Page 45 of Mistletoe Cowboy

“Surveillance cameras?”

“Please. The man lives in a shack up a mountain.”

“Sorry. I guess this is pretty far in the boondocks.”

She didn’t reply.

“All right,” he said after a minute. “You said he was arrested and charged with animal cruelty.”

“Yes. The animal control officer said that a neighbor reported him. It wasn’t the first time he’d had such a charge leveled against him. But he has friends and relatives in high places, so the charges were just dropped.”

He pursed his lips as he sipped tea and frowned, deep in thought. “First order of business is to speak to the person who reported him, and have the neighbors questioned. If he has close relatives who live with or near him, they can be deposed as well. The local veterinarian examined him?”

“Yes. Dr. Carr.”

“Would he be willing to testify?”

She smiled. “He said of course he would.”

“You’d be amazed at how few people really will, even if they agree at first. Especially if the perp has connections.”

“The world is a sad place.”

He looked at her. “You have no idea how sad.” He smiled at her. “Do they have any passable restaurants around here? If so, you and I could eat out tonight.”

“I can’t leave Teddie alone,” she said, surprised.

“She’s what, ten? She’s old enough to stay by herself. You can just lock the doors,” he said easily.

“Ron, it’s very evident that you’ve never had a child,” she said sadly. “It doesn’t work like that. A child of ten doesn’t have the judgment she’d need to handle an emergency.”

“Bull. We had a five-year-old boy call nine-one-one after a shooting. He was a material witness in a murder case.”

“This isn’t the city. There are all sorts of dangers out here, including wolves.”

“Wolves are sweet creatures.” He sighed, smiling. “There’s a wildlife center close to where I live. They have two wolves. I love to go and pet them.”

She gave him a long look. “Have you ever seen a wolf in the wild?” she asked.

He smiled vacantly. “What does that have to do with it?”

She was about to explain, in rather biting terms, when she heard voices. Parker and Teddie came in the front door and stopped at the dining room entrance.

Ron stood up. “Ron Woodley,” he introduced himself.

“Parker,” came the droll reply, followed by a firm handshake.

“Parker what?” Ron asked.

Parker just smiled.

“Nobody knows that,” Teddie said, smiling up at her tall companion. “He says it’s a secret.”

“You’re Indian, aren’t you?” Ron asked lazily.

Parker cocked his head. “Crow, actually. Or Absaroka, if you want the proper term.”

“I thought Crows came from Montana.”

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