Read Run Wild for Free Online

“You’re a stranger in our town and we do our best to make anyone welcome,” he added; that was until they did someone, or something, wrong.
    The smile didn’t change Natasha’s expression. “I think you’re here to check me out.”
    “You’re blunt.” He liked that.
    “I’m honest.” Her expression didn’t change.
    He’d be the judge of that, and the only way to learn a person’s nature was to spend time with them. “I take it you do have a minute to talk.”
    “There’s a couple more things I need to get out of the truck,” she said after considering him a moment. “I’ll meet you outside in a minute.”
    “Good enough.” Trent backed up and turned but glanced over his shoulder when the door slowly closed and the lock clicked into place. Typical big-city girl to lock up everything as if she had something to fear. Although maybe she did.
    Folks in the area were incredibly spooked after what had happened over at Trinity Ranch. He needed to wrap up this murder investigation soon. Once snow started falling on a regular basis, it would be harder finding the clues needed to put the terrible crime behind all of them. Not that he hadn’t found his guy before during blizzards. But nothing like this had ever happened in Trent’s territory. However, it had happened. His people needed closure and so did he.
    Trent headed downstairs and wasn’t surprised when he pushed through the swinging door from the dining room to the back office and Matilda and Jerry were sipping coffee and leaning on the counter facing each other.
    “I wondered where you went off to,” Matilda said, giving Trent a side-glance before smiling at her mailman. “Jerry and I were just speculating about our murder. The two of us might solve it for you.” Matilda had a deep, throaty laugh and her large breasts jiggled as she grinned.
    Jerry sipped coffee, eyeing Trent when he came around the counter. “Any new leads?” Jerry asked, adjusting his bag of mail on his shoulder. “We were just talking about that woman who just got here, King’s daughter.”
    “He’s keeping that drifter’s daughter upstairs,” Matilda told Jerry, dropping her voice to a low whisper as she thumbed in the direction of the house. “Trent knows I’ll keep a close eye on her here in my house.”
    “I thought we agreed to keep that between ourselves.” Trent knew Matilda wouldn’t keep the knowledge of Natasha King coming to town a secret but didn’t have a problem reminding her. Possibly she’d only hand out the news to a few people instead of half the town that way.
    “Oh for heaven’s sake, Trent, it’s just Jerry. We both know he won’t tell anyone.” Matilda blushed in spite of herself, then huffed and ran her hand over the counter.
    Jerry Packard was known for delivering the latest gossip as efficiently as he delivered mail.
    “Just keep it quiet for now,” Trent said, opening the back door. “It will make my job a lot easier.”
    “No problem,” both of them announced eagerly, and he left them to continue speculating on why he had brought Miss King to town.
    *   *   *
     
    Natasha returned outside the same way she’d been led upstairs. When she came to the door leading to the closed-in back porch where the high counter was and where Matilda had checked her in, she hesitated when she heard voices.
    “It’s got to be the only reason he brought her here, Mat,” a man said.
    “Well, you know it wasn’t just for her good looks. The sheriff could have his pick of the county.”
    Matilda and the man laughed at her comment. Natasha froze, her hand on the door, wondering if they would say more. They had to be talking about her. Trent was the sheriff, and how many other people had he brought here? She scowled, looking down, listening for something more revealing to be said.
    “Do you think she knows about the murder?” the man asked.
    “Of course she does. The sheriff said she didn’t hesitate in coming here. He’ll use her to