Picking Up the Pieces

by Carolina Mac

  “Why would you take her out and not me?” Harper’s eyes flashed and her jaw was set in a hard line.

  “It wasn’t that kind of date, Harper. And why would you care? There’s nothing going on between us.”

  “There would have been if it hadn’t been for your brother screwing me, Laney and Kate over.”

  “Logan didn’t screw you girls over. Y’all acted like spoiled babies and Logan made a sensible decision that was best for all of us.”

  “Wasn’t best for me, Clay McKenna. You have no idea what’s best for me.” Harper spun around and pointed a finger in his face. “In fact, I don’t want to work here anymore. I quit.”

  “Great, Harper. You go right ahead and quit.” Clay finished saddling his horse, walked War out to the corral fence and tied him up. “I’ll go tell Logan to get your pay ready.”

  “Sure, Clay, why don’t you do that.”

  Clay ran up the porch steps, through the kitchen and into the office. “Logy, get Harper’s pay ready. She just quit.”

  “She did?” Logan looked surprised. “Why’d she do that?”

  “Pissed that I took Bonnie Sue out and not her. That’s why. You were right about keeping space between us and the girls. You were saving us a big ugly mess of things. I can see that now.”

  “You’re welcome. I’ll figure out what we owe her. Wonder if Laney and Kate will take off too?”

  Clay shrugged. “Don’t know. Wouldn’t be surprised. They seem to stick together.”

  I started figuring out what the ranch owed Harper when Doctor Lonnigan called. “Morning, Doctor.”

  “Good morning, Logan. I have a free hour this afternoon and I wondered if you needed help getting your birthing charts in order.”

  “We’ve been in a bit of a mess, but I was fixing to start those today. It would be fantastic if you could give me a hand with them. What time are you free?”

  “I could be there around two.”

  “Thanks, so much. I’ll see you then.”

  Why is she being nice to me?

  It took me a few minutes to get Harper’s pay ready, then I headed to the bunkhouse to give her the check and she was all packed and ready to leave.

  “Sorry to lose you, Harper. You’re a good worker.”

  “Things aren’t working out for me here, Logan. You’re a good boss and I like the ranch, but I’d better move on.”

  “You know best.” I handed her the envelope and she shoved it into her duffel bag. “Maybe we’ll see you in town.”

  “Yeah, maybe.”

  I walked her to her truck and watched her drive away. She wasn’t gone five minutes when Rip and Chuck arrived for their lesson. Busy morning.

  WHEN we broke for lunch I talked to the boys about Harper being gone. “Do we need another hand right away?”

  “Don’t think we do,” said Clay. “We can manage.”

  “If I put an ad in the paper, I want a guy, not another girl,” I said. “Save a cat fight.”

  “Guy would be best,” said Jacky. “Don’t think we need anybody right now, but it’s your call.”

  “I’ll think about it,” I said. “I have the feeling the other two girls might quit and follow Harper and we’ll be caught short with no help at all.”

  “That could happen,” said Clay. “Maybe you should put the ad in. We could take one more hand right away, but we might need more than one if the other two girls bolt.”

  “Yep.”

  Jacky finished his sandwich and stood up. “I’m going to gas up in town and see what Ronnie has to say. Be back soon.”

  DOCTOR Lonnigan arrived at the ranch at five minutes to two and I was ready for her with a large supply of forms spread out on my desk. My heart was beating a bit fast wondering what the real reason was for her being so nice to me. Jacky boy was the one she seemed to take a shine to since the first day we met her. Since day one, she’d barely said a civil word to me.

  I greeted her with a smile and showed her into the office. As we passed through the kitchen I offered her coffee and she declined.

  “A handy little office here, Logan.” She looked around. “Nicely organized. I can see you’re taking your new business seriously.”

  “I am, Doctor. I’m very serious about our new business. This ranch is our livelihood—for all three of us. It’s all we have, and we have to run it properly.”

  She sat in the only other chair and asked, “Have you heard any news about your stolen bull?”

  “We’re supposed to pay the ransom at six o’clock.” I checked my watch. “Four hours from now and we don’t have the money. The kidnappers haven’t called to tell us where to take the money either—the money we don’t have.” I swiveled in my chair a little—back and forth—the woman made me nervous.

  “I hoped the boys and I or the sheriff would catch them before it was time to hand over the money, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. We might lose Presto.”

  “What a shame.” Doctor Lonnigan looked truly distressed. She was pretty—really pretty and a couple of buttons of her shirt were left undone.

  Did she do that on purpose?

  The Doctor leaned forward, and I could see right down her shirt. I tried not to look but it was a little too late. I could feel my jeans getting tight.

  “Tell me what you know so far, Logan. Maybe I can help.”

  “Would you want to help us?”

  “To save that poor animal from certain death and to help you, Logan—yes, I want to help you.”

  “Nice of you, Doctor. “I don’t know what you can do, but I’ll tell you all I know. Maybe you’ll have new insight.”

  She smiled. “You never know.”

  Broken Spur.

  JACK parked his pickup at the pumps and went inside the convenience store to prepay and to look for Ronnie Palmer. Candy Childers, the owner’s wife, was at the cash and the store was empty. Jack laid a twenty on the counter. “I’m looking for Ronnie. He around?”

  “He’s in the garage, Jack. He’s been quiet and keeping to himself since those hoodlums beat him up. I’m a little worried about him.”

  “Thanks, Mrs. Childers. I’ll talk to him.”

  “Any word on your bull?” she called after Jack.

  “Nope. Can’t find him and the sheriff can’t find who took him.”

  “Damned shame,” she said. “Taking livestock right out of your field. Modern day bull rustling. Criminal, that’s what it is.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Jack filled up the truck, then went to the garage next door to see if Ronnie was busy.

  Covered in grease and grime, Ronnie rolled out from under an old Chevy when he heard the bell over the door. “Hey, Jacky, heard anything about Presto?”

  “Can’t find him, Ronnie.” Jack took a hard look at Ronnie’s face and the bruising had mellowed a little. His eye appeared to be no better. Still swollen and purple.

  “Can’t find Buster Tate, neither. His mama damned near starved out there on the goat farm. We took her some groceries yesterday.”

  “Shit.” Ronnie sat up on the dolly and wiped his greasy hands on a rag. “Never thought about her being stuck out there alone without Buster. She don’t drive.”

  “We asked her again about the last time she saw Buster and she remembered when Bobby Paisley picked Buster up, Bobby’s helper was in the truck too. What’s that kid’s name?”

  “Dean,” said Ronnie. “His name’s Dean and he lives at the Paisley ranch.”

  “I need to talk to Dean when Bobby ain’t around,” said Jack. “Don’t know how I’m gonna do that.”

  “Umm… Dean usually picks up alone at the feed store, guess that would be your best bet.”

  “Uh huh. Would be. That’s a good idea, Ronnie. You stay out of trouble.”

  “Yeah, I’m in my new detective mode.” He tried to smile. “I listen and keep my big mouth shut.”

  “How’s that working out?”

  “Good so far. I heard Clay took out Bonnie Sue.”


  “Yep, he did. Anything else?”

  “Umm… let me think. Forget who was talking about it, but I heard two guys in the store saying they pulled a body out of the White River down south of here.”

  “Wonder who that could be?”

  “Don’t think they said. Not in our county or we’d know about it.”

  “Right. Talk to you soon, Ronnie. Buy you a pitcher on the weekend.”

  He smiled a crooked smile. “Look forward to it, Jacky.”

  McKenna Ranch.

  ONCE I got going on the Presto story, Doctor Lonnigan changed her mind about the coffee I’d offered her and figured she needed fortification. I filled mugs for both of us, started a fresh pot and picked up where I’d left off.

  She took notes and asked questions and seemed to be intent on solving our dilemma. I only wished she could. After telling me she could only spare an hour to work on the cattle charts, she’d been in the office for two hours and we hadn’t even touched the charts.

  “You should speak to Bobby Paisley’s helper,” said the doctor. “Be best if y’all could get him alone.”

  That’s when Jacky boy came home and heard us talking. He stuck his head in the office and said, “Ronnie Palmer told me the hired hand—Dean is his name—picks up at the feed store alone.”

  The doctor turned her head and smiled at Jack. “Good detective work, Jack. Hard to know when Mr. Paisley needs feed, isn’t it?”

  “Would be,” I said.

  “Unless you pretended you were calling from the feed store and told him his order was ready,” said the doctor. “He might give you a hint.”

  I chuckled. “Or he might figure it was a prank and track down whose phone it came from.”

  “I’ll do it,” she said and pulled out her cell phone. “He won’t know my number.” She scrolled to Bobby Paisley’s contact number and pressed it.

  “Hello, Mr. Paisley, this is Beth calling from the feed store. Just wondering when Dean was coming to pick up your order.”

  She smiled and nodded, and I couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation. “Thank you.” The doctor pressed end and giggled. “That was fun. He said he was surprised it was ready. He only called in the order this morning.”

  “Is Dean coming?” asked Jack.

  “Uh huh. He’s sending him to the feed store now.”

  I grinned. “Fantastic work, Doctor.”

  “Logan, could you please call me, Fiona?”

  Jacky boy rolled his eyes.

  “I can try.”

  She checked her watch. “I’d better go. I have appointments. Can I come with y’all when you do the fake money run? I’m loving this adventure y’all are caught up in.”

  Adventure? More like a nightmare.

  I glanced at Jacky and he shrugged. “Sure, I can’t see any harm in it. Depending how far we have to go with the money, I’ll pick you up around five-thirty.”

  “Great.” She tapped the pile on my desk. “We better get at those tomorrow.”

  After she left, Jacky winked at me. “What the hell is going on, Logan? I thought she didn’t like you.”

  “I did too. She must have had one of those moments when you see crystal clear.” I snorted.

  Jacky waved his arm at me. “Come on, Logy. Get the lead out. We have to get to the mill.”

  We ran to the truck and headed for Preston.

  Preston Mill and Feed Store.

  CLAY hopped in the truck with us and we filled him in on the way to the feed mill. Jacky brought us both up to date on the drowning victim in the next county south and we all couldn’t help but wonder if it was Buster Tate.

  I parked at the loading dock at the back of the mill where the ranchers picked up their orders and we waited for Dean to show up in Bobby Paisley’s truck.

  About ten minutes later, there he was thanks to Doctor Lonnigan and her little charade. We hopped out and kind of mobbed him as he asked big Mike about his order.

  “Ain’t quite ready,” said Mike.

  “Bobby said it was ready,” said Dean.

  “Wrong. Ain’t ready, but I’ll hurry it up for you, Dean.”

  “Yeah, thanks.”

  He looked a little pissed off as he pulled out a pack of smokes and lit one up. “Talk to you a second, Dean?” I asked in my politest voice.

  “Don’t want to talk to no McKennas. Bobby told me y’all were bad news.”

  “Depends on your perspective, Dean. Were you with Bobby when he picked Buster up at his house? Mrs. Tate said you were in the truck.”

  “If she said I was there, then I guess I was.”

  “Why did Bobby say he never picked Buster up?” I asked.

  Dean shrugged. “Did he?”

  “He did. After you picked Buster up where did y’all go?”

  “That was a while ago. Don’t know if I can remember that far back.”

  “Not even a week ago,” said Jack. “I think you can do it.”

  “Umm… I don’t think Bobby would want me talking about his personal business. He’s big on protecting his privacy. I better not.”

  I pulled out my wallet. “How are you fixed for cash, Dean?”

  He smiled. “Guess I could use a little extra.”

  “All I want to know is where y’all went with Buster.”

  “I can’t see why it would be important.”

  “It just is,” I said.

  Dean shrugged, tossed his butt to the ground and stepped on it. “Okay, we picked Buster up, then drove over to Doyle Hutton’s ranch and let Buster out. Buster was supposed to help Doyle with a job. Doyle had to pick up with his cattle truck and had no helper.”

  I forked over forty bucks and Dean seemed pleased. “Don’t know if that was worth forty bucks.”

  “Sure, it was,” I said. “Thanks for your time, Dean. You have a nice day.”

  “Now we know who owned the truck they used to take Presto,” said Clay, when we were back in our truck. “Want to take a run over to Doyle Hutton’s place?”

  “We haven’t got time,” I said. “We’ll do it after dark. I have to get the bag of fake money ready and wait for the phone call.”

  “We better get home and do that,” said Jack. “We’ll leave Doyle Hutton on the back burner for now.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  5:00 p.m.

  McKenna Ranch.

  JACK ran upstairs and found an old duffel bag in his closet. He brought it down and opened it up on the kitchen table. “It’s got to look full and feel heavy,” he said. “I seen them make a fake one on TV on Criminal Minds.”

  “Yep, I agree with full and heavy, but the first thing Paul Silverstone is going to do is undo the zipper and look inside. He has to see money on the top at least, and while he gawks at the money we’re going to grab him and tie him up.”

  Clay rolled his eyes. “We need those plastic ties. I think I’ve got some in my room I was using for computer wires.”

  “Get them, Clay,” I said, “we might need them, but we might not.”

  “You have something else in mind, Logy?”

  “Maybe.” I’d been thinking of another way. “We’re not going unarmed in case that Micky guy is in on it and he’s there fixin to shoot us.”

  “Think they’re all in it together?” asked Jacky.

  “No idea, but I know one thing for sure. The McKenna brothers ain’t gonna be the ones getting shot.”

  “I’ll get our guns ready,” said Clay. “We haven’t gone hunting in a long while. I’ll have to dig around for ammo.”

  I searched for a money substitute and the only thing I could come up with was a couple of old phone books that should have been tossed into the trash long ago. They had good weight to them. I put them in the bottom of the bag, then piled in a couple dozen of Daddy’s old rodeo magazines from the huge pile in his room.

  Jacky hefted the duffel and thought it felt about right. “What are we gonna use for the money layer, Logy?”

  “Money. We’ll use money b
ecause we’re gonna take this duffel back soon as we grab Silverstone.”

  “Did you pick up money at the bank?” asked Jacky.

  “Yep. I took out a thousand all in ones, except for ten twenties. We have to make bundles and pack them in right so all you can see is money.” I went into the office to get the bag of money I got from the bank.

  “Do we have that many rubber bands?” asked Jacky.

  “I picked some up in town. Here you go. Let’s get this job done.”

  We’d barely started making the packages when Silverstone called.

  “Got the money, McKenna?”

  “Yeah, I’ve got it.”

  “About time.”

  “Shut up and tell me where to take it.”

  “Do you know where the old drive-in theatre is on the south side of Preston?”

  “Course, I know where it is. Everybody does.”

  “Meet me there at six o’clock.”

  “Are you bringing Presto there?” I asked.

  “Are you nuts? I’ll tell you where you can pick him up.”

  “I’ll be there at six,” I said and ended the call. Jacky and Clay waited for me to share. “Old drive-in.”

  Clay pulled out his cell. “I’m calling Bonnie Sue. She can arrest him.”

  “Better if we take him on our own and take him to the sheriff’s office,” I said.

  “What if there’s too many of them for the three of us?” asked Clay. “Then what?”

  “We’ll go early and follow Silverstone to make sure he’s alone.”

  “I don’t think Doc Lonnigan should go,” said Jack. “What if she gets hurt?”

  “She asked to come along,” I said. “I’ll go by the clinic and give her the chance to beg off.”

  “Okay, we’ll take two trucks,” said Clay. “I want to go to Doyle Hutton’s place as soon as it’s dark to look for Presto.”

  “We’ll do that,” I said. “It’s on the list.”

  5:30 p.m.

  Lonnigan Vet Clinic. Broken Spur.

  FIONA was sitting on her porch ready to go and even though I tried to talk her out of it, she seemed excited to be participating and bent on going with us to see how the money drop unfolded.

  “Where do you have to take the money?” she asked as she fastened her seat belt.