Delaney nodded. “I heard what happened with Keller. I figured you’d want to talk. There’s coffee on the stove in the cabin.” He was over six feet and built like a brick house—all of them were.

“Sounds good.” Kade followed Delaney into the former guesthouse-turned-barracks.

A fire burned low in the potbellied stove in the corner, and the forest-green pillows on the hand-hewn log sofa needed to be straightened. Sleeping bags were strewn over the oval braided rugs on the wide pine floors, along with canvas duffels. Boxes of ammunition sat open on the coffee table.

“Looks like you’re ready to fight a war,” Kade said.

Delaney just shrugged. “You never know what situation you’re going to find yourself in. Better to be prepared.”

Since Kade couldn’t argue with that, he accepted the steaming mug of coffee Delaney poured and handed over. “I wanted to make sure you understood that, just because Frank Keller’s dead, it doesn’t mean we can lower our guard. Good chance he was killed by someone who was paying him to cause trouble. We’re pursuing that avenue. So are Sheriff Fischer and Sheriff Carver. Sooner or later, one of us is bound to come up with a lead.”

“We’re here as long as you need us.” Delaney sipped his coffee.

Kade blew across the top and took a drink, gathering himself to approach the next subject. “There’s always a chance a situation may come up, something unexpected, someplace other than the ranch. If I need backup—”

“You need any or all of us—you just call. You’ve got my contact number. Trace Elliot is second-in-command. You can’t reach me, you call him.” Delaney gave him Elliot’s number, and Kade relaxed as he punched the man’s contact info into his phone.

“Thanks.” Setting the mug down on the counter, Kade stuck out his hand. “I’m glad to have you and your men here.”

Delaney shook, his grip firm.

Kade left the cabin feeling a little better about pursuing the shooter, as he and Ellie planned to do. But they needed a lead, and so far that hadn’t happened.

Which meant the priority returned to finding Heather’s killer. They could discuss their next steps on the way to church. Kade didn’t go often, but he was a prominent figure in the community, and it was important to stay connected to neighbors and friends.

Kade figured, with everything that had happened, having God on his side wasn’t a bad idea.

Nobody was in the kitchen when he walked into the house, so he headed upstairs. Pulling on his lizard boots, he grabbed his western sport coat and custom-made, dark brown, 30X beaver Stetson.