Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
T he whole team got busy checking the rest of the perimeter and mending the fence.
With the scene now secure, Reid strode up to Olive.
He held up his hand, giving her a high five. “Color me impressed.”
She shrugged as if corralling cattle hadn’t been a big deal. “Just another day on the ranch.”
That was what he always said, so Olive decided to give the phrase a spin.
A grin stretched across Reid’s face. “I like you, Olive Abernathy. I really do.”
His words almost sounded sincere. But certainly, he was just putting on an act for any of the ranch hands who were close by.
Including Trick, whom she needed to talk to.
She leaned closer to Reid and quietly asked, “Listen, any chance I could have a moment alone with Trick? There are a few things I’d like to go over with him.”
“I know just the way.” He raised his head. “Trick. Over here. Now.”
Trick galloped toward them on his chocolate-brown quarter horse. “Yes, Mr. Harrison?”
“I need to supervise everything here, so I’m going to have you take Olive back to the ranch and take care of the horses.”
“I’d like to learn how to do that,” Olive added, knowing it would allow her to have more time to talk to Trick. “Could you show me what needs to be done?”
“I’d be happy to.”
“Perfect.” Olive reached her hand toward Reid.
He took it and squeezed it affectionately.
“I’ll see you back at the ranch,” she murmured.
“Thanks again for your help. Maybe you’re cut out for ranch life after all.”
“I’m cut out for anything I want to be cut out for.” She winked and flashed him a grin.
With those words, she began trotting alongside Trick back through the pasture toward the ranch.
Both of them waited until they were a considerable distance away from anyone before speaking.
“You two are really good at pretending like you’re dating,” Trick finally said.
“I’m pretty good at pretending in general. I thought you knew that.”
“I just thought . . .” Trick shrugged. “I don’t know . . . that maybe you were feeling like you need a man in your life or something. I mean, someone other than me.” He threw her a grin.
Olive narrowed her eyes. “Why would you even think that?”
“I mean, on the last case, you and your ex had googly eyes for each other. And now you’ve caught feelings for Reid.”
Her defenses instantly rose. “First of all, I haven’t caught feelings for anyone. And secondly, why do people say caught feelings? Shouldn’t it be developed feelings? Caught feelings makes no sense. Feelings aren’t the flu.”
He chuckled. “Calm down. I was just making an observation.”
“Okay.” Olive drew in a deep breath. She hadn’t meant to go off on that tangent. “Enough about my love life—or lack thereof. I have important things to go over with you.”
“I have some things to tell you too. But you go first.”
She caught him up on what had happened last night. She also told him about what was happening today with the lawyer and tomorrow with the barbecue.
“Now your turn,” Olive told Trick when she was done.
“I talked to Tevin. He looked into the mineral resources in the area. Apparently, there could be some bentonite and uranium. But while there might be some traces, it wouldn’t be enough for someone to want to sabotage the property and drive Reid away. I don’t think that’s what’s going on here.”
“I agree.” At least they could mark off that theory. “Did he tell you anything else?”
“Tevin also found out some information about the two men you ran into inside Skip’s office—including the one with the mean right hook.” He pointed to his jaw and winced at the memory.
“Tell me more.”
“The taller man with the cowboy boots is Jon White, and the other guy is Edgar Seller. They’re both from Montana and have rap sheets filled with minor charges—theft, disturbing the peace. Nothing violent per se.”
“What else?”
“Neither are listed as being employed at the moment. But we know what that means—whoever is paying them is doing it off the books.”
“Is there any other way?” she quipped.
“Nope. Tevin is going to keep digging. Maybe he can find a connection that will help point us to the person who hired them. Those guys are obviously not the mastermind, just the hired thugs.”
“Could Skip Carson be behind this?” she asked.
“I don’t think so. Skip may not be a great guy—he’s known for having a bit of a temper. But he doesn’t have a lot of money or resources. Plus, he’s been in the hospital a lot recently because of a heart attack he suffered a few months back.”
“By the way, I asked Tevin to look into Lucy. Tevin talked to Rex, and Rex is going to send Mitzi to see if she can find out more.” Mitzi was another of their colleagues. She had the perfect personality for cozying up to people to find out information.
“Good idea,” Trick said.
They reached the stables, sauntered inside, and Trick dismounted. He looked like a natural as he secured his horse to a post.
Then he walked over to help Olive, but she’d already dismounted by the time he reached her.
She was feeling pretty proud of herself until she stumbled a couple of steps. Fortunately, she caught herself and saved face.
But she saw a flash of amusement in Trick’s gaze. Thankfully, he didn’t say anything.
He knew what was best for him.
However, Olive really could be a little too stubborn for her own good at times.
“There’s one more thing.” Trick grabbed the reins of her horse and lowered his voice. “I’ve been keeping an eye on the four newest hires here.”
Olive’s breath caught as she waited for him to continue. “And?”
“Out of all four, the one I’m leaning toward the most as a suspect is a man named Dippy Larks.”
Dippy Larks? Was that even a real name?
“He’s the goofy-looking guy with the big ears,” Trick said. “He was out there helping with the fence when we left.”
Based on that description, Olive knew exactly who he was. “I saw him. Why Dippy?”
“I noticed him taking some pictures around the ranch. It seemed fishy, if you ask me. It was almost like he was scoping out the place. I mean, his pictures were of the Homestead, the barn, the horses.” Trick shrugged. “Something didn’t feel right about it.”
“Did you confront him?”
“I thought about it, but I didn’t want to do that yet. I don’t want to draw that kind of attention to myself. Instead, I’m going to keep an eye on him. In fact, while the bunkhouse is clear, I’d like to look through his things.”
“You go do that,” Olive told him. “I know how to take care of these horses.”
“I thought you wanted me to show you what needs to be done?” Trick looked puzzled.
“That was just for the benefit of anyone listening. I’ve got this.”
Trick tipped his hat to her before hurrying away.
Olive hoped he found out something. Because they could use a really good lead right now.
Andy was still gone. The threats unresolved. Now Lucy had shown up.
Somehow, they needed to accelerate the pace of this investigation before it turned deadly.
Olive had just finished brushing the horses and putting them back in their stalls when the sound of someone whistling outside caught her ear.
She gave Bella one more rub on the side of her face before stepping away. “Let me see who that is. I’ll be back to get you some more water.”
As she walked to the edge of the stables and peered out, she sucked in a breath.
Dippy Larks stomped toward the bunkhouse.
She needed to stop this guy before he walked in on Trick going through his things.
She stepped outside and waved her hand. “Excuse me!”
Dippy stopped and turned to her. His annoyed expression softened when he saw her, almost as if he knew he needed to be polite to his boss’s girlfriend. “Yes?”
“How’s everything going out there with the fence? I was really worried when I left. Are all the cattle okay?”
“Reid and Cooper have everything under control. But they’ll be out there for a while still.”
“I thought it was all-hands-on-deck. That’s why it worried me when I saw you come back so soon. You’re sure everything’s okay?”
“I asked if I could be excused. My IBS is acting up.”
His IBS? Did he really say that out loud?
Olive tried not to make a face. “I see. I guess I shouldn’t hold you up much longer then.”
“No, if you don’t mind, I really gotta go.” His face looked slightly green as he pointed to the bunkhouse.
“Of course.”
She watched him scurry away. She hoped she’d spoken loud enough that Trick had heard her.
She’d bought as much time as she thought she could manage.
She watched Dippy disappear into the bunkhouse. Then she stepped back into the stables to finish with the horses.
When she returned, she was surprised to see a figure standing there.
Trick.
“You got out in time . . .” she murmured as she joined him by the horses.
“Yes, thanks for the heads-up. I heard you and got out of there fast.”
“Did you find anything unusual?”
Trick stepped closer. “I did find one thing. I looked under his mattress, and there was a burner phone there.”
“A burner phone? People usually only have those if they’re hiding something.”
“Exactly.”
“So what is Dippy hiding?” Olive asked.
“That’s what we need to figure out.”