UlteriorMotives by Chandra Ryan Read Free Book Online Page A

downright affordable.
If it became a headache and you decided to sell, that is.”
    Was it possible? “No, surely not. He’d been angry at first
but he’s come to terms with my decision.”
    The sheriff shook his head. “Maybe not as much as you think.
He’s still in at the tavern most nights, telling his tale of woe to any who
listen. I don’t know why Jake tolerates Mark harassing all his customers. Night
before last it got so bad that I had to break up a fight between him and
Clint.”
    No huge surprise there. The two men were like brothers in
all ways. “Those two are always fighting.”
    “But are they always fighting about you? Clint didn’t like
some of the names Mark was calling you.” The sheriff looked at the scene around
them again. “Couldn’t hurt to have a talk with him. If a man wants land bad
enough, he can find some pretty inventive ways to get it. And, by all accounts,
he wants this land pretty bad.”
    Maybe Mark wouldn’t work with the person who filed the
complaint, but he wouldn’t have to if he were the one who’d filed it. “I think
you’re right. Can’t hurt to go have a chat with the man.”
    “We’re just wrapping things up here. If you want to wait a
few minutes I’d be happy to go with you.”
    She shook her head as she took the first step toward the
exit. “No need. Besides, I won’t get anything out of him if he thinks he’s
about to be arrested.”
    “I’ll do his official interview tonight. Then we can compare
notes. If there are any holes in his story, we’ll find them.”
    “Sounds good.”
    “Be careful.”
    She nodded as she stepped out of the barn but didn’t give
the warning much thought. Even if Mark were behind the complaint and the barn
fire, he wouldn’t hurt her. He wanted the ranch and that wouldn’t happen if he
were in prison for murder.
    After talking to a couple of the other ranch hands, she
finally tracked Mark down to the back pasture. The trek was difficult and her
breathing had become labored by the time she made her way to him. Had she known
how far out he’d gone, she would’ve taken a horse.
    “Hey, boss lady. What brings you out here?” He didn’t bother
looking up at her as he continued scanning the ground with a digital reader.
That gave her a chance to study him for a moment without him knowing. He wasn’t
bad-looking. After her father died, she actually considered dating him and seeing
where it went. It seemed like the easy thing to do. But they’d just had too
much history. Every time she looked at him she saw the young, brash cowboy
who’d lived to show her up anytime her father was near. She didn’t want to
always be in competition with her husband.
    “I could ask you the same question. With all the work needed
to put the barn back together, I would’ve expected you closer to the homestead
today.”
    “Too many people running around up there. There’s no way I
could get anything done. I thought I’d check up on some readings.”
    “What are you looking for?” She tried to look over his
shoulder but he turned so she couldn’t see the readouts.
    “One of the men said there’d been some seismic activity out
here. They were concerned about sinkholes.”
    She felt a little guilty about her doubts. A single sinkhole
could take out an entire herd. Here he was looking after the ranch’s best
interests while she spent her day listening to gossip. “Found anything?”
    “Nothing yet. It’ll take a while to clear the entire pasture
though. Might want to keep the livestock in the front pastures until I’m done.”
    “I’ll let everyone know.”
    “Thanks. Appreciate that. Now your turn, what brings you out
here?”
    “I was actually looking for you. Wanted to make sure you
were okay. Heard you got a bit singed last night.”
    The device pinged as he took a step. He pressed a couple
spots on the screen but then continued sweeping it over the ground. “No worse
than anyone else.”
    “And the fight with Clint the