Page 83 of Wyoming True

Ida laughed. “Thanks. I do animals better than people. Jake wanted me to do him, but I’d never be able to capture him in clay. He’s too complicated.”

Maude sighed. “That little deer looks as if it could walk off the table and into the woods,” she added. “You really are talented.”

“Thanks.”

“Mrs. McGuire,” Maude began.

“Wow,” Ida said, stopping her in midthought. She laughed. “Sorry. I just like the sound of my married name.” She flushed a little. “What were you going to say?”

Maude sighed. “I was going to ask you about Fred.”

Ida turned to her, her hands gray with clay, wiping them on a cloth. “What do you mean?”

“He went off by himself last night,” she said. “I saw the limo going down the road toward Catelow.”

“He was probably going to get gas,” Ida said easily. “He takes very good care of the car.”

“Yes, he does. He acts like a getaway man,” Maude blurted out.

Ida burst out laughing.

“Well, he does,” Maude persisted, a little embarrassed.

“Jake and I talked about that,” came the amused reply. “We think he’s just nervous. Jake said that he had Fred checked out and that there was nothing in his past to worry anybody.”

“I suppose so.” She studied the younger woman. “But you know, a lot of people commit crimes and get away with them and never get caught. Somebody like that wouldn’t have a criminal record, would he?”

Ida hadn’t considered that. But she dismissed it. “If he had evil intent, he’s had lots of time to do something, though.” She hesitated. “Bailey made another threat. I didn’t tell Jake. He had enough on his mind, about this merger that was about to fall through.”

“You should have told him,” Maude said gently. “He’s your husband.”

Ida nodded absently. “I’ve been so much trouble already that I thought I’d just let this threat slide by, you know? Bailey’s inside man left skid marks behind him trying to get away just after he hurt Butler.”

“He was brutal to your animals,” Maude agreed. “And he might have worried that he was about to be caught. I worry,” she added with a shrug.

Ida smiled at her. “Thanks, Maude,” she said. “I don’t know what Jake and I would do without you, and that’s the truth. But Fred’s just the chauffeur, and he’s never said or done a thing out of line. Besides,” she added, “he’s not Bailey’s sort of henchman.” Her face hardened. “Bailey was always hanging out with men who looked like they belonged to some secret, evil organization with ties to crime bosses. He wouldn’t go near somebody as clean-cut and conventional as Fred.” She laughed. “Fred doesn’t even look like a man who’d break the law, now, does he?”

Recalling the little man’s smile and good manners, Maude had to admit that he didn’t seem the type.

“Just do be careful, if you have him drive you anyplace,” Maude persisted.

“I will. But I can’t imagine I’ll need to go anywhere before Jake gets back.”

“How long is he going to be away?”

“He said three or four days,” Ida replied and tried not to think about it. She missed him already. She wondered if he was missing her.

HEWASSITTINGin a hotel room in El Paso, Texas, after a successful meeting with a new prospective partner. The deal was accomplished. He could go back home whenever he felt like it. But he was restless.

He picked up his cell phone and called the Griers. They were home from Jacobsville, where they’d been visiting, and he was invited to supper by Cort and Mina alike.

“You have to see your godson,” Mina gushed as she and Cort met him at the door. “He looks more like his dad every day!”

Jake chuckled. “Poor little kid.”

“Stop that,” Mina teased. She cocked her head and looked up at him. “You got married, to Ida Merridan.”

“Yes.” His face tautened. “Her ex-husband is still after her. He put her in the hospital before she divorced him. He’s out of jail and determined to make her life hell for putting him there. He owes gambling debts and he’s trying to force her to bail him out.” His eyes glittered. “He had one of his minions go after her horses and even her cat!”

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