Willow in Bloom by Victoria Pade Page A

he came out, just to get his name. Now that I have it I’ll check him out, see if he has a record. Probably put in a call to Rand Colton, see if he knows anything about him.”
    â€œSo you do think he’s the one who’s been nosing around about us?”
    â€œFrom the accounts I’ve had, I’d say he is, yeah.”
    â€œDid you ask him what he’s doing in Black Arrow?”
    â€œI did. He wasn’t forthcoming. In fact, he has a smart mouth. He didn’t answer me, just asked if it was a crime to stay around here.”
    â€œThat was all you got out of him?”
    â€œAfter some prodding he said that he was between jobs. Looking for work. I asked what kind of work he did, and all he said was ‘this and that’—with an attitude. And you know there’s all kinds of work around here now—farmers need hired hands for the harvest coming up. If the man truly wanted work, he’d have it. Plus he knows me by name. Seemed to want me toknow that. Something is going on with him. I’d bet on it.”
    â€œBut without much evidence from the break-in or the fire, you can’t really connect him to them,” Willow suggested.
    â€œOr even bring him in for any serious questioning,” Bram confirmed. “But I can keep an eye on him.”
    That last was said with a pointed glare at Tyler, obviously warning him that that was exactly what Bram intended to do to him, too.
    But when Willow hazarded a glance at Tyler, she found him still unperturbed. In fact, his mouth was curved in a small smile that seemed to say bring it on.
    And again Willow tried to distract her brother.
    â€œDid you tell the rest of the family about the letter and the documents?” she asked, too desperate to consider if she should be mentioning them in front of Tyler.
    â€œYeah. And I showed them to Thomas,” Bram answered.
    â€œAnd then you took care of them?”
    â€œOf the documents and the letter. Locked away safe and sound.”
    â€œAnd everyone knows to be careful?”
    â€œYep.” Once more Bram aimed his gaze at Tyler. “They better.”
    Willow rolled her eyes, but neither of the men saw it because they were staring each other down.
    â€œWe’d better let you get back to work,” she said to her brother then.
    Tyler took her lead and said, “Glad we met.”
    â€œUh-huh,” Bram answered curtly. Dismissing Tyler by turning to Willow, he said, “Make sure you’re careful, too.”
    â€œDon’t worry about it.”
    â€œI do worry about you.”
    â€œWell, stop it.”
    Bram just shook his head.
    Willow said good-night, then headed for the Feed and Grain again, Tyler at her side.
    â€œSo that’s one of your brothers,” he said when they were out of Bram’s earshot, but still under his scrutiny as he watched them go.
    â€œI told you my brothers could be intimidating.”
    Tyler grinned. “Who said I was intimidated?”
    She had to admit that he hadn’t seemed to be. Not in the slightest. “I’m just saying that…” She didn’t know what she was saying, so she murmured, “I’m sorry that Bram wasn’t friendlier.”
    â€œNo big deal. If you were my sister I’d be doing the same thing.”
    Willow was inclined to point out that she wasn’t his sister, though. Especially since she was a little worried that that might be how Tyler was thinking of her, since he hadn’t so much as tried to hold her hand all evening. But she refrained, and just relaxed and enjoyed the comfortable, quiet walk with him.
    She still didn’t want to end their time together when they reached the Feed and Grain, so as they neared the outside staircase to her apartment she said, “Imade some fresh lemonade today. Would you like a glass?”
    â€œI would,” he answered, as if he’d had no intention of calling it a night yet, anyway.