Page 71 of Stormy Ride

“Smells good in here, Tam. Me and Harlan got soaked. As soon as we change our clothes, we’ll have a couple of beers. How did the surveillance go?”

“Boring,” said Billy. “Amanda Hubbard banged a few pots and pans, but she didn’t get any phone calls and no visitors. Don’t know what she was doing in that trailer all day long.”

“Maybe all the action is at night,” I said. “I gotta get these clothes off.”

Tammy served us mashed potatoes, carrots and pork chops and it was great to come home to a meal already cooked. “Your cooking is great, Tammy. Gets better every day.”

She smiled. “Thanks, Travis. I learned a lot of stuff from Mama and Riley. Did you know Riley went to a chef school to be a cook in a big hotel?”

“Yep. I did know that. Riley is a dandy cook—I mean chef.”

After dinner, I saw Harlan yawn. “You can skip on the surveillance tonight, kid. I can do it myself.”

“Nope. I’ll be okay. Two cups of coffee, and I’ll be ready to go.”

“Long day,” I said. “Tramping around for hours in the rain sapped our energy.”

“Don’t you be sleeping on surveillance. You’ll miss hearing Mother Hubbard banging her cupboard doors.” Billy laughed.

“We’re taking our turn,” I said, “and we won’t sleep.”

Chapter Fourteen

Monday, May 2nd.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

I woke up exhausted, wearing my scars and my age like a lead weight around my neck, the baggage I carried holding me down so I could barely get out of bed in the morning.

I dragged myself forward not having a clue I was so far behind. Coffee was made in the kitchen, and the stove belted out reassuring heat.

First week of May. Texas would be hot, but Montana was far from it.

Tammy and Harlan were at the barn doing chores while I was the old man sawing logs under his quilt.

A smoke and one cup of coffee and the kids were in from the barn looking all bright-eyed and ready to take on the fuckin world. I wondered if I was like that once. Couldn’t remember ever feeling like that.

Tammy started breakfast and I dragged myself off my sluggish ass to help her.

“Lucy coming tonight?” asked Harlan.

“I’m so excited,” said Tammy. “Lucy is so much fun. You’re going to love her, Harlan.”

“I’m not great meeting new people. Especially girls.”

“Lucy is family,” said Tammy. “She’s one of Travis’s kids. She ain’t a stranger.”

“More like a stepdaughter,” I said. “She has a father of her own and he’s a decent guy. I like Mack Sturgess.”

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

As soon as we got to the station, Harlan and I gave our statements to Molly about the search for the missing person in the Milk River.

“I hope it’s nobody I know,” said Molly. “I’m starting to feel apprehensive already.”

“If we could get at the car,” I said, “and see the tag, we’d know right away who we were looking for and we could notify the family.”

“No one has called in with a missing persons report,” said Molly. “I keep thinking the phone is going to ring.”

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