Chapter 53

“And?” Bryson asked.

“And I lost my job,” Duke answered. “And I was blacklisted in most of the stables in the area. I spent a year in Manitoba working out there, and another year up north, kind of hoping that everyone would forget. But even when I came back, none of the decent places would hire me. I found work, of course, but nothing good. Until you and your mom came along, anyway.”

The smug expression on Rebecca’s face made Bryson want to smack it off her. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and asked her, “This makes you hate him?”

“This makes me not want him around decent people and animals!” she scoffed.

“Oh, yeah,” Bryson scoffed back. “Because nothing says ‘awful’ like somebody who puts the animalfirst and the profit second.”

Rebecca curled her lip and pulled back, exaggerating either disgust or surprise. “I’m sorry, what? Criminal is criminal.”

Duke responded before Bryson had the chance. “Bold statement for a criminal to make.”