He knew how she felt. It was the one great secret they shared, although Kevin had told Win—at least he’d told her all he knew—but it had never gone further.

Molly followed Wyatt out into the early morning of a chilly October day. The wind was mild. The sun was out. Snow had fallen again in the night but not heavily. It danced along the ground, as if the day were joyful.

Molly couldn’t say she felt the same.

Wyatt spoke quietly with Rubin. Molly followed him to the barn, and they saddled two horses. Then he and Molly were on the trail.

“I’ve never applied for a job before,” Wyatt said as they rode in the cold.

“He’d be a fool not to hire you, even if he thinks it’s strange. It sounds like you’re a better cowpoke than anyone he has.”

“Do you remember everything Hobart told you?”

“I think you’d better call her Mrs. Hobart, should her name ever come up in front of Hawkins. You’d do well not to sound like you know her enough to be casual.”

Molly thought about another way into her soon-to-be new employer’s business. “Has Hawkins found someone to take over all the bookwork Ralston did?”

“Not that I know of.” Wyatt glanced at her as they galloped along the rocky trail, heading southwest. Hills came up beside them. They rode through a herd of magnificent, shining black cattle. “Do you think he’d let you do his bookkeeping for him?”

“Why not? It sounds like he’s a lazy man. I know my arithmetic from teaching school. If I work it right, he’ll think he’s asking me for help when really he’s letting me get a close look at his finances.”

“Ralston died without telling much. There’s a good chance he was stealing Hawkins’s money besides his cattle.”

“Has anyone searched the cabin he took Amelia to?”

“Ralston wouldn’t have left anything behind. They were clearing out.”

Nodding, Molly considered it. “You’re right he wouldn’t have left any money, but did they search carefully? He might’ve left some information about what he was up to. And maybe you can search his cabin while I work inside. I might be able to find where he paid himself a special salary. If I get a chance, I’ll try to find out how much money Hawkins has. He’s been spending his dead wife’s money for years.”

“His ranch runs, but it’s no great success. And with all the hired help, that has to cut into his profits.”