Page 84 of Lawless Ride

“Both of them are nothing but hos and Ray did them on the side whenever he had a free night. He laughed about what miserable pieces of work they both were.”

“Which one did he consider the worst?”

“Glenda. She was the worst.”

“Do you think she might have killed Ray?”

“For sure. Glenda is mean and nasty just like her old man. Charlie Crandall’s doing thirty years for killing Betty in the kitchen of the Crandall farmhouse. Happened before you got here, Sheriff. Big story in the Cut Bank Tribune. You could ask that asshole Wyatt Thompson about it. I think he was messing around with Glenda when Charlie killed the twins’ mother.”

News to me. I might have to talk to Wyatt about Glenda.

The doctor came in and my time was up. Josie wasn’t allowed to talk to me anymore today. “You’ll have to come back another day, Sheriff. Mrs. Masters has to rest now.”

“Thank you for talking to me, Josie. I’ll be back.”

I collected the boys from the waiting area and filled them in on what I’d learned on the way to the Hargrove ranch.

“She says Ray killed Tory and Floyd Boyd?” asked Ted.

“That’s what she says. Ray was super jealous of Tanya and wanted her bad.”

“You believe her?” asked Harlan.

“She sounded sincere, and it would be nice to close those two cases.”

“No proof,” mumbled Ted.

Hargrove Ranch.

I parked in front of Hannah’s porch and was expecting the worst from her. “She ain’t gonna be glad to see us, boys. While I’m trying to get inside and drop a tag, y’all go to the bunkhouse and try to get one in there.”

“Copy, boss,” said Ted.

Harlan and Ted jogged towards the barn while I started off in my polite mode and knocked on Hannah’s door. My plan was to step inside the house as soon as she opened the door and get the tag in as close to her living area as I could.

Nope. Didn’t work that way. She opened the door, stepped out onto the porch, and closed the door behind her. “Get off myporch, Travis. I don’t have to put up with you harassing me and my cowboys. I can get a restraining order against you.”

I laughed at that.

“You drag your ass out of here before I call my friend, Judge Briggs.”

“Call the Pope if you want, Hannah. No need to get in a knot. I just need to talk to one of your guys for a sec and then I’m out of here.”

“Don’t you go near my barn or my bunkhouse without a warrant in your hand.”

“I have the right to question anyone at any time if I think they’ve committed a crime, Hannah. I don’t need a warrant for that. One of your cowboys owes me an explanation for why he was on my land.”

“I’m coming with you.” She followed me down the porch steps.

“Come along with me. I have no problem with a little female company.”

Harlan and Ted were on their way back when Hannah and I got halfway to the barn. “Looks like we’re all done here, Hannah. Thanks for being so nice.”

“Go to hell, Travis. I’ve got your number and you’re not getting away with this.” She stomped back into the house and slammed the door.

The boys piled into the squad and gave me the lowdown. “No short guy with red hair,” said Harlan. “Not in the barn or the bunkhouse.”

“He’s staying out of sight.”

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