A loud sigh came from Colt. “Um…Gage. I’ve got more shitty news for you. Silas Perkins is out of jail now.”
“What?”
“Yeah, on good behavior.”
“Great. Things are just getting better and better. Damn. Silas Perkins.” A light went on in Gage’s head. He thought back to the scrawny old bastard with his schemes. Several people had been convicted of stealing, but Silas had been the ringleader. “That son of a bitch. With Cummings out on bail, I completely forgot about him. Do you know where he is?”
“He’s back at his place as far as I know. How is Hope?”
“She’s taking care of the baby right now.”
“Let me know if you need anything.”
“Don’t do anything with the bull until the cops come. They may want to check it out.”
“I took pictures, but I had to get it off my field. The other animals won’t graze with it there.”
“Understood. Talk to you later. Thanks for everything.”
“No problem. Call me anytime.”
Gage made the call to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office again. This time they came out with two detectives. “You’ve got a lot going on today, Mr. Gibson.”
“Yeah, way too much bullshit for my liking.”
“So you say someone trespassed on your property, damaged your cameras, and killed one of your cattle?”
“Yes, it happened at four in the morning. My crew came up to me this afternoon to tell me the bull got out again.”
“This happened before?” Gage tried to keep his cool. They weren’t the ones who worked the case, so they didn’t have to know about it. The FBI handled the matter because it crossed state lines.
“Did you hear about the Cattle Auction Ring that happened last year?”
“Oh, yes. I read about it.”
“Well, I was the one who turned the people in after they were caught on camera stealing my cattle back.”
“Do you think the two events are connected?”
“It’s hard to say. I know that the email had to be from Cummings regardless of the fact that he was in the hospital with severe injuries. One of his lackeys could have been the one to hit the button.”
“True. We’re going to ride over to Colt’s ranch and get all we can from the bull and then have a talk with Mr. Perkins. Do us a favor and don’t contact Perkins. Understood?”
“I won’t. I’m not interested in going to jail. I have a family to look after.”
It was already five when he went looking for Hope and their son. His stomach was rumbling, so he was sure hers would be too. His stomach had been in knots with everything going on, so he hardly touched the lunch Hope brought him after Bill left to search for the bull. They were in the baby’s nursery just outside their bedroom. “Are you hungry, Hope?”
“No. I want to spend time with Ethan.”
Gage stared at his wife as questions circled in his mind.Was she pushing me away? Did she blame me for spending so much time away from her?“Do you want me to join you?”
“Of course. Unless you don’t want to.” She seemed unsure. The both of them were shaken by the constant dangerthey’d had to go through—the doubt and fear challenging their young love.
“I always want to be with my two favorite people.” Gage got down on the floor with Hope and Ethan, who sat around his playmat and toys.
“Ouch, shit. I think I got a toy up my ass,” Gage said, digging a toy phone out from under his rear.
“I’m not even going to go there.” She giggled, which made Gage’s heart swell.