Wendy Cummings took their orders. The pretty blonde was friendlier this time, probably because Ellie wasn’t with Kade. She and Jonas talked about the weather, always a safe place to start, progressed into a little local gossip, and then Jonas mentioned he had heard someone had shot two of Kade’s steers.

“Word travels fast,” Ellie said, forking up a bite of chicken Caesar salad.

“Probably just some rowdy kids wanting to shoot at something besides a paper target.”

“You think so? I was thinking more along the lines of a disgruntled employee taking it out on Kade.”

Jonas shrugged. “Could be, I suppose. Kade always brings in a bunch of part-time hands to work the fall roundup. Maybe one of them got pissed about something.”

“That certainly sounds possible.” If Kade would make a list of the men he’d hired, they could discuss it, find out if he’d had problems with any of the men.

Jonas finished the first half of his corned beef sandwich. “You’re out at the ranch. Heard anything new on Heather’s murder? I imagine Kade’s pushing hard now that they found Heather’s car.”

It was the perfect opening to discuss the subject.

Ellie gave him a conspiratorial smile. “Kade doesn’t talk about it, but everyone else does. I heard her stuff wasn’t in the car when they pulled it out of the lake.”

“Which means she must have gone with the killer willingly.”

“That’s what I was thinking.” Ellie leaned toward him. “It’s kind of exciting, don’t you think? Being involved in a murder investigation? Did the cops ever talk to you about her?”

He nodded, picked up the second half of his sandwich. “After they found her body, one of the Eagle County deputies came into the store and asked me some questions. Nobody’s come around since they found the car.”

“I saw her picture. She was really beautiful.”

Jonas looked wistful. “Yeah, she was.”

“I hear she got around. Liked to flirt and make guys jealous. Did you ever . . . you know, sleep with her?”

Color crept into Jonas’s face. “No, of course not.”

“I guess I shouldn’t have asked. Kade might go after you if he ever found out. You could end up getting hurt.”

Jonas’s chin jutted out at belligerent angle. “I’m not afraid of Kade Logan.”

Ellie grinned. “So you did sleep with her.”

The corner of Jonas’s mouth kicked up. “I didn’t say that, did I?” But he had the smug look of a man who was proud of the conquest he had made.

Ellie took another bite of salad. “Was Heather the reason you and your wife divorced?” She’d gone online and looked at county records, seen a copy of Jonas’s divorce papers. Jennifer Murray had filed the petition eight years ago, around the time Heather had disappeared.