For Her, He Will

Chapter Forty-Nine - Who exactly are they after?

"Right this way, Miss. Dobson," A man who had come up to the North Camp earlier told Oakley as they made their way through the main house, into a living room.

"It's Dutton," Oakley said as she sat down on one of the couches. "I've been a Dutton since last June."

"Sorry...Mrs. Dutton," The man sat down. "I'm ADA Jeremy Stone, I've been assigned to this investigation and I'm here along with my partner, Eric Stevens, to ask you a few questions."

"You have about thirty minutes," Oakley crossed her leg. "I have twins to feed."

"Yes, we heard," Jeremy nodded. "Congratulations on them...those are with your husband, Livestock Commissioner and owner of the Yellowstone Ranch, Kayce Dutton, correct?"

Oakley didn't answer but glared at the two officers before her. Did they think she was an idiot or something?

"Are they...not with Mr. Dutton?" Jeremy looked between Oakley and his partner.

"Fuck you," Oakley spat. "And I think for your sake...it's Commissioner Dutton during these interviews."

"Oakley..." Jeremy looked at some notes.

"Mrs. Dutton," Oakley frowned.

"Mrs. Dutton...never had a woman like her new name this much," Jeremy smirked. "Could you tell us when you became employed at the Dutton Ranch?"

"I guess about eighteen months ago," Oakley said. "Give or take...there wasn't a formal start date."

"And what do you do for the ranch?" Jeremy asked.

"I uh...handle operations for the most part...typically the cattle sales during the spring and summer," Oakley answered.

"What does that entail?" Jeremy looked over at Oakley.

"Do you not know what cows are?" Oakley raised an eyebrow.

"Mrs. Dutton, this will go a lot smoother if you just answer the questions," Jeremy said.

"I'm sure it would," Oakley crossed her arms. "Maybe you shouldn't ask stupid ones?"

"So, you run the cattle sales for the Dutton Ranch," Jeremy looked at his notes. "And you've been here for eight months...when did you say you were married?"

"Last June," Oakley answered.

"How long were you dating Kayce Dutton before you two got married?" Jeremy looked back up at Oakley.

"Does that matter?" Oakley asked.

"It does," Jeremy nodded. "Please answer the question."

"Well," Oakley took a breath. "I'd say we were together for about nine months or so before we got married...but we dated when we were younger too."

"Younger?" Jeremy tilted his head.

"When we were teenagers," Oakley said. "We dated for about three years or so back then."

"Why did that end?" Jeremy was writing down notes.

"Just...because we were teenagers," Oakley shrugged. "Love is a little different when you're that young."

"Not because your husband had a child with another woman?" Jeremy looked at a different piece of paper. "A...Monica Long? From the Broken Rock Reservation?"

"Why are you asking questions you already seem to know the answers to?" Oakley frowned.

"Please answer the question," Jeremy smiled.

"Again...does this matter?" Oakley narrowed her eyes.

"Yes, it does," Jeremy nodded. "Eric?"

The other guy stepped forward and cleared his throat.