Page 25 of A Triple C Ranch Christmas Wedding
Chapter 5
Jack pickedup his cell phone as he drove and called George.
George answered the phone. “Hello?”
“George, this is Jack,” he said.
“What did you find?” George asked.
“Dan used his drone to find their tracks. He found the ruts left by the truck and trailer, out near the main road where they pulled over to load them. It’s that dirt access road in the pasture, behind the paddock. They came up that way and took them. He can see where they pulled out onto the road, and which direction they went. So, I’m on the road to follow them.”
“I’ve talked to the sheriff, and he’s on his way out here,” George said.
“Great,” Jack said.
“Keep me posted on what you find,” George said.
“Will do,” Jack said.
“I’m calling Buck next. The sheriff wants a list of what we know is missing and any information you can give us,” George said. “They busted into Buck’s apartment and the cases are empty where he kept his prize-winning rodeo buckles.”
“Damn,” Jack said. “Sounds personal. It would be hard to fence such distinctive items.”
“I agree it does. Buck’s real proud of those buckles and rightly so. I hate to break this to Buck, while he’s in the hospital, after he’s just had one stroke.”
“We’re going to catch them,” Jack said. “Maybe you won’t have to.”
“I’m just going to tell the sheriff I know they are missing along with the horses and hope that the sheriff can call Buck later to get a description,” George said. “It’s going to be hard enough to tell him the horses are gone.”
“It’s hard breaking bad news,” Jack said.
“Sure is,” George said. “At least I can tell him we’ve got men from the Protectors team on their trail. If you can get a description of the vehicle, the sheriff will get the state boys looking for it. He’s going to post about the missing horses.”
“Sounds good,” Jack said. “Keep me posted as well. I’m in touch with Hank. He’s organizing our team, and they’ll be in the air soon.”
“We appreciate all your help,” George said. “Hank is a good man.”
“He is,” Jack agreed.
* * *
Buck Harris wasasleep in his hospital bed in Bozeman when the phone on the table beside the bed rang. He woke and reached for the phone.
“Hello,” he said with a scratchy throat, and then cleared his throat.
“Buck, this is George. Sorry to bother you, but I need to talk to you, right away.”
Buck sat up in bed, wider awake now. “What’s happened, George?”
“Horse thieves, that’s what,” George said.
“Son of a…” Buck cursed. “How many did they get?”
“All ten,” George said. “Barn was emptied, and they took three saddles.”
“Dammit.” Buck swung his legs over the side of the hospital bed and stood, looking about the room for his clothes. “I’m on my way.”
“We’ve got people going after them already,” George said. “You stay put—you’re in the hospital for God’s sake. I’ve talked to the sheriff, and he’s on his way out here. He wants a list of what we think was taken.”
