Night Prey

by Sharon Dunn

  Jenna gasped. “Where?”

  “On the road up here. It was…uh…hung in a tree. Whoever did it wanted the bird to be seen from the road. I don’t need to see a picture. I could tell it was a vulture.”

  A faint moan escaped Jenna’s lips.

  Keith rubbed Jenna’s arm. Already, her gaze indicated that she was staring at some unseen thing in the distance. He knew that look. He’d seen it in the eyes of a hundred fellow soldiers when he’d worked as a combat medic. The loss of a bird didn’t compare to combat, but the emotional meltdown could be the same. He had to get her out of here, get her mind off all of this.

  “Deputy, can I talk to you for a minute?”

  The deputy nodded.

  Keith ushered the young man outside. “You are going to look around and see if you can figure out who did this, right?”

  The deputy ran his hand over his buzz cut. “Sure. I doubt I’ll find anything, though. Sheriff and I went over the place pretty thoroughly last night. Probably the same guys, huh?”

  Keith nodded. “The crimes these people are willing to commit just keep getting worse. I’m concerned about Jenna’s safety.”

  “Understandable. I can stay until I get off shift or get another call. After that, the sheriff can patrol a couple of times tonight.”

  “That will help.” Jenna was so protective of the birds at the center. For sure, she wouldn’t leave them and stay at the farmhouse with his grandparents or go to a friend’s house. He’d have to figure something else out.

  The deputy nodded. “Guess I’ll go have another look around.”

  Jenna came to the door and leaned against the frame. “The barn where the vulture was taken is up the hill.” A veil seemed to have fallen over her eyes. She lifted her chin to show that she was doing okay, but he saw the quiver in her lips.

  “Jenna, how about you and I go for a drive? The deputy can stay and keep an eye on things for a while.”

  The stricken look on Jenna’s face concerned him. How much more would she have to take?

  SEVEN

  With a heavy heart, Jenna crawled up into the high seat of the old truck. Keith wasn’t driving his old blue Dodge. This was a bigger truck, better suited for hauling the trailer with the bull. Jet whimpered and scooted toward the middle of the seat to make room for her.

  The door on the driver’s side creaked when Keith opened it and positioned himself behind the wheel. The entire truck bounced as he settled in the seat. He tried to shut the door, but it wouldn’t catch. He shook it, trying to line it up with the truck’s frame. “These old farm vehicles.” He opened the door and slammed it again.

  Keith started the truck and turned it around in the parking lot. Hindered by the weight of the trailer with the bull, the vehicle lurched forward.

  Jenna was barely aware of their bumpy progress. The shaky feeling that had invaded her limbs when she first saw the hole in Georgina’s stall had subsided, but her temples still throbbed. A sense of rage over what happened made it hard for her to think.

  Whoever was doing this was smart. The culprit knew that law enforcement wouldn’t get overly excited about dead birds, but that it would shut her down.

  As if sensing her anger, Jet licked her hand. She rubbed the dog’s head and released a slow stream of air. She felt so helpless. What could she do?

  The countryside had a warm glow. Flat fields abundant with crops rolled on for miles. The field changed from the green of alfalfa to golden barley: high enough for harvest and populating both sides of the road. Gossamer clouds, that looked like they had been brushstroked on the sky, blended into a soft pink at the horizon. All of it made a beautiful picture, but she was in no mood to appreciate it.

  What choice did she have? If she backed off, her birds could be safer, but others, like Keith and his grandparents, could be at risk. Something was going on at King Ranch, and Keith and Jenna must be getting close to finding out what it was if someone would go as far as they had.

  Jenna placed a hand on the dashboard when Keith drove over a bumpy part of the road. “You don’t think they will leave me and the birds alone now, do you?”

  Keith’s shoulders stiffened and he straightened his back. “It’s not a chance I would take. They might retaliate for something the sheriff finds out, whether it comes from you or not.”

  Jenna massaged her temples. Keith might be right about the culprits hurting her if the sheriff kept looking around. Maybe all this was revenge for alerting the sheriff in the first place. “I’m sure they took Georgina because of what we saw in the canyon. We were getting pretty close to something we weren’t supposed to know about.”

  “But what?” Keith adjusted his hand on the steering wheel. “Hiding the fact that a bunch of guys on four-wheelers trespassed to build a fire and go joyriding wouldn’t be worth that kind of effort.”

  Jenna clenched her teeth. This was nerve-racking.

  Jet whimpered.

  Keith glanced at her. “You sure you don’t want Jet at the center?”

  “He seems really attached to you.” She stroked the dog’s head. “Wouldn’t you miss him?”

  Like a flare blazing across the night sky, Jenna detected an intense flash of emotion on Keith’s face. “He’s good for people.” His face turned to stone again.

  She longed for him to let her in. There was a big chunk of his life he was unwilling to share. “He’s been good for you. That’s what you meant, right?”

  Keith set his jaw. “I like his company.”

  Warmth pooled around her heart. Keith’s offer to loan her Jet had been more of a sacrifice than she had realized. “What made you decide to get a dog?”

  “The military gave him to me after I was discharged.” His fingers flexed nervously on the steering wheel. “You don’t get out of Iraq working as a combat medic without some consequences.” He offered her a furtive glance and then focused on his driving.

  The hardening of his expression told her that he didn’t want to tell her anything more, but she appreciated the little bit he had been willing to share.

  Jenna crossed her arms and tilted her head. “It was only one eagle. Maybe I should just let it go.”

  Keith smiled as he turned the huge steering wheel. “I know you, Jenna. You have a strong sense of justice. There is more going on than just an eagle being shot at. You can’t let it go.”

  “It bothers you, too.”

  Keith rubbed the stubble on his cheek. “Let’s not think about it right now. Both of us getting worked up over it won’t change a thing.”

  Keith let up on the accelerator. In the distance, farm outbuildings came into view. A barn leaning to one side and in need of paint rested beside a newer metal building. Farther up the hill, a trailer house and a small shed were positioned. Trucks, a car and a large combine populated the area between the buildings.

  The truck swayed as they made their way up the rutty dirt road. The entire vehicle creaked and continued to shake a few seconds after Keith brought it to a stop and killed the motor. “Believe it or not, Gramps keeps the engine in this thing in tiptop shape.”

  Jenna nodded. “I believe you.” She had been around ranchers long enough to know that the successful ones cared more about having equipment run good rather than look good. She patted the duct-taped dashboard. “It’s a good truck.”

  Keith bent his head as a faint smile crossed his face.

  A forty-something man emerged from the trailer. The fedora he wore looked out of place with the western cut shirt and cowboy boots. Craig Smith had only been running the ranch for a few years since his uncle had died, so Jenna really didn’t know much about him. He had grown up in a town about fifty miles from here.

  Jenna had worked with him briefly to deal with some abandoned baby owls he had found in his barn last spring. He had been helpful in transporting the owls. She’d given him a tour of the center, and he had written her a small support check. He had pulled her Subaru out of a snow bank last winter. That had been the extent of their
interaction. He seemed like a nice guy, if a bit of a loner. Far as she knew, Craig had never been married and had no children.

  Keith leaped out of the truck and sauntered over to Craig. He stuffed his buckskin work gloves in the back pocket of his jeans. Craig pointed to a corral by the barn, probably where he wanted the bull. The two men spoke for a minute before Keith sauntered back to the passenger side of the car and hooked his fingers on the rolled down window.

  “I’ve just got to back up the trailer and unload him. It won’t take but a minute.”

  Craig came up behind him. “Coffee is on inside, if you want some.”

  “Thanks.” Jenna jumped out of the truck. Jet stayed in the cab.

  Keith was already backing up the truck and trailer when she stepped into Craig’s double-wide. The living space was tidy, but obviously no woman lived here. No knickknacks populated the shelves. The windows didn’t have any curtains. The canisters on the counter consisted of recycled coffee cans and mismatched plastic and ceramic containers. Several decks of cards and poker chips cluttered the rest of the counter.

  Jenna hadn’t meant to snoop, but the “past due” stamp on two unfolded bills caught her attention. She turned away. Craig’s finances were none of her business. They were probably no different than any other rancher’s. For most ranchers, breaking even was considered a good year. People didn’t pursue this profession to get rich. It seemed a little odd that he’d be investing in a bull if money was tight, but it was really none of her concern, so she put it out of her mind.

  She retrieved a coffee cup from the dish rack, poured a cup and stirred in sugar. The coffee was smooth, no acid aftertaste.

  Still holding her cup of coffee, Jenna stepped on the porch. Over by the metal building, Craig used hand signals to help Keith position the trailer holding the bull. Jet’s head was visible in the cab of the truck as it slipped out of view. Keith killed the engine and jumped from the cab, disappearing behind the metal building. She heard the screeching of the metal gate on the trailer opening and the two men shouting. A moment later, a muscular black Angus bull romped to the edge of the corral.

  Keith emerged from behind the building. He stopped to lean on the metal fence, obviously admiring the bull. The late-in-the-day sun gave his brown hair a golden glow. He turned toward her, smiling. Ranching work seemed to come naturally to him. She wondered how long he planned on staying around to help his grandparents.

  Jenna gripped her coffee cup a little tighter. Why was she even thinking about how long he’d be staying? She would enjoy the summer with him…as a friend. Any other thought of him she needed to banish from her head.

  Keith let Jet out of the truck and tossed a ball for him. Keith’s laughter and cajoling along with Jet’s barking floated up the hill.

  Jenna took another sip of coffee and though she tried to enjoy the serenity of her surroundings, anxiety plagued her. Craig emerged from behind the metal building and strode toward the double-wide. When he was close enough for Jenna to hear, he said, “Got to get my checkbook.”

  “Thanks for the coffee.” Jenna lifted the cup. “It was good.”

  “It’s my specialty. I’m not much for cooking, but a good cup of coffee will wash down the worst meal.”

  “You have a real nice place here.”

  Craig wiped the sweat from his brow. “Thanks, but I inherited a lot more debt than I did land. Kind of hard to stay afloat.” He grinned. “I need to win the lottery.” He slipped inside the trailer and returned a moment later. He rested the open checkbook on the two-by-four railing.

  Jenna looked off to the east. The outline of Angel’s Wing Mountain told her which way the King Ranch was in relationship to Craig’s place. If she remembered correctly, they shared a boundary. Maybe all this trouble extended beyond the King Ranch.

  “Norman and Etta are having some issues with trespassers. You ever catch anyone on your land?” Even as she asked the question, fear crept back into her awareness. Just asking questions couldn’t hurt. She’d pass the information on to the sheriff.

  Craig shook his head. “No. Course, this place is huge. There are remote parts of it I haven’t seen.”

  She set her coffee cup on the railing. “I don’t suppose you have noticed a helicopter flying around.”

  Craig closed his checkbook and put it in his breast pocket. “I’ve seen a couple. People use them to check cows in the high country.”

  True, a helicopter wasn’t unheard of, though they were still pretty uncommon. “Do you know anyone who owns a helicopter?”

  He studied her for a moment before shaking his head. “No, can’t say as I do.”

  His probing gaze made Jenna uncomfortable. She ran her finger around the rim of the coffee cup. He probably wondered why she was asking so many questions.

  Craig’s mentioning the vastness of the ranches needled at her. A person wouldn’t have to store a helicopter where it could be found. These ranches had all sorts of places a helicopter could be hidden. Her memory of the helicopter was vivid, but asking the sheriff to search landing pads and barns for it would probably be futile.

  Craig rested his elbows on the railing. “Be nice if one of my neighbors did have a helicopter. I rent both a chopper and pilot out of Billings when I need one.”

  Keith strode up to the porch with Jet trailing behind him. He still had on his buckskin work gloves and his forehead glistened with sweat. His demeanor seemed renewed and exuberant.

  Craig handed him the check. “Say hello to Norm for me.”

  Keith held up the check. “Gramps will appreciate you paying on time.”

  “Like we agreed. Half now. Half when I get the money from the grain.”

  Keith nodded, then turned toward Jenna. “Ready to go?”

  They walked back down the hill to the truck. After helping Jet up, Jenna climbed in. Keith pushed on the gear shift, and the truck lumbered forward. The black dog panted beside her as the big truck inched along the road, shaking from side to side.

  She rested against the worn seat. Her nerves felt a little more settled. “Thank you for taking me away from the center. It helped.”

  “No problem.”

  “I bet your grandparents appreciate having you around to help. Is this a long-term thing?” She couldn’t help herself. She had to know.

  Keith shook his head. “Just ’til the end of the summer.”

  So that was that. Keith had only come for a visit. Jenna stared out at the passing landscape and tried to ignore the twinge of disappointment.

  “I can come by tomorrow and get that hole boarded up for you,” Keith offered.

  “I’m sure you have lots to do at the ranch.” His kindness touched her. “One of the volunteers can do it.”

  “Have you taken the keys away from the volunteers like I suggested?”

  “My volunteers are all good people.” Feeling defensive, her back muscles tensed. “Whoever did this didn’t need a key, anyway.” She did not want to believe that anyone who worked at the center would have anything to do with this.

  “The person that took that bird had a working knowledge of the layout of the center.”

  “A lot of people come and go at the center.” All the calm she had felt dissipated. “Those volunteers love the birds as much as I do.” Even as she protested, she knew Keith was right. Anyone could have broken in.

  She couldn’t trust anyone.

  Keith softened his tone. “I’m sure they are good people.” His intent hadn’t been to upset Jenna. He just wanted her to be safe. The whole thing enraged him. Other than the warning across his grandparents’ door, he’d been left alone. What kind of a lowlife would go after a vulnerable woman living alone?

  “Besides, it’s the birds that are being targeted…not me.”

  “I hope that remains the case.” He didn’t want to make her afraid, but she needed to be realistic about the danger.

  When he pulled into the center’s parking lot, the deputy’s car was gone.

  Jenna’s
hand touched her cheek as she voiced the same thought that ran through his head. “The deputy must have gotten called out for something.”

  “The sheriff is going to patrol by here a couple times.” Frustration coiled inside him. A few drive-bys wouldn’t be enough to assure him that she would be okay. “I just wish you had a better security system.”

  “We’re doing our big fundraiser ball at Peter Hickman’s in two days.” She pushed open the door and hopped down. “Purchasing some sort of alarm system just moved to the top of my wish list.”

  “Make sure you lock your door and don’t go out until Cassidy gets here in the morning.”

  “Keith, I’m not twelve years old. I have to check on the birds in the night.” She raised an eyebrow as if to challenge any objection he might give her. “See ya.” She closed the door of the truck.

  Jenna waved as she walked past the windshield. Keith watched as she checked the front door on the center to make sure it was locked before heading to the stone path.

  Uneasiness spread through Keith as he watched Jenna heading down the hill to her house. Would she be okay tonight?

  Jenna’s long hair waved in the breeze like a delicate silk scarf. He waited until she unlocked the door and was safely inside before he pulled out of the lot and drove back home.

  Etta King was standing in the front yard when he pulled up to the farmhouse. She yanked off her garden gloves after setting a trowel on a stump by the door. “Got some lasagna in the oven if you’re hungry, Keith.”

  “That sounds good, Grandma.” Despite years of hard work and harsh winters, Etta King projected a youthful energy with her rosy cheeks and perfect posture. Her long silver-white hair was twisted up on top of her head.

  He glanced at their front door. He and Jenna had scrubbed so thoroughly that no trace of the warning written in blood remained. He had told them about the trespassers; they needed to know that much.

  “You been out helping that Jenna Murphy today?” Etta’s blue eyes had a vibrant sparkle to them.

  Keith hesitated. He didn’t want to alarm his grandparents, but they needed to be aware of what was going on. “Yes, she had some trouble over at the rescue center. There was a break-in and today someone killed one of the birds.”