The Eagle and the Fox (A Snowy Range Mystery, #1)

by Nya Rawlyns

“Second best.”

  “Come again?”

  “I’m your best mount. And, as for coming again? Sorry, much as I’d like to oblige, you ain’t the only one who’s sore and tuckered out.”

  Marcus teased, “That topping from the bottom wear you out, babe?” He sighed and shook his head. “Gotta admit, I kind of surprised myself.”

  Josh agreed, then added, “Not bad for an old fart like you.” Marcus reached over and poked Josh’s arm.

  Parking the truck in his usual spot, Josh turned off the ignition, but instead of jumping out and heading to the barn, they stared out the windshield toward the spot where Kit and Petilune had sat that night after the dance. Kit braiding the girl’s hair, Petilune wailing over the aftermath of the vicious attack on the boy.

  Marcus asked, “Where do you think he is now?”

  Josh shrugged. “He could be anywhere, but my gut tells me he’s close. Too damn close.”

  His insides in turmoil, Marcus debated confessing to Josh about the boy being with Petilune after they’d all settled in for the night, how he’d redone her hair, then vanished into thin air at the ass crack of dawn. Yeah, there was no doubt in his mind the kid was close. In fact the odds were good he was watching them right that minute.

  He kept that episode to himself since no purpose was served having Josh go apeshit. What they would need to do, and soon, was decide on how to deal with Petilune. Shuffling her from one place to another was eventually going to wear thin. The child had been amazingly resilient, but eventually something would give, and the potential fallout from that was never good.

  Giving a furtive glance toward the line of trees, Marcus opened the door and retrieved his duffel bag. Josh had offered the use of his shower so he’d brought a change of clothes and extra underwear. The underwear, plus a toothbrush and a few sundries, had been added at Josh’s suggestion.

  Marcus had teased, “Then this isn’t a once and done?” only to be hurled onto the bed and ravaged with a kiss that had rattled his brains and left him gasping for breath. He’d been so disoriented, he’d barely caught Josh whispering, “Over my dead body.”

  Josh asked, “You want that shower now or after the ride?”

  “After. If memory serves, the odds of me being dumped in a pile of manure the minute the horse starts walking are fairly high.”

  “Oh come on, it hasn’t been that long. Besides, it’s just like riding a bicycle. You never forget.”

  There was that bicycle thing again. Marcus grinned to himself and followed Josh into the house. He tossed his bag onto the spare bed and then joined his lover on the porch. Josh pointed up the lane. “Gang’s arrived. Let’s go down to the barn and round up some horses. Becca will bring the girls down.”

  They’d barely gotten to the stream cutting the property in half when squeals from the girls alerted them they were about to be tackled. Laughing out loud, Marcus and Josh each scooped a bundle of energy into their arms and jumped the stream to yelps from Becca reminding them to not get their feet wet.

  In less than a half hour the horses were saddled and ready to go. Marcus sidled over to Becca and asked, “Is Petilune all right? Is she scared to ride?”

  Becca shook her head no and whispered, “It’s a girl thing, if you know what I mean.”

  Blushing, Marcus mumbled, “Oh,” and let the subject drop. Then he felt stupid, because what if...

  What if I could take her, raise her up like a daughter, be the father she never had? I’d need to deal with shit like that, wouldn’t I?

  Well, the likelihood of him getting custody was slim to none. He put it out of his mind and accepted Josh’s help in giving him a leg up. It was about as bad as he expected it might be. He wanted to whine and moan, but Josh muttered under his breath, “Cowboy up, Colton,” and left to see to the girls.

  With Becca and Petilune looking on, he kept his retort to himself. There would be plenty of time later to show Josiah Foxglove exactly what “Cowboy up” meant.

  ****

  After the trail ride, Becca had picked up the girls and told them to be at her place in an hour. That gave Marcus and Josh enough time to shower and change their clothes.

  When Josh asked whether or not he wanted to walk over or drive, Marcus said, “I feel like I did two hours on that damn horse sitting on the horn, so if you don’t mind... drive?”

  As they approached Becca’s tidy log cabin, Marcus noticed a state police car angle parked by the front porch. He asked, “What’s Sorenson doing here?”

  Josh’s mouth was pinched tight as he exited the truck and stalked toward where Becca and the trooper appeared to be arguing. He grabbed the cop’s arm and spun him around as Becca yelped, “Josh, don’t...”

  Marcus circled to the other side, keeping one eye to the screen door where Petilune and the children gawked wide-eyed at the drama unfolding.

  His voice low and threatening, Sorenson said, “Hands off, Foxglove.”

  Marcus noted the man wasn’t in uniform, although his body language and demeanor broadcast official asshole business. Jumping onto the porch, he hissed, “Petilune, take the girls out back. They don’t need to see this. Okay, sweety?”

  Petilune nodded and shepherded the girls away from the budding conflict.

  Marcus had missed the opening salvo, but when he approached the two men going mano a mano, Josh was shouting, “You don’t get to do anything on our property, is that clear, Sorenson? You want something, then you either ask nice, or you come with a warrant.” He glanced at Marcus briefly, then hissed, “Since I don’t see a warrant, and Becca here doesn’t think demanding to talk to a child without an adult present qualifies as being nice, then I want you off this property.”

  The cop glared at Josh, chewing the inside of his lip, his face florid. But there was nothing he could do and he knew it. Stomping to his car, he said, “That girl knows something. I think she knows where that Giniw kid is, and I think she told him we were coming. I want answers, Foxglove, and I intend to get them.”

  Josh looked like he was going to follow the cop to his car and beat the living crap out of him. Marcus took his arm and whispered, “Not worth it. He’s got jack shit so he’s here fishing for anything to make himself look good. Let it go.”

  Becca joined them as they watched the trooper drive off, leaving a parting shot of... “Don’t cross me Foxglove. You’ll regret it.”

  Becca said what they were all thinking. “What. An. Asshole.”

  A chirpy voice from the house called out, “Language, Mom,” leaving them all clamping their mouths shut to keep from laughing.

  Still grinning, Becca said, “Come in, fellas. Dinner’s about ready. And I don’t know about you, but I could use a drink.” She stood on tiptoe and gave her brother a kiss on the chin. “I’ll leave the bartending to you. Marcus, how about you help carve the ham?”

  Marcus entwined his fingers with Josh’s, giving his lover a moment to compose himself before going inside. The little eavesdroppers had heard and seen enough for one day.

  When Josh took a deep breath, Marcus finally relaxed and said, “We can talk about it later. For now, let’s enjoy a nice meal while I try my damnedest to earn back Maudie’s respect.”

  Josh chuckled and said, “Good luck with that,” as he led Marcus into the cabin.

  While he stood in the kitchen and sharpened the knife, Marcus thought, we’re going to need a lot more than luck to deal with the shitstorm that’s coming.

  Chapter Twenty

  Mix-up

  Josh watched Marcus slip out of bed and pad toward the bathroom. Reaching to feel the jumble of bedding still whispering his lover’s body heat, he marveled at how easily they now fit. It might have taken them a couple years to break the ice, but once it had happened, trust and respect had followed almost without effort. Then there’d been the passion that probably took both of them by surprise.

  Now Josh couldn’t imagine not having Marcus in his life and in his bed. Or Marcus’ bed. A couch, any couch. The ba
ck seat of the truck...

  He grinned and muttered, “Maybe not the back seat. I think we’re both a little too old for that shit.”

  Marcus leaned around the door jamb. “Bathroom’s free. I’ll get coffee started.” He ducked out, then back in. “Becca’s pulling in. Better get your ass in gear, babe.”

  Now it was babe instead of cowboy. He yawned, not wanting to move out of the bliss of having greeted the morning with Marcus wrapped around his body, his lips teasing and demanding until Josh had moaned, “Have your way with me,” and surrendered.

  As if surrendering had been a hardship...

  By the time he got to the kitchen, Becca was sitting at the table and sipping coffee. She fluttered her eyelashes and smirked, giving him that I know what you’ve been doing look. The one that meant she approved and was happy for him. And for Marcus, too.

  Marcus asked, “So, how are we divvying up the chauffeuring today?”

  After pouring himself a mug of coffee, Josh took a sip, then pursed his lips in thought. Petilune had stayed over at Becca’s and was watching the girls while they fed the stock and sorted out who to get where on time.

  “Becca and me will feed the horses. If we both do it, it won’t take long. Then, how about I get you to the store, Marcus. I know you need a little extra time to open first thing Monday’s.”

  Marcus had said he was an early riser, but it still surprised Josh that he’d been the first one awake and ready to party before even the hint of dawn. He guessed you could take the boy out of the ranch, but not the ranch out of the boy.

  Becca suggested, “How about I take Petilune and Felicity to school while you head into town, Josh. I brought a list of stuff we need.” She fished a slip of paper out of her pocket and set it on the table. Looking toward Marcus, she asked, “How about you, do you need anything at Bartle’s?”

  Josh answered for him. “Peanut butter. Crackers. Anything edible that comes in a can or a box and can be heated on a one-burner propane camp stove.”

  Marcus snorted. “It’s a two-burner, and if you don’t mind, maybe a six pack of beer.” He pointed at Josh. “For you.”

  Becca scribbled on the back of the note paper as Marcus lifted his eyebrows, daring Josh to refuse the bills he fished out of his wallet. Josh knew better. Tit-for-tat accounting wasn’t his way, nor was it Marcus’. In their world, you paid your own way at the same time you accepted favors offered out of kindness and neighborliness.

  Josh took the list and the money, then said, “I’m going to stop in at Laramie PD and find out why the hell Sorenson was here yesterday.” He was still boiling mad at the trooper overstepping his boundaries. “He’s no detective, and he’s got no jurisdiction here. There’s more to this than him just being a nosy bastard.”

  Becca tapped the pen on the table. Marcus asked, “What’re you thinking, Becs?” That made both Josh and Becca smile. No one had called her “Becs” for a very long time.

  Looking up at Josh, Becca asked, “You remember that red-headed nerd I dated for a time junior year? Cal. Francis Calhoun.” She rested her chin on her hands. “He hated his first name.”

  Josh said, “Can’t say that I do.” He grinned at Marcus. “Too damn many boyfriends to keep track of.”

  “Up yours, bro. But, anyway... he ended up going to State. Last I heard he’d made detective over in Cheyenne, then transferred back to Laramie.”

  Josh snickered. “For somebody you dated for a couple months back in high school, you sure know a lot about what the guy’s been doing the last... what... seventeen, eighteen years? Stalker much?”

  Becca mumbled something under her breath. Josh missed it but apparently Marcus hadn’t. Shoulders shaking he turned around to tidy up the counter, leaving Becca to grumble, “I am not a stalker. I just thought it might be useful to have someone to ask for, is all. You know how cops are.”

  Josh did indeed, although his perspective came from the military, not civilian, side. But cops were cops. The uniform might be different, but the mindset was the same. He circled the table and bent down to give his baby sister a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

  “Thanks, Becs. That’ll help for sure.” He stood up and glanced out the window. “Okay, gang, sun’s coming up so let’s rock and roll. Marcus, you feed the cats. Me and the stalker here will head to the barn.”

  Becca took a swat at Josh’s butt and connected. They squabbled good-naturedly all the way to the barn. When they’d finished their chores, Becca took Josh’s hand and gave it a squeeze.

  “What’s that for?”

  “For you. And Marcus. You done yourself proud, Josiah. He’s a good man.”

  Blushing, Josh admitted, “Yeah, he is.”

  Marcus was good, in every way a man could be. The one thing gnawing at Josh was Marcus worrying himself into a frazzle about Petilune. Not that he was alone in that. It was just that there was something very special going on between those two. Petilune looked up to Marcus like he was the father she never knew, and Marcus would give his right arm to see to her future. Trouble was, the system didn’t work that way, not for the likes of them.

  Chewing his bottom lip, he contemplated what he could do to help solve the dilemma of Petilune. Tugging on Becca’s hand, he said, “Hold up a minute. I need to talk to you about something.” She gave him her concerned look, so he hastened to add, “It’s nothing serious. Um, not exactly. It’s to do with Petilune.”

  “Yeah, I figured we’d need to powwow about that pretty soon. That child can’t be shuffled around like a sack of potatoes forever. She’s needs a place to call home.” Then she added what had been worrying Josh, “Pretty soon somebody’s gonna say something to social services. From what I hear, her mother’s MIA, the brothers are probably still at the hospital, and who the hell knows where they’ll go from there.”

  “Jackie’s coming nineteen. What scares the shit out of me is the oldest boy taking charge of both Joey and Petilune. That’s not something I’m willing to live with.”

  Becca asked, “But what can we do? I don’t mind helping out, but with the girls needing all my attention and me being divorced? Shit, right now I feel guilty asking Pet to look after them. I don’t want people to think I’m taking advantage.”

  “They won’t, hon. But you’re right, we need to find a solution everyone involved can be comfortable with, especially that child. I know the best situation for her would be to stay with Marcus. But he doesn’t have a suitable living space, and...” He shrugged. “Well, you know.”

  “Yeah, I do.” She paused to think, then added, “Why not talk to the new reverend? His wife was in social work. Maybe they could look into coming up with a plan we can all live with.”

  Josh hugged his sister. “Becs, you are a genius. Are they still in Laramie?

  “No, they’re renting a place over on Ditch Road, the old Jensen homestead.” She dug her cell phone out of her pocket and tapped in a number. When whoever she’d dialed picked up, she handed the phone to Josh and said, “Here, ask if they’re around to talk.” In a matter of minutes, Josh had an appointment to meet with the Allens in an hour.

  He said, “Let’s keep this between you and me for the time being. I don’t want Marcus to get his hopes up until we know more. He’s got enough on his plate with the store.”

  “I agree. And the same with Petilune. Once we have our facts straight, we can sit down and work out a plan.”

  At the kitchen door, they paused to watch Marcus cuddling two of their barn cats. Josh whispered to his sister, “I love you, kiddo. Never forget that.”

  Becca smiled and whispered back, “What about Marcus? Have you told him yet?”

  Josh swatted her rump, grousing, “A stalker and a busybody.”

  “Tell him, bro. You aren’t getting any younger, you know.”

  No, he wasn’t...

  ****

  The man who approached with a grin on his face and hand extended was a far cry from the skinny kid with thick glasses who had courted Becca back in the
day. He’d fibbed to his sister about not remembering. Det. Francis ‘Cal’ Calhoun had grown into a burly six-foot plus, no nonsense presence, sporting the rumpled suit and weary demeanor that seemed as much a part of the job description as was the badge. The ginger hair had thinned some, but not the freckles. Josh could see what Becca had liked.

  “Josiah, nice to see you. Been a while.”

  “Just Josh. And, yeah, good to see you again. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out.”

  Det. Calhoun led him into an interrogation room so they could have some privacy. Unlike in city precincts, the department wasn’t exactly a beehive of activity, but it was still too open for the conversation Josh needed to have.

  After settling in the chair, Josh explained why he was there, taking his time to lay out every detail, then ending with, “There’s no way Ted Sorenson has any right to interrogate a witness in a case that belongs to your department. I don’t like butting in, but it gave me a really bad feeling.”

  Det. Calhoun sat back and crossed his arms over his chest, his chin tucked tight. He hadn’t taken any notes, but Josh was one hundred percent sure that the man had registered, and committed to memory, anything that was relevant to the case. When he finally made eye contact with Josh, the deep-set green eyes had gone flat and calculating.

  Finally the man asked, “Where do you intend to go with this, Josh?”

  That was a good question. Whenever he and Marcus had tried to unearth an explanation, they’d run into more questions than answers. Instead of responding to the detective’s question, Josh said, “I was wondering if you’ve had a chance to talk with Will Barnes about what happened after the church service.”

  “No, and yes. I’m still getting oriented here. My new partner did the honors, but he said he got nothing. Just that the kid was being a hero to impress the girl, and it didn’t work out so good until you came along.”

  Josh objected, “That’s not how it went down. Will’s got a steady girl, been going out since seventh grade. She’s damn near part of that family. I’ll buy the hero part, but something else was going on before that. And I think Will might have seen or heard something that got him riled up enough to take on three guys.” Josh splayed his palms on the table. “We were close enough to the picnic area, all Will had to do was shout and all of us would’ve come running. The fact he didn’t tells me it might have been personal, that he knew those guys.”