Chapter Two #2
“Hi, Bonner,” Sydney replied, stepping forward. “I was asking Stephanie about training a barrel racer, but she said she’s expecting.”
His grin grew wider, and he exchanged a glance with his wife. “Yep. We’re thrilled. ”
“Really? I can’t tell,” Sydney teased, placing a hand over her heart, making them laugh.
Bonner turned and fetched a case of water from the pantry and started toward the door.
Stephanie rose and opened it for him. Bonner leaned in and kissed her softly, nodded goodbye to Sydney, then slipped outside. The door shut behind him, and Stephanie returned to her seat, still smiling.
“I’d call one of those guys,” she said, lifting her coffee mug. “You can’t go wrong with either of them.”
“I was going to have Trick help with another horse for pleasure riding, but someone stole her.” Sydney shook her head. “I reported it to MDOL. They’re on it.”
Stephanie’s eyes widened. “Oh no. I hope they find her soon.”
“They’re looking.” Sydney exhaled. “I’ll try Trick first, then Ethan if Trick isn’t available. I can beg Ethan if I have to.” She grinned. “I should get going.”
She crossed the room to embrace Stephanie once more. “I’m so happy for you both.” She slipped from the hug and headed for the door.
“Thank you,” Stephanie called after her, voice bright.
Sydney stepped out onto the porch and made her way to her SUV. As she climbed in, she glanced eastward, where the sky glowed a bright blue. She started the engine and rolled down the driveway, heading toward Trick’s place next, just a little farther down the road.
****
Case rubbed the stubble on his jaw as he stared at the crinkled list of names on his desk. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting a harsh glare over the half-empty coffee cup and scattered file folders. He traced a name with a finger.
“Hey, Case,” Rawley Bowman called, his long shadow stretching across the linoleum floor as he strode past.
Case looked up. “Hey, Rawley. What are you working on?”
He leaned against the edge of Case’s desk, boots scuffing the tile. “Nothing right now. Just wrapped up a case. You need a hand?”
Case exhaled, rubbing his temples. “Could use some help running down these names. They bought tires in Butte, have no ties to Clifton, so far, dead ends.”
Rawley nodded, rubbing his hand along the back of his neck. “Sure. Let me clear it with Dave, make sure he’s good with me jumping on this or if he has something else for me.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
Rawley walked to Dave’s office, knocked then entered. Case reclined in his chair, listening to the distant hum of traffic outside. A moment later, Rawley returned, sliding into the seat across from him.
“Dave says it’s fine, unless something urgent comes up. Then I’ll have to take it.”
“Understood.” Case passed him three typed sheets. “Here. Run these through the database. Nothing’s hitting.”
Rawley flipped through them, brow furrowing. “Damn, that’s a hefty list. Someone’s got to be in on it.”
Case shrugged, pulling his jacket off the coat rack. “I’ve got to check out the daughter’s apartment. Want to tag along?”
“Sure.” Rawley grabbed his Stetson from the rack behind his desk. “Lead the way.”
They headed for the elevators, their footsteps echoing across the floor. Case pressed the button; the buzzer hummed. When the doors parted, his oldest brother, Hud, stepped out, hands in his pockets.
“Hey, you two,” Hud drawled, the lines around his eyes deep from worry.
“Hud. How’s it going?” Rawley asked as Hud sighed.
“Tiring,” Hud replied. “Feel like a chicken with its head cut off.”
Rawley exchanged a glance with Case. Hud removed his hat, then raked his fingers through his dark hair.
“You’re on that missing sheep case,” Case guessed.
“Yeah. Same farm Killian worked when sheep vanished. Someone’s targeting that family. I need to speak with Killian.” He nodded at them. “You two have a good day.”
They watched him enter the offices, then stepped into the elevator. Rawley leaned against the brushed-steel wall and folded his arms. “So, fill me in.”
As the carriage descended, Case outlined the Wright Ranch case; the stolen mare, the family surrendering her as ‘mean-spirited,’ and Sydney Wright’s insistence the horse was gentle.
“And the daughter?” Rawley prompted.
“Her stepmother turned the horse in after it bit her. They argued, so the daughter moved out, lives in an apartment now. I stopped by, but she wasn’t home. Her boyfriend said she had today off. I want her side of the story.”
“Alright. I’ll follow your lead.” Rawley lowered his hat, brim shadowing his eyes.
The elevator dinged on the first floor, doors slid open, and they stepped into the lobby. Town noise seeped through the glass, a distant siren, the rumble of traffic. They pushed outside and climbed into Case’s pickup. The engine roared as they pulled away, dust kicking up behind them.
At the apartment complex, Case parked on cracked asphalt beneath a sagging fire escape.
He clicked off the engine, and they climbed the narrow metal stairs.
The air smelled of fresh paint. Reaching the third-floor landing, Case inhaled, then knocked on the green-wooden door, knuckles echoing in the quiet hallway.
The door creaked open, revealing the same lanky kid with disheveled hair Case had encountered yesterday. The boy’s bloodshot eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“Yeah?” he drawled, one hand still gripping the edge of the door.
Case shook his head and sighed. “I was here yesterday. I need to speak with Rachel Norton.”
“Hold on,” the kid mumbled, before slamming the door with unnecessary force.
Case glanced at Rawley, who leaned against the weathered brick building, one boot propped casually against the wall.
Everyone in the department knew that despite Rawley’s relaxed posture, arms loosely crossed, mirrored sunglasses reflecting the afternoon sun, he was coiled like a spring, always ready for anything.
The door swung open again, this time revealing a young woman with blonde hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, dark circles under her hazel eyes. “I’m Rachel Norton,” she said, her voice carrying a slight tremor.
“Ms. Norton, we’re with MDOL. The horse your mother—”
“ Step -mother,” she interrupted, her jaw tightening visibly.
“Yes, ma’am. I apologize. The horse your stepmother surrendered has been stolen from the person who adopted her. Do you know anything about that?”
Her eyes widened, pupils dilating, but she shook her head, fingers nervously twisting the hem of her faded T-shirt. “No.”
“What about your boyfriend?” Case nodded toward the shadowy interior of the apartment.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” she snapped, a flush creeping up her neck. “My boyfriend lives out of town on a... farm.” Her gaze dropped to the cracked concrete beneath her feet.
Rawley straightened up, pushing away from the wall in one fluid motion. “Farm or ranch?” His voice was deceptively casual.
“Does it matter?” A defensive edge crept into her tone.
“No, but you seemed to hesitate.” Rawley removed his sunglasses, revealing penetrating dark eyes.
“Because I don’t know what he calls it,” she said, crossing her arms tightly across her chest. “He wouldn’t steal the horse.”
“You sure about that?” Case asked, leaning slightly forward. “I bet you were upset when your stepmother gave the horse up.”
“It wasn’t hers to give up. I hate that witch,” Rachel hissed, tears welling in her eyes and spilling down her flushed cheeks.
“Tell me about the argument.”
Rachel sighed. “She hates horses and knows I love them. She claimed the horse bit her twice and if it did it again, she’d make sure it was gone. I came home from work one day and my horse was gone. She did what she said she would and my pussy of a father wouldn’t stand up for me, so I left.”
“I need the address of where your boyfriend lives.” Case pulled out a small notepad from his breast pocket.
“I don’t know the address.” Rachel shrugged, her shoulders sharp beneath her thin shirt.
“Then what’s his name?” Rawley asked, tucking his sunglasses into his shirt collar.
“Bobby Gibbs.” The name came out as barely more than a whisper.
“Does he work there?”
“Yes.” A single tear traced a path down her cheek.
“Alright. We’ll find him. Don’t leave town.” Case fixed her with a hard stare.
“Like I have anywhere to go.” Her voice cracked as she stepped inside and slammed the door behind her with a bang that echoed through the hallway, making Case and Rawley flinch.
“Damn, don’t piss off a female,” Rawley said with a shake of his head, as he removed his hat, and ran his fingers through his hair.
“You’d think we’d know that by now,” Case sighed, tucking his notepad away and adjusting his hat against the glare of the afternoon sun.
The men climbed back into the pickup. Case started it, then called their boss.
“Dave, can you see if you can find a Bobby or Robert Gibbs in this area? ”
“Hold on.” Dave put him on hold, but was right back. “The Gibbs ranch is three miles south of Rory and Wilder’s place. From what I can tell, it’s a good sized ranch, so there should be signs up for it. They raise Paints.”
Rawley and Case looked at each other.
“What better place to hide a stolen Paint than with other Paints,” Rawley murmured.
“You got that right. We’re going to head out there, Dave.”
“Let me know if you need backup.”
“Yes, sir.” Case hung up. He scrolled through photos on his phone, then showed Rawley the one of the stolen horse.
Rawley took the phone. “That’s a gorgeous horse, but her colors are common for Paints.”
“Yeah, we’ll have to get a close look at those horses. This one has blue eyes.”
“I’m ready when you are.”
Case nodded, then pulled out of the apartment complex.
“What do you think the odds are that she’s calling her boyfriend now?” Case asked.
“Pretty good.”
Case nodded as he drove toward the Gibbs ranch. He hoped he found the horse, but it wasn’t going to be easy.
“Is she chipped?” Rawley asked.
“Yes. It’s just finding her if she’s there.”
“I have my reader with me. We’ll scan any that are similar to her.”
“Right.” Case continued to drive out of town, passing Wilder and Rory’s dairy farm until he saw a gate with Gibbs scrolled on it. He pulled into the driveway and followed it to the house. He noticed Rawley checking his weapon and he’d check his once they parked.
Pulling up to the house, he shut the truck off, stepped out, and quickly checked his weapon then put it back into the holster at his hip. Both men wore their protective vests with Livestock Agent stitched on the front and back.
“Damn, it’s getting colder. Snow’s coming,” Rawley muttered.
“Tomorrow, I think.”
They slowly made their way up the steps, and Case knocked on the door.
When it opened, he saw a skinny kid, with his jeans too big, a large Stetson covering his head, and cowboy boots on his feet.
Case glanced at Rawley to see him trying not to laugh.
They both knew this kid thought he was tougher than he was.
“Bobby Gibbs?”
“Yes. Rachel called me. We don’t have her horse here.”
“Then you won’t mind if we check,” Rawley said, his hand on his holster, his finger tapping against it.
The kid grinned. “Good luck with that. We have fifty-five Paints.”
“Where?”
“East pasture.” Gibbs pointed in the direction.
“Are your horses chipped?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” Case turned, walked down the steps, and opened the truck door. He looked back at the porch to see Rawley and the kid staring at each other, then Rawley grinned, touched the brim of his hat, and walked toward the truck.
When he climbed in, he looked at Case. “He’s lying. ”
“I thought so too. Let’s go check out the horses.” Case drove his truck past a gate, then into the east pasture. He groaned when he saw the horses spread out.
“We should have horses. It would be easier.” Rawley shook his head.
“I’m calling Dave to have him send someone out with some.”
“Alright. Let’s just go back to the house to wait.”
“Yep.” Case turned the truck around and drove back to sit in front of the house.
“Here he comes,” Rawley murmured when they saw the door open and Bobby Gibbs strode to the truck.
“Give up already?” he said with a smirk.
“No. We’re waiting for an agent to bring us some horses. It will be easier getting close to yours.” Case almost laughed when the kid’s mouth dropped open. “Where are your parents?”
“My dad is in Butte for a meeting. My mom is in town, shopping.”
“What kind of meeting in Butte?” Rawley asked.
“With some guy who wants to buy a horse. Why else?”
“Look, kid, I’ve had a long day and it’s just noon, so don’t push me,” Rawley snapped.
Case put his arm on the door of the truck and glanced around the ranch. It was a nice spread, but there weren’t many people around. A working ranch is usually buzzing with people working.
“How many ranch hands work here?”
“Ten, including me.”
“Who’s the manager?”
“Why?”
“Just answer the question,” Case snapped .
“Ralph Conrad.”
“And where is he?”
“Probably at lunch in town.”
Case nodded. “Okay. We’ll talk with him another time. I need a list of all employees.”
Bobby stared at him until Case raised an eyebrow. The kid sighed, then entered the house.
After a few minutes, Case glanced into the rearview mirror to see a pickup truck pulling a horse trailer coming up the drive.
“Looks like our rides are here,” Rawley said, stepping from the truck.
Case got out and they waited for the truck to stop. Case grinned when he saw Kian Doyle driving it. Kian stepped out and shook their hands.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I thought I’d tag along.”
“The more the better, Kian. Thanks.” Case grinned.
Rawley walked to the back of the trailer, opened the doors, stepped inside, then led a saddled horse out, then Case and Kian did the same. The men mounted the horses and nudged them into a run toward the east pasture.