Page 47 of Deadly Evidence
Moving to the side of the bed, Anna leaned over to study the board.
Her estimation of the girl kicked up another notch because there were at least three moves she could have used to avoid being beaten.
“He doesn’t like to play with just anyone,” Anna added, giving his shoulder an affectionate squeeze.
“He had to. I threatened him with my violin.”
“She threatened to teach herself bluegrass,” he corrected. “Right here in my room. The thought made my teeth ache.”
Thank you,Anna mouthed to Mia.
The girl nodded. “By the way—Vicente moved back to his cabin. He said he couldn’t sleep well in the house, so I took him some lunch. Brady went to town on an errand he said you wanted him to take care of. He’ll be home around three.”
Anna nodded.
“Oh, and Lacey left you a note on the counter—says she needs some props for a play at school. She wants to go through the storeroom in the barn, if that’s okay.”
“Tell her she’s welcome to anything of mine, but she has to stay out of Jonah’s things unless she asks him first. Did she say what she was after?”
“I’m not sure. She has a list that the teacher gave all the kids, and whoever comes up with the most gets extra points or something. It’s on the counter, too.”
Mia frowned at Jonah. “I should let you sleep a while. You look kinda tired. But if you want, I can offer you a choice of Chopin or world-class chess before supper.”
Jonah hadn’t looked this perky in months, Anna thought as she headed down the hall.
He’d never be strong and healthy again—fifteen years of advancing Parkinson’s was inexorably dragging him into a downward spiral—but he’d been understandably depressed these past months as well.
She glanced out the windows facing the ranch road, then took a quick shower and changed.
The sheriff’s patrol car was just pulling in by the time she got to the kitchen. Gathering her damp hair into a ponytail, she went outside to meet him.
“Hey, Ramon. Good to see you.” She offered her hand and gave his a firm shake.
After Aubrey Booker, Ramon was a welcome change—not more than thirty and physically fit, he had the energy and the obvious desire to see things done right.
“I lost at least thirty head either Saturday night or Sunday morning, best as I can tell.”
Pulling out his metal-backed notebook, he started filling out a report form. “Branded?”
“With the Triple R brand, and you’ve seen how tricky it would be to alter it. Our ear notches are the same way.”
Ramon looked up at her. “Not easy to change. Someone would have to hold onto those steers for a while so the changes wouldn’t look fresh.”
“That’s what we figure. Your office said they’ve already faxed bulletins out to the sales barns throughout Texas and did that e-mail report thing as well.”
“You have insurance?”
“Not enough—and this is the second time in the past six months. My agent is getting a little testy. If these guys got one of my bulls...” The thought made Anna’s stomach twist into a knot.
Ramon frowned. “Any evidence?”
“Truck tire tracks, mostly. Some cigarette butts, but I don’t imagine you’re going to look at DNA for a cattle thief.”
She fished into her back pocket. “Out about fifty yards from the chute Dante found this key chain, though I guess we don’t know if it’s been there two days or two years.”
Taking it from her, he turned it over in his hand. “First Avenue Ford, Dallas. But no keys?”
“Nope.”
