Familiar Showdown. Caroline Burnes

man who’s going to gut you like a dead animal if you don’t clear off that ranch and mind your own business.”

      Instead of answering, Johnny ended the call. Stephanie had recovered, and he saw spots of anger in her cheeks.

      “That bastard,” she said.

      “Who was it?”

      “It doesn’t matter.” She started to turn away, but Johnny grasped her shoulders.

      “Who was it?” Johnny insisted.

      “Let me go.” Stephanie’s eyes flashed danger.

      Johnny held her firmly. “What did he say?”

      She struggled for a moment before she stopped. When she met his gaze, her eyes were hard as flint. “He said he was watching me.”

      Johnny kept his features bland, just as he’d been trained. “Did he say anything else?”

      She shook her head. “That was enough. And that tactic won’t work on me. It’ll be a cold day in hell before Rupert Casper gets the better of me with a threatening phone call.”

      For a moment Johnny was stunned. “Rupert Casper?”

      “That’s who was on the phone. Who else would call here and say he’s watching me, like he’s some kind of killer waiting for an opportunity to strike?” Stephanie clattered two plates onto the table. “Well, he can’t frighten me with that foolishness.”

      Johnny opened the two beers, taking his time. “You really think that was Casper?”

      She got flatware from a drawer and finished the table settings. “Who else? It just shows what kind of bully he is.”

      “Why would he do that?” Johnny asked.

      “Because he’s gone back to his ranch and sulked about Black Jack. He realized that he made himself look like a fool. Now he’s going to make me pay because I didn’t let him kill the horse.” She motioned Johnny into a chair as she put the food on the table. “Did he say anything to you?”

      Johnny hesitated. Now was the time to come clean, to tell Stephanie everything. He didn’t for a minute believe the man on the other end of the telephone was Rupert Casper. Not a chance. The caller was someone far more lethal, and by not telling Stephanie, he put her at risk. But ignorance of the events unfolding around her might also be her only way to stay safe. “No, not a word.”

      She’d cut up one of the steaks into bite-size portions for Familiar, and she set it on the table. The black cat hopped onto a chair and sat, golden eyes watching Johnny carefully.

      “Then let’s eat. That goat isn’t going to spoil my supper.” Stephanie slipped into a chair and unfolded her napkin. “Dig in.”

      Johnny picked up his fork, but he found himself staring into the golden gaze of the cat. Familiar was glaring at him, as if the cat knew he’d lied.

      He speared a bite of steak and forced himself to eat. He’d come to Running Horse Ranch with an assignment, and despite his personal feelings, he was duty bound to follow this through to the end. Exactly as he’d been ordered. He had no other choice.