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“And you told him what we’re going to do?”
Jess jerked the stirrup back in place before he looped a water canteen around the saddle horn. “He’s aware that you’ve come home to look into the matter of Noah Rider.” The undersheriff looked at Seth. “And frankly, he welcomes your help, Seth. We’re not exactly bogged down with homicides around here. In fact, they rarely occur. A few manslaughter cases from time to time, but nothing this cryptic. He understands you have years of experience with this type of thing and he also knows you won’t do anything that might compromise the case.”
Seth felt both flattered and relieved. The last thing he wanted to do was push his nose into a place where he wasn’t welcome. “I’m relieved, and I’ll try not to make a nuisance of myself.”
Chuckling, Jess shook his head. “If you only knew. Seth, the whole department is buzzing about having a Texas Ranger in the area. They see you as some mystical hero and they’d all like to meet you, they’re just too afraid to invite you to the office.”
Seth laughed with disbelief as he propped his boot on the hitching rail and strapped on a gal-leg spur. “Jess, believe me, there’s nothing special about me. I’m just a lawman, that’s all. Just a Texas Ranger.”
“Yeah,” Jess countered with mocking admiration. “You’re just a member of the oldest, most elite organization of lawmen in the United States. Hell, the Texas Rangers are even older than the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. You originated back in 1823, there’s only a hundred of you, and it’s damn hard to become one of those hundred. You have to be smart, strong and morally upright, among a lot of other things.”
Seth lowered his boot to replace it with the other one. As he strapped on the opposite spur, he said, “That’s all true. But you’ve got to remember that we’re only men. We make mistakes. And we don’t solve every case that comes our way.”
“Hmm. You can play modest, Seth, because that’s your nature. But you can’t fool me. You not only got into the Rangers, you’ve also moved up the ladder. That’s bound to make you feel good.”
Seth did feel good about his job. Becoming a Ranger had been a dream he’d been fortunate enough to fulfill. Yet there were times when he was struck by the fact that his job was all he had in life. Like yesterday, when he’d seen Corrina standing with her son on Rube’s front porch. The woman was far from rich and he didn’t even know if she had a regular job, but she had someone who needed and loved her. She had someone to come home to.
He glanced at the long, lean sheriff and gave him a wry smile. “No better than you must feel about being married to one of the most beautiful women in San Juan County.”
Jess chuckled. “See, I knew you were a smart man.”
The two men finished readying their mounts. Five minutes later they headed away from the ranch in a westerly direction through a flat mesa dotted with yucca, prickly pear and sage.
For three miles, the landscape went unchanged until the mesa narrowed down to overlapping foothills shaded sparsely with piñon and ponderosa pine and a few stunted cottonwoods.
Another mile passed as they began to climb to a higher elevation. As the trail grew steep and rough, the horses began to sweat and blow. Eventually they entered a dry wash with a graveled, rock-strewn bottom. Clear pools of water had collected in dished-out spots of the arroyo. Jess and Seth stopped their horses and allowed the animals to drink their fill.
“What a hell of a place to commit murder,” Jess remarked as the two men looked around them.
“Is this the place?” Seth asked.
“Not far. Maybe a hundred more yards on up the arroyo. I’ll show you.”
Once the horses finished drinking, Seth followed his brother-in-law through the steep, winding gorge. On either side, the tall walls were speckled with huge boulders, clumps of sage and ragged piñon. Here and there a twisted limb of juniper grew tenaciously between slabs of shale.
Seth figured he’d been through this wash before. There wasn’t any part of the hundred-thousand-acre ranch that he hadn’t seen at least once in his young life. Yet he didn’t remember this particular area. Which wasn’t all that surprising, considering it had been years since he’d ridden on Ketchum land.
In a matter of minutes, Jess pulled his gray horse to a stop and pointed to a spot in the bed of the wash where two flat rocks formed a vee at the base of a crooked tree trunk.
“This is it,” Jess said. “Noah was on those rocks. Facedown. And, as you already know, there was one gunshot wound to his head.”
As always when Seth looked at a crime scene, a grim resolution settled over him. “That’s a hell of a way to die,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “And I can tell you one thing, Jess, whoever committed the deed is going to pay and pay dearly.”
“I hope you’re right, Seth. This murder thing has gotten everybody in the whole county jumpy. And after I was shot—well, we had all kinds of calls coming in to the department from people who were worried about their own safety.”
“Where were you and Victoria when that happened?” Seth asked.
Jess pointed to the ledge of ground far above their head. “Up there. After the bullet hit me, I fell all the way down here. I was unconscious. If Victoria hadn’t been with me, I would have quickly bled to death. But with her being a doctor, she knew what to do. And, thank God, she was brave enough to stick around and do it.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Seth replied, then shook his head with dismay. “I can’t believe one of the T Bar K hands nearly killed you.”
“Steve actually believed he was shooting at Ross, not me. He’d been holding a grudge because Ross wouldn’t give him their cousin Linc’s job. And then there was that woman, Angela Bowers. Steve wanted her, but she wouldn’t have anything to do with him because of Ross.”
Seth’s lips twisted ruefully. “Ross always did like the women. In that way he was just like Tucker used to be. And look what it caused. You were nearly killed.”
“Well, to be fair,” Jess said, “Ross wasn’t having any sort of relationship with Angela. Steve just believed something was going on between them. And that was enough to make him take a potshot at Ross.”
“Thank God Ross quit his playboy ways and married Bella before anyone else got shot around here,” Seth exclaimed.
Jess grinned as though the idea of Ross being married still amused him. “Yeah. Ross is a truly converted man now. I never thought I’d see the day.” He turned a keen eye on Seth. “So when are we going to hear wedding bells for you, Seth? Haven’t you found some Texas beauty you can’t live without?”
Seth let out an easy laugh. “Hardly. I’m a busy man. Besides, I’m too set in my ways for any woman to put up with me.” And even if he did find one that would be willing to put up with his crazy work schedule, Seth thought, that didn’t mean that he would love her or that she would love him.
Love. Seth wasn’t even sure he believed in the emotion. Oh, he loved his siblings all right. But that was a different kind of love. He wasn’t at all sure that the connection between men and women was anything more than physical lust. As a young boy he’d grown up believing his parents loved each other. That they were married and had children because there was love between them. Later, as a teenager, Seth had realized his father wasn’t a devoted husband and his mother was only living a sham of married bliss. The discovery had devastated Seth and opened his eyes to relationships between men and women. And through the years he’d continually vowed to live alone than to live a lie as his parents had done.
“You might be surprised about that,” Jess said.
Seth merely smiled at his brother-in-law’s response, then motioned for the other man to join him at the vee-shaped rocks.
“Come on, Jess, we’ve got a little speculating to do.”
For the next half hour the two men studied the spot where Noah had been found and discussed the ways in and out of the ranch that the killer might have taken, plus the possible reasons why any of it had happened on the T Bar K.
Eventually, they climbed back on their horses and rode to the ranch. Once there, Jess lingered only a few more minutes before he loaded his big gray gelding and drove away.
With his brother-in-law gone and Ross busy with the cattle, Seth decided he’d use the remainder of the morning to drive into town and make a visit to one of the names on his list.
Montgomery Feed and Grain was located in the older, original part of town and had served the ranchers around Aztec for as long as Seth could remember. The front of the building was made of corrugated iron painted a pale green. Large double doors made of heavy wood stood open to a dark, cavernous interior stacked with tons of feed ranging from wild birdseed to high-protein horse grain. To the right side of the double doors was a high wooden porch connected to the front of the store itself.
As Seth opened a pane-glass door and stepped inside, a cowbell clanged over his head, announcing to the proprietor that a customer had entered the store.
He walked between dusty rows of leather tack, nylon lariats and veterinary supplies until he reached a pine counter rubbed smooth by years of use. Behind it, a gray-haired man with hooded eyes and crinkled, leathery skin rose from a rocking chair and stood to one side of a cash register.
He peered curiously at Seth. “Could I help you?”
Seth leaned against the counter. “Hello, Cal. I’m Seth Ketchum. One of Tucker’s sons.”
The man planted both hands on the countertop and leaned forward for a closer inspection of Seth. After a moment, a grin split his face. “Why, it sure is you, Seth. Haven’t seen you in years, boy. If you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known you. What are you doing in Aztec? Come up from Texas to investigate the murder?”
At least Cal wasn’t going to be evasive, Seth thought wryly. “Not really. The San Juan County Sheriff’s Department is handling the case. But if I stumble across any information that might help, I wouldn’t turn a deaf ear.”
The older man folded his arms across his chest. As he did, Seth couldn’t help but notice that the flesh on his arms was flaccid and his shoulders stooped. Cal was somewhat older than what his father would have been if he’d lived, yet it jarred Seth to think Tucker would be as Cal and Rube were now, riddled with arthritis and other geriatric maladies. Up until his heart had given out, Tucker had been so big and vibrant it had been hard to imagine him old or even sick. And even after he’d begun to ail, his presence had remained strong enough to grab everyone’s attention.
“I don’t blame you,” Cal replied. “That was a hell of a thing—Noah getting killed like he did. Tell me, Seth, what kind of lowlife would do such a thing?”
“Criminals come in all shapes and sizes, Cal. If we can figure out the motive, we’ll probably find our man. I was wondering if you’d seen Noah recently or talked to him?”
Cal pulled off his John Deere cap and scratched his head. “I guess I haven’t seen Noah in—oh, I’d say twenty years or more. He came by here once—that was shortly after he’d quit the T Bar K. Said he was just passing through and wanted to say hello. I didn’t know where the man had gotten off to.”
“Can you remember Noah having any enemies around here?”
Cal’s forehead wrinkled even more. “Enemies? Hell no! Everybody liked Noah. Now, your papa was a different matter. Me and Tucker had a few rounds between us. But Noah was a quiet, gentle man who never bothered nobody.”
Seth nodded briefly. “That’s how I remember him, too. And I remember you and Dad having a big row over some feed. Whatever happened about that?”
A grimace twisted the old man’s lips. “I’ll tell you what happened. Tucker accused me of selling him moldy horse feed. I didn’t. I told him he’d let it get wet then blamed it on me. We went round and round about it. But I finally gave in and shipped three more tons out to the ranch. At no cost. Took me months to make up that loss,” he added with a huff.
“I can understand you being mad at Dad. But what about Noah? Was he in on any of this argument?”
The old man looked totally surprised by Seth’s question. “Oh, no! It weren’t any of Noah’s fault. Tucker’s the one who let the load get wet.” He shrugged one shoulder. “But I forgave your old man for that. He was a good customer over the years. And Ross still buys a lot of feed from me. I’m not offended to take Ketchum money,” the older man said with a smile.
Seth let out a long breath. “Well, I’m glad to know you’re not harboring any grudge toward Tucker. But I wish you could tell me a little more about Noah,” Seth admitted.
“I wish I could, too,” Cal replied. “You know, it’s downright scary to think there might be a killer around here. Most of my customers say they’re watchin’ their backs. And all of them say they don’t ride fence alone. Makes a man wonder what the world is comin’ to.”
Seth talked a few more minutes with Cal and tried to reassure the older man he believed the killing was an isolated incident and that he shouldn’t worry. When he left the feed store, he noticed traffic had picked up on nearby Main Street. Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was approaching the lunch hour.
On sudden impulse, he made a left-hand turn and drove down to the Wagon Wheel Café. If he was lucky, he could get something good to eat and perhaps pick up anything that might be said by the locals about the T Bar K murder. Even though the murder had happened four months ago in early April, he realized the incident was still a source of gossip for the locals.
Moments later, Seth walked into the old diner and instantly felt as though he’d been jetted back in time. Some things never changed, he mused as he looked around at the vinyl booths and long Formica bar with swiveling red stools.
Behind the counter, a waitress was pouring coffee into the cups of the customers lining the bar. Her head was tilted forward, causing a tumble of chestnut curls to hide her face.
Seth took a step toward one of the stools, and then stopped in his tracks as recognition struck him.
Corrina.
Her name shot through his brain at the same time she lifted her head. She spotted him immediately and as their gazes clashed, Seth watched her lips part with surprise, her eyes widen. Something warm and mushy hit him in the stomach.
As he slung a leg over the nearest stool, the feeling spread upward, and by the time she came to stand across from him, he’d figured out the warmth pumping through him was pleasure. And the reason for it was Corrina.
Chapter Three
“Hello, Seth.”
Her low, melodious voice filtered through the clatter of dishes and the hum of conversation filling the diner. The sound touched him and sweetened the joy he felt at seeing her again.
“Hello, Corrina.”
Their eyes remained locked and an awkward moment of silence passed between them before Corrina finally gave him a brief smile.
“I’m…surprised to see you here.” As soon as the words passed his lips, he realized he’d said the same thing yesterday when he’d found her standing on Rube’s porch. She probably thought he sounded like a parrot capable of repeating only one phrase.
“Normally I work at the high school as a teacher’s aide,” she explained. “But since school is out for the summer, I took this job for a little extra income. I was off yesterday when you came out to the ranch.”
No wonder she’d looked so tired yesterday, he thought. When she wasn’t at home waiting on her father, she was here working on her feet, for God only knew how many hours. Evidently she needed all the income she could get.
“That’s good. I mean, good that you were able to find part-time work.”
Hell, he silently cursed at himself, what was he doing stuttering along like some tongue-tied teenager? Communicating with people was a major part of his job. He was normally adept at it. But there was something about this woman that made words of any sort seem trite.
She glanced down the bar to where several men were eating the midday meal. Seth took the moment to let his gaze wander over the fiery curls tucked behind her ears, the soft golden-pink blush on her cheekbones and the smooth moist curves of her lips. She was wearing the same uniform as the other waitresses in the diner, a pale pink smock over black slacks. The collar and lapel folded back to expose the column of her throat and an area of skin just beneath. It was creamy white and as fine and smooth as an Egyptian-cotton sheet.
“Are you here for lunch or just something to drink?” she asked.
Her question jerked Seth back to the moment at hand and reminded him that she didn’t have time to linger, even if he wanted her to.
“I’ll have a hamburger and a cup of coffee,” he told her.
She scribbled his request on a notepad in her hand. “It’ll take a few minutes,” she warned. “We’re rather busy today.”
“That’s fine. I’m in no hurry.”
She gave him a grateful smile. “I’ll turn this in and get your coffee.”
Seth watched her go over to the tall, open counter that separated the working kitchen from the diner itself. A clothesline was strung from one side of the opening to the other. Corrina hurriedly pinned the order to the small white rope with a clothespin, then went to the restaurant-size coffee urn and filled a small, thick-lipped cup.
She carried it and a handful of tiny half-and-half containers back to the spot where he was sitting and placed everything in front of him.
“Thank you, Corrina.”
Nodding, she started to move away. Without thinking, he swiped a hand at her forearm to stop her, but missed. However, his action caught her attention and she paused, her eyebrows arched in question as she looked at him.
Seth felt a dull flush of heat creep up his neck. He didn’t know why he’d reached out for her like that instead of simply asking her to wait a moment. But his mind didn’t seem to work logically when he was in this woman’s presence.
“I just…wanted to…I’d like to talk to you about something. When do you think you might have a free moment?” he asked.
Her eyes flickered with speculation before she glanced at the tiny watch strapped to her wrist by a black leather band. “I get a fifteen-minute break in an hour.”
He nodded. “I’ll see you then.”
She frowned. “Uh, what is this—”
“Hey, waitress, we need some coffee down here.”
The customer’s voice alerted Corrina that she’d already spent too much time serving Seth. With a frustrated glance at the Texas Ranger, she said, “I’ll talk to you in a while.”
Forty-five minutes later most of the noonday diners were heading back to work. Corrina shouldered her way through a swinging door leading into the kitchen. There, she plopped an armload of dirty dishes into a huge stainless-steel sink filled with soapy water.
“Lord, what a rush. My feet are aching!”
The complaint had Corrina turning to see Betty, a fellow waitress, pushing a weary hand through her brassy blond hair.
“It was busy today,” Corrina agreed.
“Busy!” she exclaimed. “Honey, that’s an understatement if I ever heard one. But I’ve got a pocketful of tips. I’ll be able to buy that dress I’ve had my eye on for my granddaughter.”
Corrina smiled at the woman who had quickly become her friend since she’d begun working here at the Wagon Wheel two months ago. Betty was coarse-featured and a little rough around the edges, but her heart was pure gold. She’d immediately taken Corrina under her wing and helped her with everything from writing orders to dealing with flirtatious customers.
