Wind River Wrangler (Wind River Valley #1)(72)

Nodding, Shiloh reluctantly allowed Roan to ease away. “That sounds good,” she said, wiping her eyes, yawning.

Roan gave her a tender smile. Shiloh looked hauntingly fragile when waking up. How Roan ached for the time that Shiloh would be beside him in the mornings, and he could watch her pull from the arms of sleep and open her eyes to see him.

Getting a hold of himself, Roan led her over to the table and pulled out a chair for her to sit upon. He had a lot of things on his mind, chief among them to talk to Maud and Steve this morning.

*

Maud sat in her office chair, Steve perched on the corner of her desk, listening to Roan. The morning was young and they’d just opened up the office when he stepped in to ask them for their help.

“That’s it,” Roan said, standing, hands on his hips, the door closed behind him so no one could accidentally come in and hear them discussing the stalker issue and Shiloh.

Maud scowled and sat up. She twirled her baseball cap around on her desk, lips puckered in thought. “Okay, no problem getting that list of people who came for the Wildlife Drive from yesterday. If Shiloh recognizes a name, that’s easy enough to show to Sarah Carter over at the sheriff’s department.”

Steve grimaced. He looked over at Maud. “Is Shiloh given to drama? Is she the kind of gal who makes up things?”

Maud considered his question. “No. Remember? I’d known Shiloh’s mother, Isabella, for many years before she was murdered. I traveled back and stayed with them at their New York apartment. And I watched Shiloh grow up. She was always a quiet child, intense, but responsible. She wasn’t one of these flighty little girls who was overemotional, crying or begging to be the center of attention.” Shaking her head, Maud muttered, “No, I’m inclined to agree with Roan that when Shiloh had that threat reaction yesterday, her stalker was here among us. A wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

Steve nodded. “Okay. I have to rely on you because I don’t know her that well.” He rubbed his hand down his Levi’s, scowling. Looking up, he asked Roan, “What if she doesn’t recognize any of the names? That group was the only outsiders on the ranch yesterday. We have another group coming in”—he looked at his watch—“in two hours.”

“With your permission, I’ll ask Sarah about it. Explain what happened. Get her take on it. Her suggestions.”

“That’s good,” Maud said, sitting up, folding her hands on her desk. “I darn well don’t like the idea of a stalker here on the Wind River Ranch. That potentially puts everyone, all our overnight guests and our employees, at risk. What if he’s carrying a rifle? Hiding a pistol? Starts shooting at everyone?”

Steve stood up. “That was my thought.” He glanced at Roan. “Take the list over to Shiloh and let’s get this ball rolling. And if she doesn’t recognize any of the names, I think BOTH of you should go see Sarah at the sheriff’s department. Shiloh needs to be kept in the circle on this too.”

“Agreed,” Roan said. He looked at Maud.

“How is Shiloh holding up?” Maud asked.

“Scared,” Roan admitted. “Upset because her webmistress accidentally put her photos and captions on her Facebook page.”

Maud stood up. “I’d be scared spitless, too. That poor woman was a virtual prisoner for six months in her apartment before she got out here, Roan.”

“I know. She told me about it.”

Maud glanced over at her husband. “Steve, you in agreement that from here on out, until Sarah can nab this stalker, that we need to take Roan off the wrangling team? He needs to be nearby, keeping an eye on Shiloh. A kind of bodyguard.”

“Sure, it’s only wise. We don’t know who this man is. You okay with that, Roan?”

Shrugging, Roan said, “Sure. I can be useful in the main ranch area. I can still work and do things that need to be done. If Shiloh calls me on her cell, I can be wherever she’s at in a minute or less. The employee house isn’t that far from the barn and corral areas.”

“Right,” Steve said, his face showing his tension and concern. “Okay, so we’ll shift some wranglers around this morning. I’ll have John redo the weekly schedule. Roan, you talk to Jake, the foreman, and he’ll get you working in this main ranch area, per my request. Also, fill him in. We’ll get everyone gathered in one of the barns later, after you’ve seen Sarah about this situation. The more info we can give everyone, the safer Shiloh will be here on the ranch.”

Roan nodded. Jake Murdoch was the ranch foreman, an ex-Marine, and he got along well with his gruff boss. “Will do.”

“Shiloh usually stays at the house writing,” Maud told them. “And when she breaks from the writing, she comes over here and usually helps me or John at the office. Roan, do you think she should do that? Or should she remain out of sight. Hidden?”

Grimacing, Roan said, “Shiloh hates being cooped up. She’s restless by nature.”

“How about this?” Steve said. “This outside group is coming in two hours from now for a one-hour loop tour. They are the only strangers to come and go on our ranch property today. Maybe Shiloh could remain in the employee house for that hour? Do you think she’d go along with it, Maud?”

Maud nodded and set her cap on her black hair streaked with silver. “Let me go over and talk with Shiloh. Sometimes women just need to sit down and gab. She’ll get it.” Glancing at Roan, she said, “I’ll take that list over to her too. And when I’m done, I’ll bring it back here. In the meantime, Roan, get on the phone to Sarah and tell her what’s going on. Tell her you need an appointment for yourself and Shiloh ASAP. I’ll drop in and see her later this afternoon and add anything you two didn’t. Hopefully, she’ll have time to see you this afternoon. And keep us updated as things happen.”