Page 94 of Rocky Ride

Annie stroked his long hair and whispered, “It would be so easy to stay here and love you and never go home.”

Chapter Nineteen

Thursday, October 31st.

Hallowe’en.

Wild Stallion Ranch. Montana.

“I called the hospital, and they gave me the same oldresting comfortablycrap. I want to drive over to Cut Bank and sit with Virgil, but I can’t. We’ve got an overload of work staring us in the face this morning.”

“Yeah, we do,” said Billy. “Did you leave word for Virgil’s doctor to call you?”

“I did,” said Travis. “With me not able to go, I want to send Harlan to be there when he opens his eyes, but I can’t do that either. We’re going to need every man today to get through the bookings and the reports.”

Dad was upset and so fuckin worked up about Virgie getting hurt, it was pitiful to watch. I tried to come up with something to de-stress him.

“Savanna was crying over Virgie last night, Dad. Would she have time to drive over to Cut Bank and spend a couple of hours with him?”

“Damned good thought, Harlan. I’ll call her on the way to the station.”

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

“Meeting in the squad room,” said Travis. “This is for everybody.”

“Before we start,” said Molly, “can I ask how Virgil is?”

“He’s not awake yet, Molly. I’ve got a call in to the surgeon and we’re so busy this morning, I asked Savanna to go to the hospital and sit with him.”

“As long as he doesn’t wake up alone,” said Molly.

“Uh huh.”

Dad was getting upset again. I could hear it in his voice.

“Let’s start with the murders. If the forensic team that Graham Van Cedar hired out of his own pocket doesn’t give us a solid piece of evidence to work with, then we have nothing.”

Nobody said anything.

“That said, let’s move on to the bookings for this morning. Read the names off one at a time, Molly.”

She picked up her list. “Toby Darkers.”

“Manufacturing illegal drugs for the purpose of trafficking.”

“Dan Darkers.”

“Same charges plus the assault on Barb Joliceur. He didn’t do it personally, but he ordered it.”

“Easy Menard.”

“Manufacturing, trafficking plus assault causing bodily harm.”

“Are the two in the hospital going to make it?”

“Not sure of that, Molly. Let’s see if they do before we worry what we’re going to charge them with.”

“Mister Darkers requested a phone call this morning,” said Molly.

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