Agitation continued to tick through Aaron’s blood, running hot and fast, while he paced outside Pleasant Glen’s own mental health clinic the next morning. Dammit, where was Dec? The clinic was supposed to open in fifteen minutes. His frantic pulse kept the time.

Saddleback’s opened at eleven, and he was working the early shift. He had shit to do before he had to clock in. Namely, taking the information he was determined to get out of Dec and figuring out exactly what to do next.

His fingers twitched. His bottom lip longed for the comforting weight of a wad of tobacco. He’d given it up and started back a half-dozen times. Natalie frequently commented on how much she hated the practice. It was time to quit for good.

Opening his mouth wide, trying to pop the tension out of his jaw, Aaron continued stirring the gravel between his truck and the front door with his work boots. He checked his watch again and decided to go on with the next item on his list.

Bringing his cell phone to his ear, he kept watch on the empty parking lot and the passing car on the single road that ran through Pleasant Glen.

“Triple A. ’Bout damn time I heard from you. To what do I owe the honor, Sarg?”

A broad grin spread across Aaron’s features against his will. “I’m not your sergeant anymore, and sorry, I should’ve come out there last week. Just been busy lately.”

“How goes the mixing of drinks in that half-a-map-dot town?”

“Lay off the Glen, T. You can’t judge the whole place on the one crazy-ass cowgirl you picked up last time you were out here.”

“Dude, she was coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs. Still texts me every few weeks wanting to know the status of our non-relationship.”

“I told you not to take her home. You didn’t listen.”

“Yeah, well, I’m listening now, and you sound determined to either fix something or fuck it up. How can I help?”

Aaron knew he would never deserve the kind of brotherhood he had with T-Byrd or Voodoo or any of the remaining members of his team. Something about walking slowly straight through hell together cemented the men who’d survived it. “How’s business? You still doing your thing?”

“I’m offended.”

“Why? There cannot possibly be that many people in Lincoln who hire four dim-witted, ex-army show-offs to figure out if their wife is cheating on them.”

“The agency does more than track down cheating spouses, and you know it. Last four jobs we’ve taken were security details. Two of ’em for gorgeous women who needed to be kept safe.”

“Oh, I bet you did a whole helluva lot more than keep them safe.”

There was far too much pride in T-Byrd’s laughter. “Can’t discuss cases outside the agency. However, my job offer still stands.”

“No thanks. I have no interest in any job that requires me to wear my name on a chain or constantly be looking over my shoulder for a living ever again, but I do need to know where someone is.”

“You got a name?”

“Not yet.”

“Male, female?”

“Male.”

“Description?”

“I doubt I get more than a name, but I’ll have it soon.”

“Even I’m not that good, Triple A, and I’m the best.”

“I’ll have you a name this afternoon. What else do you need?”

“When I find this guy what are you going to do to him?”

“Depends on what I find out about him.”

“Interesting.”

“How long will this take?”

“To make sure we have the right person, I’m going to need more than a name. You have a last known whereabouts?” T quizzed.

“Where the hell did you learn to talk like a cop?”

“Here, moron.”

“I’ll get you all the information I can, but it may take me a little time if my first source isn’t willing.”

“You never had trouble getting people to talk. You always knew how to apply just the right amount of pressure, if memory serves. That’s yet another reason I want to hire you.”

“Yeah, well this is different.”

“Different how?”

The roar of Dec’s Harley announced his arrival. “Gotta go.”

“That kind of different then.”

“Bye, T.”

“Later.”

“’Bout damn time,” Aaron spat under his breath as Dec slung his leg over the bike.

“Holly will be terribly pleased you’re here early this morning.” Dec chuckled as he unlocked the front door.

“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”

“Because I’m assuming you’re here to discuss Natalie, which will delight my wife.”

“Yeah, her and a few other things.”

“Am I allowed a mere moment to put my things up and pull your file or are we going to have this session in the waiting room?” The smirk on the doc’s face fed the ire in Aaron’s blood.

Narrowing his eyes, he saw no reason not to be more than forthright. He always had been before. “Last night, when I dropped her off, she worked up the courage to kiss me on the cheek. That was it. I nearly came in my shorts.”

“You know, I married the woman who has that effect on me.”

“You and I both know no one in their right mind wants to be married to me, but trust me when I say, I’m more than anxious to talk to you. We can do it wherever you want, but we’re talking now.”

“Understood.” After stowing a few files, Dec opened his office door and gestured Aaron inside.

Too antsy to sit, Aaron avoided his normal spot on the couch and continued to pace. “Tell me exactly what happened to her when she was a little girl. I know you know.” Not generally the best way to gain actionable intelligence, but he had a plan. Keeping his eyes trained on Dec he watched every twitch the doctor made. Three to five that was all it took. He’d have to come up with his next move on the fly, but what he found out in the next three to five seconds would tell him exactly which way to go.

“Have a seat, Aaron.”

A non-answer always held far more information than the informant intended. Switching to peripheral questions was the safest move. He’d get back to his goal when he had Dec more distracted.

“Fuck. So, it’s that bad then?” Every muscle in both his arms and chest tensed in anticipation. He took his seat. If that was the prerequisite for figuring out who’d hurt Natalie, he’d deal.

“I didn’t say that and I cannot tell you what happened to Natalie.”

“Yeah, I get that. I just can’t stand to think that someone who hurt her is out there possibly hurting other people.” He leaned in driving home his point. Concern he hadn’t had to force perforated his tone. Guilt was always the easiest emotion to manipulate in an informant.

“Aaron, if you’ll sit back and look at the degrees hanging behind my desk you might remember that I am a psychologist. Now, I doubt I have even half the training you do in reading people and gaining information, but I do know what you’re after. If you want to know what happened to Natalie, she’s going to have to be the one who tells you, just like I would never tell her the things you and I have discussed.”

Undeterred, Aaron shifted in his seat, relaxed his shoulders, and casually crossed his legs. He needed Dec to be more comfortable with him. “So, Natalie has talked to you as a patient?”

“I’m going to ask that you stop making assumptions now.”

“I’m not assuming anything. Seems to me we’re both on the same team of keeping Natalie safe. You’d go crazy if someone had hurt Holly when she was barely more than a baby.” Feed them a lie and let them correct you. Almost always worked, psych degrees or not.

“She was a few years older than a baby,” Dec slipped. “And yes, I suppose I would. I get where you’re coming from.”

Standing in her pajama pants, her favorite torn T-shirt that informed everyone to Buck Off, and an old pair of Luke’s rubber boots, Natalie dumped another bucket of water from the lake into the stock tank. Sundance whinnied her approval. “There you go, girl.” Natalie ran her hand down her horse’s neck.

“Nice of you to dress for work, Nat,” her brother Austin chuckled when he entered the paddock.

“Shut up, Austin. I’m tired.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet since Aaron Weber’s truck didn’t drive through the gates ’til midnight,” Luke tried for a friendly tenor but missed the mark.

“Why is it all of you feel the need to keep tabs on where I am and who I’m with all the time?” Focusing on Sundance, she refused to watch the hesitant glance her brothers always shared when she asked something like that. She already knew the reason they were more protective of her than they’d ever been with Holly.

“Because you’re our baby sister. It’s our job to look after you,” Grant huffed as he slung his saddle off of the shelf in the barn.

“I thought you liked Aaron,” Natalie tried a different angle to get her brothers off her back. It had taken every ounce of courage she’d ever hoped to have to survive that conversation in Aaron’s truck. The last thing she needed was her stupid brothers trying to scare him off now.

“I like him just fine as a bartender and as a friend, not so sure I like the idea of him as your boyfriend,” Austin explained.

“He is not my boyfriend, and even if he was what business is it of yours?”

“You not hearing real well this mornin’ or something, sis? It’s our business ’cause we’re your brothers,” Grant came right back.

“You know I kinda thought by the time you all was married and making babies of your own that I wouldn’t have to say this, but leave your sister alone and get. We got a hundred and fifty pairs to work.” Natalie’s father, Ev, came to her rescue. An automatic smile spread the width of her face.

“Thank you, Daddy.” She couldn’t resist sticking her tongue out at her brothers even if she was entirely too old to do such things.

“Brat,” Austin taunted just before he had her in a headlock. His fist pressed to her scalp, giving her a noogie.

“Austin!” With a quick twist of her body she dug her shoulder blade into her brother’s abs.

“Did I not tell you to leave her be?” Ev ordered again.

When Austin finally released her, Natalie stumbled forward and almost collided with their cousin, Brock. Panic shot through her veins. She felt the blood drain from her cheeks. When he reached his hands out to steady her, she leapt out of his reach. Thankful Brock didn’t seem to notice, Natalie went through the taxing mental process she’d developed for just such an occasion.

“What are you all doing to her now?” Brock shook his head.

“We’re just showing her our brotherly love,” Grant teased.

“Poor kid.” Brock laughed as he pulled on a pair of work gloves.

“Brock we’re working your calves first so we’re heading that way as soon as the horses are saddled and loaded. You all get on. I’ll be right behind you.” Ev gave the day’s orders.

“Hope’s making lunch for everyone. She’ll bring it out wherever we’re working,” Brock added.

“Baby girl, you planning on working this mornin’ or are you goin’ back to bed?” Concern perforated her father’s inquiry.

“Unbelievable,” Austin shook his head. “You imagine what he’d say if any of us showed up down here in skivvies?”

“She worked two-hundred pairs yesterday, son, and I’d throw your sorry ass in the lake if you showed up down here in your drawers ’cause you’d clearly need to be sobered up.”

Her brothers all rolled their eyes. “She didn’t work ’em all by herself,” Luke pointed out.

“Good Lord, I’m workin’ today. When have I ever not worked? I just wanted to brush Sundance and give her some oats before we started, since I know you all didn’t do it last night when you put her up.”

“That horse is almost as spoiled as you are.” Austin guided his horse out of the barn.

“Come on, baby girl, I’ll walk you back home so you can change.” Her father’s offer struck the tone of an order.

“Fine,” Natalie sighed.

They hadn’t made it fifty paces outside the paddock before her father started in.

“You and Aaron Weber dating again?”

“It’s been less than seven hours since we decided that. How the hell did you hear about it so fast?”

“A daddy knows. You didn’t throw your brother on the ground when he had you in a headlock so I figured you were in a good mood about something, and I saw Aaron’s truck drive by on the way to your house last night.”

“Does anyone on this ranch ever sleep?”

“I don’t sleep ’til I know all of my young-uns are safe and sound on my ranch.”

“He said he’d like for us to go out a few places again, so I guess we are.”

“Seems to me you either are or you’re not. I don’t much like the idea that you’re only dating him because that’s what he wants.”

“I want that, too. And when have I ever done anything I didn’t want to do?”

Ev’s soothing chuckle eased the irritation and fear Brock’s appearance in the barn had brought on. “Honey, no one, and most certainly not me, has ever doubted your ability to be stubborn when that’s what you set your mind to do. I just don’t know much about the bartender. You didn’t date him too long last time.”

“Well,” Natalie filled her lungs with the fresh scent of hay, manure, and sunshine. A broad grin formed on her face. “That’s why we’re trying it again, maybe.”

“What’s he got all them tattoos for?”

“Daddy.”

“You’re my little girl. I got a right to ask that.”

“No, you don’t.”

“He didn’t get all them in prison did he?”

“Dad.”

“I’ll go ask him if you don’t answer me, Natalie Camden.”

Making no effort to hide her eye roll, she shook her head. “I’m fairly certain he’s never been to prison.”

“So, you ain’t real sure?”

“I’m going to find Mama.”

“No, now don’t do that. You ain’t gonna get any are ya?”

“And what if I did?”

“I don’t know why you young-uns want to do that to yourselves.”

“Probably because it bugs you all so much.”

“Are you trying that reverse psychology on me? I’m pretty sure that’s supposed to work the other way around.”

“You stopped asking me about Aaron’s tattoos, so I’d say it worked just fine. I’ll be out as soon as I change.” As soon as her house came into view, Natalie picked up the pace.

“You ain’t gotta work out there if you don’t want to.” Her father made the customary offer he’d been making her for the past several years.

“I’m fine, Daddy. I am always fine.”