Chapter Nine

Monday, July 8 th .

Wild Stallion Ranch. Montana.

At breakfast all the talk was about the next rodeo the boys were entered in back in Columbia Falls. They would be heading back there for round two.

“That’s the last one we can stay here at the ranch for,” said Annie. “The rest of the venues on the circuit are too far away for us to stay with y’all. We’ll have to hit the road and travel from one to the other.”

Rowdy nodded. “The other rodeos on our list are all over the state and we’ll hit a lot of them on the way back home to Texas.”

I was sad to hear Annie say that because that meant Lucy would be leaving in four days, and I didn’t want her to go.

“Hate to see you go, Annie-girl,” said Travis. “It’s been great having y’all here with us.”

Mick gave Dad the death-ray eyes and I wondered what that was all about. Hard to tell because Mick barely talked at all and when he did, it was only to Annie.

Holiday Inn. Twin Falls. Idaho.

Enjoying his new-found freedom, Bobby showered and dressed in clean clothes and wondered what the day would bring.

Two cups of coffee after the complimentary breakfast and he was ready to go. But go where? Still no destination in mind and no plan for the future.

Ray got on his nerves a lot, but he gave Bobby a reason for getting up in the morning. Now he didn’t have Ray and he didn’t have a job and he floundered.

Loading his suitcase into the back of the Wrangler that he was becoming attached to, he noticed an older guy getting into his pickup with a dog.

“Maybe I need a dog to keep me company on the road. Never should’ve given Banjo away when we left West Virginia.”

Loves. Albuquerque. New Mexico.

Darryl woke up, rolled over in the sleeper and smiled at the beautiful girl sleeping peacefully beside him. Feeling he had really lucked out, he cuddled her close and went back to sleep.

After crazy morning sex that left Darryl gasping for breath and vowing to get more exercise, he and Tammy got dressed and headed into the restaurant for breakfast.

Darryl waved hello to a couple of guys he knew, then picked up the menu and thought about how hungry he was. “I’m starving, Tammy. You burned up every ounce of energy I had, girl.”

“You ever thought of getting into better shape, Darryl?” She laughed and poked his fat belly.

“Believe me, I thought about it this morning.”

“I like you the way you are, Darryl. You don’t have to change for me.”

“Thanks for that, Tammy, but I noticed something else. Your clothes are filthy, and they don’t smell the best. We’d better get you out of that uniform.”

“All my clothes and cosmetics were in the back of my dad’s squad. Eldon stole all of my stuff.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll stop today at a mall, and you can get a different outfit.”

Tammy giggled. “I could use clean underwear, Darryl.” She winked at him, and he blushed.

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek. Montana.

Molly got a phone call shortly after we got to the station, and she called Travis into the squad room. “Good news, Travis, the local police found your Bronco abandoned at the Home Depot in Walla Walla.”

“Where’s that?” asked Virge.

“Washington State, dear,” said Molly. “It’s quite a distance away.”

“Ted, you’re up,” hollered Travis.

“What is it, boss?”

“My squad has been located and I need you to take the tow truck and go bring it home.”

Ted smiled. He was always happy for tow jobs.

“You’ll need to pack a bag,” said Travis. “It’s going to take you a couple of days to get there and back. Get the exact directions to the impound yard in Walla Walla from Molly and have yourself a good trip.”

“Thanks, boss.”

“Keep track of your expenses, Ted.”

“Copy that, boss.

Travis went into Billy’s office, and they had a short meeting about the murders. “We’re no further ahead finding out who killed Treadway and Groveman,” said Travis.

“I called Kody Kollard to see if there had been any more reports of poaching,” said Billy, “and there was nothing new at Fish and Wildlife.”

“If Chuck and Terry were in on the poaching,” said Travis, “they’ve obviously stopped. Nothing we can do but talk to the Carpenters again. They killed Wayne Treadway and will soon be going to trial for it, and Jed and his son are the only suspects we have for Brian Groveman’s murder.”

“I agree,” said Billy. “They’re out on bail figuring we won’t get a conviction and the DA will plead them down. Who else would’ve killed Groveman besides them?”

“We’ll have another friendly chat with them,” said Travis. “I’m not convinced Treadway’s murder didn’t have something to do with the son.”

Billy nodded. “Yeah, there’s that.”

Animal Rescue. Salt Lake City. Utah.

The GPS in the Wrangler took Bobby to the animal shelter in Salt Lake City. He wandered in and talked to the young kid at the front counter. Name tag: Tim.

“I’m interested in getting a dog, Tim,” said Bobby. “One that’s not going to mind being on the road a lot. You got any dogs like that?”

“You want a nice quiet dog who likes riding in a car or a truck,” said Tim. “We’ve got a couple of quiet ones, just what you’re looking for, back in the cages. I’ll show them to you.”

Bobby followed the young guy down the hallway and through the door into the back section of the building where the dogs and cats were kept.

As soon as the kid opened the door, the dogs raised a helluva racket and began jumping up and bouncing against their cages.

“They don’t get too much company, and they like to see people,” said Tim with a grin on his face.

Bobby winced at the noise. A bit of doggy odor, but not much. The kennels were clean.

The kid stopped in front of a cage and pointed, “This is Cleo. She’s about as quiet as we’ve got. Big Newfoundlander or you can call her a Newfie. She’s a sweetheart.”

Bobby laughed. “She’s huge.”

“Newfie’s are a large breed. Big dog but she’s no trouble. Loyal and protective.”

“Does she eat a lot?”

“More than a small dog.” The kid laughed. “You on a tight budget for dog food?”

“Nope.”

“You’ll be okay then. I think you’ll like her a lot.”

“Okay, I’ll take her.”

Bobby filled out the adoption paperwork at the front desk, paid the money and made the deal for a dog. The kid went back to the cage area, leashed Cleo and brought her to Bobby.

“Here you go, sir. Enjoy your dog.”

“Thanks, Tim.”

Bobby opened the passenger door and Cleo hopped in and sat on the seat like she’d done it a hundred times before. Bobby patted her big head. “Good girl.”

He drove east out of Utah heading for Wyoming, windows down and radio cranked up. No destination in mind. “Where do you want to go, Cleo?”

Carpenter’s Ranch. Black Eagle Pass. Montana.

Molly called ahead and made an appointment for Travis to talk to Jed Carpenter and his son Trevor.

Knowing in advance that the sheriff was coming for another visit did nothing to quell the fury in the wealthy rancher.

When Carpenter opened the door for me, Virge and Travis, he was red in the face and more than ready to put three shots in each of our hearts.

The guy was ready to blow apart and Dad ain’t said a word to him…yet.

A man who could get that worked up over a few questions, could easily murder a poacher on his property.

Dad’s eyes were on Carpenter’s face, and he saw it too. The anger in Jed Carpenter was ready to boil over.

“Can we come in for a few minutes, Mister Carpenter? I have a few questions for you and your son, Trevor.”

“Trevor is at school.”

“In the middle of summer?”

“He had credits to make up. He’s starting college in a few weeks.”

“What time will he be home?” asked Travis.

“I’m not sure.” Carpenter opened the door wide enough to let us into the front entrance hall. We followed him into the living room and sat down.

Virgil pulled out his notebook and his pen.

“Why are you here again?” asked Carpenter. “Trevor and I have been to court and we’re free on bail until the trial.”

“There has been a second murder that I believe is related to Wayne Treadway’s death, and I need you and Trevor to provide alibis for the day and time Brian Groveman was murdered in his garage. That’s why I’m here. You give me alibis that can be verified, and I’ll be on my way.”

“I have no idea who you’re talking about, Sheriff, but I assure you that neither Trevor, nor I were anywhere near that person’s garage when he was shot.”

Virge tilted his head in Dad’s direction and Dad was already all over it.

“Jed Carpenter, I’m arresting you on suspicion of murder in the death of Brian Groveman.”

Carpenter jumped to his feet and waved his arms in the air, “I want to call my attorney. The judge set Trevor and I free on bail and you can’t arrest me again.”

He twisted away from Travis, and I moved in to hold him while Dad snapped the cuffs on.

“I’ll take Mister Carpenter to the squad, boys. Y’all check the house to see if Trevor came home from school in the last couple of minutes.”

“Copy that.”

Travis went out the front door with Jed Carpenter and me and Virge ran through the big ranch house looking for Trevor.

We found him hunkered down in his room playing video games. He put up a fuss like a big, spoiled baby when me and Virge held him down and cuffed him.

“You can’t touch me or my dad. We’re free on bail until our trial. My dad will have a deal made with the DA by then and we’ll never go to trial. Piss off.”

“You piss off, Trevor,” snarled Virge. “We’re taking you to the station with your dad and you can share a cell with him.”

We took Trevor out to the squad and shoved him in the back seat with his father.

“Look at that,” said Travis. “Trevor is home from summer school. He can keep you company in jail, Jed.”

Carpenter hollered and cursed all the way back to Coyote Creek about the deal he was making with the DA’s office.

Virge turned up the radio to tune the fucker out.

Macy’s Plaza. Amarillo. Texas.

After dropping the loaded trailer at Amarillo Logistics, Darryl pulled the Freightliner cab into the huge parking lot in front of Macy’s at the mall.

“You should be able to find the clothes you need in one of the stores in this mall, Tammy.”

“Thanks, Darryl. You are a sweet person and you’ve been so kind to me after I got myself into a mess with Eldon.”

“You’re sweet too, Tammy.” He laughed. “We’re two sweet people who found each other.”

Hand in hand, they walked through the mall browsing the merchandise in a few of the windows. Tammy decided on American Eagle, and they went inside.

She tried on jeans, picked out a pair of black and a pair of blue. She chose two tops, underwear and a navy-blue hoodie.

At the cash desk, Darryl put the purchases on his credit card. As soon as the clothes were paid for, Tammy went back to the dressing room and changed into the blue jeans, pale blue T-shirt and the hoodie.

Darryl smiled at her as they left the store. “You look great, Tammy. Did you throw away that dirty uniform?”

“No, I shoved it into the bottom of the bag. I can wash it and wear it again.”

“Why would you need that old uniform if you ain’t a cop no more?”

Tammy shrugged. “You’re right, Darryl. I don’t need it anymore. I should’ve tossed it in the trash.”

“You can do that later. Let’s go to the food court and have us some lunch before we leave.”

“Sure. That will be fun. I could eat a burger or a slice of pizza.”

After they ate, they returned to the truck and Darryl said, “Next stop is my place.”

“Is it far from here?” asked Tammy.

“Not too far. About an hour and a half south to Lubbock.”

“Are you sure you want me to come home with you, Darryl? You could drop me off here in the city if it would suit you better.”

Darryl gave her a hard stare. “What would you do alone in Amarillo with no money and no wheels?”

Tammy shrugged. “I’m not helpless, Darryl.”

“You’d better stay with me for a couple of days while you decide what to do.”

Tammy laughed. “That sounds like a sensible idea, Darryl. You’re the smart one. It ain’t me.”

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek. Montana.

When we got back to the station from Black Eagle Pass, we rebooked the Carpenters. As soon as Molly entered the new charges into the system, Travis allowed Jed Carpenter to call his attorney.

“You can sit at that desk over there and use that phone, Mister Carpenter.”

“Thank you, Sheriff.”

Carpenter had calmed down a lot on the ride to the station. He made the call and had a long chat with his lawyer.

Me and Virge were standing near Billy, and we could hear Jed’s side of the sad story he was telling his attorney.

Billy told us the lawyer would be telling Jed he couldn’t do much about getting him and Trevor out of jail until the arraignment. New charges against them while they were out on bail would nullify the original bond.

He figured it would be something like that. Billy wasn’t a lawyer, so he didn’t know the legal end of things, but he figured Carpenter would be pissed that he had to stay locked up.

And he was. He got all red in the face again and he was fuming mad.

Carpenter had the big bucks, but they couldn’t buy him his way out of our little Coyote Creek jail.

Money wasn’t talking. Not this time.

Grand Junction. Colorado.

“How do you like this motel, Cleo?” The big, black Newfie turned her head to look at Bobby when he said her name. “I’ll get us a room for tonight, then take you for a walk and feed you. Did you see the bill for all the fuckin dog stuff I bought for you? You are costing me huge, girl.” Bobby laughed.

Cleo wagged her shaggy tail and licked Bobby’s face.

She was a friendly dog and Bobby liked her a lot already. He liked having company in the Jeep. He figured he was missing Ray more than he thought he would, even with all the nagging.

That was another good thing about Cleo. She couldn’t talk or give him advice.

Green Acres Trailer Park. Lubbock. Texas.

Darryl parked in the driveway of a single-wide trailer on the last street in the park. The place was run-down and in need of paint and repairs.

Grass wasn’t cut and one window was boarded up with plywood. The gutters were stuffed with leaves and seemed to be home to more than one squirrel.

The trailer gave the impression nobody lived there and reminded Tammy a lot of the shabby trailer she lived in with Tibor Garrison for five terrifying years of her life. Revisiting that memory plunged her into a defensive mode of self-preservation.

Fight or flight.

Kill or be killed.

“I need to do a lot of work around here, Tammy, and I’ll get caught up while we’re home for a couple of days.” He laughed. “It’s not as bad as it looks.”

Tammy thought it was every bit as bad, but she didn’t say anything. She gathered up her shopping bags while Darryl got his stuff out of the sleeper.

He led the way, and she followed him inside. “I’ve been meaning to clean this place up, girl, but I wasn’t expecting company neither. You came into my life as a complete surprise. Sorry about the mess.”

“Don’t worry about it, Darryl. This shitty trailer is the last thing you need to worry about.”

Bang.

Tammy shot Darryl in the back of the head with his own gun, and he crashed to the floor in front of her. She knelt down and lifted his wallet and truck keys and left Darryl bleeding out on the filthy tile floor.

On her way out with her bags of new clothes in her hand, she locked the door behind her.

“Bye-bye, Darryl.”

Tammy climbed up into the driver’s seat of the Freightliner, cranked up the powerful engine and backed out the short driveway onto the road.

She put the truck into first gear without too much grinding and drove out of the trailer park. As soon as she hit the main road, she programmed a destination into the GPS.

Smiling, Tammy turned up the radio and stepped on the gas.

Coyote Creek Inn. Montana.

Travis called the Inn earlier in the day and made a reservation for ten people. When he arrived at six-thirty with Annie, Mick, Billy, Rowdy and all of the kids, the long table was ready for them.

Susan Westfall, the woman who managed the Inn for Travis, rushed to the door to welcome them personally.

Sadness surrounded Travis as he walked into the dining room towards the beautifully set table.

Annie noticed how melancholy Travis had become since walking into the Inn and she did her best to cheer him up.

“The table looks lovely, Travis. Thank you for bringing us here for dinner. I’m sure it was difficult for you.”

“I’m getting a little better,” he whispered.

Annie chatted about the horses and the upcoming competitions and tried to keep Travis’s mind off Olivia Best.

The food was excellent and especially the dessert. Taking us all to the Inn was Dad’s way of saying thanks to Annie for all she’d done for Tammy.

Tammy wasn’t fixed and all of Annie’s efforts had turned out to be useless in the end. Mom had tried so hard for months to help Tammy and Dad appreciated it. I knew he did. Things weren’t the same between them anymore, but Travis still loved Annie and he always would.

Dry Run Roadhouse. Coyote Creek.

After our great dinner at the Inn, the celebration continued a mile up the road at the roadhouse. I was happy Travis decided we’d stop for a pitcher because it gave me one more chance to dance with Lucy.

She’d soon be moving on to the next rodeo and that was something I couldn’t stand to think about.

After seeing Penny Darkers hanging with those older guys from the mill, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t ask her out again. We were over and it was for the best. Lucy was my girlfriend, even if it was long-distance, and I wouldn’t cheat on her.

While we danced and fooled around in our own booth near the dance floor, Travis and the rest of the adults sat at the bar and talked to Jack.

Billy’s cousin owned the roadhouse, and he knew Annie from her other visits to our ranch. She and Jack were friends, and they talked a lot about the problems of running their roadhouses. She wanted to say hello to him and get caught up.

Hampton Inn. Abilene. Texas.

Tammy was worn out when she got as far as Abilene and booked a room for the night. She was close enough to her destination to get there by the following day and that made her happy.

All she needed was a shower to get the smell of Darryl off of her and a good night’s sleep.