houseful of his family around.
    The rooster crowed at the first peek of dawn. He might as well help with the morning feeding for once since he was up. It beat balancing the ranch books. Changed and gulping down a cup of coffee, he caught up with John halfway through feeding the stabled horses.
    “Ready to tell me what’s going on?” his brother asked.
    “There was an accident.”
    “You didn’t do anything stupid, did you? We talked about this.” John sounded like an older brother or more like a former Naval officer used to getting answers.
    “I didn’t do a damn thing, John. Lay off.” He pushed his hat to the back of his head. “And stop lecturing me every time we have a conversation. I’ve been taking care of this place for twelve years.”
    “What the hell happened to your head?” John’s hands framed Brian’s face, turning it so he could get a closer look. His thumbs stretched the laceration, tugging at the bandage. “You’re bleeding.”
    “Blast it, John. Stop treating me like I’m ten.” Brian shook free and swiped at his forehead. “I’ve got a father and don’t need you to baby me.”
    Sometime during the past four months they’d switched their traditional roles. Identical in every visible way, Brian had always been the responsible one, older by minutes but by light-years in responsibility. The complete opposite of John’s jokester personality. His little brother had finally grown up while in the Navy. Or maybe it was coming