Barry (Hollister #5)

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

B arry watched Kathy leave. The woman went to the Flying H truck and gave Honey some love. It was cool enough she could stay in the truck with the windows down. She waved at him and walked over to her truck. He joined Ryan at the booth and groaned a bit as he sat down, and Ryan laughed at him. “Sore?”

“I wouldn’t be if some cantankerous cuss of a ranch manager had managed to load more than one bag of feed in the back of the truck.” Barry took a sip of Kathy’s coffee and didn’t try to hide the smile the thought of sharing her drink brought to mind.

“You and that filly are getting serious.” Ryan took a sip of his coffee.

Barry’s back went up immediately, and he was in fight mode before he even realized what happened. He leveled a stare at his foreman. “Is that a problem?”

Ryan snorted. “Nah. Know her and her folks. Salt of the earth type people. They always show up to help the neighbors or whenever there’s a need. Like most of Hollister. There are still a couple of pickles sour as hell, but I guess every community has one or two.” Ryan pointed across the street to Sanderson’s grocery. “Those two are the sourest of the lot.”

“Chester?” Barry cocked his head. Ever since he’d been there, people would nod and greet the man. “Never heard him say a word.”

“That’s the problem. If he ain’t talking to you, he’s talking about you. Old Wallace Lamont kept those two in line. Wallace was a good and kind man through and through. Since he died, those old codgers have gotten bitter.” Ryan shook his head. “Delbert is just an echo machine. He hasn’t had an original thought in ten or twenty years.”

Ciera came by and plopped down their plates and an urn of hot coffee. “Anything else I can get you?”

“I think this is good, thank you.” Barry smiled at her.

Ciera stopped and did a double-take. “You should do that more often.” She winked at Barry before clearing one of the booths.

“She’s right. Smiling don’t hurt.” Ryan lifted one of his big fluffy sausage biscuits and took a bite .

“Says you. I haven’t used these muscles in years. Believe me, it’s taken a lot of pain and suffering to get to this point.”

“Heard that last night,” Ryan said through his bite of food and put his biscuit down. “Didn’t mean to, but Dusty’s room was where I took cover until I could make my way to my cottage.”

Barry poured some more coffee from the urn. “Figured most, if not all, heard what was said. Can’t put that cat back in the bag.” He didn’t know what else to say. Baring his soul to his CO was one thing. Letting everyone else in on his personal failures was another.

“Let me tell you this about that,” Ryan said. “No one, and I mean no one in this world, is without fault. But what happened to you over there, that wasn’t on you. You need to let that blame you carry on your shoulders fall off and blow away. Everyone on that ranch has your back. We had it before last night and even more so now. You got friends even though you’re a prickly son of a bitch. And that’s all I’m going to say on the subject.” Ryan lifted his biscuit and took a massive bite out of it.

Barry took a bite of his biscuit and rolled Ryan’s words around his brain. If only it were that easy. If only he could drop the guilt and the anger that ran through his veins. Lately, he’d been able to shake the feeling for longer and longer periods of time, but it always seemed to come back, especially when he was alone with his thoughts. He took another bite of his food and looked across the street. The old men were talking to each other, drinking coffee, and pointing to trucks as they passed.

“How’s that horse taking to you?” Ryan asked, pulling him from his thoughts.

He shrugged. “Good, he’s taking treats from my hand. I think he’s getting used to me.”

“Now's the time to start walking him with a lead. First, in his stall, the one next to him is empty, so open it up to double the size and start getting him used to that.”

Barry nodded. “Okay.” He shook his head. “This way is a heck of a lot slower than Dusty’s method.”

“Dusty will probably break a bone or two with that stallion. These mustangs have been wild all their lives. His is rank, and I mean downright meaner than sin. Dusty isn’t ever going to make friends with him, but sooner or later, the two of them will come to respect each other. The horse you have is a bit younger. He ain’t had his own herd of mares, and he hasn’t had to fight away challengers like Dusty’s critter. You can gentle the Dun. It’ll take time, but once you and that horse are finished, he’ll be yours for life.”

Barry frowned. “I didn’t buy him. He’s not mine.”

Ryan looked up from his food. “Didn’t anyone tell you?”

Barry leaned in and asked, “Tell me what?”

Ryan took a sip of coffee. “Senior bought the Dun for you. He wanted you to have your own horse since we all figured you were here for the long haul. The other wasn’t sold at the auction, and since Dusty went with Senior to the stockyard that day, Senior asked if Dusty thought he could handle the old man. Dusty was up for the challenge. Senior paid for the horse and gave it to Dusty.”

Barry leaned back. “What if I decide to leave?”

“Better buy a horse trailer and then figure out how you’ll tell Kathy.”

“You’re leaving?” Edna Michaelson asked as she passed the booth. She put her hand to her heart and stopped at their table, setting her purse on the edge of the table. “I hope it isn’t because of all of the things that have been happening around here. I know for a fact some old fools are convinced you’re responsible, but that is a load of horse dung, and they know it. You don’t need to leave. I think our Kathy would be heartbroken.”

“No, ma’am, I’m not leaving. We were discussing a what-if scenario.” He needed to make sure Edna knew the truth because he could only imagine how fast that bit of gossip would make it to Kathy or her mom and dad. “I’m doing well here, and I have no plans on leaving.”

“Well, that’s good.” Edna smiled and dropped her hand from her neck, hitting her purse and knocking it off the table. “Dang it.”

“I’ve got it.” Barry slid to the end of his seat and helped pick up her belongings. He lifted a photograph and stared at it. “What is this?”

Edna looked around. “You don’t tell anyone you saw that.” She tried to take the picture from his hand, but Barry had a good grip on it. “Edna.” He looked at her. “Where was this picture taken?”

“I’m not telling anyone.” Edna tugged on the picture again. “No one believes me, and I have this evidence, and I’m getting more.” She tugged harder. “This is my photo, Barry. Let go of it.”

Barry glanced at the picture again and released his grip. Edna narrowed her eyes at him, “You can’t tell a soul.” She shoved the picture into her purse with a huff and marched out of the diner to where the other ladies were waiting for her.

“What was that all about?” Ryan asked, motioning with the fork he was using to eat his roll.

Barry blinked at Ryan and slid out of the booth. “I need to find Ken.” He pulled out cash for their meals and dropped it on the table.

“His SUV was at the station when we came into town. You need the truck?”

“No, I’ll walk. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Take your time.” Ryan’s words were almost covered by the bell on the door. Honey barked at him when he left the diner. “Stay, girl,” he told her before heading down the small street toward the new building constructed for the sheriff and his deputies.

He opened the door and walked in to find JD, one of the deputies, was pouring himself a cup of coffee. “Where’s the sheriff?”

JD pointed with his cup. “His office. ”

Barry went to the door, opened it, and stepped in, closing the door behind him. Ken looked up from the phone call he was on. “I’ll call you back.” As soon as he hung up, he said, “I was going to fuss at you for not knocking, but … You look like you saw a ghost.”

“Maybe. Edna’s purse spilled in the diner. I helped her pick it up. She had a picture inside her purse. It was a man in a ghillie suit. He was carrying a rifle.”

Ken’s eyes narrowed. “A faraway picture showing a lot of land and flowers?”

Barry shook his head. “No. This was a close-up photo. There’s grassland in the front and not much background at all. Blurry, but there’s no doubt in my mind it was a person in a ghillie suit.”

Ken got up and reached for his hat. “Is she flashing it around?”

“No, she said no one believed her last time and that she had evidence, and she was getting more. I have no idea what that means, but, Sheriff, this guy could be our shooter and the one causing all the damage.”

Ken nodded. “Let’s go talk to Edna.”

“She left the diner. I don’t know where she headed.” Barry followed him out of his office.

“JD, I’m heading out. Handle things until I get back.”

“You got it,” the deputy said as they walked out of the building.

“She’s going to be so pissed. She told me not to tell a soul.” After Barry got into the passenger side seat of the sheriff’s car, they took off down the main street.

“What time is it?”

Barry looked at his watch. “Just going on eight thirty.”

“She’ll be headed to the church.” Ken turned on his blinker and took a right. “There they are.”

He chirped his siren, and the women jumped. Ken pulled up beside them. “Edna, I’m going to need you to get into the vehicle with us.”

“Ken Zorn, I haven’t done anything wrong, and I will not get into the vehicle with you. I know my rights.”

Ken put the SUV into Park. He sucked his teeth and then shook his head. “Is that so?”

“It most certainly is.” Edna huffed and started walking again. Ken got out of the SUV and said, “Edna Michaelson, do you want me to arrest you for impeding a murder investigation? Do you know I can put you in jail for that?”

“You wouldn’t, and I don’t know a thing about that murder.”

Ken tipped his cowboy hat back on his head and crossed his arms. “Would you like to test my authority, my determination, or my desire to find that killer?”

“I don’t have any information about the murder.”

Ken tossed his head in his direction. “Barry says you do.”

Edna flashed him a look that could wither cement. He wasn’t sure what caused him to do it, but he smiled and waved at her. Her eyes narrowed, and she pointed at him. “And to think I used to like you.”

Ken opened the door. “Get in, Edna. We’re going to have a little talk.”

“This is illegal, I tell you.” Edna tossed her purse in and looked back at her little minions. “Girls, if I’m not back in an hour, you call the state police.”

“We’ll do it,” the more vocal of the two assured Edna. He had no idea what the ladies’ names were. They seemed to blend into Edna’s persona most of the time.

Ken got back into the SUV and made a three-point turn, heading back to the station. There was enough sighing and noise from the back to know for sure the older woman was working herself into a tizzy of monumental proportions.

Barry tried to smooth the waters he’d definitely ruffled. “Edna?—”

She snapped at him, “Shut it, mister. I don’t want to hear a word from you.”

Ken chuckled quietly, and Barry sent him a look that should have singed his ass, but the guy seemed to think the whole situation was funny.

They pulled up to the station, and Ken got out, opening the back door for Edna. She huffed past him and walked into the station. “JD, could you bring us all a cup of coffee?” Ken asked as he escorted Edna toward his office, Barry following along.

“Coming right up,” the man said from behind them .

“All right, Edna. Have a seat.”

The woman plopped down in the chair with a huff that declared her displeasure. Barry stood behind her and leaned against the wall. “Edna, I’d like to see that picture, please.”

“Get a warrant.” The woman huffed again, and her arms were crossed over her purse as if she thought Ken would rip it from her.

“I can do that.” Ken picked up the phone and started pushing buttons. He leaned back into his chair and stared at Edna. “Debbie, this is Sheriff Zorn. I need to talk to Judge Kendrick.” He held the phone away from his ear, and everyone in the room heard the woman’s response.

“Hey, Ken, sure thing. It may be a couple of minutes; he’s finishing up a meeting with the DA.”

Edna blinked and sat up straighter. “You’re serious?”

“I don’t lie, Edna.” Ken stared at her. His hard-ass expression was one he must have practiced or learned through adversity because Barry believed it.

She deflated. “Oh, hang up that phone.”

“I’ll call back later, Debbie.” Ken lowered the receiver as JD brought in three cups of coffee and pulled sugar and small creamer packets from his pocket.

“Anything else?” JD asked.

“No, and thank you for this. I owe you breakfast,” Ken said as he lifted his cup.

“I’ll take you up on that someday.” JD smiled and exited quietly .

Ken extended his hand. “Let me see the picture, Edna, and fix yourself a cup.”

“I’ll take mine black,” she said, opening her purse. “I want this back. You can’t keep it.”

“When the investigation is over, you can have it back,” Ken acknowledged.

Edna glared at Barry. “Couldn’t keep this to yourself, could you.” She handed Ken the picture while staring at Barry as she spoke.

“I would have, Edna, but what you captured is a man in a ghillie suit. I believe he’s carrying a rifle. A rifle is what was used to shoot at Tegan and me at the stockyard.”

“And to kill our victim,” Ken said as he stared at the picture. “Edna, I’m going to have to ask you for any other footage you have from this camera.”

“It's on the Cloud. It’s a game camera triggered by motion. I put it out past the stockyard. I can take you to it. You really think that’s a man in a suit?” Edna asked as she looked at Barry.

“Yes, ma’am. I’ve seen those suits and trained with men who wore them.” He’d worn them, but he wouldn’t tell her that.

“So, the killer is military?” Edna spun to look at Ken.

He shook his head. “Not necessarily. These can be made or purchased, for that matter. What date was this taken?”

“The date is on the back. I wrote it down so I could log my sightings. The girls and I were going to pull down the rest of the pictures after the crochet circle met today.” She turned to Barry. “That’s where we were going when you stopped us.”

Ken flipped the picture over and looked up at Barry. He nodded ever so slightly. “Edna, I’m going to ask you to keep this conversation to yourself. You can’t even tell the ladies about this. Think of it as a safety measure. If anyone got wind you had evidence of this killer because of something someone with loose lips said, you could be in danger, and I wouldn’t want a citizen who’s helping us placed in that type of position.”

“I won’t say a word to anyone. I’ll tell them you made a big scene about my picture, but it was just a blurred wild hog or something, and you proved it to me.” She gulped hard. “Will that work?”

“That would be just fine.” Ken nodded. “I’m going to need to see the rest of the pictures.”

“Sure, sure, I’ll give you my login for the program. Ken, I didn’t know. I thought that was finally my proof of a Bigfoot. It looks just like the other …” She stopped talking and stared at Ken. “Just like the other one.”

Ken made a face. “Nah, I don’t think the other one was like this, Edna.”

Her frown vanished. “You don’t?”

“No, ma’am. I knew what this was, the other one … well, there was a difference,” Ken assured her.

She nodded. “Okay.” She nodded again. “I only ask if you see anything that is … different from this, that you let me have that picture. ”

“I promise.” Ken stood up. “I’ll walk you out and have JD run you to the church so you can cancel the state police call with the girls.”

Edna laughed. “Well, can you blame me? I had no idea what I had in my purse.” She stood up and looked at Barry. “I’m sorry I snapped at you. You did what you had to do.”

Barry nodded and gave a faint smile, accepting her apology, but his mind was racing with the implications of that ghillie suit and the date.