Can two exes survive long enough

to have a second chance at love?

Wyatt Spalding was the first man Isabel Cruz ever loved. She figured moving away cured her of her passion for him, but now that she’s back home, she knows better. And Isabel needs Wyatt’s help to find out who’s threatening her and her family. Sparks from their past and present fly as they investigate, but Isabel and Wyatt must take down a murderous monster to save the Cruz clan.

LARA LACOMBE earned a PhD in microbiology and immunology and worked in several labs across the country before moving into the classroom. Her day job as a college science professor gives her time to pursue her other love—writing fast-paced romantic suspense with smart, nerdy heroines and dangerously attractive heroes. She loves to hear from readers! Find her on the web or contact her at laralacombewriter@gmail.com.

Also By Lara Lacombe

Rangers of Big Bend

Ranger’s Justice

Ranger’s Baby Rescue

The Ranger’s Reunion Threat

The Coltons of Roaring Springs

Colton’s Covert Baby

The Coltons of Red Ridge

Colton K-9 Bodyguard

Doctors in Danger

Enticed by the Operative

Dr. Do-or-Die

Her Lieutenant Protector

The Coltons of Shadow Creek

Pregnant by the Colton Cowboy

The Coltons of Texas

Colton Baby Homecoming

Deadly Contact

Fatal Fallout

Lethal Lies

Killer Exposure

Killer Season

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

The Ranger’s Reunion Threat

Lara Lacombe

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-0-008-90507-1

THE RANGER’S REUNION THREAT

© 2020 Lara Kingeter

Published in Great Britain 2020

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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“Did they look all right to you?”

He leaned back in the saddle at the odd question. “I suppose,” he said. When he started to speak again, the words died in his throat as the woman approached and he got his first good look at her.

Oval face, slender nose, bow-shaped lips. And those eyes—large, dark and luminous, fringed by impossibly long lashes.

“Isabel,” he whispered hoarsely.

Her brown eyes grew wide as she stared up at him. “Wyatt,” she choked out. She blinked hard, as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

He understood the feeling. Emotions rushed through him, tightening his chest and making it hard to breathe. It had been ten years since he’d last seen her. Ten years since they’d made love in the bed of his pickup under a blanket of stars. Ten years since she’d stolen his heart, then walked away without a backward glance.

There was so much he wanted to say, to ask. So much he wanted to know. A decade’s worth of questions tumbled in his brain, each jockeying for prominence. But as he opened his mouth, only two words slipped out.

“You’re back.”

Dear Reader,

Welcome back to Big Bend, Texas! I enjoy writing these books because I love to tell stories set in my home state. Big Bend National Park is a truly special place, and I hope that my books do it justice.

This was a fun book to write. I loved getting to know Wyatt and Isabel, and watching them overcome the hurts from their shared past to face the future together. They’re up against some steep odds, both personally and professionally. I hope you enjoy reading about their attempts to discover who is threatening the Cruz family ranch. With so many suspects, will they ever know for sure?

Happy reading!

Lara

This one is for EKRS, best friend extraordinaire

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Introduction

Dear Reader

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

About the Publisher

Chapter 1

Her horse scented the blood before she did.

It was a gorgeous spring day, the sun high in the sky and the air warm and smelling of grass. Isabel Cruz was riding along the fence line, out on a routine patrol. Her family’s cattle ranch shared a border with Big Bend National Park, and it was important to regularly check the fences to ensure none of their cattle escaped into the park. With calving season about to start, this was the kind of routine chore that would move to the bottom of the list once things got really busy. As the ranch’s resident veterinarian, she relished this mundane job, knowing her free time would soon disappear. When a calving went well, there wasn’t much for her to do. But when things went wrong, she was up to her armpits in work.

Literally.

One minute, she was enjoying the sun on her back and the steady, loping gait of the horse under her. Then, without warning, her mount shied, rearing back and jerking violently to the left.

Isabel’s legs tightened on the saddle as she shifted her weight to keep her seat. “Whoa, Miel,” she said, keeping her voice calm to avoid further spooking the animal. “It’s all right.”

The mare was clearly distressed, her nostrils flaring and her eyes wide as she danced in place, inching backward as much as she was able. Isabel eased her grip on the reins, allowing the animal to move away from whatever it was that had bothered her.

Miel settled down after traveling a few feet. Knowing better than to urge her forward again, Isabel dismounted and looped the reins around one of the support posts of the fence. Then she set off on foot, heading back for the troubling spot.

She saw the fence first. A section of the barbed wire barrier was missing, creating a wide gap. Isabel swore softly as she studied the situation. This wasn’t the kind of breakdown caused by exposure to wind and weather; someone had cut through the panel, making no effort to hide their sabotage.

Probably hikers, she thought sourly. Even though there were No Trespassing signs posted at regular intervals along the fence that marked the border with the park, it wasn’t uncommon for backpackers to steal onto the ranch for a quick drink and dip in one of the many watering holes on the property. This particular spot was frequently tampered with as one such small pond was clearly visible from the nearby trail. Most people took their chances scaling the barbed wire, but this culprit had removed a three-foot stretch to gain entrance to the ranch property. The gap was wide enough for cattle to easily pass into the park, which created another set of problems...

Isabel reached for her walkie-talkie. She had a few supplies in her saddlebags—enough to make a quick repair. But the whole panel needed to be replaced, something that required more material than she had on hand. And they’d need to find out if any animals had crossed into Big Bend. If the park rangers found Cruz cattle inside the park, they’d round them up and sell them at auction. The ranch would likely be fined, as well. It was an outcome the ranch could ill afford right now.

Just as she brought the device to her lips, the wind changed direction. The breeze fluttered over her, carrying the unmistakable stench of death. Ah, she thought. So that’s the problem.

Behind her, Miel let out a distressed whinny. “You’re okay, my sweet,” Isabel called out. The mare was a good-natured animal, but she was still learning how to be a cattle horse and adjusting to all the sights, sounds and smells that that entailed. Most of the working horses on the ranch were unfazed by death, but a few still reacted strongly to the scent of blood. It seemed Miel was one of them.

Isabel walked through the grass and low scrub, searching for the source of the stench. The herd lost a cow or two every season, thanks to the efforts of local predators like mountain lions. The heavily pregnant cows were brought closer to the barn so they could be watched for signs of impending labor, but it was possible one of the other animals had taken lame and been unable to outrun a big cat.

A heavy buzzing filled the air, growing louder as she walked. Getting closer, she thought grimly. Flies and other insects wasted no time when there was a meal to be had. All part of the circle of life...

At the edge of a small declivity, she saw them. Her heart sank as she counted; three cows down. That in itself was unusual—a mountain lion could take down one cow on a good day, but three? Unheard of.

Isabel frowned as she approached the carcasses. All three cows lay a few steps away from each other, but aside from a couple of spots here and there where the buzzards had started in, there were no obvious injuries to be seen.

Disease? As a large animal veterinarian, she’d had experience with some of the many pathogens that could sicken and kill cattle. The ranch hands were always on the lookout for signs of illness, and any sick cow was quickly separated from the herd and evaluated.

She walked slowly toward the heads of the animals, running her gaze over their bodies in search of any telltale symptoms. Nothing jumped out, but then again, there were several diseases that could only be identified after performing a necropsy and taking tissue samples.

“Damn,” she muttered. It looked like she was going to have a busy night.

She lifted the walkie-talkie to her lips. “Diego, come in.”

There was a burst of static across the line. “What’s up, sis?”

“I’ve got three head of cattle down out here along the east fence.”

“Sorry, you’re breaking up. I thought I heard you say three.”

“I did,” she confirmed grimly.

“What the hell is going on out there?” Her brother’s surprise matched her own.

“I won’t know until I get them home and open them up. Send the flatbed, please.” She told him about the damaged fence, as well.

He cursed. “Ruben and I will round up everything and be there shortly. Let me know if anything changes.”

“Will do. Over and out.”

Isabel clipped the walkie-talkie back onto her belt and stared at the animals at her feet. She walked over to the head of one and squatted, waving away the flies so she could get a better look.

A thin track of dried blood ran from the cow’s nose, but she saw no lesions or any other marks that might indicate what had caused these animals to die. Part of her wanted to get closer, but she knew that without the proper safety precautions, she should leave things alone. If these cows had been infected with something, the last thing she needed was to catch it, as well.

“What happened to you?” she said softly, studying the closest animal. “And how can I stop it from happening to the others?”

Park ranger Wyatt Spalding rose in the saddle and squinted into the distance. Were those...cows?

He nudged his mount forward. As he got closer, he realized his first impression had been correct. Five cows stood in the small valley, chomping placidly on clumps of grass. They eyed him curiously as he approached, but didn’t seem bothered by his presence.

“Uh, hi, ladies,” he said, pushing up the brim of his hat. “You look lost.”

The cow closest to him flicked her tail at that, but otherwise didn’t respond. Wyatt guided his horse to her left side, wanting to get a look at the flanks of the animals.

It wasn’t unusual to see rogue livestock here. There were a few working outfits that shared a border with the park and while fences separated ranch from park land, every once in a while, a determined cow slipped through. Animals often crossed the shallow stretches of the Rio Grande in search of greener pastures, as well.

These cows sported a backward C snugged up against the letter R. Wyatt recognized the brand immediately. It was the marking for Cruz Ranch, one of the oldest family establishments in the area.

“Well, hell,” he muttered to himself. Protocol stated he needed to call this in so that the response team could bring out trailers and haul the animals away. Livestock that trespassed on park land were usually rounded up, held in quarantine and then auctioned off to the highest bidder.

The problem was, he was friends with Diego Cruz, grandson and heir to the ranch owner, Jose Cruz. The family usually ran a tight ship when it came to keeping their animals off of park land. In fact, Wyatt could count on one hand the number of times Cruz cattle had been found in Big Bend, and he’d still have a few fingers left over. The fact he’d found five rogue animals meant something was wrong.

Wyatt was torn between the desire to help an old friend and the responsibility to follow the rules. He hated to pile trouble onto Diego, but it was his job to protect the park. Cows weren’t at the top of most people’s list of dangerous animals, but they were steady grazers who could clear a patch of grass in a matter of hours. He had to get these animals out of here, the sooner the better.

Maybe he could just “encourage” the animals to head home and then talk to Diego about the situation. One free pass wasn’t the end of the world, and he knew a lot of the nearby ranches were struggling financially. The cattle market wasn’t what it used to be and this was an unforgiving land, especially in the summer. Most ranchers had to bring in food and water for their herds, often at exorbitant costs. The loss of these cows and the accompanying fine would just add to Diego’s difficulties.

He took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. “You look like you’re enjoying yourself, but it’s time to head on home,” he said to the nearest cow.

She continued to ignore him as he donned his hat once more. But when he began to dismount, intending on giving his horse, Ajax, a break, the cow let out a startled bellow.

Apparently this was a signal. The cattle began to move, ears back, tails swishing as they walked in the direction of the ranch.

“Hey, wait!” Wyatt found himself in the awkward position of one foot in the stirrup, one on the ground. He boosted himself back up into the saddle, earning a soft grunt from Ajax. “I know, I know,” he said to his horse. “But it’s not my fault. Let’s go.”

He set off after the cattle, hoping they’d stay together. Ajax was no cattle horse. And while Wyatt had spent a summer in high school punching cows, he’d never made a good cowboy.

Fortunately for him, the animals stayed in a group as they trudged the mile or so back to the ranch. Like large, brown homing pigeons, the animals headed for a break in the wire fence, slipping through in a single-file line. Wyatt stopped and watched them walk toward the small pond about fifty yards away; apparently illegal grazing was thirsty work.

Ajax nickered a welcome. Wyatt glanced to the right and noticed a pretty bay mare standing by a clump of bushes. She was saddled, but there was no rider to be seen.

Wyatt frowned. That seemed odd.

“Hello?” he called loudly. Where was the rider? Had he come out to repair the fence and gotten hurt somehow? The mare seemed a little anxious, but perhaps that was simply due to their presence.

A movement to his left caught his eye. Wyatt turned and saw a head pop up out of the grass. Because of a small declivity in the land a few yards away, he could see some indeterminate dark shapes but nothing more.

“Hello.” The voice that reached his ears was decidedly feminine, and Wyatt felt a rush of embarrassment as he realized he must have interrupted this lady’s bathroom break.

“Uh, I’m sorry to bother you. It’s just that five of your cattle were grazing in the park.” He nodded to the animals in question, now all drinking from the pond nearby. “They must have slipped through the fence.”

“Did they look all right to you?”

He leaned back in the saddle at the odd question. “I suppose,” he said. As he started to speak again, the words died in his throat when the woman approached and he got his first good look at her.

Oval face, slender nose, bow-shaped lips. And those eyes—large, dark and luminous, fringed by impossibly long lashes.

“Isabel,” he whispered hoarsely.

Her brown eyes grew wide as she stared up at him. “Wyatt,” she choked out. She blinked hard, as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

He understood the feeling. Emotions rushed through him, tightening his chest and making it hard to breathe. It had been ten years since he’d last seen her. Ten years since they’d made love in the bed of his pickup under a blanket of stars. Ten years since she’d stolen his heart then walked away without a backward glance.

There was so much he wanted to say, to ask. So much he wanted to know. A decade’s worth of questions tumbled in his brain, each jockeying for prominence. But as he opened his mouth, only two words slipped out.

“You’re back.”

Chapter 2

I’m not ready for this.

As she stared up at Wyatt, looking larger than life on the back of his big chestnut horse, Isabel’s stomach churned. The shadow cast over his face from the brim of his hat did nothing to dim the brightness of his blue eyes. They were just as beautiful as she’d remembered, the color of a cloudless summer sky.

Her gaze tracked over his face, noting the subtle changes wrought by time. His nose was still a sharp line, his cheekbones still defined. But no one would ever mistake him for a pretty boy. A thin scar ran under his left eye, just above the line of dark stubble on his cheek. Another one bisected the end of his right eyebrow, giving him a slightly dangerous look. How did he get those? she wondered.

He threw one long leg over the back of his horse and dismounted, his boots landing with a dull thud on the ground. He stood next to his mount for a second, hands still holding the reins. Then he dropped them to dangle in the dirt as he moved toward her. Isabel’s heart started to pound as he drew closer. He was still tall, still broad through the shoulders. But gone was the hint of boyish softness he’d had the last time she’d seen him. Now he was long and lean, looking nicely muscled in all the right places.

He stopped about two feet away, leaving her some much-needed breathing room. “You’re back,” he said again. His voice was soft, with no hint of emotion. Was he happy to see her? Disappointed? Angry? Isabel searched his face for answers, but his expression was guarded, his initial surprise no longer evident.

She nodded. “Yes.” Her voice sounded a little shaky even to her own ears. Not for the first time, she wished she had a better poker face. She hated the fact that she was constantly advertising her emotions.

Especially now.

Wyatt Spalding was the first man she’d ever slept with. And while he hadn’t been the last, he was the only one she’d given her heart to. In hindsight, that had been a mistake. He’d wasted no time breaking it. But ten years ago, she’d been frightened and hurt. Wyatt had found her walking alone along that deserted road, the moon her only illumination. He’d wasted no time helping her, riding to her rescue in his beat-up truck like a knight of yore. She’d recognized him immediately, Diego’s best friend, Wyatt. In classic younger sister fashion, she’d had a serious crush on him.

When he’d rolled up next to her and said her name, she’d felt such a wave of relief she had started crying. Misinterpreting her tears, Wyatt had climbed out of his truck and gathered her into his arms. It was the first time he’d touched her, and his embrace had felt better than any of her fantasies.

Hours later, they’d made love under the stars. Despite the pain he caused her the next day, she’d lived off the memory of their encounter for years. But out of all her experiences that fateful night, what had stuck with her the most was Wyatt’s composure. He’d been calm and still while listening to her story. Diego would have flown into a rage upon hearing the details, but Wyatt had remained silent, his expression impenetrable as she’d explained what had happened.

He wore a similar look now as he eyed her up and down. “Thought you were gonna open your own practice in the big city.”

Her cheeks warmed at his statement. So he remembered what she’d said all those years ago. Did that mean he still thought about her as much as she did about him?

“Things change,” she said simply. She didn’t want to talk about the evolution of her thinking, not when they were standing a few feet away from three dead cows. Not to mention, it wasn’t the type of conversation she wanted to have after ten years of silence.

Wyatt didn’t speak for a moment. He glanced up and down the fence then turned to look at the pond where the trespassing cows were still drinking. “I take it you’re working for Diego now?”

Isabel bristled at the implication she took orders from her brother. “I’m working with him.” Diego might be older by a few years, but that didn’t make him her boss.

“When did you come back?” He wore a frown, as if he hadn’t wanted to ask the question but couldn’t stand not knowing the answer.

“Almost a month ago,” she said. “Didn’t Diego tell you?”

“I didn’t ask,” he replied flatly.

Well, then. Apparently she didn’t cross his mind, after all.

The knowledge stung, but what could she expect? His actions the day after their encounter had showed how he’d really felt. Still, part of her had assumed that Diego had talked about her over the years, since they’d all known each other.

She pressed her lips together, hoping to hide her disappointment. “Well, here I am. Sorry my presence bothers you.” She pivoted on her heel and started walking toward the dead cattle. “Thanks for bringing back our animals,” she said over her shoulder. “They won’t break into the park again.” She was ready for him to leave, so she could return her attention to the problem at hand. It was too hard to think when he was around; his appearance had stirred up a number of emotions that were clouding her thoughts. Later, when she was alone, she’d process these feelings and what it meant to see Wyatt again. But for now, she needed to focus on the mystery of these dead animals and getting the fence repaired.

Footsteps sounded behind her. “I didn’t say I was bothered.” His voice made the muscles in her shoulders tighten. Take the hint, she thought irritably. Get back on your horse and ride off into the sunset.

But he kept walking, his long legs making short work of the distance between them. “Do you need some help fixing the fen...” His words trailed off at the sight of the dead cows. “Damn,” he said, whistling softly. “What happened here?”

“I’m not sure yet,” she murmured. Isabel knelt next to one of the animals, running her gaze over the slightly distended belly. Not dead too long, then, she figured. Decomposition was still setting in, which meant these cattle had likely died sometime in the night.

She felt a rustle of air as Wyatt crouched down beside her. “Doesn’t look like a cougar,” he remarked.

“No,” she replied absently. She tried to ignore him so she could think; her brain whirred with possible explanations as she attempted to figure out what had caused three healthy-looking animals to drop dead more or less simultaneously.

The answer was there, floating around in her subconscious. She closed her eyes, trying to block out all distractions. If she could just clear her mind, she could solve this riddle. But seeing Wyatt had left her feeling flustered and being so close to him now didn’t help. He wasn’t talking to her or even touching her, but she was hyper aware of his breathing and of his subtle movements as he shifted to keep his balance next to her.

Disgusted with her lack of focus, Isabel opened her eyes. To her surprise, Wyatt was no longer next to her. She glanced around, wondering where he’d gone. She hadn’t heard his horse, so it was unlikely he’d taken off. Besides, he surely would have said something before leaving. They might not be on the best of terms, but he wasn’t a total jerk.

Isabel got to her feet, leaning down to brush the dirt off her knees. Then she turned around and spied Wyatt walking toward Miel.

The mare shifted in response to Wyatt’s approach, her ears going back and her tail twitching with agitation as she assessed this new person. Isabel set off for the pair, wanting to reassure her horse that all was well. She was already jumpy—she didn’t need the stress of a stranger to add to her discomfort.

But Isabel needn’t have worried. Wyatt moved slowly, extending one hand for Miel to sniff. As Isabel got closer, she could hear him speaking to the horse. His voice was too low for her to make out what he was saying, but his tone was calm and his cadence measured. The mare’s ears relaxed and her tail stilled; they had apparently become friends. Wyatt was patting her neck gently when Isabel walked up.

“What’s her name?” he asked.

“Miel,” she replied, reaching up to stroke the horse’s cheek with the back of her fingers.

He smiled, his teeth a bright flash amid the dark stubble on his face. “That means ‘honey,’ doesn’t it?” Isabel nodded. He glanced back at the horse. “Well, you certainly seem sweet enough for that name.”

Wyatt moved toward her saddlebags. “What are you doing?” she asked, mildly irritated he had approached her mount without asking and now seemed intent on rifling through her packs.

“I figured you have some supplies in here. I was going to see about the fence.”

“Oh.” Some of her annoyance faded. “I don’t have enough for a full repair.”

He peered into one of the bags. “That’s okay,” he said, taking stock of the contents. “I’ve got some rope in my pack. Between the two of us, we can get this hole patched until you guys have time to fix it.”

“You don’t need to worry about it,” she said. It was a nice gesture on his part, but she didn’t need him to hang around any longer. “Diego is on his way with supplies and some extra hands. We’ve got it covered.”

Wyatt nodded in acknowledgment, but made no move to go to his horse.

The low hum of an approaching engine sounded. “That’ll be them,” she said, relief filling her. “I appreciate your help, but you can get back to what you were doing now.”

Wyatt’s eyes glinted with amusement as he looked at her. “By my count, that’s the third time you’ve tried to get rid of me. Are you that offended by my company?”

No, just heartsick, she thought. She’d known that by coming back to work on the family ranch she would eventually run into Wyatt. But she had assumed she’d have some advance warning before actually seeing him again. This out-of-the-blue encounter had left her no time to prepare her heart for the shock.

She glanced away with a shrug, trying to hide her face. “I figured you have park ranger things to do,” she said, watching her brother’s truck as it drew closer. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to stay on my account.”

“It’s no imposition,” Wyatt said. Movement from the corner of her eyes revealed he’d walked back to Miel’s head and was stroking her cheek. “Besides, I need to talk to your brother.”

“I see.”

She set off toward the declivity, gesturing for Diego to pull the truck by the downed cattle. He backed into place, then cut the engine and climbed out of the cab.

After meeting her at the rear of the truck, Diego put his hands on his hips as he surveyed the scene, his gaze landing first on the cattle then on the break in the fence. “Well, hell,” he said disgustedly. “This is the last thing we need right now.”

“Yeah,” Isabel acknowledged. She nodded at Ruben, one of the older, more experienced ranch hands, who’d been with them as long as she could remember. He touched the brim of his hat then turned his head to spit tobacco juice. The man never said much, but he had a way with the animals that had proved invaluable on more than one occasion.

Wyatt walked over. Diego’s face lit up at the sight of his friend. “Hey, man,” he said. In a standard male greeting, the pair shook hands and slapped each other’s backs. “What are you doing here?”

Wyatt nodded at Ruben, who nodded back. Then he returned his focus to Diego. “Found some of your cattle in the park,” he said. “Didn’t really feel like doing paperwork today, so I drove ’em back to you and found the fence down and your sister standing by some dead cows.”

Diego glanced at Isabel. She shrugged.

“Thanks for giving us a break,” Diego replied. “It’s been a rough couple of months.”

Winter feed prices had gone up, and meat prices had gone down. The ranch wasn’t making the same kinds of profits it had enjoyed during its heyday, and if the trend continued, they were in for some hard choices in the years to come. Isabel thought they could weather the storm if they made a few changes, but Diego wasn’t so certain. It was a point of contention they would have to settle, as they were set to inherit equal shares of the ranch once their abuelo died.

Wyatt and Diego continued to chat as the three men worked to remove a new fence panel from the truck bed. She tried to help, but Ruben waved her off with a nod for her efforts. Within a matter of minutes, they had the new section in place and secured to the posts.

“What do you think happened here?” Diego asked as he returned to survey the cows once more.

“I’m not sure yet,” Isabel admitted. “I’ll open them up tonight and see if I can get some answers.”

“Do you think it was deliberate?” Wyatt asked.

The question made her frown. “You think someone targeted these animals?” she asked.

He shrugged. “I think you have to consider the possibility. That fence didn’t break down because of age. Someone cut it.”

A tingle shot down Isabel’s spine. “Sabotage.”

Diego’s lips blanched as he pressed them into a thin line. “Could be.”

Isabel turned back to the dead animals, seeing the scene in a new light. “I assumed these two events—” she gestured to the cows and the now-repaired fence “—were simply a coincidence. We’ve had hikers cut the fence before to gain access to our watering holes. And it’s not unheard of for cattle to die while out at pasture. It never occurred to me that someone might have broken onto the ranch to kill our animals.”

“Maybe I’m being paranoid,” Wyatt admitted. “There are no obvious signs of trauma here, and I doubt someone who went to the trouble of dispatching these animals with such subtlety would leave a gaping hole in the fence.”

“Unless they’re trying to send a message,” Diego suggested.

Wyatt shrugged. “Who have you pissed off lately?”

Diego tipped his hat back and shot him a grin. “The list is long and distinguished.”

Ruben spit into the dirt again. “We’re losing daylight. Let’s get this done.”

The pronouncement had the intended effect. They set aside conversation and got to work securing chains around the downed animals’ legs. That done, Diego flipped on the winch secured to the bed of his truck. The motor groaned a bit as, one by one, the bodies of the cows were lifted off the ground. The three men maneuvered them onto the flatbed and then used ropes to tie them down.

When they were finished, both Diego and Wyatt removed their hats and wiped their foreheads. “Thanks, man,” Diego said.

“Anytime,” Wyatt replied.

“It’s getting late,” Diego noted. “Why don’t you come back to the house? Join us for dinner.”

Isabel’s breath hitched and she made a show of checking the ropes securing the cattle to the truck so Wyatt wouldn’t see her face. Please say no...

“That’s a tempting offer,” Wyatt said slowly. “But I’ve got a bit of a ride to get back home.”

“You can stay with us,” Diego pressed. “We’ll take care of you both for the night.” He jerked his chin in the direction of Wyatt’s horse, who was placidly grazing on a clump of grass. “It’s the least we can do for all your help today.”

“You don’t owe me anything for that,” Wyatt muttered. Isabel watched from the corner of her eyes as he looked down, scuffing the toe of his boot in the dirt.

His hesitation spoke volumes. It was clear Wyatt didn’t want to be around her. Unfortunately, Diego was too clueless to notice.

“Come on,” he said. “Maria will be happy to see you. It’s been ages.”

Wyatt looked up, smiling faintly. “She does make the best tortillas.”

“Then it’s settled,” Diego announced. “Saddle up. You and Isabel can ride back to the house together.”

Isabel felt her shoulders tighten but said nothing. Diego didn’t know about her personal history with Wyatt. If she appeared at all unhappy about her new riding partner, her brother would want to know why. And that wasn’t an issue she was willing to discuss.

Sensing the guys were waiting for her to respond, Isabel schooled her features and turned around. “Let’s get going then,” she said. “I’m hungry.”

Something’s off here...

Wyatt rode alongside Isabel, watching her in his peripheral vision. He was lucky Ajax was such a sure-footed horse, as he was paying little attention to the path. It was clear Isabel was unhappy about his presence, and Wyatt wanted to know why.

Ten years ago he’d found her walking along a deserted road, trying to make her way home after her boyfriend had taken her to a party in the desert and then ignored her to shack up with a willing girl. Never one to be passive, Isabel had simply started walking home rather than ask anyone for a ride. Looking back on it, Wyatt figured that was probably just as well, since all the kids there had been too drunk to drive. Still, at the time, he’d been angry with her for setting off alone into the desert.

Wyatt wasn’t much for sentiment, but there were times he could still feel the weight of her head on his chest and the wetness on his skin from her tears soaking through his shirt. He rubbed his sternum with one hand, his mind wandering down memory lane...

The night air was cool on his face as he cruised down the road, the rumble of the truck engine drowning out the cricket chirps and the occasional scream of a mountain lion. Wyatt’s body ached from the day’s labors, but it was a good type of exhaustion, the kind that only comes from sustained physical work. It had taken all day, but now his grandfather’s house sported a fresh coat of paint and the worn shutters had been replaced. It looked like a brand-new house, one they could both be proud to call home.

“Are you really going out?” his grandfather had asked, seeing him showered and dressed a few minutes ago. “I figured you’d be tired after all that work.”

Wyatt had shrugged. “Some friends of mine are catching a movie tonight. Thought I’d join them.” If he was lucky, he’d get there before it started. If he was really lucky, he could convince Nikki Stalling to skip the movie altogether in favor of some one-on-one time. They’d dated briefly in high school and now that they were both in college, they had a sort of on-again, off-again arrangement during school breaks. With the fall semester starting up in a few weeks, there wouldn’t be many more opportunities to spend time together.

His grandfather had smiled knowingly. “I see. Well, have fun and be safe about it.”

“Will do.”

The road into town was just another two-lane dusty highway, the traffic nonexistent. Wyatt reached for the radio dial, his hand freezing in place when his headlights illuminated a figure walking along the side of the road. The long, dark braid and slender shoulders told him it was a woman. He slowed his truck and as he approached, his heart leaped into his throat.

It was Isabel Cruz. His best friend’s sister.

She glanced over as he pulled up alongside, but didn’t stop walking. Wyatt leaned over and cranked down the passenger-side window. “Isabel?” he called. “What are you doing out here?”

Her head whipped around, dark eyes going wide. “Wyatt? Is that you?”

He cut the engine as she lunged for the door. She climbed up into the cab, bringing the scent of night air and jasmine with her. He inhaled deeply, trying not to be too obvious about it. He loved her perfume—always had. For the past several months he’d been wanting to dip his nose into the hollow of her neck and breathe her in, to hold her until her scent was on his skin and clothes. But that wasn’t something he could ever admit, to her or to her brother. Diego would kill him if he knew Wyatt had been thinking about Isabel in anything other than a platonic context.

“What are you doing out here?” he repeated. He hadn’t seen any signs of a stalled car—where had she come from?

“I’m walking home.”

He didn’t bother replying to her ridiculous statement. He simply stared her down, one brow arched to show he wasn’t going to give up that easily.

Isabel held his gaze for several seconds. Then she sighed and looked away. “I was at a party, okay?”

“Out in the middle of nowhere?”

She shot him an incredulous look. “Don’t try to tell me you didn’t go to your share of desert parties in high school, okay? I know for a fact you and Diego were regulars.”

“Yeah, but...” He paused, thinking back to those days. He and Diego had had their share of fun, it was true. But Wyatt knew the kind of stuff that went on at those parties, and he didn’t like the thought of Isabel being exposed to such debauchery.

Her eyes glinted with challenge, practically daring him to argue with her. He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “It was different for us. We’re guys.”

She snorted. “Oh, please. I’m not some princess who needs to be locked in a tower.”

“I never said you were,” he replied, careful to keep his tone even. “But you’re a beautiful young woman. There are guys who would try to take advantage of you.”

A haunted look flashed across her face and Wyatt’s stomach dropped. Oh God, he thought, immediately assuming the worst.

Before he could ask her another question, Isabel spoke again. “You think I’m beautiful?” There was a note of wonder in her voice, combined with an innocence that made her even more appealing.

Wyatt felt his cheeks warm and was grateful the lights from his dash didn’t provide much illumination in the cab of the truck. “You know you’re pretty,” he said a bit gruffly. It was clear from Isabel’s tone of voice that she hadn’t been fishing for compliments. But if they kept going down this road, he wasn’t going to be able to hide his attraction for her much longer.

Time to change the subject. “What happened?”

She shifted, looked away. “Nothing,” she muttered.

Wyatt ran his eyes over her body, looking for marks on her skin or ripped or dirty spots on her clothes. She didn’t look like she’d been assaulted, but that was no guarantee...

Anger and fear built in his chest as he imagined the worst. “Isabel.” He said her name softly, trying to keep his emotions in check. If someone had hurt her, the last thing he wanted to do was to frighten her with his temper.

She didn’t look at him right away. He said her name a second time and she turned to face him. His heart cracked when he saw the tears welling in her eyes.

“Oh, honey. What happened?” He opened his arms and she slid across the bench seat into his embrace.

She sniffled into his shirt, her nose pressed against his chest. “Nothing,” came her muffled reply.

Wyatt kept his touch light as he gently stroked his hand down her spine. “Sounds like a lot of tears over nothing,” he said carefully. “Who were you with tonight?”

Another sniffle then the muffled sound of a name. “Eddie.”

His hand stilled on her back, fingers curling into a fist. He should have known.

He took a deep breath, slipping a tight rein onto his anger. Isabel deserved better than that future frat boy. Wyatt had always considered him a harmless nuisance, but what if he’d been wrong?

“Did Eddie—” He had to stop, swallow hard. “Did Eddie hurt you?”

Isabel tensed. Time seemed to slow as he waited for her to reply.

She moved back, putting some distance between them. “No,” she said finally. “Not in the way you’re thinking.”

Wyatt’s breath gusted out in a sigh of relief. He lifted a hand to run through his hair, noting with faint surprise that it was shaking.

Isabel grabbed it, her fingers still cold from the evening air. “I’m fine,” she said, her voice firm.

He met her eyes, still wet from her tears. There was no sign of deception in her gaze. “Would you tell me if you weren’t?” It was important that she knew she could trust him. She and Diego loved each other, but their relationship was tumultuous at times. Wyatt wanted her to know he would be there for her if she ever needed anything.

She didn’t hesitate. “Yes,” she said, nodding as she spoke. “I think I would.”

He relaxed a bit, feeling marginally better. “Okay. So what did Eddie do to make you cry tonight?”

Isabel tilted her head. “Who’s asking? You? Or you and Diego?”

“Just me. We don’t tell each other everything, you know.” Like the fact that I want you...

Isabel nodded, apparently satisfied with his reaction. “It’s the last big party of the summer. We came to hang out. We were having fun, but as the night wore on, more and more people started pairing up and sneaking off for some privacy. Eddie thought we should, too, but...” She trailed off, shaking her head. “I kept saying no.”

A feeling of pride unfurled in Wyatt’s chest. Thank God, Isabel wasn’t a pushover. “How’d he take it?” Given the kid’s sense of entitlement, Wyatt didn’t imagine Eddie had been too happy about her refusal.

Tears welled in her eyes again. Wyatt swore silently to himself. Eddie wasn’t worth her tears. But that was something she was going to have to learn on her own.

“He was mad,” she said. “He kept pressuring me, and when I told him to stop or I was going to leave, he laughed. Told me I was welcome to try.”

Eddie was an idiot. But Wyatt was glad to learn he wasn’t stupid enough to force himself on her.

She sniffed, swiping at her eyes with a hand. “Then he wandered away and grabbed Carrie Cordova. They started making out by the campfire, and I wasn’t about to stand around and be disrespected like that.”

She glanced up and met his gaze, and a small shock ran through Wyatt’s body as he realized she wasn’t crying because she was sad.

She was angry.

“He had his keys in his pocket. I thought about trying to hot-wire his car, but I only saw Diego do it the one time to the farm truck. I don’t exactly remember how.”

Wyatt tried not to smile as he imagined Isabel fumbling under the wheel of Eddie’s prize Camaro. “I hate to break it to you, but a muscle car is a little harder to hot-wire than a thirty-year-old truck.” She would have kept at it and, given her determination, she might have even figured it out eventually. Probably better she’d started walking, though. Eddie’s parents were just the type to have her charged with grand theft auto if she’d managed to make off with their precious son’s car.

“I’ll teach you how to do it,” he promised absently. Now that he knew she was safe, annoyance began to replace his earlier concern.

“You should have called someone to pick you up.”

Isabel dug her phone out of her bag. “No service.” She held it up in illustration. It was a common problem out here, something that normally didn’t bother him. It worried him, though, to think about her essentially stranded out here.

“Why didn’t you drive yourself out there to begin with?” There was an edge to his voice that was obvious even to him.

Isabel lifted one brow. “Because I didn’t see the need to take two cars when we were both going to the same place.”

“Leaving you at the mercy of Eddie’s whims.” Wyatt shook his head. “That wasn’t very smart of you.”

“I don’t recall asking you.” She spoke softly, but Wyatt knew she wouldn’t stay quiet for long. He recognized the set of her mouth—it was the same expression Diego wore right before he lost his temper.

He knew he should stop, but he just couldn’t help himself. “What were you thinking, walking out here alone?”

“I needed to leave. There were no other options,” she said evenly.

“And what if someone else had found you? Someone without my good intentions?” Why was she being so stubborn? Didn’t she realize the kind of danger she’d been in?

She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I can handle myself.”

He scoffed. “Is that right?”

“Yeah. I have pepper spray in my bag.”

Wyatt’s anger took over. Without pausing to think, he grabbed her wrist and hauled her close, holding her against his chest. She barely had time to let out a squeak of surprise before he tilted his body, pressing her back flat onto the bench seat. In the next breath he shifted his legs so they tangled with hers. He gripped her free hand then lifted both arms above her head. Her wrists fit easily into his palm, leaving him with one hand free.

She was pinned underneath him, immobile and totally at his mercy.

“How’s that pepper spray working out for you now?” The words were barely more than a growl in the back of his throat.

Isabel tested his hold, making a small sound of frustration when he didn’t loosen his grip. She shifted under him, the movement only serving to emphasize the contact between their bodies. Wyatt immediately realized his mistake; if she kept this up much longer, she was going to learn an entirely different type of lesson.

She stilled against him but didn’t fully relax. He met her gaze, saw the question in her eyes.

His heart started to thump hard against his sternum. Was he imagining things, or did Isabel want him the same way he wanted her?

As much as he’d like to hope his feelings for her were mutual, this was not the way he should be treating the sister of his best friend. He gave her wrists a squeeze then released her.

Shame was a cold stone in his stomach as he watched Isabel from the corner of his eye. She sat up, smoothed a hand over her shirt. The silence in the cab grew until it seemed to take up all the space between them.

Way to go, he told himself. If Isabel was attracted to him, he’d gone and wrecked any chance he might have had with her with that little stunt.

He pulled the seat belt over his chest and fastened it at his hip. Then he turned the key in the ignition. “I’ll take you home,” he said quietly.

“No.”

He turned his head so quickly he nearly gave himself whiplash. “What?”

“I said no.” There was no inflection in her voice. She stared ahead, her gaze focused on something beyond the windshield.

A wave of nausea washed over Wyatt. God, he’d really done it now. He should have never touched her like that. It was clear she was disgusted by him, and rightly so.

“Isabel,” he croaked. “I’m sorry. I won’t come near you again. But I can’t leave you here to walk home by yourself.”

She glanced at him then, her expression inscrutable. “I’m not asking you to leave me. And I’m not mad at you. I just don’t want to go home.”

Wyatt felt some of the tension leave his body as he realized she didn’t hate him. “Where do you want to go?”

Isabel tilted her head to the side, causing a strand of dark hair to fall across her face. He resisted the urge to brush it behind her ear. After the way he’d pinned her down, he didn’t deserve to touch her.

“Can we just drive around for a bit?” she asked. “It’d be nice to talk.”

“Talk?” he echoed.

“Yeah.” She nodded, her mind apparently made up. “If you don’t have any plans, that is.”

“No.” The image of Nikki’s face floated through his brain, a distraction he immediately dismissed. He’d rather spend time with Isabel than see a thousand movies with Nikki.

Isabel gave him a small smile, setting his heart alight. He tipped his hat in her direction and her smile blossomed into a grin. “All right,” he said softly, shifting the truck into gear. “Let’s go.”

“Let’s go.”

Isabel’s voice cut through Wyatt’s reverie. He shook himself free of the memories and realized they were nearly to the ranch’s stables. “I’m sorry, what did you say?” He’d been so distracted by the past he wasn’t sure what Isabel wanted him to do.

She eyed him with exasperation. “I said we have an empty stall toward the back. You can put your horse there for the night.”

They arrived at the stables in question. Wyatt dismounted, but Isabel remained astride Miel. She jerked her chin in the direction of the shadowed interior. “Last box on the left. One of the hands will be along shortly to help you.”

“What about you?”

“I’m going to find Diego. I don’t want him putting those carcasses in the barn.”

“I could help you.” He moved to get back on Ajax, but Isabel shook her head.

“No need. Just see to your horse and then let yourself inside the house. Maria will give you something to drink.”

He nodded. It was clear Isabel wanted to dismiss him, so he decided to play along.

“Thanks,” he said. “I appreciate it.”

“No problem.” She shifted the reins, turning Miel’s head so they could ride off. “Thanks for your help today,” she said over her shoulder.

He watched her depart, his curiosity more heightened than ever. The past decade had offered no answers as to Isabel’s sudden change toward him. But now that she was back, he had an opportunity to find out why she’d cut him off with no explanation.

She’d been silent long enough. It was time for her to answer his questions.

Chapter 3

“Not there!” Isabel shouted to be heard over the rumble of the truck’s engine. She waved her arms for good measure, catching the attention of Ruben. The older man touched Diego’s arm and her brother glanced in the rearview mirror and saw her standing outside.

He rolled down his window. “What’s the problem?” He sounded annoyed, and with good reason. The day was drawing to a close and there was still a lot of work to be done.

“I don’t want you to put them in the barn. If they died from some kind of disease, the pathogen might contaminate the place. The last thing we need is to have new moms and their calves exposed.”

Diego pressed his lips together. “Okay, so where do you want them?”

Isabel considered her options. It would be easier for her to work indoors, but it would be difficult to drag the carcasses inside. Besides, there wasn’t a good building where she could do this kind of work. The barn was reserved for cows that were having trouble calving, and the stables housed the horses. Neither site met her needs.

The easiest thing would be to conduct the necropsy outside. She could collect the necessary tissue samples and the carcasses could then be dragged off for burial or burned in place.

Her mind made up, she instructed Diego to drop the bodies off in a clearing about fifty yards away from the barn. The wide patch of dirt would give her space to work, and if the area did become contaminated with some kind of pathogen, the lack of grass meant the other animals wouldn’t be nosing around the site tomorrow. It wasn’t a perfect setup, but it would have to do.

She led Miel to the spot then dismounted and stood back while Diego and Ruben emerged from the truck. The two men removed the ropes securing the carcasses to the flatbed. With the push of a button, one end of the bed lifted, putting the flat slab at an angle. While Ruben coiled the rope, Diego climbed back into the truck and slowly moved it forward. The three dead cows slid off and landed with a thump. A second later, a foul smell tinged the air.

Miel danced in place. Diego emerged from the truck and wrinkled his nose. “Dear God. That’s terrible.”

Isabel shrugged. “Could be worse. They haven’t been dead long enough to really stink.”

Diego shook his head. “If you say so.”

“Can you take Miel to the stables for me?” She should have left her there when she’d dropped off Wyatt. But she’d needed to get away, to put some distance between herself and the man who’d broken her heart all those years ago.

“I’ll take her,” Ruben said quietly.

“Thanks.” Isabel smiled at him. “I should get changed.”

Diego clapped her on the shoulder. “We’ll leave you to it.” She could tell by the gleam in his eyes that he was all too happy to have her handle the messy task ahead.

“Thanks,” she drawled. The men began to leave, Diego turning back to his truck and Ruben heading toward Miel. “Gentlemen,” Isabel called out, stopping them in their tracks.

Diego lifted his eyebrows in an unspoken question. “I’m probably being paranoid,” she said, glancing down at the cattle. “But make sure you wash up. If you start to feel sick in the next few days, let me know immediately.” If these animals had died from an infectious disease, there was a small chance it could be passed on to them. But hopefully that wasn’t the case...

“Will do,” her brother said. Ruben merely touched the brim of his hat in acknowledgment.

Isabel studied the inert trio at her feet then glanced up at the sky. There was probably one good hour of daylight left before dusk began to set in. She’d have to hurry.

Ten minutes later, she walked out the door of the big ranch house clad in ratty old scrubs and a worn pair of rubber shoes. Tilting her head down, she reached for her hair and set to work resecuring her ponytail. She skipped down the porch stairs, drawing up short as a pair of boots entered her vision.

Still working on her hair, she stepped to the right. The boots mirrored her movements, blocking her path once more. There were only two people on this ranch who would deliberately try to irritate her, and those weren’t her brother’s boots.

Sure enough, she lifted her gaze to find Wyatt standing in front of her. She could tell by his expression he wanted to talk to her, but she didn’t have time for a conversation right now.

“Excuse me,” she said, stepping to the side. When he matched her movements again, she narrowed her eyes.

He lifted one hand to stave off her response. “I’m here to help you.”

“Is that right?” She considered the possibility. It was doubtful he’d ever participated in the necropsy of a cow before, but he was strong and there was a lot of lifting and shifting involved. Still, was the convenience of his assistance worth the price in distraction she’d have to pay?

“You have three animals to examine, and from what I understand, the process isn’t exactly fast. You said you were hungry earlier. I assume you’re not going to eat until you’re done with the cows?”

“No,” she confirmed. The longer she waited to gather samples, the less chance they’d be useful. “I need to take care of this first.”

“So let me help you.” When she didn’t immediately accept his offer, he pointed to the sky. “You’re running out of daylight. I know you’re not happy to see me, but let’s put aside our differences and get this done.”

He was right, and the practical part of her brain knew it. Even though he wasn’t a skilled veterinary assistant, the process would still go considerably faster with him there.

“Okay.” She nodded. “But we need to get you some protection first.”

“Protection?” he echoed. There was a note of concern in his voice, as though he might be rethinking this plan.

“This is a messy job,” she said, hiding a smile. “Wouldn’t want to get blood and gore all over your pretty uniform.” His dark green pants would probably fare all right, but his khaki shirt would be ruined. “Plus, I’m not sure what killed these animals. We need to be careful in case it’s some kind of infection.”

He nodded, but she saw his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed. “Lead the way.”

A grudging respect bubbled up inside her chest as Isabel took them to the barn. Wyatt wasn’t any more excited to spend time with her than she was to see him, but he was willing to put aside his annoyance to help her get this done in a timely manner. And he was willing to take on the risk that the process would expose him to a pathogen. It was a small chance, but a consideration nonetheless.

If he could act like an adult, so could she. It would be much more emotionally satisfying to ignore him, but that wasn’t going to get this job done. Besides, since she was now living and working on the family ranch again, she was bound to run into Wyatt from time to time. They were going to have to find a way to tolerate each other, for Diego’s sake. Might as well start working on that now.

It didn’t take long to gather her supplies. Arms laden with gear, she and Wyatt trudged over to the downed cattle. Once there, she handed him some plastic coveralls and a mask, along with two plastic bags for his shoes.

“Step into these and tie the loops around your ankles,” she advised. “Blood doesn’t come out of boots.”

“Speaking from experience?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” she said.

“That’s a rather ominous observation,” he said, sliding one sack over his left boot. “Good thing I know you’re a vet.”

She smiled as she donned her own set of coveralls. “Here’s another troubling piece of advice—put a lot of Vicks under your nose. Otherwise, the smell of death is going to get into your sinuses, and you’ll be living with it for days.”

“Lovely,” he said dryly.

“It’s not too late to back out,” she said.

Wyatt shook his head. “Nope. I said I’d help and I will.”

Isabel nodded. “Then let’s get started.”

She conducted an external exam of the first animal, looking for signs of injury she’d initially missed. Nothing jumped out, so she picked up her knife and began the dissection.

Wyatt remained quiet, responding quickly to her requests to hold this leg, hand her that vial. The first thing she noticed as she worked was the color of the animal’s muscles—they’d gone from the normal red to a dark grayish shade. That might be an important clue, or it may simply be due to the fact the animals had been dead for several hours.

She continued to work, cutting through tissue and moving organs. Blood began to pool in the crevices and hollows she exposed, another strange finding.

“I’m no expert, but I thought dead animals don’t bleed,” Wyatt said quietly.

“They don’t,” she replied shortly. “At least, they’re not supposed to.” Normally, clotting occurred shortly after death. It wasn’t unusual to find fluids inside deceased animals, but this level of liquid blood was outside the norm.

She filed the information away and continued her exam. The heart muscle had hemorrhaged into the surrounding space; so had the lung tissue. She turned to the rumen next, one of the four chambers of the stomach. It was already distended with gas, a combination of decay and the normal buildup of methane. The fetid air hissed around Isabel’s scalpel as she made her cut. She sniffed, detecting the familiar odors of sulfur, partially digested grass and stomach acid.

But there was an additional scent that gave her pause: almonds.

The pieces suddenly clicked into place. “Cyanide,” she muttered. It was the only explanation for these findings.

“Did I hear you say cyanide?”

She looked up, saw Wyatt’s eyes wide above his mask. “Yes,” she said. “Can’t you smell it?”

He shook his head. “All I smell is rotten eggs and VapoRub. What am I missing?”

“Almonds. Not everyone can smell it. Hand me that kit, please.” She dug a test tube out of the cardboard box and carefully scooped some of the rumen contents into the glass. Then she placed a strip of test paper at the top of the tube and added the cap. She gave the tube a gentle shake and watched as the yellow test strip turned a brown-orange color.

“Bingo,” she said quietly.

“So it’s poison?” Wyatt asked.

She collected a few more samples to send off for a definitive diagnosis. But based on what she’d seen and this test, Isabel was confident these animals had died from cyanide.

“Not necessarily,” she said, moving on to the next animal. “It’s not uncommon for some plants to produce cyanide as a defense mechanism. Sometimes, grazing animals ingest too much and it winds up killing them.”

“Does that happen often?”

She shook her head. “It’s not common, but it’s not unheard of, either.” She frowned as she continued her work. “The thing is, we’re pretty careful to ensure we don’t have a lot of cyanogenic plants around.”

“Did you notice any in the spot where you found these guys?”

Isabel finished her exam of the second cow and moved to the third. It was going faster, now that she knew what to look for. “I didn’t, but that doesn’t mean much. I can only recognize a few of the plants by sight. I’ll need to go back out there and do a more thorough search.”

“I can help,” Wyatt offered. “I’m pretty good with plants.”

She considered his offer. “That would be great. If you really don’t mind.”

“Not at all.”

“Don’t you have to get back to rangering?” She wasn’t quite sure what his days were like; she knew he didn’t punch a time clock, but surely he had some regular duties that required his presence?

He chuckled. “I radioed in and told them I was camping tonight. I’ll check in again tomorrow morning. I can ride out to the site with you on my way back to the park.”

“I appreciate it.” She continued her work, collecting samples and recording observations. Although she was confident in her presumptive diagnosis of cyanide poisoning, she wanted to send the samples for processing all the same. There was additional information to be gleaned, such as the type of plant material in the animals’ stomachs, along with the approximate concentration of toxin in their systems. All facts that would paint a fuller picture of what had happened, and help Isabel and Diego come up with strategies to ensure it didn’t occur again.

The light was fading when Isabel finished her exam of the third cow. She stood, lifting her arms over her head to stretch muscles gone stiff from crouching for so long.

“What happens now?” Wyatt asked, gesturing to the gruesome scene at their feet.

Isabel took a step back and began to strip off her gloves and plastic gown. “Now we call Diego. We did the messy part. He gets to clean it up.”

Wyatt pulled his mask off, revealing a grin. “Somehow, I don’t think he’ll like that.”

She shrugged. “He’ll whine about it, but it’s not a tough job. I had him put the bodies far enough away from any buildings so the disposal would be a simple matter.”

“Bury or burn?” Wyatt asked.

“Burn,” Isabel replied. “There’s no wind tonight, and no grass nearby, either. Lighting them up is the easiest thing to do.” She picked up the walkie-talkie sitting in the dirt next to the samples she’d collected.

“Diego, come in.”

It took a few seconds for her brother to respond. “Yeah. What’s up?”

“I’m ready for you out here. Bring the gasoline.”

“Roger that.”

She glanced at Wyatt, who was busy stripping off his plastic gear. “You survived your first necropsy,” she remarked.

He nodded, staring at the remains with a kind of puzzled fascination, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. “I suppose I did.”

“You make a good assistant,” she said. “In case you need a fallback career.”

One corner of his mouth twitched up in a lopsided smile that was dangerously endearing. “I think I’ll stick with being a park ranger.”

Isabel glanced away, determined not to fall under the spell of Wyatt’s effortless charm. “I know that was always your dream.” They’d talked about it, that night he’d found her. He’d told her all about his desire to be a ranger, and she’d shared her goals of becoming a veterinarian. Eddie, her boyfriend at the time, had never been terribly interested in hearing about her plans for the future. Wyatt had been the first man outside of her family who’d actually seemed to care about her ideas. His attention had given her a heady rush, better than any roller-coaster ride. Was it any wonder she’d fallen for him?

He moved closer, balling up his discarded protective gear as he walked. “It was,” he said. “Just like you wanted to become a vet. I guess both our dreams came true.”

She glanced at him then, felt a spark of kinship as their eyes met. “Is it everything you thought it would be?” The question tumbled out before she had a chance to think twice. What was she doing, asking him something so personal? She needed to keep him at arm’s length, not invite him to share his private thoughts as to the way his life had turned out.

Except...she cared. Wyatt had always been Diego’s friend, but the three of them had shared some fun times together growing up. He had been a part of her life for a long time, and even though Wyatt had broken her heart, she still worried about him, still wanted him to be happy.

It was a strange dichotomy, the way she felt. There were times when Isabel could close her eyes and be right back in the moment when she’d seen Wyatt and Nikki in a passionate clutch outside the coffee shop, not even twelve hours after he’d made love to her in the back of his truck. The shock of it had knocked the breath from her lungs, made her light-headed. She’d literally felt something give inside her chest, had needed to sit down to let the feeling pass. At the time, she didn’t think she’d ever get over the pain of his betrayal.

But as the years had passed, her anger and hurt had given way to a more nuanced understanding. Wyatt had been—still was, come to that—a handsome guy. Charming, funny, smart—he was the total package. Yes, they’d slept together. But they hadn’t made any promises to each other that night. She might have given him her heart, but he hadn’t reciprocated. The young girl she’d once been couldn’t imagine a greater pain. But the woman she’d grown to be recognized that was okay. In fact, it was probably for the best. They’d both gone their separate ways for school, her to College Station, him to Lubbock. The distance alone would have made things difficult. Besides, if they’d tried to keep a relationship alive, Diego would have had a hard time. He’d always been so protective of her, thinking no one was good enough for his little sister. She’d never want to make him choose between her and his best friend.

Given their complicated history, Isabel thought it best that she and Wyatt remain on friendly, if impersonal, terms. Asking him if his reality had lived up to his expectations definitely crossed her mental line in the sand.

In the fading afternoon light, his blue eyes held a hint of gray. “I can’t complain,” he said. “There are some things I don’t like about my job, about my life. But the good far outweighs the bad. What about you?”

“Same,” Isabel replied. She was saved from having to say more by the rumble of Diego’s approaching truck.

Her brother hopped out, surveyed the scene. If he was surprised by Wyatt’s presence, he didn’t show it. “You two find any answers?”

“Cyanide,” Isabel said. She held up her clutch of samples, the glass tubes jangling a bit against the metal rack. “I’m going to send these out for processing to confirm, but I’m positive it’s cyanide.”

Diego frowned. “I don’t recall seeing any dangerous plants out there today.”

“I’m going to check tomorrow, do a more thorough search of the area,” she replied.

“I’m going to help her,” Wyatt added. “I’m good with plants.”

Diego nodded. “Thanks, Ranger Rick,” he drawled. “Can I get your help with this, too?” He nodded in the direction of the truck bed, which held two five-gallon gasoline containers.

“I suppose,” Wyatt said.

“Here.” Isabel gestured for Wyatt to hand over his trash. “I’ll take care of that.” She gathered everything into her arms: the samples, their discarded gear, her tools. “I’ve got my own cleanup to do. See you both at dinner.”

The men said their goodbyes, the pair already focused on spreading gas over the animal carcasses.

Isabel set off for the barn, but stopped after a few steps. She turned back, her eyes landing on Wyatt’s tall form and graceful movements.

“Wyatt.” At the sound of his name, he glanced up. “Thanks again for your help today.”

His smile was full of warmth, drawing her in despite her desire to keep things superficial. “Any time.”

She looked away before he could see the rising blush on her cheeks. Cut it out, she told her body as she headed back to the barn. A few hours in Wyatt’s presence and her hormones were already stirring, wanting to pick things up where they’d left off ten years ago.

Not an option.

But despite her mental protests, her stomach fluttered with anticipation.

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