That changed everything.
“All right.”
The first person Cole woke was his foreman, Daniel Mercer.
Daniel had worked Bennett land twenty-three years.
He was fifty-seven, gray through the beard, and possessed the permanent exhaustion of a man forced to manage both cattle and Cole Bennett.
Daniel entered the library pulling suspenders over his shoulders.
“What burned?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why am I awake?”
Cole handed him the note.
Daniel read it.
His expression sharpened.
“Where?”
“Under Lila’s door.”
Daniel looked at her.
She had thrown a dark green wrapper over the pale blue nightgown before coming downstairs.
Her feet were now inside boots she had put on without stockings.
She knew she looked absurd.
Daniel did not comment.
“Who else knows?”
“Nobody,” Cole said.
Daniel looked toward the hall.
“Bathhouse?”
“Tampered.”
Daniel swore.
Then:
“Should we wake the hands?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because one of them might be involved.”
Silence.
That possibility changed the room.
Bennett Ranch employed thirty-two permanent workers.
Twelve lived close enough to the main house to know Cole’s routine.
Five had access to maintenance buildings.
Three regularly entered the bathhouse to refill wood, clean the stove, or carry water.
Daniel looked at Cole.
“You trust me?”
“If I didn’t, you wouldn’t be here.”
Daniel nodded.
Then looked at Lila.
“And her?”
Cole’s answer came faster.
“Yes.”
Lila’s throat tightened.
Daniel noticed.
He was too old and observant not to.
He wisely said nothing.
Cole walked toward the desk.
“Tomorrow morning nobody knows we found anything.”
Daniel frowned.
“You’re going to pretend?”
“I’m going to see who expects me dead.”
Lila’s stomach dropped.
“That is a terrible sentence.”
Cole glanced at her.
“It’s accurate.”
“What exactly are you planning?”
“Breakfast.”
She stared.
“That is your plan?”
“First part.”
Daniel smiled faintly.
“He gets irritating when people try killing him.”
Lila looked between them.
“You’re both insane.”
Cole pulled a chair out for her.
“Sit.”
“Why?”
“You look like you’re going to fall over.”
“I am perfectly capable of standing.”
He looked at her bare ankles above the boots.
“You ran through the house without dressing properly.”
Heat touched her face.
“That was an emergency.”
“It still is.”
“I’m fine.”
Cole’s expression softened.
“Lila.”
There it was again.
A tone he used only with her.
Not command.
Concern.
She sat.
Daniel watched.
Again said nothing.
Wise man.
Cole poured water from a fresh pitcher that had been sitting in the library.
He handed it to Lila.
She took it.
Then noticed he did not drink.
The bathhouse had changed something already.
“You think the water could be poisoned too?”
“No.”
“Then drink.”
Cole looked at her.
Lila held his gaze.
Finally he poured himself a glass.
Daniel smiled.
Cole glared at him.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Then stop looking pleased.”
“I’m an old man. Let me have entertainment.”
Lila almost laughed.
The tension eased by one degree.
Then Daniel said:
“There’s another problem.”
Cole leaned back.
“What?”
“Three steers missing from the southern pen.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“That happens.”
“No.”
Daniel’s expression became serious.
“Gate was still locked.”