main road.”
“I get that and some Robert Cooper used to own the place, someone I’ve never heard of. I don’t think I would have thought too much more about it except I also received a phone call from an investment firm asking if I wanted to consider being their personal veterinarian.”
“Name?” Cooper. The name sounded familiar, but I wasn’t certain from where.
“RH Holdings.”
Another name that didn’t ring a bell, but I made mental note. “I take it you declined.”
“Yes, and again, I thought maybe since I was new, perhaps that was the reason for the call, maybe even since Dr. Forester was no longer one of the local vets. However, when I mentioned it to a friend of mine, she told me that there’d been some issues, so I read some articles, found out auctions have been an issue and decided that I’d look around.”
“But you threw around accusations.”
“I know. I’d made a few phone calls, to other clinics and even the sheriff’s office. After that, another threatening phone call. I only planned on taking pictures when right off the bat, one of cowboys tried to throw me out.”
If I had to make a guess, I’d say that person was the asshole who’d been following her. I shook my head, rubbing my jaw. “Why did you come to the ranch? Because you met me at the auction?”
“No, but I wish it was that simple. After the auction, I received another anonymous phone call saying plainly that Big Meadow was the perpetrator. That if I wanted to point fingers, I should do so where there were real issues.”
“Interesting. There was something about my truck that troubled you. What?”
Shrugging, she took a sip of wine. “There was a truck following me after the auction, that same one that basically ran me off the road before the group of assholes arrived at my doorstep. A black Ram with tinted windows.”
“Did you catch the license plate?”
“No. But I did take a picture of it with my camera.”
“Where’s your camera?”
“In the other room. I’ll get it.”
When she handed it to me, the picture was clear but with no way to see the plate. I scrolled through some of the other pictures, realizing that she’d captured several of the ranchers up close and personal, including the man who’d followed her. Her photographs might come in handy. “Later, you’re going to email that to me, Danni. While the truck isn’t unusual, someone might recognize it. It’s just about time to go to the sheriff. I’m finished with playing games here.”
“I understand.”
“Why did you leave the house today against my orders? I know there’s a reason.”
Danni glanced at the folder. “My friend called again and said she wanted to provide me with important information, which surprised me since she’d tried to push me away from doing anything drastic that last time I talked to her.”
“What’s in the folder, Danni?”
She fidgeted, placing her hand on the top, running her finger aimlessly back and forth. “It would seem the holding company is made up of several ranches, three of them out of state. From what my friend found, there are questions being raised by the FBI already, concern about stolen cattle. She wanted me to have the information.”
“And I suppose you told her about me.”
After wrinkling her nose, she held out the file. Even in the warm glow of light, I could see a hint of embarrassment crossing her face as she smiled shyly. “Yes. The truth is I felt something for you the second I met you. Anyway, she’s the one who told me right after the auction that you were dangerous.”
What the hell?
“Out of curiosity. What’s her name?”
“Sandra Ellis. She’s the only girl from living here before that I’ve reached out to or even wanted to.”
Initially, the name didn’t ring a bell. Then I couldn’t help but laugh. “I know her, at least I did.”
“I thought you did since you attempted to steal a couple of her father’s horses.”
While her words weren’t exactly accusatory, I could certainly see why she’d question placing any trust in me. “Yep, I did, but did she tell you why?”
“No, just said you were a bad boy growing up.”
“Yeah, I was. I took the two horses because she and I were going to run away together but we were caught.” I could see the stunned look on her face then a smile slowly erupting.
“You know, I remembered her talking about one hot boy when we were younger, but she never mentioned names. It