This was it, she realized. Whatever happened in the next hour or less would most likely be the end of this story, and she really hoped she would be able to do something to bring down these miserable rustlers and save Casey and herself...and, of course, the cattle.
There appeared to be no doubt about what the clues they’d found meant. The charm with a G must have been Georgia’s. The change in brand on Addie, and apparently the other cattle, signified the initials of the siblings’ first names. If Melody recognized it, the smart deputy who was Casey undoubtedly did, too.
She would love to see these people arrested and prosecuted for what they’d done. And hopefully Casey and she would be there to testify against them in court.
But right now she was scared that they wouldn’t remain alive that long.
She managed a glance at Casey. He was scowling, but when their eyes caught she saw something in them that she appreciated. No, despite their nights together, particularly the last one, they had no romantic relationship—although at the moment Melody kind of regretted that. She could die before this was all over, and it might be somehow easier if she died with the belief that someone as kind and determined as Deputy Colton had tried to save her, not just because it was his job, but because he cared.
She realized she felt the same about him, no matter what. And if they survived, was there a chance at a romantic relationship?
No matter how much she doubted it—still doubted she was ready for one—she hoped she had an opportunity to find out.
Chapter 20
Casey watched as Georgia and Delilah mounted their horses and walked them over the tamped-down grass toward where the nearest cows stood. The cattle stomped and mooed, as if they knew that something was about to happen.
Their lowing wasn’t the only sound, though. Occasional planes flew overhead, but, more important, Casey heard vehicles in the distance moving along the road where they’d soon head.
Was that the way their backup would arrive? Assuming there was any, of course. It was a major assumption.
He looked over at Sean, who stayed on the ground with his gun aimed at Melody. Glancing down at his watch, Sean said, “I think it’s near enough to the time the trucks are expected for us to get these cattle closer to the road to wait.”
“Okay,” Melody said. She glanced at Casey, and he read in her expression that she wanted to talk to him. Alone. Which wasn’t going to happen.
But what was going to happen?
Was backup going to arrive? He’d definitely gotten the impression that was what Melody wanted to talk to him about, so he couldn’t count on it.
He had an unpleasant feeling that Sean was about to shoot him. That way, they wouldn’t have to worry about him while they moved the cattle and loaded them into whatever trucks were coming. Of course, he would remain alert and keep his gun in his hand, and use it if he needed to protect himself, though he wasn’t sure how effective it would be under these circumstances. Would he be fast enough to raise his gun and shoot Sean before Sean shot him?
He was surprised, then, when Sean said, “You come along, too, Mr. Deputy. You can stay with Ms. Ranch Hand and me. I can see from the way you two look at each other that you’ve got something going, so I’ll use both of you to keep the other under control. Just know that I won’t kill either of you unless I need to so I can get the other one to do what I say. First shot probably won’t be fatal then...probably. Got it?”
Yeah, he got it. And Casey wondered a bit about Sean’s observation. Something going between Melody and him?
They apparently gave the impression they were closer than they were. And that might not help them resolve this situation.
Well, if he ever was to get interested in another real relationship, she’d be at the top of his list of women to check out. Assuming, of course, that she had any interest, after her nasty divorce.
“Got it,” he acknowledged aloud, and surprised himself by aiming a wink at Melody where she stood near the cattle as if priming herself to help out with herding them where their captors wanted. She sent back a weak, troubled smile, and he wished he could do something to reassure her. Of course, any reassurance right now could be a lie.
“First, though—hand over your gun now, Casey. I’ve let you hang on to it as a game, kind of. But I won’t be able to watch you as closely now, so give it to me and I won’t shoot your lady right now.” Sean swung his arm up and took a few steps forward until the muzzle of his gun touched Melody’s forehead. “Oh, and your phone, too. And yours, Melody.”
Damn. But what choice did he have? Drawing closer to Sean, Casey considered whether he could shoot Sean now and end this, but Sean’s finger was wiggling on the trigger as if to taunt him.
Plus, Delilah and Georgia had ridden closer, around the cows, and were watching.
Casey gave him his gun, grip first, and also pulled Melody’s phone from his pocket and handed it to Sean, as Melody, too, gave him his phone. What choice did they have?
“Ha, ha!” Sean chortled. “Guess you’re finally realizing who’s in charge here.” He kept his gun aimed again at Melody as he stuffed Casey’s gun and both phones into his saddlebag. “And though I’m not sure what I’ll do with you yet when the trucks arrive, at least this way you won’t be able to call for help if I leave you here.” He gestured with his weapon to wave Casey forward. “Let’s go,” he said. “And in case you need any other motivation to listen to me, Deputy, I’ll be nice to both of you for now, until and unless there’s a problem. You’ve already decided I’m a murderer—”
“Aren’t you?” Casey asked wryly, unable to help himself from interrupting.
“Maybe, maybe not. But I could easily become one for the first, or not-so-first, time if I get any trouble from either of you. So keep that in mind, will you?” His gaze landed again on Melody, who remained still, and it morphed from somewhat amused to threatening. Casey had an urge to use the opportunity of having Sean’s attention at least somewhat diverted to grab him and pull him down, but since he again trained his gun on Melody, that wasn’t an option.
“Oh, I’ll definitely keep it in mind,” Melody said. She rolled her eyes as if she found the man who was menacing her merely stupid, not dangerous, too.
At least Sean didn’t react to that. “Excellent. And Casey, how about you?”
“Oh, you can believe it’s on my mind.” And the look Casey leveled at Sean should tell him that he’d never forget it, never let it go.
Sean walked over to his horse, which he mounted, then aimed his gun again at Melody. “Okay,” he said. “We’re going to get the cattle to the road. We’ve done well herding them while we’re on horseback, but I know it can be done on foot, too, so that’s what you’ll do. Let’s just all head toward the road and coax the cattle that way, too.” He picked up a prod from his saddle with his left hand and waved it. “Haven’t needed these much. You’ve trained those cattle well, Melody, from what I’ve seen. They start forward when we do, with one of us behind to wrangle the stragglers.”
“That should work,” Melody acknowledged.
“And do you have better ways? Bet you do,” Sean called to her as he moved a bit away.
“Let’s see how this goes” was all Melody said.
Then, with Georgia and Delilah once more on opposite sides of the herd and Sean behind with Melody near him, the cattle moved forward. Sean lagged a bit until Casey got closer to Melody.
“Hey, you can follow your lady,” Sean said. “Help her out here, okay, Deputy?”
Casey wasn’t sure what he should do, but for now all he did was stay a bit behind Melody but in front of Sean and his horse. The cattle kept moving, which was a good thing.
They went over a small rise, and that was when Casey saw the road ahead of them. There was a fence with a gate along it, so he figured this was part of OverHerd Ranch, and Clarence Edison had built it out here to p
rotect his cattle from getting onto the two-lane highway.
There was also a wide shoulder along each side of the road, outside the fence—wide enough that trucks could probably park on one side or the other while the cattle were being loaded. Casey figured the cattle would stop on this side of the fence, the gate would be opened, and people would get the cows onboard the trucks one at a time.
Melody could help with that, but he figured she’d hate it. Still, that might be a good time for her to talk to the drivers, if they didn’t seem to realize what was happening. Or even if they did but hadn’t realized human lives would be at stake.
And him? He’d just have to watch what was going on, wait...and hopefully find an opportunity to get Melody and himself out of this.
The cattle stopped near the fence, as Sean and his group likely wanted them to.
“Okay,” Melody said, looking from Sean to Georgia and back. Delilah remained on horseback at the far side of the cattle herd. “You’ll soon get these cows heading to wherever it is you’re intending to sell them.” She stopped for a moment and aimed a quizzical gaze toward Georgia, as if she assumed Sean’s sister was the most likely to reveal that information, but Georgia just shrugged.
“You got it,” Sean said. “And then we’ll be out of here, too.”
“You’re getting into the trucks with them?” Casey asked.
“Could be,” Sean replied.
“Are you also taking the horses?” Melody asked.
Casey figured she hoped they wouldn’t so the two of them would have transportation back to the ranch house, assuming they were both allowed to stay there. And what good would it do to take Melody and him along, anyway? They’d just give the Dodds a hard time...as long as they weren’t shot first. But Sean probably wouldn’t leave horses with them. They’d get back to civilization and send the authorities after the trucks quicker.
If left here without their phones to call for help, they couldn’t summon anyone else to go after the trucks. Still, they also would still be alive—or at least Casey hoped that was how Sean was currently thinking.
“We’ll see.” Sean gestured to Georgia, and the two of them moved a small distance away on their horses and began talking. Casey wasn’t surprised that Sean still pointed his gun at Melody and him.
Casey used that as an opportunity, though, to get closer to Melody. “You okay?” he asked. She was pale, but her chin was raised resolutely as if she’d been through this kind of danger before and had come out just fine.
Which he doubted. But he still appreciated her bravery.
“I’ll be better when they’re gone,” she said.
“Yeah, we both will. And even if they leave us here without horses—” He shut up for a few seconds as an SUV drove by, causing some of the leaves on the road shoulder to blow around. “We’ll still be here, by the road, and we should be able to flag someone down for help.”
“I hope so.” She sounded so glum that he figured she believed Sean would shoot them before he left.
And Casey was worried about that, too.
For now, he looked her straight in the eyes, then moved close enough that he could have drawn her near and hugged her for emotional support—and more—if they weren’t so visible to their enemies, who might find a way to use it against them.
Sean had, after all, seen some closeness between them that Casey had been trying not to acknowledge to himself...much.
But now—well, once this was over and they returned to whatever reality they could, maybe he really would see where the familiarity they’d begun could lead them.
For the moment, Casey attempted to put all thoughts of Melody and how they’d get along in the future to the back of his mind.
He needed to watch, wait and figure out what to do to save them now.
* * *
There they were—or at least Melody assumed the two semis rolling slowly toward them along the road were the vehicles Sean and his co-conspirators were waiting for. When the trucks began to slow down, she felt even more sure.
“Woo-hoo!” called out Sean from behind her, the ultimate confirmation about whether those were the ones he had hired.
The five of them—the Dodds, Casey and Melody—now stood along the fence with the cattle just behind them. They watched as the trucks came to a stop and parked on the shoulder.
So how would things work out now? Melody knew Sean wanted to have her help get the cattle inside the trailers. Would he also insist that she go along with them in the trucks to wherever he planned to sell the cows?
Sell them. The stolen cows that were her responsibility were about to be finally taken away for good, and she would be part of that, like it or not. They wouldn’t even necessarily be identifiable as OverHerd Ranch cattle unless people studied them closely. Presumably the brands on all of them had been changed as Addie, the dead cow’s, had been—from OHR to SG.
Where would Casey be when she left with the Dodds? Melody wondered. Would he ride along with them? Stay here, alive and well?
She didn’t even want to consider the alternative.
She forced herself to concentrate when two men got out of the cab of the first truck. She assumed the occupants of the other truck’s cab would join them, though she couldn’t see them yet.
“Gentlemen!” Sean called. “Thanks for coming. Now, show us how we should load the cattle, and we’ll begin, okay?”
The two men had reached the gate, where Sean met them. Melody noted that Georgia now held a gun and was trying to be surreptitious about it as she kept it trained on Casey. Was it the same gun that Sean had held? Melody didn’t think so—and that made her swallow in sadness.
It might have been Pierce’s that they’d taken from him when they killed him.
In any case, it was a symbol that Casey and she had better not tell these other people what was really going on here.
And so she wouldn’t—for now, at least.
“That sounds good,” said the taller of the two men, who was clean-shaven and wore a gray cap with a logo Melody couldn’t see and a dark blue sweatshirt with matching trousers. He’d come from the driver’s side of the truck. The other man, shorter and with a receding hairline, was dressed similarly but wore no cap.
Presumably, they knew they’d be transporting cattle in their truck. Was that why there were two of them?
“We’ll bring the first cow through the gate as an example, to see how this works out,” Delilah said loudly enough for all of them to hear, which Melody found almost amusing since she doubted the accountant would do anything but watch the cows get into the truck.
And what about how they would smell in the trucks? Out in the pasture, their aromas weren’t particularly bad in the open air, but inside?
Well, these truckers had apparently been told what they were getting into. Maybe they’d even transported cattle before.
Melody glanced at Casey, who was at her side. He had a bland expression on his face. For now, at least. Would he attempt to tell the truck guys what was going on? Probably, if he had the opportunity, and she would do the same.
He probably wouldn’t want to start any trouble now, though, like revealing what the situation was. These drivers were potentially in as much trouble as Casey and she were. If they gave any of the Dodds a hard time, one or more of them might get shot. Casey would undoubtedly try to protect them, too.
Before any of the cows were wrangled through the gate, two more people joined them from the other truck, a woman and a man. They wore similar outfits. Maybe that was standard for this transportation company. The vehicles themselves all had the same logo on them, a loopy, floral thing that Melody wasn’t familiar with.
“Hi,” the woman called. “Are we ready to get the cattle loaded on board?”
Everyone but Casey and Melody seemed to say yes. Over the next few minutes, one cow was culled from the front of
the herd and led through the fence by Georgia, with Melody assisting, per Sean’s instructions. There was a ramp at the back of the trailer that the cow was able to walk up, with the people leading her.
The inside of the trailer looked clean enough, Melody thought. She had no idea how many of the cows would fit in here, but since there were only eleven, and two trucks, having six in this one should be okay.
Another cow was led inside by Sean and his wife. Delilah appeared to be fine with helping out here, even if she wasn’t as much of a ranch-type person as the others.
Casey accompanied them, and Melody assumed that was because of Sean’s insistence...and additional threats, since he seemed inclined to have Casey accompany Delilah and him to the front of the trailer.
As a result, the five of them who’d headed here via the pasture were now inside the truck, along with all four of the drivers, temporarily for now, Melody figured, to get things started.
Only two cows were in there so far, so which people would return outside and lead the next one in? Melody just stood there, waiting to see if she, the ranch hand, was designated to help with that.
And where were Sean and Georgia’s guns now? She didn’t see them being pointed at anyone, not even surreptitiously. Did that mean there would be an opportunity to run once they returned outside?
She figured, though, from Sean’s prior threats, that Casey and she would be given their instructions and remain separated, rather than being given the chance to flee together right now. The threat would remain that if one was able to get away, the other would get shot in retribution.
What were they going to do?
* * *
Casey wished he could plan something to save them—and not just Melody and him. It had become his responsibility to try to rescue the other innocent civilians who were now involved—the truck drivers.
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