“Yes, I heard, although I’m not sure where it was.”
“I know where, since I found him. Maybe I’ll take you there someday.” The young man’s grin in the shadows, surrounded by his light beard and mustache, appeared almost threatening. Even Bear must have thought so since he moved slightly, but Evan put his hand in front of the dog’s face to stop him—for now.
“Maybe so.” Evan pondered whether to ask the question that was on his mind. Heck, why not? “I don’t suppose you know who killed him, do you?”
Orrin’s expression changed, and so did his tightened grip on the flashlight. Was he planning to attack Evan with it? But he didn’t move. “The cops thought for a while that I did,” he growled. “But I didn’t, in case you’re wondering. And even the cops don’t think so now—though I don’t know who’s in their headlights at the moment.”
“Glad to know that. So…why are you wandering around here in the dark?” He half expected the ranch hand to get even more defensive, ask him the same thing—anything but tell the truth, whatever it was.
“I do it a lot, just because.” His chin lifted. “Two women live here. Maybe they can take care of themselves, and maybe not, but until a couple of days ago I’d been the only man around for a while—since the one in their lives was killed.”
So maybe he was a nice guy—and not a murderer. Or was that all a put-on to keep Evan from asking more and suspecting him of the murder?
“That’s very good of you,” Evan said mildly. After all, if it was the truth then maybe what he did was a good thing. “But I’m sure you can see why I’m concerned about why you’re out here in the dark with your flashlight.” And hopefully no weapons. “I’m also concerned about those women now that I’m here.” A thought struck him. “I assume you were buddies with Corbin, and that he treated you well, but I’d imagine that the women also—”
“What makes you assume that?” Orrin’s voice was sharp, scornful. “He was a nasty SOB at times, definitely not generous, but I had to stay here and work because my family… Never mind. I don’t want to get into it. But I had issues with him, and that’s why the cops—Hell. I’m going to bed.” He took a step forward, then stopped, looking down at Bear. “Is that animal going to attack me?”
“This is Bear. He’s a well-trained dog.” Evan paused, making sure he was in Orrin’s path. “Do you like dogs? If not, this is a strange place for you to be working.”
“Like I said, I don’t want to get into why I work here. I like dogs okay but I sure as heck don’t want to spend my life working with them like Corbin did—and you do. Now, let me by. Good night.”
He sidestepped Evan and Bear, circling to the paved path that led to the nearby houses without another word.
Interesting, Evan thought. He decided that Bear and he would take their time on their outing tonight to make sure Orrin didn’t return.
Plus, if Orrin did this a lot, maybe Evan and Bear would prowl around some nights, too.
Somehow, Orrin didn’t strike him as the protective type, out here just to ensure his female employers weren’t being attacked by whoever killed Corbin.
But he hadn’t attempted to break into the house, nor had he attacked Amber or Sonya before Evan had been hired, when there was likely no one else around to protect them.
Did that mean he wasn’t guilty? No, but it didn’t make him the obvious murderer, either.
For now, Evan waited until he saw lights go on inside Orrin’s house. That didn’t mean he was inside for the night, but since the man knew Evan and Bear were out here he’d at least consider his options before coming out again.
Evan decided to complete his walk around the house, check to make sure that the doors were locked and no windows were open that would allow anyone to enter. He didn’t expect to find other prowlers around but it wouldn’t hurt to look.
He would tell Amber about Orrin tomorrow. She needed to know about her ranch hand, even if it was a completely innocent, or even protective, act.
“Come,” he told Bear, snapping his leash on again. There might be no additional human prowlers, but nocturnal creatures could be out and about.
They remained, for now, at the back of the main house. There was a dim glow from somewhere inside but no indication whether anyone was still awake. No need to rouse Amber to tell her anything now, or Sonya, either.
Still… Evan, Bear at his side, walked up the paved area to the narrow wooden door and reached to check whether it was locked.
And drew in his breath when, as he touched the knob, the door opened.
*
“Oh, hi, Evan,” Amber said in as casual a voice as she could, flicking the inside switch so a light came on in the backyard. “You, too, Bear.” She had one of the pups, Lucy, on a leash behind her. She’d intended to use a short walk as an excuse to be outside.
“Er, hi, Amber,” Evan returned. “I didn’t think anyone inside was still awake. I was just checking to make sure the door was locked.”
She looked at him under the light. Despite his apparently being startled when she’d opened the door, he appeared alert but far from anxious now, even looked her briefly in the face. He also looked good, his dark hair somewhat windblown and a trace of beard on his face. His gray sweatshirt hugged his wide shoulders, and he held Bear’s leash loosely in his right hand.
“Thanks…I guess. I think Lucy, Lola and I were the only ones awake, but I left Lola in the kitchen.” The Lab was waiting for Amber to go to bed, still uneasy with sleeping in Sonya’s room. But Amber had been working with the pups when she could, and this had seemed an appropriate outing for one.
Although if she’d needed some kind of defense…well, Lola was trained, but not as a protective K-9. But Amber had heard in advance who was outside so not having a defensive guard dog was okay.
“Everything all right inside?” Evan asked. “I didn’t hear anything when I decided to check the lock.”
“That’s why you jumped when I opened the door. I get it, and I’m sorry.”
Not exactly true, though it was polite to say. Maybe it shouldn’t amuse her to have startled Evan, but she had been in the kitchen near the door to the rear of the house eavesdropping on his conversation with Orrin. Before they’d begun talking, she had been sitting nearly in the dark at the kitchen table sipping a cup of chamomile tea, hoping it would relax her and let her get to sleep, though it hadn’t seemed to be working.
She hadn’t known they were there until the two men began talking.
Orrin prowled a lot at night? She’d seen him out late now and then while walking Lola or a pup, but not often. Did he sometimes hide, even from the dogs? If so, why? And why had Evan been out there tonight, his second night at the K-9 Ranch?
Somehow, though she felt a bit uneasy about Orrin’s presence there, she felt grateful for Evan’s. Even though she had startled him.
“No problem. And now that you and Lucy are here, let’s take a quick walk around the house in case either Bear or her have something on their minds before going to bed.”
“Good idea.” It also felt like a good idea to be in Evan’s presence one last time for the night. Not that she expected him to teach her something new about dog training. But she liked to be with him.
Neither said anything to the other at first, but they both watched and praised the dogs with them. Then Evan said, “I’d initially just come outside to walk Bear—and maybe check on the property’s security. Bear sensed Orrin outside your house, and I wound up confronting him. I got the impression he did that a lot, maybe to do as I was, ensure that all was okay. Were you aware of that?”
“Not really.” She admitted, though, that she had occasionally run into him when she took a dog out late. “He’s never said what he was doing, but I had the impression he was just trying to tire himself out before sleeping.”
“Or make sure all’s well around here. How long has he worked for your family?”
They were now approaching the flat part of the driveway at the side
of the house, where her father had conducted a lot of his K-9 lessons. That was where Amber would ask Evan to start working with the pups tomorrow. For now, she just let Lucy’s leash grow slack as both dogs continued their sniffing.
“Since we bought this place,” Amber finally replied. She had heard him talking briefly with Orrin about her dad. “Orrin’s parents were my father’s neighbors and good friends, as he grew up in San Luis Obispo. They’d stayed in touch, and when my dad decided to run this ranch he learned that Orrin was looking for a job—apparently something that required more strength than thinking. The timing just worked out, and it was also kind of a favor to Orrin’s folks.”
“That’s good.” But Evan’s tone sounded dubious. Should she tell him more? Maybe.
“Orrin doesn’t get along too well with anyone, but that was okay with my dad. They argued some but everything necessary got done. And though he sometimes delays for a while, Orrin is also doing what we need him to around here now, handyman stuff. Otherwise, I’d find as kind a way as possible to fire him.”
Evan grew quiet, then said, “He did mention your dad while we were talking. He also mentioned how they didn’t always get along.”
“And you’re wondering if Orrin killed him.” She couldn’t help it. She stopped walking and all but confronted Evan.
Not because she resented what he was suggesting, but because she wondered that sometimes herself.
“Yes,” he responded softly. “But we don’t need to talk about—”
“Yes, we do. If not now, then sometime. I don’t know if it was Orrin. I don’t want to think so, but it could be. And you know that my dad was found, his body was found…” She had to stop as her throat closed up.
Evan suddenly was right beside her, holding her, hugging her close. “Orrin said he found him, on your property. And, of course, Orrin had access to it.”
“So did a lot of other people,” she said hesitantly. “Including Dad’s students—and some argued with him. Also, anyone who felt like going through our unsecure wood fence around the place could come through, so the robbery idea makes sense, too.” She was shaking but at least she wasn’t crying…yet.
“I think it’s time for us to stop this,” Evan said. “If it’s all right with you I’d like to come in for a glass of water.”
And to make sure she was safe, she figured. She appreciated it.
“That’s okay. I’m okay.” She pulled gently away, though she immediately missed the feel of his strong arms around her, the way she had been able to rest her cheek against his hard chest. “Time for Lucy and me to go to bed.”
“Sure, if you think—”
“I’ll be fine.”
But he didn’t move, and neither did she.
Then she asked something that had been on her mind since Evan first arrived with Bear, a trained K-9. “Evan, does Bear have scenting skills?”
“Yes. He’s an explosives-sniffing dog, among his other abilities.”
“Anything else?”
“He knows how to sniff out bad guys and their scents when they’re afraid, and more. But why—”
“Because…well, after all this time there’s not going to be anything at the spot where my dad was found, and the local cops brought a K-9 or two to the site. But I’ve wanted to observe a dog who knows what he’s doing sniffing around. Sometime. Not right away. But would you be willing to bring Bear?”
“Of course.” He took a step toward Amber as Bear stayed with him, looking up. He’d probably heard his name. “You’re right, though. After all this time there’s not likely to be anything he can react to. But we’ll give it a try when you’re ready.”
Amber attempted to smile at him as she said, “Thanks.” Then, to punctuate the word, she moved toward him, reached up and pulled his head down to plant a grateful kiss on his mouth.
He responded right away, holding her closer, deepening the kiss. This was a guy with PTSD who didn’t want to get too near people?
Maybe, but he was also one hot, hard, sexy guy, who made her mind go in another wrong direction in addition to thinking of her poor, deceased dad.
She threw herself into the kiss for a long minute, then pulled away. She gave the leash a gentle tug, then said, “Let’s go, Lucy.” She looked back toward Evan. “Good night. We’ll see you around nine tomorrow morning so you can start the pups’ preliminary K-9 training.”
He looked at her, straight in the face. His expression seemed bemused—and maybe a little regretful that she’d pulled away. But he just said, “Right. Good night. See you in the morning.”
“Great.” She turned, then ran to the house’s front door. She used the key in her pocket to open it.
After ensuring that Lucy was inside, too, she locked it behind her.
Chapter 10
Around nine o’clock the next morning, Evan prepared to head to the main house to start his dog training—the pre-K-9 kind that he especially enjoyed, though not as much as the actual K-9 training. Still, this day promised to be a good one.
“So, Bear.” He looked down at his shepherd, who stood wagging his tail inside the door to their house. “Sorry, but you’ll stay here for now.” Bear knew what he was doing and he was damn good at it. But dogs, unlike humans, didn’t necessarily learn much from watching others who were well trained. Today was about continuing the minimal training the puppies had previously received.
Evan had already walked Bear, fed him and rewarded his good behavior by playing with the tug toy with him.
Evan had eaten, too—some of the cereal and milk he’d picked up in town. He looked forward to inviting Amber, and Sonya, too, over for a hotcakes breakfast, but that would have to wait.
He wouldn’t mind having Amber sleep here so he could feed her breakfast after a night of…
Hey, where was his mind going? The charcoal athletic pants he’d pulled on that morning beneath a matching shirt tightened, and he made himself start thinking again about the nonsexy but fun lessons he was about to give.
As he got more into training and the pups grew older, he would wear something resembling a K-9 police officer uniform to get them used to it. But at six months of age, they still had time to mature and learn the basics before more official training kicked in.
“See you soon, boy.” He patted his dog and gave him a good-sized treat, then walked out, shutting and locking the door behind him. He’d locked it before, but after last night it felt even more critical.
On his doorstep, he stretched his arms and body, looked up at the overcast sky and grinned at nothing and no one. He had awakened feeling good. Part of it was that he’d confronted Orrin last night, so just in case the ranch hand had something nefarious in mind he would be aware now that he was on Evan’s radar. If anything happened around here that shouldn’t, Evan would go to him first.
And had Orrin had anything to do with killing Corbin? Evan certainly hadn’t crossed him off the list, particularly since Amber hadn’t.
He even pasted a scowl on his face as he passed Orrin’s house and looked in that direction. Not that he expected the guy to be looking out, but, just in case, he wanted it clear he was watching him.
As soon as he turned away, that scowl became a smile. He was about to see Amber. His boss. But what a boss…
Revving up his pace, he soon found himself on the porch stairs of the main house. He knocked on the front door.
He couldn’t help smiling as he heard the barks, deep ones and shrill ones, of the canines inside. Apparently they considered themselves watchdogs. Sure, he could train that out of them, but sometimes it was a good thing to have the additional security.
His smile vanished as he thought of why that was potentially even more necessary here than other places.
The door opened. Amber appeared with Lola at her side. “Hi,” she said. “You’re right on time.” Her smile and nod changed his mood once more, though not entirely. She might be acknowledging him in a good way, but his mind remained on his concerns for his boss and
her mother.
And what had happened somewhere on this ranch to the man whose training position Evan had now taken.
“Good,” he said, following Amber into the house, with Lola now at his side. He patted the dog briefly, and Lola looked up into his face as if thanking him.
Amber wore a blue work shirt today, loose over her jeans, and it was decorated with small yellow flowers. He resisted an urge to stroke them…or her. He hoped she would just lead him to the room housing the young dogs so he could get Hal, the one he’d decided to train first that day.
Instead, she led him into the kitchen, where Sonya was loading things into the dishwasher beside the sink. “Good morning.” She stopped to face Evan. “Do we get to watch you today?”
“Of course. My dog students need to learn to obey whether there are people or other dogs around—although, today I want to work with them one at a time.”
“Great.” Sonya wiped her hands with a dish towel. She was dressed more casually than Evan had seen her previously, in a plain yellow T-shirt over jeans, and both her clothes and her demeanor appeared comfortable. “Which one first?”
“I think it’ll be—”
He was interrupted by the ringing of Amber’s cell phone, behind him. He turned instinctively. Looking at her mother, Amber mouthed Percy.
Evan wondered what the computer geek wanted, though it wasn’t any of his business. But that turned out to be partially wrong.
Amber left the room as she said hello, and Evan told Sonya that he intended to begin working with Hal. “Any of them would be fine, though, since I’ll have a session with each of them today.”
As he finished, Amber returned to the room. “I’d like you to join our conversation,” she said to Evan. Sitting at the kitchen table, she pushed the speaker button before holding out the phone.
“Er,” said the voice at the other end. “I—I was telling Amber I thought it would be a great thing for the K-9 Ranch website to have a section containing videos of some dog-training classes. Okay? Evan, are you there? She said she wanted to check with you.”
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