Chapter Twelve #2
The women shook hands. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Carroll.”
“Please, call me Ryan. It’s so nice to meet you too.”
“I was telling Ryan about the dollhouses.” Skylar grinned.
“I can’t wait to see them.” Ryan smiled.
The bell over the door jingled and a few women entered.
“If you two don’t mind, I’ll wait on them, and you can go into the back room.” Maggie smiled.
“Sure. Come on, Ryan.”
When they entered the room, Skylar laughed at Ryan’s reaction. She shook her head, then looked at her.
“It’s like looking at a house from a distance.”
“I know. I’d love to have one. I have a perfect place for it.”
“I have no idea where I’d put one, but I love this Victorian.” Ryan ran her hand on the roof tiles.
Skylar was happy she’d brought her in to see them, now she knew she’d picked the right one.
She just hoped Ryan didn’t go home and tell Seth about it and he’d get it for her.
She had to make sure that didn’t happen someway.
She had to let Seth know somehow because she knew that once Ryan got home, she would rave about the dollhouses and knowing Seth, he’d get it for her because she wanted it.
“I’m going out to look at some lamps. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay. I want to spend some time in here.” Ryan smiled.
Skylar nodded then slipped through the curtain into the showroom. She found Maggie and talked to her about the dollhouse. She couldn’t wait to see Ryan’s reaction when she gave it to her.
As Skylar kept her eyes on the velvet curtain, she sent Seth a text, telling him about the dollhouse.
He sent a text back saying no problem. He’d get her something else.
She smiled as she put her phone into her pocket, then wandered around the lamp section.
The lamp was still sitting in the same place.
She would love to have it, but it was expensive, and she’d rather spend money on family and friends than herself.
She decided to wait until after the first of the year. She just hoped it didn’t sell before then.
****
Rawley worked at his desk the rest of the day and was ready to go home. It was getting darker earlier and he wasn’t a fan of driving in the dark, even though at times, he didn’t have a choice.
When he left the office, he ran down the stairs, then walked outside. The sudden chill made him shiver. He strode to his truck, unlocked it and climbed inside. After starting the vehicle, he pulled out, then drove toward home.
His phone vibrated and he hit the button on the steering wheel to answer.
“Hey, Declan.”
“Rawley, where are you?” Declan Cavanaugh was one of Sam Garrett’s deputies.
“Heading home. What’s up?”
“I spotted that truck. It swerved off the berm, so I pulled them over, but when I asked for IDs, none of them had theirs. It seems strange to me that five grown men didn’t have them. They gave me their names and social security numbers.”
“Did you run them yet?”
“Oh, yeah. But, unfortunately, they’re all fake. I gave them until Monday to give me their real ones. I could have fined them for it, but Sam said to let them go. He didn’t want them to be arrested until it’s proven they’re the rustlers. I acted like everything was fine.”
“Who is the truck registered to?” He grinned when he heard Declan sigh.
“It’s registered to a local woman, Terry Martin.
Jack took photos of the tags and of the tires, while I kept them occupied.
I can email them to you. Then they drove to Dewey’s.
Jack and I kept an eye on them once they pulled out, then followed them there.
They went inside but I kept an eye on them.
They didn’t leave there until it closed. ”
“I appreciate it, Declan, but I want them on the thefts.”
“Yeah, we all agree. Thing is, they could take off before Monday.”
“That is very possible. I want those bastards. So, we don’t know who the truck is registered to?”
“No. Jack is working on that. They’re checking out stolen vehicles in Montana, but without the vehicle registration or insurance, it’s going to be tough.”
“Yes, it will.”
“I hope you get them for rustling, otherwise we’d have to find another way to bring them in.
They’re breaking the law by not showing me their IDs, but they said they’d be in Monday with everything I need.
I doubt they’ll show but if they do and show me real IDs and documentation, the only thing we can do is just keep an eye on them.
I called Sam and he wants them for the theft too.
About all we can do is wait and see but giving them tickets would be way too light a punishment for cattle rustlers. ”
“I’ll do my best to catch them, no matter where they go. I appreciate your help, Declan. Thanks.”
“Anytime.” Declan disconnected.
Rawley sat in his truck on the berm. He knew he had to get those men before they caused more trouble, or disappeared, and he was going to keep an eye out for them so he could let them know he was around. Aggravate them a little.
With a heavy sigh, he checked for traffic then drove home. He had three days to track them down. He was sure they’d never show up at the Sheriff’s Department come Monday.
As he pulled into his garage, he shut the engine off, stepped out, strode along the walk, then entered the house. He reached down to pet the dogs, then hung his hat up, sat on the bench and leaned his head back to the wall and sighed. Damn he was tired.
And he still had to shower, pack up the dogs and head to Skylar’s place.
“Shit,” he muttered when he realized he hadn’t picked up their burgers. Hell, he didn’t even order them. This case was kicking his ass. He stood, removed his clothes, then headed for the bathroom with his phone and sent Skylar a text.
I just got home and I forgot to get the burgers.
I’m sure we can come up with something. I have lunchmeat. We could have sandwiches.
That sounds good. I’ll be there after I get a shower.
Okay. See you soon.
Rawley grinned, then headed upstairs to get a desperately needed shower.
****
Skylar smiled. She didn’t care about the burgers; she just wanted to be with Rawley. She was hungry so she hoped he got there soon. She looked at Cosmo.
“We’re having guests this evening, and you’d better behave because it’s two dogs.” She laughed when the cat gave her the evil eye.
“I know, but they’re great dogs—” She stopped when the cat walked away, tail held high. “Fine. I could stick you in my office,” she yelled, then laughed when Cosmo jumped on his windowsill and stared out the window, ignoring her.
She shook her head and decided to take a quick shower, then wait for Rawley. The sandwiches sounded good, but she’d been craving a burger. Rawley had probably gotten busy, that’s why he forgot. No sense in getting upset over that. It wasn’t like she couldn’t get a burger another time.
After her shower, she dressed in her pink sweatpants and a black T-shirt.
She sat on the sofa and watched TV. She couldn’t get into the movie because she was anxious to see Rawley.
She’d ask him tonight about Thanksgiving and she hoped he would spend it with her, but she was sure he spent holidays with his family.
He seemed to have a good relationship with them, like she did with hers.
She never gave it a thought about holidays after moving to Clifton. She figured she’d go home, but with Ryan here, she just didn’t know. She wondered what Ryan was doing for the holidays.
Picking up her phone, she sent her a text.
Are you going home for Thanksgiving?
My parents are coming here. Mom has cooked enough over the years, so I’m doing it. Do you want to join us?
I don’t know yet. I have to see if Rawley has plans.
Yeah, he might invite you to his parents’.
I’d love it but I have to ask him first. He’s on his way here and bringing his dogs.
What about Cosmo?
I’m hoping they’ll get along. It’s a wait and see situation.
I hope it goes well. If you change your mind, you have a place at the table with us.
Alright. I’ll let you know. I’d better go. Rawley should be here soon. Love you.
Love you. Have fun.
Skylar sent a laughing emoji, and disconnected, then she glanced at the clock to see it was six and he hadn’t shown up yet.
“Where are you, Rawley?” she asked, then chewed on her bottom lip.
****
Rawley pulled onto the narrow gravel road, his two border collies in the back, each with their muzzles pressed against a half-opened window, nostrils flaring at the scent of pine and distant cattle.
“You boys be good tonight and leave that ornery cat alone,” Rawley said as he glanced into the rearview mirror, catching glimpses of black and white fur.
Neither dog acknowledged him, their ears perked forward toward the darkening landscape.
“I’m serious. If you piss off Skylar, it won’t be pretty. ”
Chuckling, he continued along the winding road, the twin beams of his truck’s headlights cutting through the twilight haze.
The dashboard clock showed it was six. Glancing into the mirror again, he spotted headlights rushing up behind him, the gleaming chrome grill of a jacked-up truck looming large in his rearview.
Rawley tightened his fingers around the leather of the steering wheel as they closed the gap, high beams flashing aggressively before swerving around him then pulled in front of him and slowed down.
His knuckles whitened as he recognized the mud-splattered Ford F-150.
He couldn’t pull them over since they hadn’t technically broken any laws, but for several tense minutes, he kept pace with them, until their brake lights flared red as they veered onto the rutted berm.
He knew it wasn’t safe, foolish even, but his instincts demanded answers.
Rawley pulled within ten feet behind them, reached under the seat and removed his Glock from its case, all the while keeping an eye on the truck.
After securing the case back under the seat, he opened the door, tucked the cold metal of the gun into the back waistband of his faded Wranglers and pulled his T-shirt down over it. The dogs started whining.
“I’ll be right back. Stay.” He shoved the door closed and strode toward the idling truck but halted when he saw five silhouettes emerging. He leaned against the front of his truck, folded his arms across his chest, and fixed them with the hard stare.
“Well, if it isn’t Agent Bowman,” drawled the leader. “We seem to be running into each other.”
“What are you doing out this way?” Rawley’s voice was steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him.
“We’re just exploring the area,” the man replied. “We like it here. Is that against the law?”
“No, but I don’t see how you could be… exploring when it’s dark.”
“We just can.” The man shrugged.
“If you say so.”
“What’s the problem, Agent?” The man’s smile didn’t reach his cold, calculating eyes.
Rawley stepped forward, boot heels crunching on gravel. “You. You’re my problem. I know what you’re doing, and I will catch you.”
The men laughed, the sound echoing across the empty rangeland.
“What is it we’re doing?”
“Stealing livestock,” Rawley snapped, and noticed one of the men, a younger guy with a beard, flinch visibly, his eyes widening in alarm. In that moment, Rawley knew with absolute certainty he was right.
“Got any proof of that?”
“I sure as hell wouldn’t tell you if I did.”
“Then why aren’t we in jail?”
“In a hurry to get there?”
The man laughed. “You didn’t answer my question. I’d say it’s because you can’t prove it.”
Rawley shook his head. “I have a date I’m late for. Get on your way.” He turned to get into his truck, then faced them. “It won’t matter if you get scared and run. We will find you wherever you go.”
“Sure,” the man said with a mock salute, then they all climbed back into the truck.
Rawley watched them go and swore under his breath.
“Son of a bitch. I will get you. I promise you that.” He sighed, slid onto the seat, put the gun away, then pulled onto the road, but stayed back from them. They kept heading toward town as he pulled off to head to Skylar’s.