by Rayna Morgan
“Most bird-watchers have a camera,” the boy said, looking them up and down.
“We were on our way back from meeting the chief,” Lea responded. She hated to lie, but she didn’t want him thinking they were spying on him. ”We decided to go for a hike before Maddy could get the camera from her car. She’s been taking pictures with her phone.”
“I told my sister how mad I’ll be if we’re lucky enough to spot a rare bird, and I don’t get a decent picture,” Maddy said.
“You met the chief?” Dalton asked.
“Yes, he’s an interesting man, and so wise,” Lea said, relieved to move the conversation in another direction. “It must be great having him as a neighbor. If I lived close, I’d be pestering him with questions all the time.”
The boy looked down and shuffled his feet. “Girls ask more questions than guys. We figure stuff out on our own.”
Lea could sense unanswered questions hanging in the air, both hers and Dalton’s. The dog interrupted the moment, dropping the stick at his master’s feet.
“C’mon, Rascal. We’ve got work to do,” the boy said. He turned away from the women.
Lea wanted to stop him so they could talk further, but she had no reason. He looked back before he and his dog moved out of sight. His eyes locked on hers.
“Nice meeting you,” he said, barely loud enough to be heard.
• • •
“That was a close call!” Maddy said, catching her breath.
“With the dog or with Dalton figuring out we aren’t bird-watchers?”
“Both, but were you impressed with my improvising?”
“If you mean shooting the breeze, that’s genetic,” Lea replied. “We both inherited that skill from Dad.”
“Cops do have a tendency to expound on their adventures,” Maddy agreed, “but it made for great bedtime stories.”
Lea mused over the boy’s behavior. “Do you think Dalton seemed nervous?”
“Maybe a bit skittish, but I can think of at least three good reasons for his acting that way.”
“I’m listening,” Lea said. She stopped walking and turned to her sister.
“First, his father’s been killed. Second, we’re strangers on his property.”
“And third?”
“He’s a teenager; their whole view of adults is skeptical.”
“You could be right,” Lea said. “Maybe we should head back.”
“I thought you wanted to check out the neighbors, including the Hudson place.”
“I’m a little skittish after our encounter with Dalton’s dog,” Lea admitted.
“You aren’t going to let a showdown with a pair of canine fangs scare you off, are you?”
“You’re the brave one,” Lea said.
“C’mon, you can do it. Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.”
“That sounds like something Scott told you.”
“Nope, John Wayne, but you remember Dad’s version, don’t you? Strength doesn’t come from doing what you can do; it comes from doing what you thought you couldn’t.”
Lea glared at her sister. “You’re a regular fountain of wisdom today.”
“I guess it rubs off from being around the chief,” Maddy said.
“All right, I’m game,” Lea agreed, “but let’s go back to the barn and get Gracie and Spirit. It’s only five minutes from here. I’ll feel safer with them along.”
• • •
Things at the Hudson Ranch seemed quiet enough, but the women spoke in whispers.
“I don’t see anyone. Let’s check it out,” Maddy said, pointing toward the barn. Lea gave a thumbs-up.
The sisters advanced, crouching and stepping gingerly on dried leaves and sticks.
As they moved past a corral, a horse raised its head and pawed the dirt. A chicken scurried out in front of them.
Lea put a finger to her lips to warn Spirit and Gracie, but it was too late. The dogs took off, chasing the chicken toward the barn.
The women ran after them, splitting up to search each side of the building for the dogs.
“Psst,” Maddy hissed moments later, motioning for her sister. “Come take a look.”
Lea crossed to a fenced storage area where she found Maddy snapping pictures.
“What did you find?”
“You mean what did Gracie find? Luckily, I pulled her away before she put her nose where it didn’t belong.”
“What is it?”
“Something I think Tom will be plenty interested in seeing,” Maddy said, as they stood side by side staring at four black canisters labeled with cross-bones.
• • •
A voice boomed behind them. They both jumped. “What do you two think you’re doing?”
They spun around, coming face-to-face with a man fitting Tom’s description of Cliff Hudson.
“My sister and I were bird-watching,” Lea said, too quickly. “My dogs ran in here after a chicken.”
“You call it bird-watching and chasing chickens, I call it trespassing,” he growled.
“We didn’t think about being on private property,” Maddy said. “Sorry, I guess we got carried away.”
“I don’t know what you city folks do about trespassers, but out here in the country, we shoot ‘em,” he said, spitting out a wad of chewing tobacco big enough to make Lea’s stomach churn.
He pulled a gun out of a holster strapped around his waist, twirling it around on his finger before pointing it at them.
Maddy handled her cell phone as smartly as the rancher handled his gun. Hitting speed dial, she glared at him.
“I’m calling my detective friend. If you’re going to shoot us, I want him to know exactly what happened here. Wouldn’t want you ruining my good name if I’m no longer around to defend myself.”
“What the blazes are you doing, missy?” shouted Hudson, taking a step toward her.
“Hey, Tom. I only have a minute. I’m about to be shot by—”
She held the phone away from her ear and pressed the speaker button. “What’s your name, mister?”
“Put the phone down,” Hudson ordered.
“He won’t give me his name, but it’s the ranch next to the Benson farm. We’re in the man’s barn. Regardless of what he might tell you when you find our bodies, my sister and I were bird-watching and wandered onto his property by mistake.”
“Geez, Maddy, what have you gotten yourself into?” Tom demanded. “Is this a joke?”
“Not by the looks of the pistol this dude’s pointing at us.”
“Dang blast it. I’m on my way, but this better not be—”
Maddy clicked off.
She put an arm around Lea’s shoulder. “Detective Elliot is on his way. If this guy shoots us, he’ll have a lot of explaining to do.”
They both held their breath as they watched Cliff Hudson holster his gun.
• • •
Tom sped up the driveway. “Crap,” he cursed, hitting a pothole big enough to elevate him a foot off the front seat.
He leaped out of the car, running toward the barn. “Maddy, you in there?”
“Come on in.”
Her voice sounded too calm for someone whose life was being threatened.
He used caution entering the building but let out his breath when he saw the sisters sitting comfortably on a bale of hay. Gracie stood watch over a mound on the floor which was emitting a stream of rambling profanity.
The object of the dog’s attention was Clifford Hudson, arms and legs trussed like a chicken.
Tom loosened the ropes and hoisted the rancher onto his feet.
“This man was threatening to shoot us,” Maddy said. “We had to subdue him in self-defense.”
“These bitches were trespassing,” Hudson sputtered.
“I’ll sort this out with you at headquarters. Right now,” Tom said, turning to the sisters and pointing toward the road, “I want you two and the dogs out of here. Wherever your car is, you need to be in it
within the next two minutes and on your way back to town.”
Lea grabbed Tom’s arm. “Hold on. There’s something you need to see.”
Hudson stepped forward, but Tom signaled him to stay put and followed Lea toward a storage area.
She pointed to the cans marked poison. “I think we found the culprit poisoning Benson’s crops.”
“I have no way to use this as evidence. I can’t get a warrant to search the property without cause.”
“We’ve given you cause,” Maddy said, “he threatened Lea and me.”
“He’s going to say you were trespassing. He has a right to protect his property.”
“You can use the excuse that you believe there may be other weapons on the property,” Lea suggested.
“I suppose I can do that if he can’t produce proper registration for the gun he used to threaten you,” Tom said. “By the way, tit for tat. I’ve set up protection for Amber at the hospital.”
“Thanks, Tom, that will help me sleep better tonight.”
“Before you leave,” Maddy said, anger rising, “you might take a closer look at the pistol this guy was shoving in our faces. I’m no expert on guns, but it looks like Scott’s, the one you’re calling the murder weapon.”
“How did you disarm him?” Tom asked, pushing Hudson in front of him.
Maddy’s eyes glistened with pride.
“I had a little help,” she said, stroking Gracie’s head, “but do you think I take self-defense classes for my amusement?”
“I’ve seen you throw your trainer to the mat a few times. You looked to me like you were enjoying yourself.”
“I’ll admit I like getting the better of a man,” she said.
“Remind me never to underestimate you again,” Tom told her.
“I will, and you can stop worrying about protecting me.”
“Doubt I’ll ever be able to do that.”
• • •
The sisters walked to the Miller ranch for their cars. Scott walked toward them while Lea was loading the dogs. Maddy talked rapidly, excited to tell him about their talk with the chief and their adventure at the Hudson Ranch.
“Why didn’t you call me when Cliff caught you? I would have come over and straightened him out in a hurry.”
“We handled ourselves just fine,” Maddy bragged.
“A real cowgirl can do it all by herself,” Scott said. A grin spread across his face. “But a real cowboy won’t let her.”
“We called Tom because we found evidence he needed to see,” Lea said. “Do you think Cliff is capable of poisoning Albert’s crops and livestock?”
“He’s capable, all right, he and every other farmer who has to deal with rodents, insects, and snakes, but I don’t know if he’d stoop to destroying another man’s livelihood.”
“He might have done it to force Albert’s hand over the sale of his land,” Lea said. “Money makes men do things they wouldn’t normally do.”
“If that was Cliff’s intent, he didn’t know Albert as well as I thought he did. If Albert found out someone was trying to sabotage him, he’d only dig in his heels.”
“Forget about that,” Maddy said, turning to Scott. “Thanks for letting us meet the chief. Talking to him was great. I only wish—”
“Tom could have been here,” Scott said.
Maddy’s hand flew to her mouth. “How do you read my thoughts?”
“Don’t worry; it’s all right. I’m not in competition with Tom. That’s not how I look at things.”
She sighed with relief. “He probably won’t come while you’re topping his list of suspects, but I wish he would. Even the great wise detective could learn a thing or two from the chief.”
“He’s welcome anytime,” Scott said.
Maddy touched Scott’s arm. “You’re such a great guy, I don’t deserve you as a friend.”
“Didn’t you learn anything from the chief about what we think we deserve?” Lea said. They all laughed as Lea pulled out her keys. “Thanks, Scott. It’s been enlightening; all of it, including our discovery in Hudson’s barn.”
“What’s your next move, Sis?”
“I’m going to the Benson place tomorrow to talk to Dalton. He seemed overly distraught when we ran into him. I have a feeling there’s something he’s not telling Tom.”
“Go for it,” Maddy said. “I’m the biggest fan of your intuition.”
“Nice to have the vote of confidence, but I didn’t need it. I would have gone without your blessing.”
“Don’t I know it.”
• • •
Scott walked Maddy to her car. Lea backed out and waved as she drove past.
The cowboy took off his hat, leaned through Maddy’s open window, and kissed her. “I’m glad you’re safe.”
He replaced his hat, stuffed his hands in his back pockets, and strolled up the hill.
Maddy rolled down the rest of the windows and fanned her face to cool the heat climbing up her neck. A buzz on her phone drew her attention to a text from Lea.
‘If a man takes off his hat to kiss you, he’s a keeper. Have you found your knight in shining armor?’
Maddy texted back. ‘Forget a knight in shining armor. A guy in blue jeans will do just fine.’
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The next morning, Lea turned off the frontage road and parked her car in front of a farmhouse with a manicured yard which felt strangely familiar. Looking toward the barn, she realized her error. She was rapidly retracing her steps when a woman’s voice stopped her.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m looking for the Benson farm.”
“You’ve come to the Hudson ranch, I’m Mildred Hudson. The Bensons are the next farm up the road, but I don’t think anyone’s home. I can call if you like, save you a wasted trip if no one’s there.”
“Thanks, but that’s not necessary,” Lea said, looking for Cliff Hudson. She was anxious to leave. Beads of perspiration appeared above her lip.
“You look hot. Come in while I make the call. I’ll fix you a lemonade.”
“I don’t want to take your time,” Lea said, glancing over her shoulder.
“My husband’s gone to town so I can take a break. I’d enjoy a cool drink myself.” She held the screen door open. “I didn’t catch your name.”
Lea relaxed and followed the woman inside. She offered her first name but not her last. No sense giving more information than was needed.
“Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be right back.”
Lea walked around the room and stopped in front of a framed painting above the fireplace. The sound of ice cubes clinking against the side of a pitcher made her jump.
“Do you like landscapes?” the woman asked.
“This one is beautiful. It’s a Victoria Benson original, isn’t it?”
“My husband bought it, which is almost a joke,” Mildred said, handing Lea a glass, “because Clifford’s idea of art is having his picture taken at Sears. I think he liked bragging that we had a famous artist for a neighbor. I’ve never felt it goes with our decor.”
“It’s lovely.”
Mildred touched the icy glass to her forehead and gazed absently at the painting. “Landscapes aren’t my thing. I prefer flowers you can put in a vase and smell instead of pictures of them hanging on a wall.”
She turned back to Lea. “There was no answer at the Benson place, but I can call again later.”
“I’ll work it out, but I appreciate your trying.”
“I haven’t seen you around these parts before,” Mildred said. “Do you visit the Bensons often?”
Lea squirmed, feeling the woman’s scrutiny of her tailored trousers and ankle-high boots, fashionable but hardly ranch attire. She wondered if her husband had described the women he caught in his barn.
“I’m afraid I met Lucy under the worst possible conditions. I was at the rodeo when her father was found murdered. I’m anxious to know how she’s doing.”
“Terrible thing,�
�� Mildred said, shaking her head, “them being our neighbors and all. Clifford had looked for Albert not long before the body was discovered. It would have been better if he’d found Albert instead of that poor girl. It will stick with Lucy the rest of her life.
“As far as I know, she’s back in school. She spent a couple of days with the Millers, but she wanted to get back to her classmates.”
“How’s the son doing?” Lea asked.
“He’s got his hands full. I don’t know how he’ll be able to continue night classes now that there’s only him to run the farm.”
“You must have known Albert well.”
“As well as any of us know anyone, I imagine.”
“Were you close to his wife before she passed?”
“Not really,” Mildred said, “we were different types. Victoria was an artist, and I’m a rancher’s wife. There’s a world of difference in the way we see things. Albert and I probably had more in common, but he admired his wife’s talent. He held that woman on a pedestal.”
“So your husband was at the rodeo Sunday as a contestant?” Lea couldn’t imagine a man as large as Clifford bouncing around on a bull.
“Heaven’s, no; he’s a judge. I’ve never understood what he gets out of officiating at those cowboy events. I’d rather he’d judge the barbecue cook-off. I’d win every time with my rib sandwiches, his favorite.
“Speaking of that man, excuse me for a moment. I’m going to give him a call. He should have been home an hour ago.”
Lea’s heart skipped a beat. She jumped to her feet. “I’ve got to be going. I enjoyed meeting you.”
“You don’t want to stay to meet Clifford?”
“Another time.”
The last thing she wanted was to explain to him for a second time what she was doing on his property.
• • •
Lea heard barking when she pulled into the next drive up the road. The dog she and Maddy had encountered on their way to the Hudson Ranch came running around the corner of the house. This time she was prepared.
She opened the glove compartment and pulled out a baggie filled with dog treats. She threw some as far as she could and watched the dog scamper after them before getting out of her car.
“Hello, anyone home?” she called, knocking on the screen door. There was no response.
