Page 52 of The Sound of Sleighbells

“I hope you’re right, but you can’t be too careful. Call the sheriff and tell him what you told me. I’m going outside to check the bunkhouse. I’ll get back to you.”

Judd ended the call and went outside. The bike was still missing, but when he opened the door of the bunkhouse, he saw the backpack on the rumpled bed, with clothes and gear scattered around the messy room. It appeared, at least, that Digger would be back.

Then what?

Returning to the house, he checked on Abner, who was still asleep, then phoned Ruth and told her what he’d found.

“Did you call the sheriff?” he asked.

“I did. No surprises. The sheriff said that Digger usually hangs out at Rowdy’s Roost. He’ll send a deputy to pick him up and bring him in for questioning, but without proof that Digger’s broken the law, he can’t be arrested.”

“And Digger will deny even knowing about the cocaine,” Judd said. “You’re right. No surprises there. What will the sheriff be doing to protect your family?”

“He said he’d warn Digger to leave me alone. But he doesn’t have the manpower to post a guard at my house. I told him that was fine. Hanging around our house would only get Digger in more trouble.”

“If you’re worried, you’re welcome to come to my place,” Judd offered. “I’d get you, but I shouldn’t leave Abner alone.”

“Stop worrying, Judd. We’ll be fine,” she said. “What about Digger? What will you do if he comes back? Will you throw him out?”

“I’ve thought about it. But as things stand now, the safest place for Digger is right here where I can keep an eye on him. If I turn him loose, he could be knocking on your door next.”

“I understand,” she said. “But one thing doesn’t make sense. If Digger was after the stash in my wagon, and he didn’t get it, why doesn’t he just leave town? What’s he waiting for?”

“That’s a good question.” Judd paused, thinking. “What if there’s more than one stash—and Ed is making him earn it?”

“Earn it how?”

“The answer to that question might have something to do with you.”

“You mean Digger could be spying on me? That sounds so creepy—not that a spy would have much to report. My life is pretty boring.”

“Maybe to you. But not to Ed. I could be wrong, but for now, it doesn’t hurt to be careful.”

She sighed. “I’m not worried about myself. All I want is for my children to be safe.”

“They will be safe. I’ll make sure of it. I promise on my life.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” Judd could feel the emotion in the ragged breath she took. “We’ll be in school tomorrow. I suppose the boys will be coming to work on the harness. I may come by after work to see Abner. Let me know how he’s doing.”

“I’ll do that. Be careful.” I love you, Ruth. He almost said it. But he stopped himself in time. In the next instant, she’d ended the call.

* * *

Two nights later, Digger stood in the darkness of the phone booth clutching a handful of quarters. He was still trying to decide what to tell Ed and how much to keep to himself.

He could skip the account of being hauled out of Rowdy’s Roost by the deputy and grilled by the sheriff, even though he was proud of the way he’d handled it. True, he couldn’t deny that he’d been Ed’s cellmate. But there was no evidence to prove he’d been in touch with Ed and none to connect him with the cocaine found in Ruth’s wagon. He’d lied through his teeth, and the lawman had had no choice except to let him go.

And he wouldn’t bother to tell Ed how Judd had raked him over the coals when he got home. Judd’s suspicions about Ed and the drug stash had hit close to home. But again, there was no proof. All that Judd had gained was the promise to leave Ruth and her family alone—a promise that Digger could break anytime he chose.

Deny, deny, deny. It was becoming Digger’s favorite word.

He dropped the first quarter into the phone slot. This time he had plenty of dirt on the relationship between Judd and Ruth. He could only hope it was enough to buy him the location of Ed’s second cocaine stash.

“This better be good,” Ed grumbled when he came on the line.

“It’s damned good,” Digger said. “There’s for sure something going on between those two. Ruth’s boy is spending a lot of time over there. And the other day she delivered some food in one of those Crock-Pots. The boy carried it inside. He had a key to the house. It looks like Ruthie might be getting ready to move her family in there. You know what that means. She and Judd will be shackin’ up.”

Ed mouthed a string of profanity. “You freakin’ idiot! You said you had something good. Instead, you tell me something that makes me feel like crap. Let me tell you what good is. It’s blood. It’s fire. It’s something you’ve done to make Judd Rankin pay for stealin’ my family. That’s what good is. And you’re not getting’ my stash until you can tell me it’s done.”

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