Page 14 of Dark Side of the River

What Holden had to tell them tonight could destroy his often tenuous relationship with his family.

THECLOSESTAIRPORTwith a paved landing strip was in Miles City. But Powder Crossing had its own small airfield that was used by crop dusters and other pilots in the area. Cooper had suggested they start there instead of making the four-hour round trip to Miles City.

The local airfield had a wind sock and a grass landing strip the last time Cooper had been there. A small plane was coming in as they drove up. He noticed several new hangars had been added since the last time he’d been out here.

“Who built the hangars?” Cooper asked as Tilly drove them to a small shack-like building that was apparently now an office.

“One of the mining companies, CH4,” she said, pointing to a small sign on one of the hangar doors.

“CH4?”

“The compound for methane gas. You didn’t take any chemistry in college?”

“Too busy going to keggers,” he joked. He knew what the compound was. He was just surprised that the gas exploration and drilling company was working out of here so much that they’d built their own hangar. He’d seen that name in the news over a recent controversy about their methods for talking ranchers into drilling on their land.

As the small plane taxied to a spot in the open field, Tilly parked and they got out. There were two small planes already parked in the field, both crop dusters. “Any chance CH4 has been talking your mother into drilling more wells on your ranch?” he asked her.

She shot him a warning look. “We’re looking for my sister’s would-be killer. We aren’t on the same team.”

“Really? I figured you’d be against the drilling.”

Tilly sighed. “I am. But let’s stay away from talk about our families’ plans, okay?”

He held up his hands. “You make it sound like we’re on opposing football teams and discussing what our families are doing is trying to throw the game.”

“We aren’t just on opposing teams—we’re on rival teams that make the Brawl of the Wild between the MSU Bobcats and the UofM Grizzlies teams look like a picnic.”

“Don’t tell me you’re a Grizzly fan.”

She shot him an impatient look. “Seriously?”

“Sorry. Just so you know up front, I’m a Bobcat fan. But back to CH4. I suspect they’ve been coming around the McKenna Ranch too.”

“Only your father’s been chasing them off.” She sighed. “We probably shouldn’t talk about this, our families and their choices. It’s probably what started this stupid feud years ago.”

He knew she was right. “No judgment. Just curious.”

“I’m a Bobcat fan,” she said under her breath, making him grin as the pilot of the small plane that had just landed finished inside the cockpit and climbed out, briefcase in hand. As they approached him, they heard the sound of a vehicle coming up the road behind them.

“Nice flight?” Cooper asked.

“Pretty day for it,” the pilot said, and held out his hand. “Bob Turner. You’re a McKenna, right?”

“Cooper,” he said, frowning as he took the man’s hand.

“I did some legal work for your dad quite a few years ago.”

“Bob’s an attorney in Billings,” Tilly said. “He flies back and forth weekly. How is your mom, by the way?”

“Good some days, not so much others. My wife stays with her now until...until we decide future arrangements.”

Cooper knew he meant whether or not they would be keeping the ranch once his mother died. “You own the Montana 360 Ranch.”

“My mother does,” Bob said. “There’s my wife now.” He started to step toward the SUV that had just driven up.

“We were wondering if you’d seen a blue-and-white Piper Super Cub around lately,” Tilly asked before Cooper could. Bob hesitated. “Cooper’s interested in buying it.”

The pilot glanced at him. “I didn’t realize you had your pilot’s license.”

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