Oregon Outback (12 page)

Ouch
. Sheridan winced. “That’s a devastating loss.”

“We searched for them as long as we could, but finally brought the rest of the cattle, including those grazing on the southern border of the ranch, closer. I’ve been on the phone all morning, calling other ranchers to see if they’ve lost any.”

“And?” Sheridan was agitated. If rustlers were out there, she needed to hear from the others as well.

“Some are riding out to check. Others won’t know until the fall gathering. But nobody is admitting anything yet.”

“What do you mean,
admitting
anything?”

“I mean, ranchers are a prideful bunch. If I’d had only a few cows stolen, I probably wouldn’t have said anything to you.”

Sheridan pushed to her feet, leaving the rocking chair to creak on its own. Maybe that was part of Carver’s problem. He was a rancher. Prideful was an understatement. “Why on earth not?”

Carver rose, matching Sheridan’s stance. “Because they were stolen from under my nose. You know how that makes me look?”

“They were miles away. How is that right under your nose?”

Carver paced the porch. She’d never seen him like this. He’d always maintained his composure.

“Tell me what you’re thinking?”

“It has to be someone who knows how to live on a horse for days at a time, driving cattle. Knows the region. Someone we know right here.”

She sucked in a breath. “How soon can you be ready to take me to the crime scene?”

Carver stared at her blank-faced, then broke out laughing. “Where my cattle graze isn’t a place you can drive to.”

Sheridan could easily translate. “Are you saying that because I’m a woman you can’t take me to look at the evidence?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

Sheridan chewed on the colorful words she wanted to spew. “You are a piece of work, you know that?”

Oh, she did not just say that. If she was going to act the professional, she had to rein in her emotions.

Carver shoved his hands through his hair, oblivious to her comment. “I can show you where the cattle were on a map. They could have driven the cows for days until they reached a highway where they loaded them on a truck. By now, they could be on their way to Arkansas or selling them anywhere brands don’t matter.”

The man was frustrated, feeling helpless to do anything. Sheridan wanted to reach over and squeeze his shoulder. To reassure him. But what was she thinking? That last time she’d done that, touching his forehead where he’d earned a souvenir for landing in the ditch, a bolt of electricity had shot through her.

Instead, she moved to the porch railing and stared at the vast ranchland. The place was beautiful, peaceful, and secluded.

She turned and leaned against the whitewashed banister, attempting a softer tone. “I don’t see you as the sort of man to give up.” That was definitely something she admired about him.

“I never said I was giving up.”

“I want to know what you’re planning.”

“They could have taken the cattle somewhere remote, grazing them until the calves are weaned. If that’s the case, I’ll find them.” Carver seemed to transform right in front of her, his expression steel. “Either way, this isn’t a job for you. You don’t have enough manpower to help. I just thought you should know in case this turns out to be a bigger problem. More ranchers involved.”

Sheridan dropped her arms to her side, getting the distinct impression he’d dismissed her. She worried the man would find the rustlers, confronting them alone. “Don’t take on these men without the law, do you understand?”

“I can’t make promises. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve already wasted enough time today.” Carver nodded and stepped toward the door. “Good day to you, Sheriff.”

Of all the …

Unwilling to stand there and let him close the door in her face, Sheridan stomped to her Yukon. The front door of the house clicked shut before she reached the driver’s side.

Sheridan climbed in and drove a mile up the long, winding driveway before she allowed herself to release her pent-up anger. That man made her crazy.

If she could just figure out what, besides his good looks, drew her to him.

C
arver stepped into the hangar at the small county airport. He spotted Kevin Wells standing next to his Cessna Skyhawk, doing the preflight check.

Kevin glanced up. “Good to see you, Carver.”

Two long strides later, Carver stood next to the plane. “Thanks for agreeing to this on such short notice.”

“No problem. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

“Well, if nothing else, this will tell me where they aren’t. I don’t want to waste any time on the ground, looking in the wrong area.”

Kevin walked around to the back of the plane. “Go ahead and hop in. We’re still waiting on one more person.”

What? Maybe he should reschedule, but he couldn’t afford to waste more time. Waiting for the sheriff to arrive first thing this morning had already put him behind. He’d done the right thing telling her about the cattle, but he didn’t want her involved, getting hurt, especially because of him. This was no business for a woman. He’d seen the look of incredulity in her eyes, but that was nothing new where he was concerned.

“You know I don’t like anyone infringing on my business. I thought this was just you and me. Who else is coming?”

“I am.” The familiar female voice crawled over his back and into his heart, causing it to miss a beat.

Carver closed his eyes. He hung his head, unsure what this new development would mean, then turned. “What are you doing here?”

She made her way from the hangar entrance over to him. “I’m going with you.”

When he slid his gaze to her, she was grinning. “I told you I didn’t want you involved,” he said.

“Then you shouldn’t have called me.”

Blood pressure rising, Carver left his thoughts unsaid and climbed into the Cessna. He shouldn’t have listened to Ray. But why didn’t he want Sheridan’s help? Taking her in the saddle on a long, hard ride was one thing, but having her along this time couldn’t hurt.

When Kevin was seated next to Carver, and Sheridan strapped in behind him, Kevin taxied the four-seater plane from the hangar and, after he’d gained clearance, took them into the sky.

A light floral fragrance wafted around Carver. Sheridan. “You sure this is part of your job description, Sheriff?”

“This is a criminal investigation. Rustling is a felony. Why wouldn’t it be part of my job?”

Kevin guffawed. “You two aren’t going to be at this all day, are you? I was afraid it might be a mistake to have you together, but why don’t you forget about your differences for now. Let’s find your cattle.”

Carver didn’t much like being lectured. He didn’t realize that he and Sheridan had drawn battle lines for everyone to see.

“I’m all for that,” she said.

Great. She had to be the first to agree. Carver wasn’t big on talking anyway, so he said nothing. Let them think what they would. Carver tugged his binoculars out and focused on the surrounding region.

He hadn’t expected how difficult concentrating would be with Sheridan this close, her face looking out the window, searching with him. The plane banked right and headed toward the northeast.

“You tell me where I need to go, Carver,” Kevin said.

“Let’s look at the most remote areas with canyons and ravines. The cattle need water. Unless the rustlers, if they’re still out there, are going to haul it in, they have to be near a water source.”

“Good idea,” Sheridan said. “At the risk of showing my ignorance, what exactly are we looking for? How can you tell if the cows we see are yours?”

“Mine will be white-faced, for starters. I’m hoping I’ll have a sense of whether or not this is my stolen herd. If we get a reaction at all from men on horseback, that could tell us if they’re the rustlers.” Carver’s spirits sagged. This seemed like an impossible task, but he couldn’t give up. “On the other hand, if we spook them, they’ll move again.”

He recalled Sheridan’s words that she didn’t think he was the kind of man to give up. The way she’d said it almost sounded like a compliment. He liked that.

A half hour passed and they saw nothing suspicious. “Over there, to your far left corner. I see something,” Sheridan said.

Carver looked through the binoculars. “We don’t want to alert them we’re looking for them. Just want to act like we’re out for a nice Sunday drive.”

At least twenty white-faced cows and their calves grazed on a foothill. Kevin flew the plane close enough for a good look and continued on in the same direction.

Two men on horseback were heading into a gulch. They didn’t look up at the plane. Carver’s pulse throbbed against his collar.

“Did we find them?” Kevin asked.

“Maybe. I don’t know. I’m afraid to fly around and take another look. We might scare them off.”

“And then they’d be gone by the time you got there.” Sheridan slid over into the opposite seat to look out the other side. “What do you think, Carver? It’s your call.”

“I don’t have an answer for you yet. Let’s cover as much area as we can to make sure those aren’t the only cattle I need to check out.”

“Sure thing,” Kevin said. “This is a big region to cover, but what you’ve got on your side is that it’s got a small population. Someone has to know something.”

Kevin’s words resonated with Sheridan. “I put my deputies to work on that after we talked this morning, Carver.”

He didn’t say anything, making her wonder if he approved. Not that it mattered.

Sheridan glanced at her watch. She’d known this could take all day, or at least until Kevin’s fuel ran low.

“What about those men on horseback? Wouldn’t we have seen them react to the plane if they were rustlers?” Kevin asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe.” Carver lowered his binoculars and squeezed the bridge of his nose.

The man had a reputation of being determined and hardheaded, but she’d never known him to be indecisive.

She leaned forward in her seat. “No. That’s wrong. If they were regular guys out there, they would have glanced up at the plane. It’s the only thing happening for miles around. It’s a reflexive reaction. Curiosity. The fact they didn’t glance up says they could be up to no good, didn’t want us to see anything we could identify them with.”

“Good point,” Carver said.

Had Carver just agreed with her? This was going better than she expected. Still, it was a guess at best.

By lunch, Kevin had brought the plane back and taxied off the runway to park. Sheridan climbed out, her jacket flapping in the gusty wind. She waited for Carver to get out, too.

They thanked Kevin, then Carver made arrangements to pay the man for his time, trouble, and fuel.

“Uh, Carver, that won’t be necessary,” she said. “The sheriff’s department has funds allotted from the BLM law enforcement contract for aircraft time. I’ll make sure Kevin gets paid.”

“This is why I didn’t want you along. These are my cattle. I’ll deal with this in my own way.” The creases etching Carver’s eyes conveyed his stress.

“Carver, I don’t want you going after these men alone.” How could she get it through his head this could be dangerous?

“I know how to handle rustlers,” he said.

“All the same, someone will be over to the ranch. We pay you a fee to board horses for mounted patrols. Someone will ride out with you.”

With that, she walked to her own vehicle, doubting Carver liked her last words. She headed to the office. She needed to get a handle on this problem in case it grew, or worse, had been growing—as Carver put it—right under her nose.

Lord, please help me keep a handle on things
. Carver wasn’t making that easy.

Though Sheridan didn’t enjoy spending time confined to a desk, there were always matters that needed her attention. On the drive back to town, she contacted Ronny about riding out with Carver. Ronny’s little girl had a birthday tomorrow. He wasn’t happy about Sheridan’s request, but she didn’t have the sort of experience Ronny did in the saddle. Carver had been right on that point, though she hated to admit it. They were two of a kind.

At the office, Sheridan nodded to Kelly and others of her meager staff. After grabbing coffee, Sheridan settled in at her desk to complete paperwork. Deputy reports, warrants, dispatch logs, and a few citizen complaints. But Carver was never far from her thoughts.

Hours later, she blew out a breath and straightened her desk, relieved to have made a dent in the pile.

Kelly leaned in the door. “There’s a disturbance outside McHenry’s Round Up Cafe.”

Sheridan slid around the desk and grabbed her hat, making sure her firearm was in place as she passed Kelly.

“Uh, Sheridan.”

She glanced back.

“Ronny said it involves Carver.” Kelly shrugged. “I just thought you should know.”

What was that man up to now? She thought he’d already be riding to check on the cattle they’d located today, Ronny at his side. Sheridan pulled into the parking lot at McHenry’s, unsure why Ronny needed her assistance. She hopped from the Yukon. Carver had his back to her. He reminded her of a wild mustang that had just been corralled, and Ronny, who dared to argue with him, looked like an inexperienced cowboy.