Man on a Mission by Carla Cassidy Page B

bad things out of his head and simply indulged himself in the selfish pleasure of enjoying her body.
    Releasing a sigh of frustration, he brushed the horse’s coat with more force, trying to work out the ball of energy that burned in his stomach.
    He was nearly finished with the horse when he heard voices approaching the stable. Two men stood just outside the door, apparently unaware of his presence inside.
    â€œThe boss says to prepare for a big shipment in about two weeks time.” Mark instantly recognized Billy Carr’s voice.
    â€œI don’t know,” the second deep voice replied, a voice Mark didn’t recognize. “I don’t like it. Things are getting too out of hand. Nobody was supposed to get hurt.”
    â€œYou can’t back out now,” Billy said, a mean tone in his voice. “You’re in as deep as the rest of us. Don’t do anything stupid.”
    â€œI’m not. All I’m saying is that we’ve been lucky so far. Maybe it’s time to quit the whole operation.”
    Every muscle in Mark’s body tensed, and adrenaline flooded through him. Operation? Was this what Marietta had discovered?
    â€œWe don’t quit until the boss says we quit,” Billy replied angrily.
    Mark needed to see the man Billy was talking to. This was the first real substantial clue that something was happening here at the ranch.
    He put the horse in the stall, then ambled out the door. With a grin he said, “Hi, Billy.” He tensed, praying his act would serve him well.
    Billy jumped in surprise and the man next to him muttered a curse beneath his breath. “Mark, buddy. I didn’t know you were in there.” He grabbed Mark by the shoulder and slapped him on the back. “Larry, this here is Mark Delaney.”
    The man named Larry muttered another curse and pulled his hat down farther as if to obscure his features. Billy laughed, an unpleasant deep chuckle and slapped Mark on the back once again. “Don’t worry, Larry. There’s no grain in Mark’s silo, if you get my drift.”
    Larry frowned and eyed Mark suspiciously. Mark kept the fool smile stretched across his lips.
    â€œSo, what are you guys doing out here?” Mark asked.
    â€œJust looking at the moon,” Billy said. “It’s a beauty tonight.”
    â€œYeah, a coyote moon.” Mark looked up, but shot a surreptitious glance at Larry, memorizing the man’s features in his brain. He didn’t know who Larry was—but he would find out before the next day was over.
    â€œShouldn’t you get inside?” Billy asked.
    â€œI could stay out here and watch the moon with you guys,” Mark replied. Larry cursed again beneath his breath. Mark decided to take a gamble. “Are you sick, Billy?” he asked curiously.
    â€œNever been better, why would you think I was sick?”
    Mark could feel his foolish smile firmly in place. “I thought you said something about an operation.”
    Larry shot a worried glance to Billy. “Yeah, I’ve been checking into operations for you. You know, brain surgery to make you smart.” He sniggered and elbowed Larry, who didn’t look amused by any of it.
    Mark was not amused, either. But he was definitely filled with adrenaline. “That’s real nice of you, Billy.”
    â€œI’m out of here,” Larry replied. “We’ll talk later.” He didn’t wait for a reply, but instead disappeared into the shadows of the night.
    â€œYou better get inside the house, Mark,” Billy said.
    Mark knew there was nothing more to be learned here at the moment. “’Night, Billy.”
    As he walked toward the main house, his mind whirled. Marietta had been right. The brief conversation he’d overhead was his first real proof that there was something going on here, something that involved Billy and Larry—and something certainly illegal.
    Drugs? They’d spoken of