Page 35 of Rocky Ride

“Hear a name mentioned?” asked Ardal.

“Don’t think so. What did those guys do? Are they dangerous?”

Casey said, “Bobby Prescott is a wanted fugitive. The other guy is just hanging with Bobby—probably driving the truck because Prescott was badly wounded in an incident in Canada.”

“Huh. If they come back do you want me to call a number?”

“Yes, please.” Casey handed him a card. “That’s my cell number. Me and Ardal are staying at a hotel a couple blocks away and we can be here pretty quick if they happen to show up. Thanks for your help.”

Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange. Texas.

Annie was worn out by the time she got Tammy home to the ranch. First thing she did was call Sheriff Rafe Cumberland, her father-in-law, to come and arrest Tammy and take her to Lakeview Hospital. A facility for the criminally insane. She’d beconfined there and undergo testing until she had to make her first court appearance. Blaine had already arranged it.

“I’ll let Travis know in the morning. It will be a big relief for him to know she’s in a hospital.”

Annie got ready for bed and was brushing her teeth when she heard a text hit her phone.

“Hope you got home safe.”

“Thank you, yes. Tammy is in custody and has been taken to Lakeview Hospital. Couldn’t have done it without you. Thanks again, Mason.”

“I hope we meet again, Mrs. Powell. Pleasure working with you.”

“I feel the same way.”

Annie smiled as she hopped into bed.

Chapter Eight

Sunday, October 20th.

Wild Stallion Ranch. Montana.

While we ate breakfast, Billy talked about Sandra Ellington’s murder and brought Travis up to date on what we had done so far.

“I’ve met the lawyer down the street from the station,” said Travis. “That his wife?”

“Yep,” said Virge. “We already found out she was screwing around on Bob, the lawyer.”

“Two at a time according to her neighbor,” I said. “One of them drives a Jeep and the other one is calling around regular in a dark red pickup.”

“Shit,” said Travis. “These fellas have names?”

“Not yet,” said Billy. “Don’t know how we’re gonna get their names either.”

“Any of the neighbors across the street got security cams out front?” asked Travis.

“We’ll find that out today, Dad,” I said. “I don’t want this going cold on us.”

Sunday listened, made more toast for us then sat down and listened some more. She seemed interested in the murder.

Billy focused his eyes on Sunday and watched her quite steady, and I wondered about that. Billy ain’t had a steady girlfriend since those twins were on him like maggots on a corpse. They were nasty pieces of work and turned his life inside out. Maybe he swore off women after that.

Me and Virge left chores until after breakfast because we didn’t have to rush to the station. We were in the barn mucking out the stalls when Sunday came to see the horses.

She stood in front of Outlaw’s stall and stroked his nose. “Do they have to stay in all winter?”

“Have to,” said Virge. “Three feet of snow in the corral.”

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