Home on the Ranch: Montana Redemption

by Amanda Renee

  “Don’t remind me. Thank heaven you’re back in case an emergency comes up I can’t solve.”

  “That’ll be the day. I thought I’d see how things are going before I head to my ranch and work on some projects I’ve been putting off since I moved here.”

  “Just don’t forget the new members of TTSAR will be meeting with you on Tuesday morning.” The Tip Top Search and Rescue volunteer unit for the county needed staffing from time to time. “You’ll also need to choose the new engraver for the Ranch Watch program.”

  “I tapped Rex Lewis for that job two weeks ago.” To pinpoint the ranches and farms from where machinery was stolen, the owners’ names were engraved on it to identify specific locations of theft.

  “Three days ago Rex fell off a ladder fixing his barn roof and broke his elbow.”

  Holden shook his head. Great. “Okay, I’ll check in on him.” He sorted through the paperwork in the inbox on the desk.

  “Also, just so you know, the detention center is at capacity. We can’t handle any more than fifty inmates.”

  “I’ll phone Rand over at the marshal’s office to figure it out. Anything else?”

  Walt frowned. “Jan Allred’s son Mike has been on a hunger strike. His mother is frantic and has called here three times looking for you. You remember she works in the bakery at Loft’s supermarket.”

  He nodded. “On Tuesday I’ll have a talk with Lieutenant Fogarty over at the jail. After he gives me his view of the situation, I’ll get in touch with her. Is that everything?”

  The older man laughed. “Are you sure you want to know?”

  “Maybe not.”

  “How was your vacation?”

  “Good. I helped my dad do a lot of fencing.”

  “In other words, you’re ready for a real vacation.”

  To his mind, a real vacation included being with his wife, but that wasn’t possible and hadn’t been for three years. “It was great to see my folks and family, but honestly I’m glad to be back.” He was grateful to have a reason to get up every morning, including exercising his horse.

  “Then go on home and enjoy your last few days of freedom.”

  “Thanks, Walt.”

  Holden left the office, nodded to the staff on duty and left for his ranch. Before moving here he’d bought the place close to the south end of town with a house and barn. After trailing his horse to Whitebark, he’d intended to put in crops of alfalfa and hay, maybe even some cattle one day. So far he’d done none of it. His life was too crazy to be the rancher he’d assumed he’d be. Maybe when he retired...

  While he’d been gone this last week, Drake Simpson, the nineteen-year-old son of Hank and Allie Simpson, his neighbors to the south, took care of Blackie. The Simpsons ran a small miniature horse farm on their ranch. Drake usually came by five times a week to feed and exercise his horse, depending on Holden’s schedule.

  All looked well as he checked on his gelding before going in the house. No sooner had he entered the front door than his cell rang. He checked the caller ID and smiled to see his friend’s name. Porter Ewing worked for the forest service after transferring in from the Adirondacks. He was a part-time firefighter and like Holden, he was single.

  He clicked On. “Hey, Porter—what’s up?”

  “We just pulled into the station after coming back from a fire over at Roper’s Discount Mattress. Cole and I saw your Subaru headed for the office. Welcome back!”

  “It’s good to be home. How’s it going?”

  “Don’t ask. Want to grab a bite at Angelino’s later? Wyatt will be coming with a couple of the guys.”

  “Sounds great. Give me an hour and I’ll meet you there.”

  “You’re on! See you soon.”

  * * *

  On Memorial Day morning, Jessica reached for her cell phone to call her mother. “Hi, Mom.”

  “Hi, honey. Are you ready?”

  “We are. I want to know how the church party went on Saturday night. Did you go with Ray?”

  “It was fun. I had a nice time with him.”

  “Good.” Ray Marsden was a widower who went to their church. Jessica had a feeling he was interested in her mom. “On my way over to the shop, I’m planning to buy some flowers at the florist to put on all the graves.”

  “Thank you for doing that. By the time you get here, I’ll be ready. I’ve been packing us a picnic to enjoy while we’re over there.”

  “Great. I’ll be on my way as soon as I take care of Bucky.”

  Later, when she parked the truck behind a row of cars at the cemetery, crowds of people were already visiting the graves and it made their progress slow. She carried the box of potted flowers. Her mom trailed behind with the picnic basket.

  Chase looked up at her. “How come you bought so many plants, Mom?”

  “Because we have to decorate my grandparents’ grave, plus the graves of your father’s parents and uncle and aunt.”

  “And Dad’s!”

  “His most of all, darling.”

  They reached the first set of graves where Trent’s family was buried. She put the box down. “I bought yellow, lavender and white mums. Choose which ones you want to put on the two headstones.”

  Her son pulled out the lavender potted flowers and carefully placed them at the base of each.

  “That’s perfect, Chase! Now let’s go to my grandparents’ graves.” She picked up the box and they walked the short distance. “Do you know who they are?”

  “Yup! My great-grandparents.”

  She put down the box to hug him. “That’s right. They’re the Harrisons and have just one headstone.”

  “Can I put yellow flowers on their grave, Nana?”

  “I wish you would. Yellow was my mother’s favorite color. Go ahead and do it.”

  He reached in the box and walked it over to the headstone. Jessica shared a soulful glance with her mother. Chase was so adorable. After he placed a pot of flowers, he came running to her. “Now can we go to Daddy’s grave?”

  She’d been waiting for him to ask. “Yes.”

  They walked the short distance. “I saved the white flowers for him.”

  “Is that your favorite color, darling?”

  “Yes. My teacher at Sunday school says everyone in heaven wears white.”

  With that comment, tears pricked Jessica’s eyes. “She’s right.”

  “There’s Daddy’s grave!” He pulled out the last of the potted flowers and put them at the base of his father’s headstone. Maybe Trent was watching. Jessica hoped so. Then Chase did something that surprised her and sat down on the grass next to it. “Can we have our picnic right here?”

  “Of course we can,” her mother answered for her and sat down by him.

  Jessica pulled out her phone and took a picture. Then she, too, sank down under the sunny sky and they ate the fried chicken and potato salad.

  “Mmm. This is good, Nana.”

  “It was your father’s favorite meal when he came to my house with your mom.”

  After a moment of silence, Chase said, “I wish my daddy didn’t have to die.” His brown eyes had teared up.

  “I know how you feel,” Jessica murmured. “My daddy died when I was twelve. We’ll always miss them, won’t we?”

  He nodded his dark blond head. “Where’s his grave?”

  “In Riverside, California, with his parents’. That’s why Nana and I fly there every year and put flowers on their graves.”

  “Oh.” Chase finished a roll and got to his feet. “Can I go look around at the flags?”

  “For a few minutes, but don’t go far.”

  “I won’t.” He walked off. Jessica kept her eyes on him.

  * * *

  Tuesday was finally here. Jessica hadn’t slept well and was anxious to talk to the sheriff. She exercised
Bucky, then showered and washed her hair. With the help of the dryer and brush, she styled her blond hair into a neck-length bob. After looking in the closet, she pulled out a summery skirt and blouse to put on.

  With her makeup done, she fed Chase and took him to her mom’s. She’d packed his lunch and his favorite bag of building blocks. When she got there, Millie, one of the hairdressers, was already at work washing Lily Owens’s hair. The beautiful onetime Olympic alpine skier was working with her parents breeding horses these days.

  They all chatted for a minute. After going upstairs with Chase, she promised him she’d be back soon to take him home. Then she left the salon and headed for the complex to the sheriff’s office. Once she’d parked at the rear of the building, she entered and spoke to a Deputy Sykes at the front desk.

  “I was told to come in so I could speak to Chief Granger.”

  “Just a moment.”

  While she waited, she asked him if he could look up her husband’s case in the files and find out the name of the investigating officer.

  She had to wait a half hour before she was told the officer had retired and moved out of state. She would have to take up the matter with the chief.

  To her relief, she didn’t have to wait long before he said, “Mrs. Fleming? I checked with the sheriff. He can see you in ten minutes, but it will have to be short because of his loaded schedule.”

  Thank goodness. “I appreciate him fitting me in at all.”

  “Wait here. I’ll let you know when you can go in.”

  The more Jessica thought about what she’d discovered, the more she was convinced a crime had been committed. But against whom? Her or Trent? Or was it sheer vandalism?

  “Mrs. Fleming?” Jessica jumped. She’d been so deep in thought, she hadn’t been aware of time passing. “You can go in now. It’s the door at the end of the hall on the right around the corner.”

  “Thank you, Deputy.”

  The busy office hummed with activity. She walked down the hall and knocked on the door.

  “Come in,” sounded a deep male voice.

  When she opened the door, her gaze traveled to the brown-haired sheriff who stood up and walked around his desk to shake her hand. She felt the warmth of it permeate her insides. He was probably in his early thirties.

  Not only was he tall and well built, he was one of the most ruggedly handsome men she’d ever seen in her life. After she’d met and fallen in love with Trent, she really hadn’t noticed other men. Since his death, life had passed in a kind of dull, painful blur...until now.

  “Mrs. Fleming?”

  “Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Sheriff Granger.”

  “I’m happy to do it. Please, sit down.”

  She sat on one of the chairs near his desk before he took his place behind it. Like the deputies she’d seen in the building, he wore a tan shirt and black pants, nothing exceptional. But on him, they looked good. His silvery-gray eyes had a luminous quality that rivaled the silver badge worn on his pocket.

  Though she realized he’d been the police chief at the time of Trent’s death, she’d never met him. But his name had come up in the news and during the election that had put him in as sheriff.

  “Tell me what has brought you to my office.”

  Not wanting to waste his time, she quickly related everything she’d told her mother on Thursday. By the time she’d finished, his dark brows had formed a bar above his incredible gray eyes. He sat forward in his swivel chair.

  “Was anyone else in the bay or still on the premises while you were there waiting for him?”

  “I didn’t see another soul.”

  “Okay. Where is the box of ball joints now?”

  “In my garage. I was planning to take it to the dump along with some other boxes.”

  “Tell you what. I’ve got appointments all day. Why don’t I come by your house this evening to have a look when it’s convenient for you. I believe you mentioned you have a son.”

  “Yes. Chase is five and goes to kindergarten, except that he’s out now for the summer.”

  He smiled, turning her heart over. What on earth was the matter with her? “That’s a great age. When does he go to bed?”

  “Seven thirty.”

  “Then if it’s all right with you, I’ll drop by about quarter to eight. Give me your phone number and I’ll text you when I arrive so I won’t wake him. I have a lot of questions,” he explained, “and we’ll be able to talk at length.”

  Surprised at his thoughtfulness and willingness to act so quickly, she obliged him. “You don’t know what this means to me. Thank you so much.” She got up from the chair. “Last night I couldn’t sleep. If someone tampered with the car during that night and I can prove it, then I can’t help but wonder if the culprit had wanted to injure Trent...or if I was the target, assuming that person knew it was my car.”

  The sheriff got to his feet and walked her to the door. “It’s too soon to know anything yet, Mrs. Fleming, but I’ll get back to you.”

  “Thank you so much, Sheriff.”

  Copyright © 2019 by Rebecca Winters

  ISBN-13: 9781488086045

  Home on the Ranch: Montana Redemption

  Copyright © 2019 by Amanda Renee

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