Page 63 of Rocky Ride

“I’m still not sure how good the roads will be by eight o’clock tonight,” said Travis. “Wait and see.”

“Thanks for the time off, Dad,” I said. “I wanted to go home mid-day anyway to spend some time in the barn. It’s too fuckin cold in there for the horses with only two of them.”

“Take the dogs out there to make extra body heat and lay down a double layer of straw in the stalls.”

“Copy that. Double straw will help.”

“Make sure the heater is on max while y’all are in the barn, then turn it down to medium when y’all leave. I don’t like it on high when nobody is out there.”

“Got it, Dad,” I said.

“Yep. Safety first,” said Virge. “Don’t want to burn our barn down.”

Coyote Creek Inn.

Travis spoke to Susan, the manager, as soon as he arrived and made sure everything was exactly the way Bob Ellington had arranged for his wife’s reception.

Susan assured him the food and the bar were perfect and Bob had requested a dark roast coffee and Earl Grey tea for those who weren’t coffee drinkers.

“We’re ready, Travis. A couple of extra girls on to serve behind the buffet table, and Joey behind the bar. All set.” She smiled. “Mister Ellington should be pleased.”

“I’m sure he will be. Thanks, Susan.”

Cassie and Ray Blake came through the front door and hung their coats in the cloak room. Ray seemed every bit as upset as Cassie and Travis wondered if he was a visitor to the Ellington house when his wife wasn’t looking, or if he was just missing his neighbor a lot.

Billy pointed out Graham Van Cedar when he arrived. Travis had never met the lawyer from Conrad who was a frequent visitor to Sandra’s house and claimed to be in love with her.

“Point out the tailor who drives the Jag,” whispered Travis. “I’ve never seen him either.”

Billy pulled up a picture on his phone that Harlan had sent him, and he showed Travis. “This is the suit guy the boys are sure is lying about why he was seen at the Ellington’s place.”

Travis glanced around at the crowd near the coffee station and nodded. “Yep, I see him over there. He’s talking to Bob Ellington.”

“Made custom suits for him, so the story goes.”

Almost all the neighbors from Kings Court were in attendance. One dark-complexioned muscular guy crammed into a black suit didn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the group. He was alone. Shoulder-length hair and a scar at the corner of his mouth.

Travis recognized him from his DL photo.

Dan Darkers.

He leaned close to Billy. “See that guy in the black suit?”

“Yeah, I see him. Who is that?”

“Dan Darkers.”

“Aw, fuck. What’s he doing here?”

“No idea. Not one.”

“I’m watching Van Cedar and he’s got eyes on everybody. That guy is a danger to himself and to us.”

“You think he’s trying to catch Sandra’s killer by himself?”

“Sure do. What if he picks the wrong person and offs him?”

“Aw, fuck that,” said Travis. “Keep him in your sights.”

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