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“Come on out. Now.”
    A slight male figure, dressed in jeans and a ragged T-shirt, stepped out of the empty stall next to the wheelbarrow. His stringy black hair hung to his shoulders.
    â€œWho the devil—” Beau began.
    Natalie touched his arm. “It’s all right. He’s one of Sky’s cousins from Oklahoma. He works here.”
    Beau hesitated, clearly suspicious. “Then why was he hiding?”
    â€œMaybe he was scared—or just shy. He’s only a boy.” Natalie gave the young man a friendly wave. “Hello, Lute. We were just checking the mare. Keep an eye on her, will you? Tell Sky if you see any change.”
    â€œSure.” Without raising his eyes, Lute picked up the shovel from beside the wheelbarrow and ambled back into the stall. The sound of scraping came from the shadows.
    â€œWe should go.” Beau pressed a hand to the small of her back.
    â€œYes, we should.” Natalie needed no urging. Their embrace had been innocent enough, but neither of them relished the idea that they’d been observed.
    The door where they’d entered earlier had swung shut. Reaching past her, Beau shoved it open. Bright afternoon sunlight spilled into the barn, dazzling her eyes. Only as her vision cleared did she see the looming shape of a man in front of her.
    â€œI’ve been looking all over hell for you, Natalie,” Slade growled. “Care to tell me what you two were doing in there?”

CHAPTER 2
    B eau curbed the impulse to push forward and confront the man. But he damn well didn’t like the way Slade Haskell was talking to his wife; still, any interference on his part would only make things worse for Natalie.
    â€œI figured you’d be here when I got home early and didn’t find you.” Slade’s eyes were glittering slits. Blond, with close-clipped hair; blunt, handsome features; and a thickening belly, he was dressed in jeans and a grease-stained work shirt with H ASKELL T RUCKING stamped on the chest pocket. “Spotted your SUV out front, but when I went in the house, none of those folks had seen you. How the hell do you think that made me look—a man who can’t keep track of his own wife?”
    â€œThat’s enough, Slade.” Natalie’s voice was low and taut. “I planned on going into the house, but first I needed to check on a mare.”
    â€œAnd this hotshot government man just happened to wander in? Checking on a mare, my aunt Nelly’s ass!” Reaching out, he plucked a piece of straw from Natalie’s hair. His gaze burned into Beau like a red-hot poker. “She’s my wife now, Tyler. You’ve got no business fooling around with her! I ought to knock you down and kick your damned teeth in!”
    â€œYou’ve got the wrong idea, friend.” Beau spoke with great restraint. “Give your wife some credit. She’s a good woman. I simply wanted to say hello to her and good-bye, since I’ll be leaving tomorrow.”
    â€œWell you can say good-bye here and now!” Slade turned his fury on Natalie. “Back in high school, everybody knew you were doing it with him. If I find out you were messing around with him again—”
    â€œStop it, Slade!” Natalie exploded. “Don’t be an idiot! We weren’t even alone! Lute was there the whole time, cleaning out the stalls! If you don’t believe me, go in and ask him.”
    Beau saw the big man pause, as if hesitant to call his wife’s bluff. Then Slade took a firm grip on her elbow. “Come on, we’re going to the house to say hello to all those fine folks together.”
    â€œNot now.” She twisted away from him. “We both need some time to cool down. I’m going to my car. I’ll see you at home.”
    â€œNo, you don’t.” His big fist locked around her arm again. “They saw me arrive alone. I want them to see that you’re with me