The Cowboy's Deadly Mission. Addison Fox

Belle’s skin, Tate knew his point remained true. If there was a problem with the hands at Reynolds Station, the two other ranches that dominated the county needed to know. They all had a silent agreement not to poach off each other, but a man had a right to move around and make his own living and the Vasquez and Crown families fished in the same employment pool as Tate, Ace and Hoyt did.

      Belle’s gaze swung to his, challenge sparking in that pretty blue color. “Oh?”

      “You’ll focus on the problem. Tell him how hard the police are working to manage the situation. You’ll likely even offer to drive out and visit their ranches, do a quick swing around the fences that line their properties.”

      Belle stared at him, confusion crinkling soft lines into her forehead. “What’s wrong with that?”

      “Nothing.”

      “So why does it sound like a mocking indictment of the Midnight Pass police force?”

      “I’d never mock such a superior institution.”

      The words hit their mark, just as he’d intended. Parry, thrust, jab, jab, jab. The strategy had worked for twenty years; why should he stop now?

      “Yet somehow you are.”

      “Don’t be so sensitive.”

      That jab was harder than the others and Tate was surprised to feel the kickback in his own stomach. Why did he always manage to take it a bit too far?

      “Then what’s your point?”

      “You’re waving at the problem with your badge. We’re a bit more subtle than that.”

      Belle’s hands flew to her hips, the fingers on her right hand resting comfortably against her service weapon. Too comfortably, he realized with a hard, solid punch to his stomach. Belle Granger was all cop as she stared at him. “Subtle?”

      “Sure. You think the badge is the deterrent.”

      “And you don’t?”

      “Not at all.”

      Of anything he could have said, it was that statement that proved just how far apart the two of them truly were.

      “If you think the police are ineffective, then what do you propose, Tate? Vigilante justice? You angling to become the law and order of the land?”

      “Bella—” Julio’s voice was quiet yet firm as he returned from the SUV, camera in hand, and Tate innately sensed the older man knew far more about Belle and Tate’s long-standing feud than he let on.

      For reasons he couldn’t name—even to himself—it bothered him that Belle might have confided their personal business to Julio and his voice became sharper than the roll of barbed wire he’d just cut. “All I want is to fix this. Crime’s at an all-time high in the Pass and now innocent people have drug runners roaming their land.”

      Tate had no interest in becoming a vigilante, but he did want the problems to stop. He and his brothers had struggled to bring the ranch back from the brink from their father’s illegal business practices that nearly shut them down. It had taken considerable hard work and a ton of sweat equity but they’d done it. Because he recognized the value of hard work, it burned him to think there were those whose “work” consisted of transporting a truck full of drugs that went on to ruin thousands of lives.

      “And we don’t want to fix it?” Belle’s retort shot back at him without a moment’s hesitation.

      Whether it was the stubborn pride that had fueled him his entire life or the small shot of pity he saw in Julio’s eyes, Tate had no idea. Or maybe he was beyond caring.

      “I don’t think you can fix it. Unless you’d prefer the more commonly accepted explanation.”

      “Which is?”

      “Most law-abiding people in town think the Midnight Pass police force couldn’t find justice with both hands and a flashlight.”

      * * *

      Belle held her tongue, even as her jaw nearly cramped with the effort. How dare he?

      The idea of the Reynolds brothers taking the law into their own hands was a stark reminder of just how far apart she and Tate remained on the subject of law enforcement. But it was Tate’s sheer disdain of the police force that had claws. Brutally sharp and far more lethal than she’d have expected, especially after all these years.

      He’d made no secret of the fact he found her ambition misguided, but she’d believed he would come around, especially once they’d given in to the feelings both had fought for so long. She’d traipsed right past the warning bells that clanged in her head, convinced if she could only make him understand how important being a cop was to her—how essential—they could find their way.

      Oh, how she’d believed that once.

      Until her world had come crashing down when Tate abruptly walked away.

      Even in the nearly ten years since, she’d not been able to fully understand his decision. She’d made no secret of her interest and intent to join the force. The law was her passion—anyone who’d known her for any length of time understood that.

      And Tate had known her better than most.

      Yet he’d still walked away.

      Even after all this time, that simple little fact hurt like a gaping wound. Would it ever heal?

      That question might linger, but she knew the answer in all its stark reality. So long as the two of them still called Midnight Pass home, there was little chance of fully putting Tate Reynolds out of her mind.

      Or her heart.

      And since it didn’t appear as if either of them were leaving anytime soon, there was nothing to be done for it. Fastening her emotional armor, Belle stood at her full height. Her heart might continue to do battle with her mind, but in this her mind would win.

      She would not back down.

      “Obviously you and your family are welcome to handle employment matters as you see fit. I will, however, be setting up this afternoon at the bunkhouse and I expect that every member of your staff will be available to talk to me. This is now an open investigation.”

      Before Tate could argue, Ace stepped in. “We will cooperate fully with the Midnight Pass police force. The staff will be there at the assigned time.”

      Julio had already drifted away to take his photos—probably afraid of stray bullets, Belle thought—and she turned to follow the older man. “Thank you, Ace.”

      Tate remained stubborn and stoic, his gaze flashing fire in the early morning sun.

      Since there wasn’t anything else to say, Belle headed over to join Julio. She diligently avoided looking back at the two men she’d known most of her life and instead focused on putting one foot in front of the other. And if her hands shook, well, they were clenched so hard at her sides there was no way anyone could see it.

      Damn that fool man and his vigilante justice and his piss-poor attitude about the police and his conjecture their town was no longer safe.

      Damn him.

      Belle unfisted her hand before she reached her mentor. Julio already saw too much and she refused to let her personal life—or lack thereof—cloud her ability to do her job. She was determined to be a brilliant cop. It was the only thing she’d ever wanted, a feeling that had only built as she watched her mother succumb to a lifetime of addiction.

      Which was the stubborn lie she’d told herself for years. If given the choice, there were actually two things she wanted. But Tate had taken that choice away from her.

      Julio had started with the first area she’d found, inside the fence line. He waved her over. “Bella. Come here.” The sudden urgency in his voice banished thoughts of her relationship with Tate.

      “What