about the secret, rushed wedding about to take place?
“Take care of yourself, Boone.” She squeezed him, sighed and returned to flipping bacon. He snagged a slice off the plate that was cooling and bit into it. When he groaned in delight, she smiled, and that was all the blessing he needed.
He hurried to his room and in minutes had everything he needed. Outside, Ross waited for him. His brother looked as concerned as his mother had a few minutes before.
“Stop fretting,” Boone said. “What do you got for me?”
Ross held out a bag that he knew would contain weapons, ammo and multiple burner phones. Boone took it without speaking.
“You think Lauralee’s up for this?” Ross’s question had him leveling his brother in his stare.
“A little late for that, isn’t it?”
He didn’t respond. “Noah’s hooked you up with an interview with Black. He mentioned you were recently married and don’t want to leave your new wife so soon for work, so you’ll be bringing her along.”
He arched a brow. “And Black’s okay with that?”
“Noah said whoever he spoke with was convinced of the story.”
“Tell me more about Black’s wife.”
Ross compressed his lips and pushed out a sigh that sounded a hell of a lot like their momma’s a few minutes before. “You know everything I do. They married a little over two years ago, but nobody’s set eyes on the woman since.”
“Are we sure she’s alive?”
“As of last night, yes. But this staff member who passed on the message is concerned for good reason.”
“Does Black beat her?” Boone hated any man who raised his hand to a woman, and he’d have no problem finding a place to hide the body once he got Black in his sights.
Ross shook his head. “I told you everything I know. This is where you being on the property will help. I’m sure the staff talks, and you can gather intel.”
“I hope Mrs. Edwards’ theater group back in high school does me some good—I haven’t had to put on an act in a long time.”
Ross’s lips quirked. “Not even with the occasional lady friend?”
He snorted. “You have no damn clue how glad I am that I’m not marrying one o’ them.”
Ross held out a small box to Boone, and he took it. “You’d better get a move on. My buddy at the courthouse has a small window of time where he can get you the backdated license, and you know Lexis doesn’t like being kept waiting.”
At one time or other, the Wynton boys had provided a helping hand or a tidbit of information to Clay Lexis, former state trooper in their small town. Recently, he’d been appointed a justice of the peace, and good thing too. Having Lexis as an ally was proving to be a good thing.
“I’ll head out in a minute. Have you seen our father or the rest of our siblings?”
“Dad left at daybreak to look at a new tractor a couple hours’ drive from here. Noah and Josiah are wrapped up with work.”
“And Corrine’s probably out with one of her boyfriends. All right, I’ll just say my goodbye to you.” He extended a fist, and Ross bumped knuckles with him, and then followed with their right shoulders.
When they stepped apart, Boone eyed him. “With you and Noah in relationships, I never guessed I’d be the first to get hitched.”
“I know. Momma’s gonna kill us when she finds out.”
He groaned, but it turned into a grin as he hefted his bags and headed toward his truck.
The sky was already darkening to evening, chasing away the small tufts of white clouds scattered across the horizon. The yellow-gold of the sunset fell across the field, so bright he had to squint when he looked across it. They had a long drive ahead, and neither would get any sleep.
Leaving the ranch always came with a bittersweet pang. He loved adventure, always had. But coming home proved to be just as sweet.
With little idea what he was about to run in to on Black’s property, he could only hope to free the woman and hurry back home. Things would be different upon his return, though. New flowers would sprout in Momma’s garden. Newborn calves grew practically overnight.
And he was about to get a hell of a lot closer to Lauralee. Within the hour, she’d go from new employee to wife.
Fake wife, he reminded himself as he parked in front of the office.
She stood next to her vehicle, both hands wrapped around the handle of her bag. Her