Page 14 of Desert Angel

Dylan shook his head and turned to Mark, who’d returned to the counter. “We’ve got a claw and bucket tractor available to deliver today.”

“Good, but Nikki said she has one. Let me look at it and I’ll come back to town and get yours if it’s too small. She didn’t know if it could handle the load.”

Nikki was ready to kick him. She knew exactly what her ranch equipment was capable of. She started to protest then stopped at his look and turned away. By the time they left the hardware store, she was sure she’d kick Dylan in the shin when they were alone.

“They think I don’t know anything about ranching now, thanks.” She said and stalked to the truck, getting in the driver’s seat. Dylan’s mouth quirked and he headed to the passenger side and slid in.

“Sorry. I wanted to butter the workers up a bit.”

“Well, you did it at my expense. It’s taken me five years to convince them I know what I’m doing. Now, I’m back at square one.”

“But we have some leads,” Dylan said, his tone changing to somber.

“We do?” She asked, glancing at him as she turned down Animas Road.

“Yep. We do. And I know one of the men I need to research more. Mark Williams.”

8

Nikki argued that Mr. Williams was as nice as anyone in the town when she came into the hardware store. Especially when she placed an order for the food-safe jugs she used for the water.

“He seemed pretty uncomfortable talking about the fire, Nikki. Like he had some information we didn’t.”

She thought for a moment then sighed. “I don’t like doing this. The people in Lordsburg have been kind to me since I moved back here. I don’t want to think any of them are responsible for the things happening on my ranch.”

He nodded and placed his hand on her knee for a second then returned it to his own. “I’m sorry. But that’s what we need to do to find out the truth.”

She was silent for several minutes, then noticed they were heading toward the road leading away from the ranch. “Where are we going?”

“To the border station. I’d like to talk to Dan.”

She spent the rest of the drive talking about her goats, her chickens, the history of the desert, and the odd ruins they passed. Anything to divert her own thoughts from the reality of the situation. When they passed another ghost town, Dylan commented on the state of the buildings.

“Unless there’s a fire or someone purposefully tears the places down, usually these stone and wood buildings stay upright. When I was a kid I used to get Grandad to bring me out so I could go exploring for treasure.”

“Gold?” Dylan grinned at her.

“No. Old things, like dishes or flyers. I found spoons, keys, that sort of thing. I may still have some of them in an old box at home.” She hadn’t thought of those days in years and the memories of her grandfather’s joy at her finding her treasures warmed her. “Grandad and I used to make up stories about the things we found.”

He smiled. “I remember seeing a lot of the world, famous landmarks. But I don’t have those kinds of memories. I think I’m jealous.”

She smiled at him in return. “Tell me some of the places your family lived.”

For the next several minutes they drove on the rough roads and spoke of their childhoods, so different yet common in the memories they’d crafted with their families.

When the small buildings of the border station came into view, Nikki sighed. “If I’d known we were going to stop here, I’d have put some eggs and cheese in the cooler for the agents.”

“You bribe them often?” Dylan joked and she grinned back. “I just want to get rid of my excess food. There’s only so much you can do with six dozen eggs and quarts of milk every day.”

“Why not get rid of the animals?” He asked as they parked the truck and started walking to the main building.

“They’re family,” she said simply and Dylan grinned at her.

Dan was on duty and greeted his brother-in-law with a smile and handshake, paired with a slap on the shoulder. “You know Merry is upset with you.”

“Why?” Dylan asked as he glanced around the small room, packed with shelves and cabinets, filled with the equipment of agents, binoculars, vests, rifles, and communication devices.

“She’s convinced you took your job too early. You’re okay, right?”

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