Page 16 of Desert Angel

“Who covered him with the tarp?” Dylan asked, his tone mild.

Wayne shrugged, “I guess Jose did. Anyway, you’ve got no right to mess with the body.”

“He does. We were at the station earlier and Dan gave him the tools to examine the body with.” Nikki knew her expression was disapproving but she couldn’t help it. “You left the body here? You didn’t come to see it?”

Wayne had the grace to look uncomfortable for a second before his pride kicked in and he groused. “I had work to do.”

She took a breath in, catching the slight smell of human waste, and then turned away from him and toward the body and Dylan. “And so do we. Let’s get him loaded, shall we?”

Wayne protested then agreed to assist and the three of them loaded the man onto the bed of the truck. Nikki noted Dylan’s care in arranging the stiffened body and covering him with the tarp. She found an extra one in a storage tub at the front of the bed and handed it to him, watching him tuck it securely around the body. She said a prayer for the unknown man’s family and then thanked God for the care Dylan was taking before asking for forgiveness for her resentment. Wayne’s actions rankled more than she cared to admit.

They’d left the rough desert and were on a dirt road before Dylan spoke. “You okay?”

She nodded, her eyes still on the road ahead. “You know criminal investigation techniques? Is that a part of your job training?”

“We get refresher courses, but no. I signed up for military police when I joined the Army. I got tagged for criminal investigation instead after I’d taken the tests. I spent four years doing that then I transferred to tactical and security. I got a degree in security systems while I was in.”

She glanced at him then. “You seem to be pretty good at the investigation thing.”

He shrugged. “I guess. I got tired of it after a while.”

“I can understand that,” she said and then turned silent again. They drove to the station where they transferred the body to Dan’s care, placing the man in the back of a small box truck on the edge of the parking lot. “It’s a refrigeration unit. We keep them on hand in case we need them. I’d fired it up before you guys came by.”

Dylan spoke to him about the evidence he’d found. As he did, he watched Nikki walk along the periphery of the parking lot, her head down and the ever-present desert breeze lifting the dark curls and caressing her face. Was she in prayer? Or regretting coming along on that morbid task?

“She’s something special, you know.” Dan’s quiet voice interrupted Dylan’s thoughts.

“I know. She’s going to get hurt if she continues, Dan.”

“She’s not going to stop giving water to the illegals, Dylan. I’ve talked to her before. If she thought she could do it safely and without a lot of repercussions, she’d set up food stations too, I think.”

“Even if it’s illegal and dangerous?”

“Even then. She says she wants to live her faith and that’s how she

chooses to do it.” Dan shook his head, partly in blame and partly in wonder, Dylan thought. “I’d like her to meet Merry. I think they’d be friends.”

Maybe they’d get the chance, Dylan thought then wondered at the passing fancy. She was pretty, smart, and brave beyond measure in his book. But was she beginning to be something more? Something he didn’t need in his life?

They hosed off the truck bed and then started to get in when Dan called to Dylan one last time. “Have you been on social media lately?”

“No. You know I avoid it if I can.”

“Check it out this evening, if you can get online. Particularly this site,” Dan held out a scrap of paper and Dylan accepted it, frowning at his brother-in-law. As he tucked it in his pocket, he heard Dan mutter as he turned away. “She’s getting talked about.”

9

Evening was closing in as they pulled into the ranch parking lot. Dylan and Nikki headed straight for the animals and together, made short work of feeding and milking. Finally, when the burros had been brushed down and fed and watered, she sighed and turned to Dylan. “Thanks for the help. This shortens the evening chores a lot.”

“I enjoyed it,” he said and gave one of the burros a last pat before turning and walking alongside her. “I understand the chickens and the goats, but why the burros? You don’t have any sheep or cattle for them to protect from coyotes.”

She shrugged. “Grandad always had them and there was a wild burro adoption event a couple of years ago. These were in pretty rough shape so I took them. They’re company for the goats, believe it or not. And they let me know if any predators are near the goats and chickens, usually.”

“But you’ve taught them to be trusting of men,” Dylan gently reminded her and she nodded. “I did. Maybe I shouldn’t have.” She took a step to put her ahead of him and he left her alone with her thoughts until they approached the rubbish pile that was the hired hands house. “Are you going to rebuild the house?”

She shook her head. “The men I hire are all locals and don’t need to stay on sight. If I need anything like that, I’ll get a shed and fix it up. Right now, I just need to get that trash heap cleaned up.”

“Not yet,” he said and at her look, nodded toward a whisp of smoke that still drifted from the wreckage. “It’s still hot. Maybe in a week or so, we can get to it.”

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