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her bracelet?” he asked nonchalantly.
    “No. She thought she left it in the kitchen, but we’ve looked everywhere.”
    In the kitchen, huh? He didn’t say it. “What about the cash?”
    His cousin shook his head in frustration. “I can’t figure out what I did with it. I swear it was in the bank bag, but…”
    It had disappeared, too.
    “You think someone took it?” he asked, hoping to plant the idea in Bryce’s head. Because it was pretty obvious to him that someone had been stealing from his cousin.
    “The thought’s crossed my mind,” he admitted, albeit grudgingly. Bryce, like Aunt Elsie, tended to see only the best in people.
    Lucky for both of them, Sawyer had learned not to. “Let me look into it,” he offered, not that he’d let Bryce turn him down.
    “What’d you have in mind?”
    “Well…” He had to tread carefully here. The Walker Mountain Ranch was known for unyielding loyalty to its employees. “What if it was an employee? Then it’ll happen again.” It would keep happening. And eventually three hundred dollars here and a bracelet there would add up.
    His cousin shot him a skeptical frown, as if that was outside the realm of possibility. “You really think it’s an employee?”
    “I think it could be.” There were plenty to choose from. This spring they’d hired three new guides, though they weren’t full-time yet. Then there were the seasonal maintenance workers who’d just started back a month ago. And Ruby. “Did Ruby ever fill out an application?”
    “It’s not Ruby,” Bryce said, shaking his head. “She’s not the type.”
    Maybe not, but someone around here had to be open to all possibilities. “Most criminals don’t seem like the type,” he said.
    Bryce laughed. “You’re one suspicious SOB, you know that?”
    “It’s a hazard of the job,” Sawyer reminded him. “Look. It doesn’t have to be a big deal. I’ll look around, ask some questions. No one’ll even know.” Especially the people he planned to investigate. All that would require is some good one-on-one time with them. He stood to leave. “I’ll keep you posted. Let me know the report on Thomas when you hear.”
    “Will do,” Bryce said, then looked up suddenly. “Speaking of Thomas…think you could hike up to the waterfall and get the gear we left behind this morning? After he fell Shooter and I dropped everything. I’d go but I’ve got to finish this injury report for insurance.”
    “Sure.” Sawyer glanced at the clock on the wall. Just after four-thirty. It was only a mile and a half to the lake. That should give him plenty of time before dinner.
    Bryce stood and came around the desk. “The gear is on the south side of the pond.” He walked Sawyer to the door. “We left at least three packs behind. You might need help to lug it all back.”
    “Help, huh?” He almost grinned. He needed someone to join him on an hour-long hike to the waterfall.
    And he knew just the girl.

Chapter Five
    N othing soothed the tension in Ruby like the rich scent of chocolate buttercream frosting. She inhaled the buttery cocoa and leaned closer to the cupcake so she could pipe the frosting in a floral design.
    “I’m willing to bet those kids have never seen such a work of art,” Elsie commented, coming to stand by her.
    Smiling, Ruby piled the frosting as high as she could without the whole thing toppling over. “It’s my favorite cupcake. Triple chocolate.” She straightened and reached for the dark chocolate flakes she’d grated earlier.
    “Well, it’s soon to be their favorite, too,” Elsie said, going back to the pot of Bolognese sauce that simmered on the stove. “As long as they eat a good dinner, that is.”
    “I’m sure they will.” Warmth bubbled up, making her feel as excited as a kid herself. Talk about the perfect evening. Right now the kids were all getting settled into their rooms, freshening up, then resting until dinner. But then there’d be gourmet pasta, chocolate