Chapter 10 #3
“What better reason to need money?” Kyla said.
Cody hadn’t been a bad guy. She’d been young and impressionable. He’d been young and sowing his wild oats.
She moved down the list.
“Steven Ford was caught stealing money and credit cards from other employees. Daddy had the sheriff arrest him and escort him off the property. He was mad. He took a swing at the sheriff’s deputy.
He blamed everything on my father. Hell, that’s been more than eight years.
What’s the statute of limitations on being pissed for being ratted out to the sheriff? ”
“Some people never let go of a grudge,” Kyla said.
“Marty Riggs and Taylor Brown were lazy. They didn’t last a month. They didn’t seem surprised when they were escorted off the property.”
“What about Jarod Jones?” Swede asked.
“Too interested in his cell phone and his girlfriend. If you don’t focus on the task at hand, you can get hurt or injure someone else.
He also liked to say, That’s not my job.
I didn’t hire on to muck stalls or clean out feed troughs.
When we hire hands, we specifically say they must be willing to do anything.
We never know what’s going to blow up in our faces, run us down, or break and need fixing. ”
Hank chuckled. “Sounds like a typical day on the ranch.”
“You get it.” Breely smiled at the head of the Brotherhood Protectors.
She’d heard he’d been raised on a ranch like her.
“Dillon Sarley.” Her eyes narrowed. “I caught him stealing money from the petty cash in my father’s office in the house.
Ranch hands weren’t allowed into the house without permission.
Daddy wanted to call the sheriff, but Dillon begged him not to.
He returned the money and promised not to steal from my family again.
“Daddy was in a hurry to get to the airport. He let Dillon off with a warning to never step on Brantt property again.”
“Has he?” Moe asked.
Breely shook her head, “Not that I’m aware of. It’s been three years.”
“Have you seen him around the town where you live?”
She shook her head. “I heard he had to move away. Since Daddy wouldn’t give him a recommendation, no one would hire him.
He should’ve gone to jail. There was over two thousand dollars in that petty cash drawer.
He thanked Daddy for not charging him for breaking and entering and robbery.
As he left the house, he saw me standing in the doorway to the living room. ”
“Did he say anything to you?” Hank asked.
Breely closed her eyes and thought back. “He muttered something about me being immature and snitching.” She looked up. “He stole almost two thousand dollars, and he was mad at me?” She shook her head. “Sometimes, I don’t understand people.”
“I have difficulty understanding people as well. Was there anyone else on the ranch or in the nearest town who might have held a grudge against your family?” Hank asked.
Breely shook her head. “Not that I can remember.”
“Thank you,” Hank said. “I know it can be hard to talk about the past. If you think of anything else, don’t hesitate to shoot it our way.”
“Will do,” she said.
“We’ll work these names and get back to you,” Swede said.
“I’ll work them from here, as well,” Kyla said.
“Moe?” Hank said.
Moe straightened “Yes, sir.”
“I know we have the right guy on the job. Stay safe and keep Ms. Brantt safe.”
“Yes, sir.” Moe’s hand rested in the middle of Breely’s back. He glanced down at her. “Wanna go for a walk?”
She nodded. “I’d love some fresh air.”
“Are you done with us?” Moe asked everyone in the room.
“For the moment,” Stone replied. “If we need you, we’ll find you.”
Moe led the way out of the loft and down the stairs. “Woods or street?”
“I’d like to see a little bit of West Yellowstone before dark.”
Moe glanced at the sun slowly sinking into the mountain peaks. “Streets, it is. Stay close to me. If bullets fly, I want you on the ground first. We’ll figure out how to get away after that.”
“Way to take the fun out of a walk,” she grumbled.
He grinned. “I’d rather have you aware and alive, than have you die in ignorant bliss.”
“There you go, spreading more happiness.” Breely stopped in the barnyard “Keep it up, and I’ll go for that walk on my own.
” She stretched her arms over her head, trying to work the kinks of stress out of her shoulders, but that wasn’t happening until they found the people responsible for the attempted kidnapping.
She hoped they found the guys before they found her again. In the meantime, she would be jumpy when she thought a shadow had moved. Her heart would race when she imagined seeing someone darting through the woods behind the lodge.
Thankfully, she had Moe looking out for her. She liked that. A lot. Too bad she was just an assignment to him. What would happen when they found the guys? The risk would be eliminated. She might not need a bodyguard anymore. Moe would move on to his next assignment.
Her heart hurt at the thought of losing him. So, she’d stop thinking about losing him and live in the moment.