“Yes, that’s the good news. The bad news is the deposit was made in cash, so there’s no way to track who paid him.”

Ellie looked over her shoulder to find Kade anxiously watching. “Even so, that’s good work, Zoe.”

“I wish there was more I could do. Maybe one of us will think of something.” There was a different tone to her voice, a lightness that hadn’t been there the last time they had spoken.

“You sound good.” Ellie turned away from Kade’s impatient glare. “You sound happy. What’s going on?”

“Chad and I got back together. I really love him, Ellie. When I saw him again, I knew he was the one for me. Chad said he’d never stopped loving me, and I realized when it’s right, it’s really not that hard to commit.”

Ellie ignored a pang. “I’m really glad things worked out. I’ll call you back and get all the warm and fuzzies when Kade isn’t standing here glowering at me for news.”

Zoe laughed. “Talk to you later.”

The call ended, and Ellie turned to Kade. “Keller made two ten-thousand-dollar deposits into his bank account in Denver. Unfortunately, they were made in cash.”

“So no way to track who they came from.” Kade tucked his denim work shirt into his jeans. “At least we know for sure Frank was working for someone else.”

“Yes, and according to Earl, that was the person who killed him.”

“Someone Frank knew from the mine.” Kade sighed. “It’s something. Just not enough.”

Ellie silently agreed.

* * *

It was late afternoon of the following day, the sky graying toward dark, when Kade swung down from Hannibal and glanced around for Billy. It took a moment to spot him, riding next to Ellie toward the barn, leading the little palomino filly.

Lately, Kade had been giving the boy more and more responsibility. He was planning to hire another stable hand so Billy could spend more time working with the horses.

Kade led his buckskin into the barn at the same time Ellie and Billy rode in. Ellie dismounted from Painted Lady and flashed Kade a smile so warm it made him wish they were back in the shower.

“I was desperate for a little fresh air,” Ellie said. “Billy was working Sunshine on a lead line. I talked him into combining his efforts and going for a ride with me. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

“Not a bit. I was glad to be out of the house myself.” He turned to Billy, who swung down from a very reliable bay gelding named Ringo that he was using to pony Sunshine. “The filly needs the work,” Kade said to him. “Looks like you’re doing a good job.”

“Sunshine likes to learn, and she’s really smart. She’s going to be one of your best horses, Kade.”