Rebecca Winters: The New Cowboy

The latest news flash on the heist was the first thing the lead ranger Sanders talked about after they shook hands. “Welcome to Billings and your first case.”

Zane chuckled.

“The spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said they’re offering a five-thousand-dollar reward for information and the culprit will be given ten years of prison time. There’ve been no arrests yet.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“We’re pleased to have you assigned to our team, Lawson. That drug trafficking ring you put away has rid the state of a real menace. Congratulations on your special commendation from the top brass. With your background in the SEALs, no one’s surprised you’ve surpassed expectations.”

“Thank you.”

“From now on you’ll be conducting criminal and civil investigations into various types of crimes spreading through eight counties associated with our field office. Besides pursuing investigations for cultivation of marijuana, fraud, arson and assaults on BLM employees, you’ll be looking into thefts of archaeological and paleontological resources. More and more of that is going on.

“Just today we had another call from the local police concerning more vandalism and thefts at one of the dig sites. Some of these crimes are broad in scope, involving interstate transport of stolen artifacts. Many of your investigations will require you to work outside your assigned area. Don’t be surprised if you’re asked to join a task force for interagency operations and security.”

“Understood.”

“With this latest theft, I trust you’re ready for more trouble.”

“To be honest, I’m anxious to get started on some new cases.”

Sanders broke out in a smile. “The SEALs loss is our gain.” He got to his feet. “I know you’re on your way home so I won’t detain you. Before the day is out, I’ll email some of the recent cases involving geovandalism and felony mischief to you. Call me anytime.”

“I will. Thank you.”

He hurried out to his truck, anxious to get home. Six months ago he’d flown down to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas with Sadie and her husband to watch Liz and Connor compete. Avery had come with her family.

They’d all partied after the competition and she’d seemed to enjoy his company while everyone was around. They’d danced for several hours, long enough for a fire to have been lit. If they happened to be alone she kept him at arm’s length, yet the chemistry between them was stronger than ever. Unfortunately he’d had to get right back to Glasgow.

Under the circumstances, any relationship had to be put off while he was still working in the northern part of the state. Though he’d been home a few times since then and had gotten together with her and both families, he needed more time alone with her.

A half smile broke the corner of his mouth. Now that his transfer had come through, he was going to get all the time he wanted. After all, they were next-door neighbors from here on out.

Chapter Two

Avery loved the month of June. After coming out of freezing winter, night didn’t come until late and the mountains sprang to colorful life with wildflowers. But lovely as it was to have the warm sun following her home to the ranch on this Thursday evening, the balmier weather brought out vandals and thieves who desecrated the archaeological sites.

The one she’d been working on outside Absarokee had been hit again, infuriating her. She and the team spent hours out there, so careful not to destroy one millimeter of soil in order not to corrupt the ground holding precious information. Then during the night their work was set back by thugs and lowlifes.

During the thirty-minute drive home, the helplessness she felt over the situation had caught up with her and she needed to calm down. Mike Durant would be coming to the ranch for her soon. He’d driven by the site to make arrangements for tonight. They were going to dinner in White Lodge. For several months he’d been dropping by the site to talk to her about her work and had asked her out repeatedly.

She’d finally accepted and they’d had one dinner date. But this second date would have to be their final one. He’d asked her out again in front of the other team members and she hadn’t wanted to embarrass him by turning him down. Though she didn’t want to hurt his pride, she couldn’t go out with him again. It was a mistake she’d regretted from the moment he’d tried to turn friendship into something else.

Earlier in the month when Liz Bannock had learned that Avery had gone out on a first date with him, her new sister-in-law had eyed her with the kind of excitement that made her uncomfortable. “What’s he like?” Funny about happily married people. They wanted everyone else to find their soul mate and settle down.

“Nice, but I can see what’s in your eyes, Liz, and it’s not going to happen.”

Her expression deflated. “What’s wrong?”

“I like him, but—”

“But what?” Liz prodded.

“I’m not interested.” On the advice of her psychologist, Avery had accepted a date with Mike in order to get back in the dating loop, but it hadn’t worked and now she was paying for it.

“I thought you found him attractive.”

“I did in a way. He works for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and he’s a good source of information because of his work among other tribes.” That much was true. “He’s well-informed about the Crow culture, kind of like Jarod.”

“Wait a minute—you mean you were drawn to him because he reminds you of Sits in the Center?” That was Jarod’s Crow name.

Avery and her brothers shared the same father, but his first wife, Raven, was from the Crow Nation. After Jarod was born, she died. Later he married another woman named Maddie, who was Connor and Avery’s mother.

“Only in a certain sense, but after one date I discovered Mike is nothing like Jarod. He’s nice, but that’s all.” Mike was too aggressive.

Growing up, Avery had worshipped her big brother and everyone knew it. On more than one occasion she’d told her sisters-in-law and her cousin Cassie that she’d never get married unless she found a man she loved more than she loved Jarod. It was an easy excuse that still worked these days on those who were concerned about Avery’s almost nonexistent love life.

No one knew that a year ago May, love had hit her with the force of a supernova when Zane Lawson happened on the scene. But like the heavens, he was beyond her reach and would remain her secret.

Unfortunately Liz wouldn’t let it go. She shook her head. “I don’t believe you. What’s the real reason you don’t want to see Mike again?”

“To be honest, there’s something about his personality that turns me off.”

“That’s too bad. It makes me sad because I’m worried about you.”

She had to tamp down a burst of temper. “Not everyone is lucky enough to find the kind of happiness you’ve found with Connor.” To have a normal life was something that had escaped Avery, but the news from Detective Rymer had taken away a gargantuan shadow. With it gone, she had to face a new reality. Her feelings for Zane ran so deep, the last thing she wanted was to give another guy hope that she was interested in him. Especially not Mike.

“We’re not talking about me.” Liz refused to be put off. “I’m serious, Avery. There’s been something wrong with you since you first went away to college in Bozeman. When are you going to break down and tell me what it is?”

Never.

Avery had her therapist in Bozeman, whom she’d been seeing for the past eight years, and she didn’t need anyone else. No one but Dr. Moser and the police knew Avery’s secret and that was the way it would stay even though she loved Liz with all her heart. “Please don’t worry about me.”