Cowboy Charade: Rodeo Knights, A Western Romance Novel

by Barbara McMahon

  Two men in khaki uniforms were talking to a group of cowboys.

  “Looks like they’re questioning people,” Toby said. He maneuvered her truck to her trailer, backing up so it was ready to hitch.

  “Act normal. Don’t call attention to yourself,” he said when he stopped the truck.

  “I’m totally freaked and you want me to act normally.” She took a shaky breath.

  “You can do it,” Toby said.

  When Susannah got out of the car Devan Perlman sauntered over.

  He touched the rim of his hat. “Susannah. Need any help?” he asked, giving Toby a glance.

  “No, I’m fine,” she said.

  He looked at Toby. “You two have something going on?”

  Toby grinned slowly. “And if we do?”

  Devan scowled and turned away.

  Susannah came around the back of the truck. “You let him think we are a couple.”

  “I wondered what he was doing coming over to check out the truck. Does he do that?”

  “This is the first time. He’s one I wouldn’t put it past to be involved. But he’s also been hitting on me for weeks which I don't like, so I could be biased.”

  “So maybe we do act like a couple. Might keep him away,” Toby said as he turned to get the hitch of the trailer lined up.

  Susannah watched without saying anything. Despite his asking her out last year, would anyone believe Toby Palmer would fall for her? She didn’t have a lot of confidence in dealing with the opposite sex. They’d been on the circuit for weeks and he’d rarely spoken with her before she fed his horses.

  “That way we could stay connected with the case,” she said slowly.

  “Case?” he asked, looking at her.

  “You know, find out who’s doing this.”

  “You stay out of it,” he warned.

  “Like you’re going to?” she retorted

  “That’s different. My partner was wrongly accused. I’m getting him out if it’s the last thing I do.”

  “Mmm. So if I get busted, you’d get me out?”

  He stepped closer and lifted her chin with his finger. Gazing into her pretty blue eyes, he slowly shook his head. “You aren’t getting busted. We’ll figure this out. But don't do anything that would put you in danger. My guess is these drugs are worth a lot of money. And to some people, money counts more than collateral damage.”

  “We'll figure this out,” she said with satisfaction.

  “We as in Jesse Knight and me.”

  She stepped back out of reach and tilted her chin defiantly. “I’m involved and whether or not you like it, I’ll stay involved until I find out who’s trying to use me to move illegal drugs!”

  “Okay, okay, keep your voice down,” he said, glancing around.

  The two sheriff deputies were walking their way.

  “Heads up,” he said softly, “I think we’re next on the list of those being questioned.”

  “I thought they asked you everything yesterday,” she said softly moving to help fasten the chain on the hitch. As soon as the trailer was secure, she'd load up her mare and head as far from Pueblo as she could get in the next bit of time–without breaking any speed laws.

  “Some deputies did. I don’t recognize these two, however,” he said. He finished the last coupling and straightened.

  “Do you have a minute?” one of the uniformed officers asked as he and his partner stopped near them.

  “What’s up?” Susannah asked. Her heart pounded like crazy. She hoped it didn’t show. She was thankful Radar was still in the car. Even if they didn’t have a drug enforcement K-9, she bet they knew the signal.

  “Checking around to see if anyone knows anything about the drugs we found in a cowboy’s truck yesterday.”

  “I heard about that. I can’t believe he did it,” she said.

  “He didn’t,” Toby said from behind her.

  “So you haven't noticed anything suspicious? No strangers wandering around, no one fiddling with a truck door?”

  She shook her head.

  Toby remained silent.

  “If you think of anything, give us a call, all right?” The deputy handed her a business card.

  “I’m leaving. I’m due in Colorado Springs tonight. I didn’t see anything,” Susannah said again.

  The officer nodded and looked at Toby. “And you, sir?”

  “I haven’t seen anyone working on trucks or trailers here.”

  “Let us know if you think of anything.” He handed Toby a card and then the two men moved on.

  Susannah held her breath as she watched them walk away. When they began talking with another cowboy, she let it out and turned to look at Toby.

  “I’m out of here,” she said. “Thank you for your help. Please get that Knight guy to find out what’s going on. In the meantime, I’ll feel like I’m driving a load of TNT.”

  “Just be careful. I’ll catch up to you in Colorado Springs.”

  “Okay.” She went to load her horse in the trailer and picked up a couple of lead lines hanging from the hook on the back. Tossing them into the storage compartment, she was ready.

  Toby stood by the truck scanning the area.

  “That’s not any more subtle than what I was doing,” she said with a smile. Now that she was leaving, she felt a bit safer. As long as there were no incidents along the way, she should be good until Colorado Springs. But she'd be afraid of discovery every mile of the way.

  He opened the door for her. “Drive safely.”

  Once Susannah pulled out of the field, Toby headed for his own truck. Looking up the number for the Knight Agency, he hoped they worked Sundays–or at least had a way to get in contact with them on a Sunday.

  “Knight Agency,” a female voice answered.

  “Is Jesse Knight there?” Toby asked.

  “He’s not working today. Can I take a message for him?”

  He thought he heard a laugh in the background.

  “I need him to give me a call. Tell him it’s about drugs at the rodeo.”

  “Okay, drugs at the rodeo. And who shall I say–”

  “This is Knight. Who's this and what about drugs at the rodeo?” a strong male voice said.

  “This is Toby Palmer, is this Jesse?”

  “No, his brother Michael. We work together. What about drugs?”

  “I can’t talk too freely here but there’s a problem and I need your help.”

  “Call back in a half hour. I’ll have Jesse here by then.” The line went dead.

  Toby went to the fairgrounds office to talk to someone about boarding Kyle’s horses and parking his trailer. His truck was in the impound lot as evidence.

  He caught a break and got everything taken care of quickly.

  Hitching his own trailer, he scanned the field for the deputies. The police cars were still near the entrance but he didn't see the two men. Had they moved on to others involved with the rodeo–the concession stands, announcers, office help? Nothing said cowboys were involved.

  Except, no one would notice a cowboy wandering around the horse trailers--but they would sure notice an outsider wandering around cowboy trucks.

  Once loaded up, he headed to town. A few blocks away from the sheriff’s office, he stopped and called the Knight agency again.

  Jesse answered at the first ring.

  “Toby, how’s it going?”

  “Not good.” In a few short sentences he brought Jesse up to speed. Ending with, “So we haven’t told law enforcement or anyone. The sheriff considers he has his guy and isn’t looking any further. I didn’t know what he’d do with Susannah so I sent her on to Colorado Springs.”

  “I’ll meet you both there as soon as I can get there. Sit tight. And don’t tell anyone else.”

  “I’m talking with Kyle. I can’t let him sit in that jail cell without some hope.”

  “Tell him we’re on it, but not about Susannah’s stash. Let’s keep that under wraps at least for the present. Colorado Sprin
gs could be their destination. If not, I think they'll be moving it further north. Wonder what they're doing now that one truck's out of the running.”

  “I'm worried about Kyle.”

  “We'll do our best to get some more intel about the setup there in Pueblo, while trying to figure their next move. Any problem keeping an eye on Susannah until I get there?”

  “No. I’ll catch up with her before too long.”

  “See you as soon as I can get to Colorado Springs,” Jesse said.

  Toby continued to the sheriff’s office parking his truck and trailer in front of the building.

  “Hey man,” Kyle said lying on the cot in the cell.

  “Hey yourself,” Toby responded. The deputy opened the cell door and Toby stepped inside.

  Kyle swung around until he was sitting on the cot.

  “Guess you’re not here to spring me,” he said.

  “Not yet.”

  “Yell when you’re ready to leave,” the deputy said, heading back down the short hallway to the office.

  When the door closed behind him, Toby brought Kyle up to date–except for the drugs in Susannah’s truck.

  “Do you think it’s more wide spread or was I just the lucky one?” Kyle asked.

  “Who knows? For a minute this afternoon I thought the sheriff’s men would search every truck on the field. But they just wandered through talking with everyone asking if they’d seen anything suspicious.”

  “And even if they had, they’re not going to talk about it. Time's money and the next rodeo starts on Tuesday. Being a witness would be inconvenient,” Kyle said bitterly. “Hell, I wouldn’t talk about a crime myself if it was going to hold me back.”

  “They’d have to let the witnesses go on with their lives,” Toby said.

  “Not until they wrung every scrap of information from them by questioning over and over.”

  “Hang in there. I’m doing all I can,” Toby said, feeling his frustration level rise again.

  “I know and I appreciate it. But darn it, this was our best season. We were pulling in some serious money.”

  “And we will again as soon as you’re out. At the arraignment ask for bail again. You don’t even have a parking ticket on your record. They can grant bail.”

  “Not if the judge considers me a flight risk. Not if that sheriff gets his way,” Kyle said glumly.

  Chapter Four

  Toby nodded. He didn’t have a solid response to that. He needed to find a good lawyer for Kyle who could get his friend released on bail. Granted, Kyle didn’t live in the area, but he was well known on the rodeo circuit and his home address was a matter of record.

  Toby needed to get his friend out of jail and then the two of them could find out who set him up.

  “Hang tight, man. We’ll figure something out,” Toby said.

  “I’m counting on you,” Kyle said.

  When Toby left the jail, he drove to a fast food place where he could park his truck and trailer in the back. While he ate, he scrolled through the on-line websites of attorneys in the town. Too many to know who to choose. Picking one at random, he called. As expected, no one answered. Most attorneys didn’t work Sundays. He left a message. Then called another one. Same thing.

  Frustrated at not being able to get his friend out today, he gave up. Planning to start calling first thing tomorrow, he finished eating and began the drive to Colorado Springs. The only bright spot in the day was he'd see Susannah soon. What was that old saying—every cloud had a silver lining. If so, Susannah was the silver lining in this situation.

  As he drove north he considered who could be trafficking in drugs and using Kyle's truck to move the merchandise. There were some hangers on around the rodeos who didn’t compete but still seemed to be at all the events. Were they just groupies or should they come under scrutiny?

  Then there were the cowboys themselves. He knew how expensive it was to follow the circuit, to pay the entry fees, get feed on the road for horses. If not winning prize money, it was a never-ending drain on finances. Sometimes when they placed, the winnings didn’t even cover the entry fees. So who was not in the money yet showed up at each event?

  Nick Montano was one who came to mind. For the last two years the man had been at almost every rodeo Toby competed in, yet not once had he placed high enough to win any serious money. Who was bankrolling his entry fees?

  Toby made a mental note to let Jesse Knight know some of the men he though should be looked into. He’d include Devan Perlman in that list. Not that he suspected the man of dealing drugs, but he didn’t like him hitting on Susannah.

  Frowning, Toby wondered why he cared. He’d seen her around for the last couple of years. Admired her riding ability. She was easy on the eyes and from her handling the recent events, she had a cool head on her shoulders. But he didn’t know anything about her social life except she didn't date rodeo cowboys. She'd made that plain when he'd asked her out one time. From what he’d seen, she mostly kept to herself. He didn’t remember ever seeing her with a guy.

  Still, Devan’s behavior rubbed him the wrong way.

  If nothing else, maybe he could help Susannah fend off other cowboys while they searched for a clue to tell them who was transporting drugs.

  The drive took longer than he anticipated. It was almost nine o'clock by the time he turned onto the back lot at the rodeo grounds. Bumping over the uneven ground, he took it slow to minimize the impact on his horses.

  He smiled when he saw Susannah waving at him. There was room next to her rig for him to pull right in.

  She ran over to his truck and smiled broadly. “I saved you this spot,” she said through the open window.

  “I appreciate it. I thought I’d be here earlier.”

  “Well you should appreciate it. I had to fend off half a dozen other rigs.” Her grin told him she hadn't minded at all.

  He turned off the engine and got out of the truck. He caught a glimpse of Devan one row over and on impulse swept Susannah into his arms, nuzzling her neck. “Play up, your friend Devan's watching.”

  She encircled his neck and held on for a minute.

  “The big reunion scene?” she whispered, laughter in her tone.

  “Works for me,” Toby said, slowly releasing her. He liked the way she felt in his arms. What would it be like to have a girlfriend on the circuit? No one to leave behind when hitting the different rodeos. Someone glad to see him even if they’d only been apart for a few hours. Someone to plan a future together.

  She smiled tentatively. “You really think this is necessary?” she whispered.

  “Hey, no one will think anything of us together if we're a couple. But trying to find out about the drugs on our own might make someone suspicious. We don’t know who’s watching.”

  “That’s just creepy. Did you eat?” she asked.

  “Naw. I wanted to get the horses settled first. You?”

  “Not yet. Though I was beginning to think you weren't coming.”

  “We’ll find somewhere to eat in a few. Let me get these guys settled,” he said, walking to the back of the trailer and lowering the ramp.

  “I can help,” she said, joining him.

  When his horses had been fed and watered, Toby got his papers from the cab of the truck. “Guess I’ll find the office and let them know I won’t be in any events but the calf roping.”

  “I’ve been thinking. If you want to try it, I could be your hazer on steer wrestling. I couldn’t help in team roping, I’d flub that for sure. But I’m pretty sure I can keep my horse running straight for the bulldogging.”

  He thought about it for a minute. “Thanks, I appreciate that.”

  She nodded. “It’ll cement our relationship, don’t you think?” she asked glancing over at Devan who still stared at them. “That man won’t give up!”

  Toby slung his arm across her shoulders and turned her away. “Ignore him. We’ll go to the office together and request the substitution.”

  “I wish I co
uld lasso a calf, I’d help out there, too, if I could,” she said as they walked on the uneven ground.

  “Don’t worry about it. Kyle might get out soon.”

  “When they find the bad guy. Then you should sue him for lost prize money.”

  Toby laughed. “Like how much would that be? There’s no guarantee of winning each time.”

  “Well, I’d say tell him you would have won every time, calculate the money from that.”

  “Any money the guy has will be from drugs, so probably confiscated. It’s just the breaks of the game,” Toby said.

  Once they’d squared things with the rodeo coordinator, Toby suggested dinner. Leaving Radar with the horses, they headed to the outskirts of town.

  They found a small restaurant near the rodeo grounds. It was half full of other cowboys lingering over coffee, the remains of their meals plainly seen.

  Once their dinner was ordered, Toby glanced around to make sure no one close enough to hear them was paying any attention. He leaned forward.

  “Jesse Knight will be here soon.” he said softly. “He suggested we leave things as they are for now. My guess is he’ll set up some kind of surveillance to see if anyone tries to get to your truck.”

  She nodded slowly. “Okay--as long as some local sheriff doesn’t come searching and find that stash.” She toyed with her silverware. “I’m still worried, though. It's scary to think this thing goes on and normally we don't even know about it. Why would anyone use my truck?”

  “Why Kyle’s? My guess is expediency. Maybe it’s where you parked. Maybe it’s he knows how to remove the panel of that brand of truck faster than any other make. Who knows what he's thinking? And you might not be the only one. He could have stuff stashed in other trucks, too. Trucks he could easily get to unseen.”

  “It had to be this morning. Radar didn’t alert before. It wasn’t there before I went to the practice arena. Then I was gone for my event, then I watched yours. It's the only time I wasn't around it.”

  “Maybe what they had in Kyle’s truck was only part of the shipment but the accident had them change plans at the last minute. So they looked for another truck with easy access. Who knows?” he said.

  He reached out and covered her hand. “We’ll find out and make sure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.”