Page 41 of Rocky Ride

“Me?” He laughed.

“You must know where the cute girls hang out, Dad,” I said. “You’re like the biggest draw in the county. Women flock to you.”

“Hey, come on. That’s not true.”

“It is true,” said Virge. “They knock on the door and bring you fuckin casseroles. Savanna told me that story.”

Sunday giggled. “I can see where that might be a true story. Long hair and tats are a big draw for the ladies, Dale.”

“I better grow my hair longer,” said Billy. “I’ve had the same haircut since I got out of the army.”

“Virgil, have you tried the laundromat?” asked Sunday. “That’s one place you boys could start.”

“Holy hell,” said Virge. “Never thought of that. Thanks, Sunday. I’ll be dropping by there today to see what’s shaking.”

“Take some dirty clothes,” Billy had a smirk on his face, “or you’ll look like a fake, Virgie.”

“Fuck, yeah. I’ve got lots of dirty clothes.”

Travis couldn’t stop laughing at his boys.

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

The start of a new work week and to complicate the two cases we were working on—a murder and a robbery—snow was coming down heavily. Accidents would surely be pending on county roads and highways and slowing us down in our pursuit of justice.

“Molly, this is Sunday,” said Billy. “She’s staying with us at the ranch and she’s volunteering to help us out some.”

Molly smiled. “Lovely to meet you, Sunday. Happy to have you join our little staff here at the station.”

“Why don’t you sit at this empty desk next to Ted?” Billy pointed. “It’s the only spare one we have.”

Sunday walked over and sat down at the desk. “Hi, Ted. You have the same name as my dead husband. Bear got him way up Black Wolf Mountain.”

Ted stared at her, not knowing what to say. “Sorry ‘bout that ma’am. Sad story. Bears are bad this year. Believe they’re short on food and that makes them testy.”

Ted seemed a little freaked out by Sunday, so Billy sent him to Cut Bank. “You can start on the prints at the liquor store, Ted. It’s a mess up there and they won’t be open today. The keys are hanging on the rack in the office.”

“Copy that, boss.”

“Sunday, you can use the computer in my office to scan the footage from Kings Court.”

“She smiled. Copy that, boss. Let’s see if I can come up with those boyfriends.”

Billy smiled back at her. “I’ll get you set up. I’m hoping we’ll get a good lead from the video cam.”

They went into the office together and Billy closed the door.

Travis sat in the break room drinking coffee and reading the reports on Sandra Ellington’s murder. He’d only been gone a few days, but he felt like he’d missed way too much. He glanced at his cell when it rang and smiled when he saw it was Annie.

“Hey, Annie-girl. I was just thinking about you.”

“Same. I think about you a lot too. I have fairly good news.”

“Tell me about Tammy.”

“I’ve been to Lakeview to see her and she’s safe in a hospital with doctors and nurses taking care of her.”

“Is she being evaluated?”

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