by Sarah Barrie
‘Get over it,’ he murmured playfully. ‘Now…how can I help?’
At eight-thirty, when her class was called, Jordan was ready. Mentally crossing everything, she paraded the bull around the ring and stood him up for inspection. She took a look at the competition and felt confident, and was unsurprised but relieved when the first place ribbon was awarded to them. She was more nervous when it came time for the championship class, but they took it out, along, eventually, with the Supreme Exhibit award. Now she was ecstatic — it boded well for a good price on him.
Reid met her just outside the ring. ‘Congratulations.’
‘Thank you,’ she replied happily. ‘Phase one complete. Now he’s just got to sell.’
‘You sure you want him to?’
‘I’ve got his daddy — and several of his babies on the way. This boy is my mortgage payment. I’ll just go put him away.’
When she returned, Reid was talking to Matt and Madi, seemingly enjoying a spur-of-the-moment lesson he was receiving on cattle conformation. He seemed interested, relaxed, and casually dressed in jeans and a nice shirt — with his new hat on his head — he looked very much at home among the locals. With a wide, happy grin, she headed towards them.
‘Jordan! Wait up.’ Brayden Harris, the judge from her class, loped towards her.
‘Hi! Glad you liked my bull, it should help me sell him tomorrow.’
‘He’s impressive. I’m thinking of putting in a bid or two myself. I just thought you should know…’ The discomfort was written all over his face. ‘Look, I’ve told everyone I’ve spoken to differently but…’
‘Yes…? But what?’
Brayden pulled off his hat and wiped his arm across his brow. ‘There’s a bit of a rumour going round that your bull isn’t, well… that he’s not real fertile.’
‘He’s not…what else?’ she asked, sensing more.
‘That you’ve buffed him up on drugs to hide a hind leg problem.’
Jordan just stared at him while she processed the information. ‘You’re saying someone is telling everyone that my bull doesn’t work?’
‘Pretty much, yeah.’
‘Who?’ she demanded, already knowing the answer.
‘Look, I was concerned enough to trace it back — I don’t like people questioning my judging any more than you obviously like this. Everyone that’s heard the whisper seems to believe someone else heard it from Hal Carter.’
She closed her eyes against the rock-hard wall of fury that slammed into her. ‘Thanks Brayden.’ Now where the hell is Hal?
Reid heard someone call out to Jordan and watched as the judge from her class jogged across to speak to her. ‘I wonder what he wants,’ he commented casually.
‘Probably chatting her up,’ Matt stirred, but as the conversation continued, it was very quickly obvious that something was wrong.
‘Something’s up. I’m heading over.’
‘Wait,’ Madi replied, closely following the scene unfolding in front of them. ‘I don’t think it’s Brayden she’s upset with. Uh-oh, look — she’s after someone.’ Jordan’s face was thunderous as she took off across the judging lawns.
‘Let’s go,’ Reid ordered with a sense of urgency.
‘Hell yeah,’ Matt agreed enthusiastically. ‘No one wants to miss a Jordan Windcroft hissy.’
‘That’s not funny,’ Reid replied, but a hint of a grin appeared on his face all the same.
‘Laugh away,’ Madi invited, ‘but that’s Hal Carter she’s heading at like a freight train.’
‘Okay, shit — move!’ Reid sidestepped Madi and took off at a run.
Jordan spotted Hal sitting ringside watching a class in the next arena and marched straight past Joel and Carol, who were waiting patiently with a couple of young heifers. Seeing the look on her face and her general direction, Joel was on his feet in under a second.
‘Jordan!’ Reid called out for the third time, and for the third time, she ignored him.
‘What’s going on?’ Joel puffed.
‘Don’t know,’ Matt replied, catching up and grinning from ear to ear, ‘but we’re about to find out.’
Jordan cut through the class in the ring in front of her, eyes pinned solidly on Hal. The expression on his face, Reid thought, would be comical in any other situation but, assuming Jordan wasn’t about to do something outstandingly stupid, he’d appreciate that later.
Hal saw her coming and stood up as those around him moved. Too late, Reid figured out what she had in mind.
Jordan launched.
Her right hook landed him hard across the jaw and her knuckles exploded. She ignored the pain as Reid rushed forward and pulled her back.
‘Jordan, what are you doing?’
‘You bastard,’ she yelled at Hal, ignoring Reid. ‘You low-life, rumour-starting, cock-sucking, son-of-a-bitch!’
Both rings stopped and spectators and competitors alike froze, some shocked, others laughing and muttering.
Hal swiped at his mouth. ‘I want her arrested!’
‘My bull has more fertility and mobility on a hair in his butt than you do in your jeans you —’
‘Watch it, Jordan!’ Hal snapped.
‘Back off Hal,’ Reid warned when Hal took a step closer.
‘She assaulted me. I want her arrested!’
‘Fine,’ Jordan replied loudly, ‘then get Harry to arrest him for slander, fraud, poisoning my cattle, wrecking my fences, killing my steers and stalking me!’
The gossiping around them hushed, then broke out louder than before. Someone called out from across the ring, ‘You tell him, Jordy!’ A few more comments flew by them.
‘Let’s take this outside, Hal,’ Reid ordered and literally handed Jordan to Joel. ‘You stay here.’
‘I’m telling you,’ Hal Carter repeated as they exited the arena, ‘I want her charged!’
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea,’ he told him calmly, fighting the urge to deck him himself.
‘I insist —’
‘Because,’ Reid continued, ‘that will raise questions. Lots of questions — like why the tread of the trail bikes that ran Jordan’s cattle into the national park and ultimately killed a couple match those belonging to your men. Like why a truck you hired from Petersons dropped poisonous weed off in Jordan’s paddocks for her sale steers to eat. Like why, it seems, you’re spreading false and slanderous accusations around about Jordan and her cattle. Yes, you could have Jordan arrested, but you’ll end up sitting in a cell next to her, understand?’
Hal sent him a wary look. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘No? Let me make this simple. Ready? If you come anywhere near Jordan or her animals again — if anything happens to them — bad things will happen to you. Got it?’
Letting his threat hang in the air, Reid marched back inside to check on Jordan.
She was sitting, head down, flanked by Joel and Matt. When Joel saw him, he stood and approached. ‘I’ve got to tend to these cattle, My class is next up.’
‘No problem. Thanks Joel.’
‘Thank you. Where’s Hal?’
‘He won’t be pressing charges, but I’ve had to use some of my arsenal to shut him up. I’m going to talk to Jordan, then I’ll have to head off a bit early.’
Joel nodded slowly. ‘Just…can you fill her in? It might help with this latest development.’
‘I shouldn’t…’ And why was he even considering it? He’d never risked an investigation this much in his entire career.
Jordan could hear them muttering but wasn’t paying attention. Had Hal finally won? Had he put enough doubt in people’s minds to stop them bidding? She could make a formal complaint to the board, maybe even have an announcement made as to the soundness of her bull. She’d need to get a vet check done. There was no time for a fertility test.
What if he didn’t sell?
Reid saw Jordan cupping one hand in the other and he presumed she’d hurt herself landing that beauty on Car
ter. Sometimes she completely freaked him out, although he couldn’t help but admire her spirit. She was braver than most men he knew. Her language could do with some work, but he already knew that, too. He grinned to himself. He loved everything about her. But a lot rode on the next few minutes…on the next couple of days. He couldn’t stop the ball rolling now — wouldn’t if he could. It was time to clear the air and close his case.
‘Jordan, let’s get you some ice.’
With a nod, Jordan got up and followed him. Like a lamb, Reid thought and almost smirked, knowing better. He began to worry though, when she kept two steps behind him and her gaze remained focused on the ground ahead of her.
‘You alright?’ he asked, pausing, and saw her nod in response. When they’d made it to the office and first aid tent Reid organised an ice pack and handed it to her.
Taking it, Jordan turned and headed back toward her cabin. She’d insist with the board that the bull be swabbed — who was going to spend the sort of money she needed on a suspicious bull? Everything rode on reputation. She was counting on it. But would hers hold up?
‘Jordan, wait.’ She stopped as commanded, waited for him to catch up then continued. ‘Jordan! I’m getting damn sick of chasing after you today and being ignored!’ As they reached her cabin, Reid’s hand on her arm held her up again.
‘Sorry?’ she asked, distracted.
‘Sorry for what exactly?’ Reid asked quietly, opening the door and moving inside with her. ‘Storming off in a huff and ignoring my repeated attempts to speak to you before throwing yourself hell-for-leather at Hal Carter? Sorry for the incredibly unladylike verbal tirade you unleashed in front of the poor unsuspecting public? Maybe you could apologise for putting me in a situation where I had to all but blow my cover and use what I had on Hal to stop him from having you arrested for assault?’
‘What? What cover?’ she asked, confused. ‘What do you mean “cover”?’ she repeated more strongly.
With a heavy sigh, he sat down beside her. ‘Jordan, I realise this is the worst possible time for you to have to deal with something else, but —’
‘You are a cop!
‘Yes.’
‘I knew it,’ she whispered, almost to herself as she pulled away. She frowned. ‘I knew something wasn’t right but I let myself believe I was wrong. And you pretended to be a probation officer…?’
‘To investigate a drug manufacturing outfit.’
‘You thought I was involved.’
‘It was one line of enquiry.’ He took her face in his hands. ‘I’m sorry Jordan. I’m sorry I had to lie to you.’
‘Are you?’ Needing space, she moved a few steps away. ‘Was sleeping with me part of your investigation?’
‘Jordan!’
‘Is that an unfair question?’ She rubbed a hand over her forehead in an attempt to think it through.
‘My feelings for you have nothing to do with this case.’
She laughed at that, a hollow sound that didn’t quite come off. ‘Actually, I think this explains a lot of the feelings you’ve had for me. I don’t really know you at all, do I?’
‘I disagree. On several levels.’
‘Is Reid even your real name?’
‘Yeah, only Tallon’s assumed, I’m Detective Reid Easton. It’s still me, Jordan. I’m telling you this now because I want you to understand why I have to leave, and to let you know that one way or another I’m going to make sure Hal pays for what he’s done. In the meantime, I need you to stay close to Joel and if you see Hal or his men, stay right away from them.’
There was a dullness in her eyes he didn’t like, but she nodded. ‘Whatever you say, Detective.’
He stepped in and took her arms again, but she was stiff, unyielding. ‘I want you to promise me.’
‘Sure, whatever.’
‘Jordan — damn it.’ He saw the tears in her eyes even as his mobile alerted him he had a message and he swore, dug it out of his pocket, read the text from Brett. ‘I’m sorry, I have to go.’ In spite of his words, he hesitated. ‘I don’t want to leave you upset like this, but I have to go get Hal. He knows I’m on to him.’
Jordan nodded again, too unsure of her feelings to talk to him yet. But as he pulled away, she began to panic. ‘Reid, Beau isn’t the first of Hal’s men to go missing or turn up dead.’
His hand caressed her cheek, swiped at a stray tear that escaped. ‘I know.’
She pushed her hand through her hair, hurt and concern both pulling at her. ‘Be careful.’
‘I’ll do what I can.’ His expression turned to a plea. ‘Stay out of trouble.’
Jordan attempted to smile back. ‘I’ll do what I can.’
Reid hated leaving things like that, but he had to call Brett — he couldn’t risk letting Hal slip through his fingers now. Brett answered on the first ring.
‘About time. Lots of movement, lots of excitement out here. You scare Carter?’
‘Why?’
‘You’re going to want to get the team out here before the whole shop shuts. Everything’s being packed up.’
‘I’m on it.’ Reid hung up, made a call to Tony and put the wheels in motion.
The team was less than ten minutes behind Reid when he pulled up just short of Hal’s property. From here he could see the expensive four-wheel drive in his driveway but there was no sign of life. Quietly and carefully, he headed for an open shed. He’d been right. Voices carried across the yard as he crept toward them.
‘Move it, Brett! Stop stuffing around.’
‘Almost done.’
‘Gary, take the old road, stay out of town. Both of you keep your eyes open. Tell them we’re lying low until I get this sorted. And whatever you do, don’t fuck this up.’
Reid watched as the last of the packages were loaded onto the truck, then waited until the truck rolled out of the driveway. Then he gave his team the all-clear and followed Hal and Jonno into another shed that he discovered was the lab.
They were throwing things in boxes, taking down everything piece by piece. He leaned against the doorway, waited to be noticed. He couldn’t resist having a moment with them before the team crashed the joint. Jonno turned, spotted him, swore. Hal spun and froze.
‘Afternoon,’ Reid greeted casually. ‘Some lab you’ve got here.’
Hal Carter snarled at Reid. ‘What do you want, Tallon?’
‘Maybe we weren’t introduced properly. Detective Reid Easton, Drug Squad,’ he informed him quietly. When Hal just continued to stare, he continued. ‘Who are you supplying?’
Hal took a few steps back, obviously shaken. ‘If I give you a name I may as well be dead.’
‘That can be arranged.’
‘You don’t know who you’re dealing with!’
As Hal spoke, Reid caught Jonno reaching for something. Eyes never leaving Hal’s, Reid drew his weapon on him. ‘Don’t do it, Jonno. I will shoot you.’ Jonno dropped his handgun and raised his hands.
‘I don’t know who they are!’ Hal spluttered.
‘Guess you’re no further use to me then. And I’ve been looking for an excuse to pay you back for the trouble you’ve been causing Jordan.’ He turned his gun on Hal.
‘The little cow should just be happy she’s still breathing!’
‘Oh? Were you thinking about killing her the way you threatened to kill Madi and Carol Tanner?’
‘I’m not a murderer!’
‘No…you usually get someone else to do all your dirty work for you, don’t you, Hal? But this is on you. Who are you supplying?’
‘I just deliver the stuff to a pick-up point just outside the city — a warehouse.’
The sound of tyres crunching on the gravel outside caught their attention. His team had arrived. Thirty seconds later, five armed men appeared behind him.
‘I’m going to leave you with my friends. You’re going to tell them everything you know and maybe, just maybe, if we get who we’re after we might consider a deal. Your boys talk first, you miss your
opportunity.’
‘I just work for him,’ Jonno stuttered as he was cuffed. ‘You’ll let me go? If I talk?’
‘Shut up, you idiot!’ Hal snapped.
Reid chuckled. Sometimes it was just too easy.
It almost seemed an anti-climax after the lead-up, the worry. The drop was made, Brett planted the tracking device on the pickup van and Gary was arrested back at Hal’s.
A few hours later, they were all back in the city, and in his office, Reid restlessly paced up and down, impatient to get into the interrogation room. Due to some fast talking from Hal’s lawyer, he couldn’t talk to him tonight, but he was about to put in some serious time with Gary.
‘Ever heard the one about wearing a hole in the carpet?’
‘Tony, yeah. I’m looking forward to this one.’
‘I’m sitting in.’
‘Be my guest. We ready?’
‘After you.’
On their way down the hall, Reid’s phone alerted him he had a text. Jordan had sent him three question marks and an exclamation point. He grinned to himself and it was amusement mixed with relief; she had obviously, at least to some degree, forgiven him. He pressed some keys. He wouldn’t make it back to the showground tonight and he didn’t have the time or privacy to talk to her.
ALL GOOD. HAL IN CUSTODY. GOODNIGHT PRINCESS.
Jordan leapt on the phone when the message came through, read the text but didn’t quite believe it. He’d got him? As simple as that? She’d spent two hours being mad, being hurt, worked her way gradually around to understanding. It took another couple of hours but she’d eventually made it all the way around to figuring out that he not only shouldn’t have told her, but that he’d risked his operation several times to help her with Hal.
Reid had come here with a job to do. After what she’d been caught with after the accident, it had made sense she’d be a suspect. Now she wasn’t. And she was in love with him. She wasn’t going to throw that away, not while she was only just discovering it. And now he’d caught Hal. Yeah, she’d been right about him, and as she got over herself, she realised that who he was was pretty great. Relieved and excited, she took off to find Joel.