Honey Kisses (Romance on the Ranch Series #2) by Verna Clay

she wrote, "lumber for renovation." After
checking the transit routing number and account number several times to make
sure she had entered them correctly, she hesitated only a second before pushing
the send button.
    Quickly signing off, she ran from Jackson's
office to the bathroom and threw up. Three hours later she received a text that
said, "paid in full."
    * * *
    Jackson sat behind his computer. The bull he and
Sage had purchased a week earlier was being delivered today. He needed to print
a check for his share of the purchase price. While he waited for his computer
to boot up, he thought about Annie. Something was still wrong. He couldn't put
his finger on exactly what it was, but she seemed preoccupied or spaced out
most of the time. Sometimes he had to call her name more than once before she responded.
He was at a loss as to what to do. He was seriously considering insisting she see
Doc Jones.
    Turning his attention to his computer, he signed
into QuickBooks, prepared the check, and then printed it. His contractor for
the remodel had given him a bill for supplies and he decided to check the
balance in that account. He accessed the renovations account through the
internet and blinked. No way had he spent that much money. He began comparing
QuickBooks entries against bank transactions. What the fu...!
    He looked at the detail for the last transaction,
'lumber for renovation'. What! I don't even remember making a transfer for
that amount. He looked at the date of the transfer and then at his
calendar. Shit! I wasn't even here. I was in Denver.
    Grabbing his cell phone, he called his bank and
asked for the manager. After a frustrating call, he made an appointment to come
in and personally meet with the bank president. According to the manager, the
transaction had originated from his computer and gone to an overseas account.
    When he left his office, he went in search of
Annie. It was suppertime and she was just pulling a casserole out of the oven.
    She said, "Oh, there you are. I made
homemade chicken pot pie. I'll just leave it on the sideboard for you. I'm not
hungry so I'll pass on dinner tonight." She looked at him more closely.
"What's wrong?"
    "Annie, you know the day that Sage and I
went to Denver, did anyone come to the house?"
    "No. Why?"
    "I'm not sure what's going on, but it looks
like someone got into one of my bank accounts and stole a large sum of money
that day. The bank manager said the transaction originated from my
computer." Jackson watched Annie's eyes widen.
    "Oh my goodness. That's terrible? No one was
here that day."
    "I have an appointment with the bank
president tomorrow afternoon. Maybe I can get some answers. If not, I may have
to involve the FBI."
    Annie's face paled. "Oh, Jackson, I feel so
bad."
    * * *
    Ann sat in a wingback chair beside the window in
her darkened bedroom. She'd pulled the curtains open and cranked the window
outward to allow the night breeze in. Absentmindedly, she snuggled Spike and
petted his silky fur while tears rolled down her cheeks. A cloud passed in
front of the moon and an owl hooted. Frogs sang at the river.
    Jackson knows he's been robbed. Ann couldn't remember
ever feeling this bad. At that moment she hated her dead husband. Sweet Jackson
hadn't deserved this, but if she had it to do over again, she'd do the same
thing. She would steal from her own grandmother to keep Jacob and Julie safe. A
sob wretched itself from her restraint and she set Spike on the floor before
clutching her stomach, unable to prevent the sobs bursting forth.
     

Chapter 13:  HFH
     
    Jackson made a phone call to Alligator and he
answered on the second ring. "Hey Jackson, good to hear from you. Are you
tired of mucking stalls and ready to come back to the Big Apple to wheel and
deal?"
    "This isn't a pleasure call. I've been
robbed and I want your help in finding the culprit."
    "Whoa. Don't say anything else. You still
got that other phone number I gave you?"
    "Yes."
    "Call me on it. It's