sure. But if the sheriff and/or his staff was dirty, he was going after them with a vengeance. “All I’m asking is your opinion.”
The sheriff flashed him a hard look. “My guess is they were coming to someplace in town. Put the station in the GPS so if they get caught nobody is the wiser about their true destination.”
Mo thought about that for a second. Maybe. “I wouldn’t mind seeing whatever files you have on smuggling cases you’ve had over the years.”
The sheriff’s face darkened another shade. Not that surprising. Nobody liked it when strangers messed with their business.
Better put a positive spin on it. “I’m putting together some statistics for the budget recommendations we’re writing up. Who knows, maybe Hullett will get a chunk of federal money.”
The man didn’t look overly excited, but he did nod after a second. “I’ll have my secretary gather up what we have.”
Mo slid his card across the desk. “She can email me the files. I’d really appreciate it.”
He left the Hullett sheriff, thinking about the exchange, about what the chances were that the man was involved. He hated to think that someone sworn to uphold the law would trample his oath into the mud like that. Then another silver star caught his eye. The Pebble Creek sheriff going past the receptionist with a nod. A professional visit?
An annoyed frown crossed Kenny’s face as he spotted Mo. “Moses Mann.” He even said the name with derision.
“Sheriff Davis.”
“I hear you’ve been spending time at the Rogers ranch.”
Okay, he hadn’t planned on bringing up the subject, but as long as the sheriff had... Mo gave the man a level look. “I hear you’ve been doing the same.”
“Molly is a friend. I don’t like the idea of her out there alone,” the man said easily, but his gaze hardened. “I don’t like the idea of her being harassed, either.”
“My concern exactly,” Mo countered.
“I thought you were supposed to be watching the border.”
“That and the people who cross it with bad intentions.”
“And how long is this assignment of yours?”
“As long as it’s necessary.”
“Is it? Necessary? I’d hate to see taxpayer money wasted. I’m sure whatever you’re investigating, Molly is not connected.”
“Just keeping an eye on her to make sure she’s safe.”
“How about you let me worry about that?” The sheriff’s gaze hardened.
Getting into a confrontation with him would serve no purpose. So, as much as it burned him, Mo simply nodded and walked away from the man.
He had to go back to the office, but he decided to go out to the ranch and check on Molly when he was finished. He hadn’t seen her yet today. He wanted to make sure Logan had been okay going back to school.
That some bully would mess with the kid ticked him off.
He was going to offer support to Logan. He was absolutely not going to think about kissing Molly. He had no business starting something he couldn’t finish. Sooner or later, he’d be leaving. Kenny had been right about that.
Chapter Six
Molly went aroundfinishing up her evening chores, trying not to stare at Mo in her backyard as he trained with Logan.
“Okay. So if someone grabs you from behind—” he demonstrated “—you do what?”
Logan flawlessly executed the move he’d been taught.
“And if the kid comes from the front, kicking?”
Once again, Logan was quick to block.
“Punching?” Mo’s impressive muscles flexed under his black T-shirt as he demonstrated the attack in slow motion.
She felt her temperature rise a degree or two as she watched him. Who looked like that in a simple T-shirt? Seriously.
Logan whooped with glee as he deflected the punch.
The dogs watched them with interest, too. Max from a safe distance, Cocoa doing her best to get in the way.
Mo was teaching self-defense moves only, not to attack, just to deflect blows.
“The goal is not to hurt your opponent. Just to let him know that you can and will defend
The sheriff flashed him a hard look. “My guess is they were coming to someplace in town. Put the station in the GPS so if they get caught nobody is the wiser about their true destination.”
Mo thought about that for a second. Maybe. “I wouldn’t mind seeing whatever files you have on smuggling cases you’ve had over the years.”
The sheriff’s face darkened another shade. Not that surprising. Nobody liked it when strangers messed with their business.
Better put a positive spin on it. “I’m putting together some statistics for the budget recommendations we’re writing up. Who knows, maybe Hullett will get a chunk of federal money.”
The man didn’t look overly excited, but he did nod after a second. “I’ll have my secretary gather up what we have.”
Mo slid his card across the desk. “She can email me the files. I’d really appreciate it.”
He left the Hullett sheriff, thinking about the exchange, about what the chances were that the man was involved. He hated to think that someone sworn to uphold the law would trample his oath into the mud like that. Then another silver star caught his eye. The Pebble Creek sheriff going past the receptionist with a nod. A professional visit?
An annoyed frown crossed Kenny’s face as he spotted Mo. “Moses Mann.” He even said the name with derision.
“Sheriff Davis.”
“I hear you’ve been spending time at the Rogers ranch.”
Okay, he hadn’t planned on bringing up the subject, but as long as the sheriff had... Mo gave the man a level look. “I hear you’ve been doing the same.”
“Molly is a friend. I don’t like the idea of her out there alone,” the man said easily, but his gaze hardened. “I don’t like the idea of her being harassed, either.”
“My concern exactly,” Mo countered.
“I thought you were supposed to be watching the border.”
“That and the people who cross it with bad intentions.”
“And how long is this assignment of yours?”
“As long as it’s necessary.”
“Is it? Necessary? I’d hate to see taxpayer money wasted. I’m sure whatever you’re investigating, Molly is not connected.”
“Just keeping an eye on her to make sure she’s safe.”
“How about you let me worry about that?” The sheriff’s gaze hardened.
Getting into a confrontation with him would serve no purpose. So, as much as it burned him, Mo simply nodded and walked away from the man.
He had to go back to the office, but he decided to go out to the ranch and check on Molly when he was finished. He hadn’t seen her yet today. He wanted to make sure Logan had been okay going back to school.
That some bully would mess with the kid ticked him off.
He was going to offer support to Logan. He was absolutely not going to think about kissing Molly. He had no business starting something he couldn’t finish. Sooner or later, he’d be leaving. Kenny had been right about that.
Chapter Six
Molly went aroundfinishing up her evening chores, trying not to stare at Mo in her backyard as he trained with Logan.
“Okay. So if someone grabs you from behind—” he demonstrated “—you do what?”
Logan flawlessly executed the move he’d been taught.
“And if the kid comes from the front, kicking?”
Once again, Logan was quick to block.
“Punching?” Mo’s impressive muscles flexed under his black T-shirt as he demonstrated the attack in slow motion.
She felt her temperature rise a degree or two as she watched him. Who looked like that in a simple T-shirt? Seriously.
Logan whooped with glee as he deflected the punch.
The dogs watched them with interest, too. Max from a safe distance, Cocoa doing her best to get in the way.
Mo was teaching self-defense moves only, not to attack, just to deflect blows.
“The goal is not to hurt your opponent. Just to let him know that you can and will defend
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