Wyoming True - Diana Palmer Page 0,35

he doesn’t really know any of you. It makes a difference. I vouched for you.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Thanks.”

“So how are the other horses?”

“Doing fine. I can put somebody in the stable at night, if you think it’s necessary. Just in case somebody comes in with ill intent. I know how fond you are of Silver, especially after Gold and Rory were injured. I’d hate for anything to happen to Silver.”

There had been an odd note in his deep voice when he said that, but she put it down to strain over the sheriff’s interrogation. “I think that’s a good idea,” she said, not mentioning the upcoming departure of her two favorite horses.

“Okay, then. I’ll find a victim and tell him he’s sleeping with the horses,” he said and grinned.

“Good job.”

* * *

JAKE MCGUIRE HAD been livid when he saw the new so-called bodyguard going into Ida’s house after he’d dropped her off the night they returned from Galveston. He didn’t trust her, and he was suspicious about the handsome cowboy.

But a couple of weeks of silent deliberation brought a thought to the forefront. If Ida was in so much pain that she had to take heavy doses of anti-inflammatories, if she was even unable to wear high heels due to her injuries, how was she managing a covert sex life? He knew from his own injuries how difficult it would be, although it was information he hadn’t shared with anyone. Not even with Rogan Michaels, his best friend.

He finally decided that she was probably speaking to the bodyguard about her horses. Maybe there had been another incident. His heart caught. She was out there all alone. Was one bodyguard going to be enough, if her ex-husband sent more than one or two thugs out to injure another of her horses?

He worried about it. He’d been out of town on business twice, but he’d had time to check on Ida. He just hadn’t done it out of suspicion that she was playing around with her handsome bodyguard. He phoned the sheriff, Cody Banks, because he was concerned.

“No, it’s just the one bodyguard,” Cody replied, a little surprised that he was getting a call from McGuire, who’d been openly disdainful of the beautiful divorcée.

“She’s alone out there, and she takes heavy doses of ibuprofen for her injuries,” he added.

Cody was surprised that the man knew that about her.

“Heavy doses like that put most people to sleep,” Jake continued doggedly. “And even bodyguards have to sleep. She’s had one horse injured. What if it happens again?”

“It already has.”

“What? When?”

Cody told him when. Jake realized with a start that it was the night they’d returned from Galveston. No wonder her bodyguard had been at the front door as soon as she arrived. It angered him that he’d rushed to judgment and ignored her for two weeks, when she had such trouble. He’d failed her. It really disturbed him, knowing that. He felt guilty.

“Somebody injured another of her palominos?” Jake persisted.

“No. Her saddle horse. Deep cuts on his flanks, just like the other one, and another visit from the vet to stitch him up and give him antibiotics.”

“Damn. She must be worrying about the other one of those two palominos that she breeds, Silver. She loves him,” Jake said heavily. “Gold is still recuperating. And her stable isn’t all that secure.”

“That isn’t a problem anymore. Ren Colter sent over a man with two horse trailers to get Gold and Silver the day after the saddle horse was injured, and he had them both brought straight to his ranch. You know what sort of men he has, and how much security he deploys on his ranch. Also,” he added with a chuckle, “he still has J.C. Calhoun working for him.”

“I get it.” Jake relaxed a little. “Do you think it’s one of her cowboys doing it?”

“If I did, I couldn’t tell you, Mr. McGuire,” Cody said. “I can’t discuss an ongoing investigation.”

“Couldn’t you pretend I’m one of your deputies and tell me anyway?”

Cody chuckled. “Afraid not.”

“Then you don’t mind if I ask Ida?” he returned.

Cody smiled to himself. “I have no control over Mrs. Merridan,” he said.

“She’s not what she seems,” Jake said quietly.

“I noticed.”

Jake didn’t like that note in the sheriff’s voice. Ida was very attractive... “Well, thanks for telling me what you could.”

“No problem.”

Jake hung up and went out to his limousine, phoning his driver on the way. Fred came running out of the house behind him, shrugging into a jacket and fastening