“You don't need to leave.”
“Oh, yes I do.”
Burdett held his black cowboy hat in hand as he sauntered up. A tight grin rode on his narrow lips.
“Quint, did you find Hunt?”
“Miss Dev, this is embarrassing.”
“Oh?”
“After you called, I dispatched the deputies up to Cedar Creek to pick up the trail. The sheriff insisted that we search the ranch one more time to make sure the One of One Thousand wasn't there. We tore the place apart for an hour and called the sheriff back. He reported all they found up at Cooper's was an empty gas can and tracks headed north. So he and the deputies lit out after them trying to catch up before dark. He figured if the thief made it to the Big Horn Mountains, it would be too hard to follow.”
“So what is the embarrassing part?”
“The boys wanted to come to your barbecue anyway. Tiny likes his food spicy, so he brings his own hot sauce. When he went to the pantry to retrieve a jar of hot salsa, there it was on the top shelf.”
“The gun?”
“Yes. We figure Mom and Pop Gleason pulled it down from over the mantle in my office before they left and jammed it out of sight.”
“So you aren't missing anything?”
“Nothing that I can discover.”
“That's great, Quint. Makes me ashamed to blame Hunt so quick.”
“Yeah, and I sent the sheriff and three deputies into the Cedar Hills all the way to the Big Horns, and I can't reach them on the phone.”
“Oh, dear.”
“Yeah, this will cost me next time they are raisin' money for new search and rescue equipment.”
Develyn weaved through the crowd of guests. Most were dressed in old jeans and clean shirts.
Leon, with his shirt well-dripped in barbecue sauce, sat across the makeshift table from Delaney.
“Dee, I'm glad you felt like coming out,” Develyn said.
“Leon insisted. He said it was the best party he had ever been to in his life.”
“Your daughter is purdy smart for a girl,” Leon announced.
“Oh? What makes you say that?”
“She told me how to get to Level 14 in RaiderQuest.”
Develyn glanced at Delaney. “And how did my daughter learn how to get to level anything in a video game?”
“Coed dorms and a crowded rec room,” Delaney said.
“I like your daughter,” Leon blurted out. “She's just like you…only different.”
Delaney laughed.
“That about sums it up, doesn't it?” Develyn added.
Casey waved her over to where she and Jackson sat across from Lily and Stewart.
“What is this quartet planning, a double wedding?”
Lily grinned. “Yes, we're trying to figure out where to hide our knives in a wedding dress.”
“Oh, my, you have been around Cree-Ryder too long.” Develyn turned to Jackson. “Mr. Hill, welcome to the party. You put in long hours at the store today.”
“I was studying the utilization of space. All those tall old shelves take up room. If we had twelve-inch shelves instead of sixteen-inch shelves, and if we went six feet high instead of five, we could add three shelves. That would mean room for approximately 27.6 percent increase in inventory.”
Develyn stared at his narrow brown eyes. “Mr. Hill, you were born to run a store.”
“It's more fun than leading packhorses down the trail by their nose.” His eyes widened. “I forgot. Mrs. Tagley phoned. She wants you to call her at the hospital.”
“How was she doing?”
“I couldn't tell, but she sounded cheerful enough.”
“That's good.”
“But she had a lawyer there drawing up her will,” he said.
“Oh, my. Yes, well, I'd better go call.”
Develyn toted her cell phone past the dirt yard full of pickups to the tall cottonwoods by the driveway. The sun sank behind the distant western mountains, but the evening was still bright. Uncle Henry followed her.
“Baby, you are hovering around even closer tonight. Do you sense that I have to go home soon?”
She found a signal and waited to go through the visitor's desk, then the nursing station. Mrs. Tagley's voice sounded weak but relaxed.
“Thanks for calling, Devy. I just had a nice visit with Becky Oliver's youngest son, Ben. He's been an attorney around Casper for thirty years. I wanted to update my will.”
“You plan on needing it?”
“I don't plan on ever needing it, but those who are left after me will. Honey, I want you to be the executor of the estate.”
“Me? Why me?”
“I need a cowboy girl with Wyoming in her eyes.”
“Mrs. Tagley, that's an honor, but maybe the attorney…”
“Nope. You are the one I want.”
“I'll be happy to do whatever you want me to, but I'm going home to teach school in a couple of days.”
“You can fly out to execute the will. I've made provisions for your plane fare. Please, honey.”
“I'll do it, Mrs. Tagley.”
“I knew you would, Devy. Next time you come to the hospital, young Ben will have copies to sign. It's nothing complicated.”
“That's fine.”
“I want you to have all my books. I probably have every book written on the history of Wyoming. Many of them are first editions. You can keep the ones you want and donate the rest to a library. You, being the schoolteacher, will know how to make the best use of them.”
“Well, thank you very much.”
“Devy, there's some cash in that big safe. Never did trust the banks much after the crash of ’29 wiped us out. I'd like the hospital children's wing to get that.”
“I didn't know they had a children's wing.”
“They don't. But they will have. There's quite a bit of money in there. I stopped adding it up when it got to a million.”
“That's very generous of you, sweetie.”
“Now, here's the fun part. The Hill boy and Miss Cree-Ryder have been doing a good job, I hear. He phones me every evening to tell me the receipts. So I want to give the store to them.”
“Really?”
“With provisions. They have to be married. I will have no one living in sin in my home. And they have to keep the grocery store open in Argenta for twelve years. At that time the business, inventory, and property belong to them.”
“Oh, my, that's wonderful. I can't wait to tell them.”
“And then my guns. I have a few old ones.”
“I noticed them the other day.”
“I want to donate them to the Firearms Museum and the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody. I already made some contact there.”
“Who did you contact?”
“A nice young man named Hunter Burke. He's the assistant curator there. He stopped by to evaluate them. They wanted to authenticate everything for their records. He loved the guns. He must have spent an hour in my safe looking at them.”
“When was that?”
“Two weeks ago, I think. It was the day Lydia caught Tippi in the hall closet wearing a leotard.”
“I'll come see you tomorrow.”
“Could you bring me a bottle of Dr. Bull's Female Remedy? No one in here seems to have heard of it.”
“OK. Is there anything else you want?”
The older lady's voice softened. “I want to see Jesus.”
“Mrs. Tagley, you hang in there.”
“I'm tired and worn out, Devy.”
“I know, honey. You get some sleep.”
“Just one thing I want to know.”
“What's that?”
“It's Cooper Tallon, isn't it?”
Develyn stared across the yard at the crowd at the barbecue.
“I believe you're right, Mrs. Tagley.”<
br />
“The only time I missed it was with Lydia.”
Some folks left when the thunder hit around 8:30 p.m.
Everyone else dashed to their rigs when the deluge hit an hour later.
With a plate of half-eaten onion dip, Develyn strolled up to Cooper. “Cowboy, this was a wonderful party.”
“I like the way the downpour sent them all home. I'm tired.”
“You worked all day.”
“And you worked the crowd like an aspiring politician.”
“Was that a compliment?”
“You have a lot of social graces, Dev, ones that I lack. I suppose that's why they make an impression on me.”
“Coop, you are a rock. I like that.”
“A silent, heavy lump that doesn't move?”
She poked his ribs. “You're so dependable. Always there. Quiet, yes, in a wonderful way, and so supportive.”
“Some folks call that backward or shy.”
“I don't feel like I have to entertain you. I know I can't impress you, so I can just be myself. That feels good.”
“Where's your girl?”
“She drove Leon and his grandmother home. Leon wants to show her something about his video game.”
“She really took to him today.”
“Maybe it's the mothering instinct that got all stirred up.”
“My prayers are with her. No matter who's at fault, that's a rough deal.”
“Thanks, Coop. Did you hear about Casey and Jackson getting Mrs. Tagley's store? She said there was no reason for them to have to wait until–well, she said, wait until she croaks. She's going to lease it to them for a dollar a year, and they pay all the taxes, utilities, and insurance.”
“Where did they go?”
“Jackson wanted to take Casey up to visit with his mom in Sheridan and tell her the news. They asked me and Dee to run the store until they get back.”
“Lily and Stewart left rather early.”
“They went with Quint and the Quarter Circle Diamond boys. Quint invited them up for the night. Lily decided it was her one chance to see the big house at the headquarters.”
“I can't imagine Stewart agreeing to something so spontaneous.”
“I think he does what Lily wants. Aren't they a great couple?”
“Yes, they are. Hope they don't get stuck in the mud going into Burdett's.”
“The sheriff and deputies are stuck in the mud somewhere too.”
“You know, ever since you told me about Quint's gun being found, I've been ponderin' that scene. Something's not right,” Cooper said.
“But nothing is missing.”
Cooper pulled off his black cowboy hat and scratched the back of his neck. “What if it's a diversion?”
Develyn stared into his narrow eyes. “What do you mean?”
“The sheriff and everyone else is concentrated up north. What if that was just a ploy to lead them away from the true crime?”
“You mean the real robbery will happen down here?”
“It could be that the gas can was just a plant. All that talk about renting Jackson's pack string could have been used to get the authorities to think someone was headed for Canada. Even though Burdett's gun is worth over a hundred grand, if a person knew they were available, it would be better to steal Mrs. Tagley's guns. Why bother with one if you can grab five of them? Besides, everyone knows Quint has that one, but no one knows about Mrs. Tagley's. They would be much harder to track.”
“Forget the guns,” Develyn said. “If he was plotting to steal the guns…and stumbled across the cash…he'd leave the guns and take the million instead.”
“Or take both.” Cooper nodded. “Now that Mrs. Tagley is in the hospital, who would know what's missin' from her safe?”
“And if she happened to die.” Dev's hand covered his mouth, “it would be the perfect crime.”
She tugged on his arm. “Mr. Tallon, would you accompany me to Mrs. Tagley's to check her safe?”
“You think Burke's already been there?”
“Everyone in town was here. Tonight would be a good opportunity.”
“We'll take my rig. It's still sprinkling.”
As they approached the Sweetwater Grocery, Develyn waved her arm. “Go around back and point your headlights at the cottonwoods.”
“What are you looking for?”
“Delaney said Hunt claimed to be camping back there the last couple of nights. Maybe he was sizing up the place.”
“Nothin's there now.”
“Well, just a thought.” Develyn motioned for him to park at the rear of the house. “Let's go in the back door.”
“That lightning earlier knocked out some lights. Do you have a flashlight?”
“Yes.”
“Door key?”
“Yep.”
“The combination to the safe?” he asked.
“Yes, sir.” Develyn stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Is there anything else you want?”
He lifted her chin with his fingers. “Yes, ma'am, I reckon there is.” He kissed her on the lips.
“Will it wait?” she murmured.
“As long as it takes.”
“You mean that, Coop, don't you?”
“Dev, I'm good at waitin'. But I got to know what I'm waitin' for.”
She slipped her arms around his waist. “Did you know I'm falling in love with an older gentleman?”
“Did you know that an older gentleman has never heard a woman tell him that?”
She opened the back door and stepped inside. She flipped the switch. “No electricity.”
“The storm must have hit a transformer. Turn on your flashlight.”
Develyn surveyed the back porch with the tiny beam.
“Something's wrong,” Cooper said.
“Nothing looks out of place.”
“Didn't you say Dee went over to Leon's to teach him about a video game?”
“Yes.”
“And she didn't come back yet?”
“What are you insinuating?”
“Look over at the Miller's double-wide…they have lights. What I'm saying is that Leon has electricity and so do the Millers, but not the store.” He waved his hand in front of the beam. “Over there.”
Develyn jumped. “What?”
“Walk over to the circuit breakers.”
They scooted through the shadows.
“Throw the handle up,” he instructed.
“Lights!”
“What does that mean?”
“Someone's been here and wanted to be in the dark.”
She grabbed his arm. “Are they still here?”
“I think they are gone. And all those valuable rifles will be gone too.”
They scampered to the bedroom and into the large closet. “It's not blown up,” she declared. “Someone with the combination opened it.” Develyn spun the chamber. “Rats, I went too far.”
Cooper rubbed her shoulders. Stiff thumbs kneaded her back. “Relax, Dev. Whatever is stolen is gone. Two minutes won't make a difference.”
Cooper reached in and flipped the switch. Develyn stepped inside. “There's something over there.” She pointed at the blanket-covered items against the door.
Cooper pulled back the blanket and snatched up a gun. “It's them. Dev, these are the Henrys.”
“They are all here?”
“Yep. And the One of One Thousand is here too.”
Develyn pulled open several of the shoe boxes. “The money's here too. I was just dreaming all this up.” She stepped back outside the safe into Mrs. Tagley's lilac-smelling bedroom. “The deputies are out in the mud. Quint was panicked, and we ran around frantic for nothing. Good grief, how did I let my mind get this carried away?”
Cooper turned off the light in the safe, closed the door, and spun the dial. “But the cir
cuit was off. Someone threw that lever. And someone did tell the Quarter Circle Diamond boys to take off for the weekend. Something is going on.”
“And Hunter Burke knows what.”
“I think we need to get an orange Popsicle and ponder this,” Cooper suggested.
“Oh, yes!”
“Out on the front bench.”
“They are kind of messy. Is that what you mean?”
“I'm in a bedroom with a pretty lady, that's what I mean. I'm not that old.”
“Good, Mr. Tallon. I'm counting on that.”
The rain had stopped. Argenta was lit by moonlight breaking through the clouds. Develyn plopped down next to Cooper on the freight wagon bench on the front porch. “I thought you wanted an orange Popsicle too.”
“We are going to share that one.”
“Oh, no, Mr. Tallon. You have to learn that there's one thing I will not share. This is my Popsicle. Get your own.”
“OK.” He plucked it out of her hand, snapped it in two, and handed her half.
“I can't believe you did that,” she gasped.
“I think it's about time you tried something different. This way you can take those long licks, enjoy it, and finish it before it drips all over your shirt. Then we can go get another one and do it all over again.”
“But that only works if you have a friend to share it with.”
“You have such a friend.”
“Do you intend to be here every time I want a Popsicle for the rest of my life?”
“Sounds like a good goal to me, doesn't it?”
Develyn took a big, deep sigh and let it out slow. “Yes, Coop, it sounds like a wonderful goal. Are you available for the rest of your life?”
“Are you proposing?” Coop laughed.
“I'm just finding a Popsicle partner.”
“In some places of the world, that's like being engaged.”
“How about Natrona County?”
“I'm afraid so. It's a tradition.”
“Well,” she giggled, “if it's a western tradition, so be it.”
“Do we know what we are doin'?”
“I'm sitting on a porch on a rainy night in Wyoming eating half a Popsicle with a man I've known eight weeks, saying I will marry him some day if I can teach school in Indiana and he can be a Wyoming cowboy and we can figure out how a marriage like that can work.”
Stephen Bly's Horse Dreams Trilogy: Memories of a Dirt Road, the Mustang Breaker, Wish I'd Known You Tears Ago Page 70
