Stone Cold Blooded (A Rock Shop Mystery)

by Catherine Dilts

  The first topic of discussion was Ned’s safe return.

  “Will he be coming back to work soon?” Morgan asked Kendall.

  “That was my recommendation,” Kendall said. “Get back into a comfortable routine as quickly as possible. That, and attending victim counseling with his parents.”

  “I hope Gypsy and Sly go,” Allie said. “Victim counseling could lead to family counseling with Erwin. The Sylvesters could finally find healing.”

  “Maybe Erwin will start attending AA meetings,” Kendall added.

  “What was their falling out about?” Morgan asked.

  “A politically ambitious man has a son who wants to smoke dope and live in a van,” Kendall said. “I’d say that’s the root of it.”

  They had finished lunch, and still no mention of a job for Kendall. Morgan helped Allie clear the table while Kendall broached a new topic.

  “I’ve reconsidered my earlier stand about the cabin you bought,” Kendall said. “I can see the value in having additional living quarters here.”

  “My parents would visit if they had a free place to stay,” Allie said. “And now that they have a grandchild, they definitely want to visit.”

  “If we can purchase more cabins,” Kendall said, “without taking out a loan, I say we proceed.”

  “I agree,” Morgan said. “No loans. Although I don’t think we have enough cash on hand to purchase more than one.”

  “Compromise,” Allie said. “I knew you two could do it.”

  Morgan disclosed the price she had paid for the one cabin. Kendall was as shocked as she had expected. Although he did criticize her negotiation skills, Morgan stayed calm. If Kendall could act like an adult, she could certainly rise to the occasion, and leave their childhood rivalries behind.

  “I don’t want to be pushy,” Morgan said, “but how soon can we act? I can’t continue sleeping on Bernie’s sofa, and Del’s trailer is only good until the next heavy rain.”

  “If you can get a deal on another cabin,” Kendall said, “let’s do it. Allie and I will help Del in the shop this afternoon. Talk to Dana as soon as possible.”

  It was the first time they’d been able to come to agreement on a project since the infamous waterslide of childhood days. She hoped this project didn’t end in the same soggy disaster.

  * * *

  The unusual amount of traffic churned up clouds of dust that coated the rock shop’s dinosaur sign, making it appear gray. Morgan drove to town. She would have liked to walk, but she didn’t want to chance being run over by someone too busy watching for aliens to see a human pedestrian. It was a shame on such a beautiful August day.

  When Morgan entered Dana Cuthbert’s small real estate office and expressed interest in buying another cabin, the agent winced with exaggerated drama. “I wish you had contacted me earlier.”

  “Are they gone?”

  “No, there are still a half dozen available, but Sonny Day is interested. The owner of the old resort is excited by the prospect of a bidding war for those dilapidated cabins.”

  One more reason for Morgan to be mad at Sonny.

  Morgan made her offer, but Dana told her it wouldn’t be enough.

  “The good news is, no one has signed any papers yet,” Dana said. “Sonny Day could still back out. Then maybe the owners will reduce the price of the cabins.”

  Discouraged, Morgan dropped by the newspaper office. Anna was on the phone, trying to arrange an interview for Kurt with a talk radio host. She waved at Morgan and pointed to Kurt’s office door. Morgan stepped around the reception desk to watch Kurt over the open Dutch door as he scribbled on a yellow legal pad.

  “Writing your acceptance speech?” Morgan asked. “I heard Erwin’s public shaming on the television.”

  Kurt looked up. “I feel badly for the man. I wouldn’t want to benefit from someone else’s tragedy, but Golden Springs voters now have the information to make an informed decision. Come on in. What brings you to town?”

  Morgan took a seat on a leather chair.

  “Kendall finally got on board with my plan to buy more cabins, but before I could snatch them up, Sonny Day made a higher offer.”

  “The campaign will be over next week. The issue of development of the old resort property will be settled, once and for all. Depending on how the election goes, the owners of the cabins may be motivated to unload them quickly.”

  Morgan relayed the gossip Beatrice had given about Erwin’s campaign, and her hint that Kurt needed to get busy if he hoped to win.

  “We’re running up to the last days.” Kurt ran a hand across his short brown hair. “Anna thinks I have a chance, but with Erwin gathering sympathy votes, and Piers receiving a sudden influx of money from Sonny Day, it’s going to be a tough fight. Piers is buying radio and TV ads like there’s no tomorrow.”

  “That would fit Sonny’s philosophy,” Morgan said. “No tomorrow.”

  “When this is all over,” Kurt said, “I plan to take a few days off. Maybe I can tear Burke away from the pizza parlor long enough to go to another baseball game. That is, if I hear from him. He hasn’t been answering his cell phone. I haven’t heard from him all day.”

  Kurt’s tone was anxious. Considering all that had happened in the past two weeks, his concern was justified.

  “Maybe you should call Chief Sharp—” Morgan began, but Kurt interrupted.

  “I’m getting a text message. Hang on.” Kurt studied his phone for a moment, then tapped on the screen. “It was Burke.”

  “That’s good,” Morgan said.

  “Is it? He’s at Sonny Day’s place, helping clean up the mess Eustace left. I hope nothing blows up.”

  “Surely the federal people cleared out all the booby traps,” Morgan said.

  “They couldn’t clear the one trap I’m worried about,” Kurt said. “Wenda.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  Morgan wasn’t convinced Burke was entirely under Wenda’s influence. She remembered the look he gave her after overhearing the conversation in the motel room. Burke knew she and Kurt thought the rest of the Triceratops could be on the Day ranch, and that Buckskin Quinn might go hunting for it. Especially if he had the stolen brow horn.

  “I’m sure Burke is fine.” Morgan tried to sound reassuring. “Let me know if I can do anything help.” She hoped that didn’t include running up to the Day ranch to fetch an uncooperative teenager. “I have to get back to the shop.”

  Morgan kept her windows rolled up on the drive to the Rock of Ages. The air conditioning taxed the old Buick’s engine too much to use on the steep climb, but the dust from a truck loaded with lumber was unbearable. She was drenched with sweat when she arrived at the rock shop. Kendall met her at the door.

  “I’m glad you’re back.”

  “What’s wrong?” Morgan asked.

  The rock shop was pleasantly crowded. Del sat on the tall stool behind the checkout counter, ringing up sales. Everything looked fine.

  “I checked on Adelaide after lunch,” Kendall said. “She seems distressed. I know we’ve had false alarms, but Allie is calling Dr. McCormick.”

  He led Morgan across the parking lot. From the noises coming from the barn, Morgan was afraid Adelaide was in her death throes, not giving birth. Then she realized Houdini was the one emitting hoarse half-brays.

  “We’d better get him outside,” Morgan said. “Houdini is only going to stress out Adelaide with all that racket.”

  When she shooed the donkey out of his stall, he trotted across the paddock and into the pasture. Morgan stood by Adelaide’s stall, feeling helpless.

  The veterinarian arrived a few minutes later. When he examined the donkey, he determined the foal was on its way.

  “It’s just a matter of time now,” Dr. McCormick said.

  “David wanted to be here,” Morgan said. “I
hope he has his cell phone on him.”

  She left a message for David, then called Kurt. He was on his way to a candidate debate. Beatrice didn’t answer her phone. She was probably giving Erwin a last minute pep talk.

  Allie made the rounds, distributing cookies and paper cups of lemonade before returning to the shop. Then Del came to the barn. Satisfied the birthing was proceeding properly, he returned to the shop. The veterinarian settled in, concerned that Adelaide might have problems, considering her age. By the time David arrived from work, Dr. McCormick was relaxing on a camp chair in the barn.

  “Did I miss it?” David’s black hair was damp with sweat, and his tanned arms coated with a film of dirt. His jeans and sleeveless T-shirt were grimy from his current construction job. He peeked over the stall wall at Adelaide.

  “You made it in time,” Dr. McCormick said. “I expect the foal to drop soon.”

  The veterinarian had been saying the same thing for the past two hours.

  “The guys were teasing me,” David said. “Mr. Terrence said this was the first time he’s given a guy maternity leave for the birth of a donkey. Do I have time to clean up?”

  Dr. McCormick glanced at David, wrinkling his nose.

  “Hurry,” the vet said. “The birth could happen any minute now.”

  Forty-five minutes passed before the veterinarian stepped inside the stall. A cleaned-up David hung over the top rail. Kendall joined Morgan in the open barn door, watching the last of the customers leave. The sun wouldn’t set for another two hours.

  “Del must be exhausted,” she said.

  “Allie is helping him. She put Marissa in the sling.”

  “It’s funny,” Morgan said. “Two new babies at the rock shop at the same time.”

  “And when Sarah and Russ bring Gregory, the Rock of Ages will have a full nursery.” Kendall seemed to focus on the mountain behind the shop. “New life, sister. I thought this place was nothing but a dead end for Allie and me. I feel like I’ve been given new life.”

  “That’s wonderful, Kendall.” Morgan scanned the pasture, wondering where Houdini had gotten to. “Moving to Colorado definitely opened a new chapter in my life. I’m glad you tricked me into coming.”

  “I did not trick you,” Kendall said. “I genuinely intended to go on the mission trip for two weeks. The stay was only extended by a few more.”

  “Four months more.” Morgan held her hands up. “I’m not complaining. Not now. Although I do regret not being close to my grandbaby.”

  “With the Internet and air travel, families can remain as close as they choose,” Kendall said. “Or perhaps that’s what I’m hoping, if I find a pastoral position farther afield.”

  “Don’t tell me you’re going back to the jungle.”

  “Oh, no. Perhaps, though, the desert.”

  Morgan wanted to ask more questions, but she heard rustling straw and murmurs from the doctor. She and Kendall tiptoed to the stall and stood beside David. Morgan peeked over the rail just in time to watch Dr. McCormick ease the foal out of Adelaide and onto the straw.

  The foal appeared to be all legs and neck.

  “Kind of skinny,” Kendall whispered.

  “It’s covered in slime.” David shuddered.

  Doctor McCormick stepped back. He kept a close eye on mother and baby, but he didn’t seem in a hurry to intervene. Morgan tried to see whether the foal was breathing.

  “Why isn’t it getting up?” she whispered.

  The veterinarian motioned to David to enter the stall. He handed David a terrycloth towel, as he took another and began to rub the foal clean of afterbirth.

  Adelaide lay on her side, her breathing heavy. She rolled to an upright position, tucking her hooves under her, then struggling to her feet. David and the doctor moved out of her way. She nudged the foal with her muzzle. The foal raised its head, as though it had been awakened from deep sleep.

  The foal struggled to stand. When David made a move to help it, Dr. McCormick held his arm and shook his head. After several false starts, the foal managed to gather all four wobbly legs under it. Adelaide licked the baby a few times. An agonizingly long time passed before it found the food source underneath Adelaide’s belly.

  Once the baby had finished its first meal, the doctor gave both Adelaide and the foal shots, then jotted in his notebook.

  “I didn’t even need to be here,” Dr. McCormick said. “Adelaide handled the birth remarkably well, for her age.”

  “It took a few years off my life watching,” David said. “I don’t know if I can ever have children, after witnessing that.”

  Dr. McCormick gave David’s shoulder a hearty pat. “You won’t be the one birthing the child, and it won’t weigh fifteen pounds!”

  Allie came to the barn, with Marissa in the sling across her chest like a baby koala bear. “Did I miss it? Oh! She had her baby! Boy or girl?”

  “She’s a jenny,” David said.

  “We don’t want Adelaide or the baby getting stressed,” Dr. McCormick said. “Try to limit visitors to family.”

  “We’d have to beat people away with a broom if they knew how cute a baby donkey is,” Allie said.

  “What are you going to name her?” Dr. McCormick asked.

  “I haven’t even thought about it,” Morgan said.

  “I have,” Kendall said. “Adelaide and Houdini are called the Angel Donkeys. The baby should be Angel.”

  “Sure,” David said. “There’s a magician and escape artist named Chris Angel. It fits the theme.”

  “Angel. I like that,” Allie said. “Has Houdini seen his baby girl yet?”

  “He was making so much noise,” Morgan said, “I banished him to the pasture.”

  “As protective as he’s been,” Kendall said, “I can’t imagine he’s gone very far.”

  “He sounded scared,” Morgan said. “I hope he didn’t pull one of his disappearing acts.”

  “I’ll look for him,” David said. “I need some fresh air.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  Morgan and David hunted the nearby paddocks and pens. Houdini was not in sight.

  “Before we get too excited,” Morgan told David, “I’ll call the Dalton Ranch. Houdini has been known to visit the cattle herd.”

  Sherry Dalton answered the phone.

  “Is Houdini on your place?” Morgan asked.

  “He’s welcome to visit any time, but I haven’t seen him today.”

  “We think he might have been frightened when Adelaide went into labor.”

  “Did she drop the foal?”

  “Yes. They’re both doing fine.”

  “I’ll tell Vern to keep an eye out for Houdini. We’ll drop by later to see the foal, and we’ll bring your donkey if we find him.”

  “Not there?” David asked when Morgan returned the cell phone to her pocket.

  “The Dalton Ranch is huge. He could be there, but I think we should search here, too.” Morgan rested her hands on her hips and scanned the largest pasture. “This could take all evening. Maybe we should get the ATVs.”

  David grinned. “Twist my arm.”

  They spent several minutes getting the all terrain vehicles out of the carriage house garage, finding gloves and helmets, and making sure they had gas.

  There had to be a market for machines that could take their passengers on quiet journeys through the hills. Instead, the roaring engine of the ATV and the thick helmet drowned out any natural sounds. Finding Houdini would rely on vision, not hearing an injured donkey braying.

  They followed the fence line. Houdini had been known to escape without leaving any gates open or fence down, so Morgan was not optimistic.

  David picked up a trail of fresh hoof prints in a sandy patch of earth. They did not meander. The prints made a straight line toward a section of barbed wire fence
that sagged between dry and brittle wood posts. David stopped abruptly.

  “We’ve got something in the trap.” He spoke loudly to be heard above the idling engines of the ATVs, and through the face guard of his helmet. “Hang on.”

  Maybe Houdini had been abducted by aliens.

  David hopped off his ATV. He lifted the boxy wire trap and carried it toward Morgan. The hairless animal inside did not appear fearful as it observed David and Morgan from comfortable captivity.

  “What is it?” Morgan asked.

  “Beats me. It’s too fat for a ferret, and too small for a marmot.”

  “And it’s naked,” Morgan added. “What animal could survive a Colorado winter without fur?”

  Morgan climbed off her ATV to take a closer look. She pulled off her helmet. The creature was the size of a squirrel, with small rounded ears, narrow shoulders, pale wrinkled skin, and a thick midsection. A tuft of white hair on top of its head completed the look that said “alien” to some, and “tiny human” to others. The rodent watched Morgan and David with red eyes.

  “Albino something or other,” David said.

  “Part of the mystery is solved. It’s not an alien or a rock gnome.”

  David shrugged. “I don’t know about alien. It’s pretty weird looking.”

  “Leave it here for now. We can come back for it.”

  David placed the trap in the shade of a young pine tree. They continued on the trail of the donkey. The prints ended at the fence, then continued on the other side. Morgan grasped the loosely strung wire with a gloved hand.

  “Look.” She plucked gray fur off one of the barbs. “It’s Houdini colored.”

  David turned off his ATV.

  “I guess we go on foot from here.”

  “That’s Eustace Day’s property.” Morgan felt sick as she remembered the crossbow booby trap at the front gate. “Chief Sharp told us to keep off Day’s ranch.”

  “Houdini obviously missed that talk,” David said. “I’m going after him.”

  David didn’t wait. Morgan shimmied through the fence and followed.

  They lost the tracks in the shade of tall trees, where a thick carpet of pine needles released a resiny aroma. By then Morgan was drawn by sounds. Hammering, sawing, the grinding gears of heavy equipment, loud banging and thumping.