Suited to be a Cowboy (17 page)

Melissa spoke one word as she produced her cell phone, “Marcus.”

Amy looked at her with one eyebrow raised in question, but
Melissa didn’t take time to explain. She called the police to report the crime
and then went to the truck to dig out the thermos and sandwiches. The horses
were as good as they were going to be for now, so they might as well eat while
they waited for the medicine and the police. Life was about to get very busy.

*
* * *

The noonday sun beat down in relentless force, making
their trek upriver a slow one. Jimmy constantly wiped the sweat from his brow
to keep it from running into his eyes. It ran down his back in rivulets, adding
to the discomfort. At least he’d remembered his Stetson in his rush to leave
the house. Without it, he’d be burned to a crisp by now. It and his
long-sleeved cotton shirt helped minimize the sun’s rays. As it was, the
mosquitoes and black flies were having a field day, feasting on the unprepared
hikers.

“Brian, hold up. I think a piece of oleander is snagged on
that bush.” He pointed to a low-lying branch near the water. Jimmy reached up
and swung the branch within arm’s reach so Brian could grab it.

“Yep, sure looks like,” he said.

“There must be more of it. That little piece wouldn’t have
done the damage we’ve seen this morning. Hang onto it and let’s keep
searching.”

Half a mile or so upstream, they found another branch
jammed into the rocks along the shore.

“We’re getting close,” said Jimmy, scanning the riverbed
ahead.

They trudged along another hundred feet or so when they
heard a shout.

“Found it! The darned stuff is planted in the river,” Jake
hollered back to them.

Brian and Jimmy hurried to the water’s edge. After yanking
on his gloves, Brian hooked a wad of plant life and pulled it out. “That’s our
oleander. It was pulled up, roots and all, and planted in the water where it
would do the most damage, I’d say. Going by the fact that it ain’t started
wilting yet, it hasn’t been here long—maybe last night or early this morning.”

“Why do you think that?” Jimmy wandered closer with the
others looking on from the opposite shore.

“Look here. See where the bark is worn off? These roots
are long. It would take a mighty tug or two to uproot it, thereby ripping the
bark and breaking a couple of the smaller branches in the process. Looks like
whoever did it also scored the branches and sliced off the tips so the sap
would leak out. See how the ends are cut?”

“Yes, I do see. Do you think this is all of it? What’re
the chances of there being more planted further upstream?”

Brian scratched his head and studied the area. “It’s
possible, but not likely. This is the lowest point in the river and he needed
the plants to stay alive. Keep searching,” he called across the river. “We’ll
dig up this bunch so it can’t do any more trouble and catch up with you.
Whoever did this has a humongous vet bill to pay, if nothing else.”

“Okay. Here. You’ll need these.” Jake balled a pair of
gloves together and pitched them toward Jimmy.

He caught them before they could hit the water. “Thanks.”
He pulled on the gloves while he stared at the row of oleander. “I’ve a good
idea who’s responsible and I’ve a notion to settle this one myself.” Jimmy
heaved a heavy sigh, his hands fisted at his sides. “But it’s up to Melissa, of
course.”

“Don’t go gettin’
yerself
in
trouble, boy. Let the law do its job.”

“Yeah, I hear
ya
.” Jimmy waded
into the water and began the task of pulling up the recently planted oleander.
As he got to the other side, he saw footprints in the riverbed. “Brian, the men
never dismounted. Did they?”

“Nope, just called me over to investigate. Why?”

“Because there are footprints over here. I’m going to mark
the area with some rocks so we know where to come back to with the police.”

“Good thinkin’, boy. Maybe I should’ve sent one of the men
back for them?”

“Nah, plenty of time, and besides, we might find more,
although I hope not.”

“Someone sure went to a lot of bother to make trouble for
the boss lady. You thinkin’ it’s her ex?” Brian asked as he tied the oleander
plants together with a piece of twine and secured them to a tree.

“Yep, ninety-nine percent certain.” Jimmy saw what Brian
was doing and snorted a laugh. “Do you always carry a ball of twine around with
you?”

Brian nodded. “Sturdy stuff, twine. You never know when
it’ll come in handy.”

“As you’ve just proved.”

They started upstream and caught up to the others, who
were now on their way back.

“Didn’t find any more of that stuff, so we thought it best
to head back,” said Jake.

“Go on back and tend to the downed horses. We’ll be along
shortly,” Brian instructed the riders on horseback.

“We can double up, save you the walk.”

“Thanks, but your mounts are already tired. We’ll
survive.”

“My truck is parked near the sick horses. Can one of you
drive back and pick us up?”

“Sure thing,” said Jake.

Jimmy tossed him the keys. “Okay. We’ll start walking
back. Gotta pick up some plant life on the way.”

Relieved they didn’t have to walk another two hours to get
back to the ranch, especially since the river water had soaked his boots, Jimmy
said, “Let’s get those plants and head over to the track.”

They retraced their steps only to discover that Brian’s
carefully tied bundle had disappeared. The evidence was gone. Jimmy glanced
across the river. The pile of rocks was no more. Chances were that the
footprints were gone too.
Damn! I got my
feet wet and ruined a good pair of two hundred dollar boots for nothing.

*
* * *

The strong laxative worked fast. It was all they could do
to keep the horses away from the creek. A couple of the wranglers made another
run for fresh water while the rest of them moved the sick horses to another
pasture. Although the horses still trembled in pain, they were on their feet and
moving, albeit slowly. For that, Melissa was grateful. By the time the vet from
town arrived, only a few were still retching. It was a sorry, heart wrenching
sight to have to watch her babies in so much pain.

The wranglers returned and reported to her, then took
Jimmy’s truck to pick up him and Brian. Melissa would’ve offered, just for the
chance to sit for a few, but her place was with the horses. Although she did
watch for their return.

“We found the oleander and some footprints, but the gall
darnedest thing happened. They disappeared by the time we got back to them.”
Brian appeared confused as to how that could happen.

“It’s obvious the culprit is still around,” she said.

“But we didn’t see another soul.” Brian shook his head.

“You were searching for plants not people,” Melissa
soothed. “Don’t worry about it. At least it’s not in the river any more.”

Jimmy didn’t seem to need her company, not with Amy
sticking so close to him from the time he stepped down from the cab of his
truck. So Melissa wandered among the horses, talking to them and soothing their
anxiety with quiet words and a gentle pat here and there.
Marcus would pay for this!
The police said they could pick him up
on suspicion of wrongdoing, but without evidence, the charge wouldn’t stick.

Officer Jacobs approached her. “We found footprints about
a mile upriver from here. My team is making a plaster cast as we speak. They
also found a bloodied glove and some oleander, although we’re not sure why it
was tied to a tree. The crime scene unit will continue to scour the creek for
oleander and take pictures of any finds. If the glove turns out to be your
ex-husband’s, we have him on twenty-four charges of animal cruelty.”

“Good! I hope they lock him up for a long, long time. And
Brian will be happy to know who stole his evidence.” She filled Jacobs in on
the foreman’s plight.

He nodded. “I’ll have to remember to thank him. As to your
ex, this kind of abuse rates right up there with murder. He’ll likely go away
for a good long spell. Does this creek supply the ranch water for drinking?”

“No, we’re actually hooked into a natural spring than runs
from high in the mountains.”

“Still, you may want to have your water tested to make
sure. This particular plant is deadly to humans as well as animals.”

“Thanks. I’ll have one of the men do that now.” She turned
to see Brian riding fast, heading her way. “What’s up, Brian?”

“I rode out to the northern line shack. Looks like
someone’s been staying there.”

“John and the kids are in the eastern cabin. Maybe they holed
up there first.”

“Nope, John was with me. Said they stayed in the eastern
shack because he discovered it was closest to the ranch house.”

Officer Jacobs spoke up. “Can you show me this cabin? We
need to get a start on collecting evidence.”

“Sure thing, Officer. I left John there to guard the place
until we returned.”

“Good call. Let’s go. I’ll follow in the four-wheel drive.”
Jacobs went to his vehicle and the two were soon lost to sight.

Jimmy worked with Amy, the town vet, Roger, and the
wranglers to keep the horses moving. As she looked around her, Melissa couldn’t
believe the havoc Marcus had caused. The closest wrangler was Tippy, so she
called him over.

“Tippy, I need you to collect samples of drinking water
from the ranch house, bunkhouse, and barn. Take them in for testing, just to be
on the safe side.”

“Will do. Just need to find my horse.” He whistled and the
big gray came running.

“He’s well-trained.” She offered a weak smile as the horse
nosed into
Tippy’s
shoulder, shoving him slightly off
balance.

“Yeah, he’s a smart one, aren’t
ya
boy?” He mounted up. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Thanks, Tippy.” When she walked over to Jimmy, who was
helping Amy get a downed horse on its feet, her ribs protested. She’d done too much
today, but these horses were her responsibility.

“When we’ve finished today, you’ll have to show me the
nightlife,” Amy said.

“Darlin’, you know I’m not a partier.” Jimmy said. “I bet
one of the wranglers would be happy to oblige.”

Amy pouted prettily. “But I don’t know
them
. Please, Jimmy.”

“All right.”

Melissa had heard enough. Her heart
clenched equal to, if not worse than, the pain in her ribs. “Jimmy, is it okay
to take your truck to the house? I’ll help Sheila rustle up some food for these
guys.”

“Doc said you can’t drive and you’d have a hard time
handling the standard shift one-handed, but Brian said the bunkhouse cook was
bringing lunch.”

“Oh, hadn’t thought of that.”

He must have noticed her pain-filled gaze, because he
spoke again. “There’s not much more you can do out here. I’ll drive you home if
you need to rest for a while. You’ve got to be hurting after spending all this
time on your feet.”

“Yeah, a little. You don’t mind?”

“Nope. I’ll be right back, Amy.” He smiled at the lady vet
and then turned to walk Melissa to his truck. “Need me to carry you?”

She smiled self-consciously. “I don’t think so, but stay
close. Okay?”

“You got it.”

He tucked her good arm in his and matched his pace to
hers, helping her into the truck when they reached it.

“Thanks. I can come back out after I’ve rested a bit.”

“No need. I think we’ve just about finished all we can do.
Nature will have to take care of the rest. Roger says it could’ve been a lot
worse if they’d eaten the leaves or flowers instead of ingesting the diluted
sap tainting the water. At least we haven’t lost any of the horses.”

“Thank God. Make sure Brian sets up a guard rotation to
watch over them before you leave. When their health improves, we’ll move them
closer to the barn until the water tests clear. Have you had time to check on
your horses?”

“Yeah, I rode out there once we had your horses on their
feet and moving. The Mustangs are fine. The pond in that pasture must be fed by
a mountain stream instead of the creek.”

“Yes, it is. Maybe we should corral them closer to the
homestead as well.”

“Nah. Marcus knows horses. He knows they’re not your
thoroughbreds. And with any luck, he should be under lock and key soon.”

“I hope so. He’s caused enough trouble.”

He closed her door then climbed in behind the wheel,
driving up to the front steps. She’d wanted to ask him how he knew Amy, but was
afraid of the answer.
What if they were
more than just friends?

“Do you need help getting inside?”

She opened the door with her good hand then turned back to
him.
Was he that anxious to get back to
Amy?
“I can manage, thanks. See you later.” Her tone sounded curt, even to
her own ears, but she couldn’t help it.

He smiled and waved, seeming in a hurry to return to the
field.
Or to Amy?
She should be mad
at him for taking charge in front of her men, but she could only be grateful.
There was no way she could’ve hiked the riverbanks riddled with pain.

The kids were sitting on the front porch and Aaron ran to
greet her.

“Mom! How are the horses? We wanted to go help but Sheila
wouldn’t let us.” He screwed his nose up in distaste.

“And right she was. That pasture was no place for children
today. The horses were sick and thrashing about in pain. You guys could’ve been
hurt. I counted on you to keep the other two occupied.”

“Oh, that’s okay then.” He smiled and grabbed the picnic
basket. “I’ll carry this for you, Mom.”

“Thank you, Aaron.” She smiled tiredly and hugged him
close.

“Mo-
om
,” he warned.

“What? I love you and I don’t care who knows it.”