Taming a Texas Rascal (Bad Boy Ranch #6) - Katie Lane Page 0,21

said. “He knows every single Double Diamond boy—and our wives—would be there in a flash to help.”

“But most of us have work, ranches, and family to worry about. Evie just had little Helen. And Devlin, Penny, and—” She cut off abruptly before she continued. “Devlin and Penny are pregnant.”

Maisy stared at her. Was Dixie pregnant? If so, why hadn’t she told Lincoln? Or was it Maisy she didn’t want to know? Obviously, Maisy wasn’t the only one keeping secrets from her friend.

“Wait a minute.” Dixie’s eyes lit up. “That’s it! Devlin and Penny’s baby shower is two weeks away. What about if we plan one of those Daddy-to-Be diaper parties for the Double Diamond boys at the same time, and they can guilt Sawyer into coming. Maybe by then, we can come up with a long term plan to get him to quit rodeo.”

“I don’t know if it will work,” Lincoln said. “But it’s worth a try. And, Maisy, I want you to stop this foolishness and let Dixie take you back to our apartment.”

“Not happening, cowboy. But thanks for the offer. I’m fine right here in my little house on wheels. Now tell me what you plan to do to help Angel.” She glanced at Dixie. “Sawyer and I found a horse last night on the way to the Double Diamond. He’s been seriously abused.”

Dixie scowled. “Some folks just don’t deserve God’s special gift of animals.”

“Whoever this person is certainly doesn’t,” Lincoln said. “I called animal control and they’re going to try and get out to the Double Diamond. And maybe that’s another way to get Sawyer to stay. I’ll tell him he needs to be there to make sure Chester and Lucas don’t offend whoever they send from animal control. Sawyer can charm a snake out of its skin.”

Amen to that. He’d certainly charmed Maisy out of her clothes. Not that he’d had to work that hard. And little good it had done her. He’d passed out before her fantasies had been fulfilled.

Dixie’s phone buzzed with an incoming call. “I need to go, honey. I’m getting another call. I love you to the moon and back.”

“Me too,” Lincoln said. “And I love you too, Maisy. Even if you’re too stubborn for your own good.”

Maisy laughed. “That’s why you love me. I remind you of yourself.”

He snorted before he hung up.

Dixie took the phone off speaker and answered the other call. It sounded like a fender bender had taken place in town. Dixie was all business as she asked for the details of the accident. Despite her perfect beauty queen appearance, Dixie had graduated top of her class at the police academy and was a damn good sheriff who could be tough when she needed to be.

Maybe that’s why she and Maisy got along so well. Dixie knew what it was like to have to prove yourself in a male-dominated occupation where women were judged by their lack of testosterone and physical strength.

As soon as Dixie hung up, she stood. “I need to go.”

Maisy walked her out to her SUV. “Thanks for the offer of your home, but I’m really okay.”

Dixie turned to her. “You want to stay out here because you want to look for your daddy’s body, don’t you?”

Maisy hesitated for only a moment before she nodded. “I know it’s crazy, but I just need to know that he’s gone.”

“It’s not crazy, honey. But you really need to leave the search to me and Lincoln. If he finds out what you’re up to, he’d not gonna be happy. This is a murder case and Sam’s body is evidence. You can’t just go digging around. The first set of tracking dogs didn’t find anything, but Lincoln is getting some cadaver dogs. I’m sure they’re gonna find your daddy. You need to let Lincoln do his job before you mess up important evidence in the case. You want your daddy’s murderer to pay for his crime, don’t you?”

Maisy did want the sheriff to pay. “Fine. I won’t go digging around. But I still want to stay here. I just need to . . . “ She shook head. “I don’t know how to explain it. If Sam is here, I guess I just want to be . . . close to him.”

“Aww, honey.” Dixie pulled her in for a hug. “I can’t even imagine how you’re feeling right now. You go to look for your daddy and find out he’s been murdered. That has to be a shock. And