Twisting inwardly from Gwen’s appraisal, Joe felt trapped. He told her the truth about how he’d stumbled into falconry after being wounded in Afghanistan. Gwen was easy to talk with, and she was sincerely interested in every word.
“And so you’ve discovered—by accident—that falconry appeals to you?”
“Yes, I have,” he said. His heart was beating a little more quickly because he could see Gwen weighing and measuring his sincerity against what she remembered of him as a kid in town.
“I always find it fascinating how life sometimes picks us up from one place and plops us down in a completely different position. You’re a case in point, don’t you think?”
“I do,” Joe agreed. He felt guilt over not telling Gwen the rest of the story. He wondered if she suspected his reason for being in Jackson Hole.
“This is a nice way to leave the Marine Corps and come home. You have a new skill and you’re already employed. You’re very lucky, Joe.”
“I am and I’m grateful.”
“You know, Katie’s life up until Donna became her foster mother was chaotic and messy. I find it interesting that you’re falling into falconry after being knocked about by life, too.”
Joe knew he couldn’t press Gwen too much about Katie. She was smart enough to see straight through him. And Joe couldn’t afford for that to happen. “Falconry is a way of life,” he agreed. “And I really enjoy it.” And he did.
Nodding, Gwen moved to another section of fabric bolts against the wall. “You didn’t know Katie in high school, did you?”
“No. When did she come to Jackson Hole?”
“When she was sixteen. Before that, she was over in Casper going through a gazillion foster homes. Poor girl was angry and rebellious. But who could blame her? Good thing Donna met her that day at the state fair. They just clicked, you know? And when Donna found out Katie was on the run, that she’d hitchhiked from Casper to here, well she realized the girl was in dire straits.”
“What did Donna do?”
“She called the Casper police and let them know she was safe in Jackson Hole. And to make a long story short, Donna applied for and received permission to foster Katie. Katie bloomed under Donna’s direction and care. Any kid who is abandoned by birth parents has extra mountains to climb, and it was very hard on Katie, as you might suspect.” Gwen leaned over and picked up some thread she’d spotted on the floor next to the fabric bolts.
“I can’t even begin to imagine,” Joe said. “She did speak to me the other day about being in a number of foster homes.”
“Ah, well, that bodes well for you, then.”
“Pardon?”
“Katie’s life was saved by Donna and her raptors. She completed the last two years of high school and graduated with honors. She also stayed out of trouble. But Katie is a strange one, in some ways. I rarely hear her talk about her past. She’s ashamed of it.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know if she shared this with you or not, Joe, but her mother, Janet Bergstrom, was in prison for five years because she ran guns and drugs.”
Feigning ignorance, Joe said in a quiet voice, “I didn’t know...” He wondered how Gwen had gotten hold of the information. Norah, the PI, had just given Katie the report less than a week ago. He studied Gwen. How did she know? Had Norah come in here and told her?
“I just found out from a close friend of mine. Katie knew nothing of her druggie mother who lives over in Cheyenne. And I must swear you to secrecy on this, Joe. I know you and you’re a trustworthy individual.”
“Actually,” Joe said, “Katie told me about the private investigator’s report yesterday.”
“Oh. She did?”
Gwen appeared surprised. Joe said, “She called her mother Janet yesterday.”
“Really?” Gwen crept closer to him, her voice barely above a whisper. “What happened? Can you tell me?”
Uncomfortable, Joe hedged, “I’d rather not say. All I’m doing is double-checking what you know up to this point. I feel if Katie wants to talk to you, it should come from her, not me.”
“Wisely said,” Gwen agreed. “I’m so proud of Katie for making that phone call! I know she’s been yearning all her life to find out who her mother is. When Iris came in yesterday and shared the information, I was elated. I was also bummed Janet was a convict.”
Joe realized after he left yesterday, Katie spoke by phone to Iris. At least the information wasn’t handed over by the private eye. To have done that was against the law. “I see.”
“I don’t know much more about Janet Bergstrom,” Gwen said, worried. “I wonder if she’s going to call Katie back. If she hasn’t cleaned up her act, how will it impact on Katie? I fear for her. I’ve seen how hard it is for folks to get off drugs. And they don’t, unless they really want to.”
“I’m concerned, too.” At least that wasn’t a lie. “Janet lives over in Cheyenne. That’s clear across the state. Will Katie move over there, I wonder?”
“You’re worried about your job?”
“Sort of,” Joe admitted. “I think everything’s up in the air until and if she calls Katie. I was hoping you might have a feel for this.”
Giving a chuckle, Gwen placed her hands on her thick hips. “How I wish! I’m not a fortune-teller, Joe. Oh, I can surmise sometimes and I’m usually pretty good at it. But not always.”
Joe had been giving deep thought about Janet calling. Would she ask Katie to move to Cheyenne? He’d go with her if he could. But would Katie want him to tag along? It would certainly get him a lot closer to Janet Bergstrom and that was a decided plus. He tried to ignore his personal worry for Katie. But he couldn’t.
“You like Katie, don’t you?”
The question caught Joe off guard. “Me? Well...yes, she’s a very nice person.”
Gwen snorted. “Not from what I see in your face, Joe Gannon. You wouldn’t be hedging a bet with me, would you?”
Joe squirmed, took his hands out of his pockets—they had suddenly grown damp. Wiping them down the sides of his slacks, he managed a twisted smile. “Caught red-handed. You’re too good, Gwen.”
“Your voice gives you away. When you say Katie’s name, your tone goes soft. I see a special look come to your eyes. I know you divorced Zoe.”
“Zoe...yes, we got divorced.” Old pain rose up in Joe. “It was a tough time,” he admitted.
“But you’re over her. And now you’re looking for a special woman to share your life? At your age, I sure would be. People aren’t meant to live alone, Joe.”
“Well, uh, yes, I guess I’m over the divorce. And I agree no one likes being alone.” He certainly didn’t.
Gwen’s expression sharpened and she refused to let him off the hook. “I’ve known Katie since she was sixteen. That’s a good ten years. I’ve seen her grow up. She’s a beautiful person, Joe. And she has a good heart and soul. Katie’s found her niche in life with the raptors and she’s good at what she does.”
“I was wondering,” Joe said, clearing his throat, “if Katie had someone special in her life.”
Gwen chuckled. “Well, now we get down to the nuts and bolts of why you’re here, don’t we?”
Joe felt heat flood his face. Was he blushing? He hadn’t done that since he was a teenager. “You caught me dead to rights, Gwen.”
Patting him on the shoulder, she said, “Now, wouldn’t it have been less painful just to come straight out and ask?”
It was his turn to grin. “Gwen, has your deputy-sheriff son ever told you that you’d be one hell of a law-enforcement investigator?”
Laughing with him, Gwen nodded. “Yes, my son takes cues from me. I taught him early on to look at people, study their expressions, their body language, and listen to the tone of their voice. It tells a lot if you know how to translate it.”
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“You also have insight into people few ever will,” Joe said. He saw her preen beneath his sincere compliment. “Now, back to why I was here. Is Katie seeing someone?”
Gwen sighed. “In the ten years Katie’s been in Jackson Hole, she’s had three serious relationships. And each time, she broke it off. Right now, there’s no one in her life.” Her lips twitched. “Except you.”
The heat wouldn’t leave his face. Joe wondered if it was beet-red because it sure felt like it to him. “Katie never married?”
“Came close the third time. But the guy turned out to be a real jerk. He was actually an addict and he kept it from her. Katie hates people who hide things from her. I can’t say I blame her. Maybe that’s because she’s so open and honest. You can read her face like a road map and know exactly what she’s thinking and feeling.”
“Very true,” Joe agreed. “So the last guy was a drug addict?”
“So were the other two, the poor thing. The first two guys were up-front about it. Katie seems to attract those needy types. Isn’t that sad?”
“Does Katie do drugs herself?” Joe knew it was wrong to ask, but he had to. He saw Gwen frown.
“Not to my knowledge. But knowing her one parent, I can see how Katie draws that type of man. It’s in her genes. She herself won’t even touch alcohol, Joe, and she knows drugs are a poison. She loves her mocha lattes and likes chai tea but that’s it. She’s clean as a whistle.”
Joe trusted Gwen’s information and was relieved. Katie did not have a drug addict’s personality nor did she behave like one. “Good to know. But what about these three relationships? Does Katie realize she’s drawing the wrong kind of guy?”
“Oh, yes,” Gwen said, giving Joe a sad look. “Katie and I have had our chats.”
“Do you know the name of the last guy? The one that tried to cover up his drug habit from Katie?”
“Oh, yes, I won’t forget the sneaky little jerk. His name was Renaldo Garcia.”
The name shocked him. He felt as if someone had struck him in the chest with a fist. “What?” he blurted.
“You act like you know him.”
“Uh...no, no, I don’t.”
“Funny, it looks like you did.”
Rubbing his jaw, Joe stepped back. “No, I don’t know him.” But he did. Oh, God, Katie had tangled with the son of the Mexican cartel, Juan Garcia, who was trying to establish a base of operation here in Jackson Hole. “What happened to him?”
“I don’t know. After Katie gave him his walking papers, Renaldo disappeared. I never liked him, Joe. He was a sneaky bastard at best. He’d been caught lying to a number of other people here in town. I didn’t like his looks. Made me think of a weasel. And he sure didn’t treat Katie well. I don’t really think she realized at first what kind of man he was. Of course, how could she? She was raised in foster homes where no drugs were allowed. And when she came to Jackson Hole at sixteen, Donna protected her a great deal from kids in high school who were doing drugs. She got Katie immersed in falconry, so she didn’t have to hang out with those types.” Gwen shook her head. “No, Katie had no way of knowing who this dude was.”
“He disappeared?”
“Yep, no one’s seen him since.”
“That’s good to know.” His stomach knotted. Joe wanted to make a call to Roger Hager as soon as possible. Did this implicate Katie with the Mexican cartel trying to establish a beachhead here in this town? If Gwen were to be believed, Katie was a pawn. But why did the son of this cartel leader pick her? Did they know Janet Bergstrom? Did they realize Katie was her daughter? Joe rubbed his chest, feeling danger for Katie. She could still be under the scope of this cartel. And he knew Renaldo Garcia was one mean son of a bitch who took no prisoners. Tearing his thoughts back to Gwen, he asked, “Did this guy ever harm Katie?” Renaldo was known to beat up his women.
“No, not that I’m aware. Why?”
“Just asking.”
“Hmm.”
“Thanks, Gwen, you’ve been a big help.”
“Not so fast, Joe Gannon.” She eyed him. “What are your intentions toward Katie?”
What a loaded question! Joe worked his mouth and thought carefully about his response. “I like her, Gwen.”
“Okay.”
“Probably more than I should. I came home to heal up, not to get involved in a relationship.” That was true, and Joe hoped Gwen took him at his word.
“Pity,” she said. “Because from where I’m standing, you two make the perfect couple.”
CHAPTER NINE
THE NEXT MONDAY, Joe arrived at the facility at 8:00 a.m. to find Katie with a cast raptor on her desk. Someone had wrapped a dirty T-shirt around the bird. On the floor next to her was a cardboard traveling box. “Hey, what’s up?”
Katie glanced over her shoulder. “Hi, Joe. Come over and help me?” Her breath caught in her chest. She’d forgotten how handsome Joe was. “A guy just found this young red-tailed hawk flopping around on the berm next to the highway. He saw the hawk diving across the road in pursuit of a rabbit and it hit the windshield of an oncoming truck.”
Joe came to her side. Katie gently held the struggling raptor in the T-shirt. “He must have just brought it in.”
“Yes, he did. Can you carefully hold the hawk? I need to call Randy Johnson, one of our vets, to see if he has an opening to look at the hawk. I think it has a broken wing.”
“Sure.” Joe carefully placed his hands over Katie’s. It was a thrill to touch her. He knew that raptors were often hit by vehicles. His fingers carefully closed over the cloth wrapped around the hawk. It repeatedly tried to peck at his hand. Katie stepped clear and picked up the phone.
Joe studied the young hawk. It had some blood on one side of its yellow beak, otherwise, it looked in good shape and was alert. He listened to the phone conversation. The vet had an opening—good news for the hawk. Raptors could die of shock rapidly. The T-shirt surrounding the bird was smeared with grease here and there. Still, the man, who had been kind enough to bring the bird in for help had done what he could for it. Most people didn’t know that it was important to wrap or cast a raptor in a piece of cloth. It prevented the bird from flapping its wings and possibly injuring itself even more.
“We’re leaving,” Katie said, breathless as she hung up the phone. “The vet can see the hawk right now.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Come with me.” Katie hurried to the desk and retrieved her purse and a traveling bird box.
“What about the weighing and feeding?”
“Already done.” Katie retrieved a special cloth that had Velcro on two sides of it. “I’m going to put this below the raptor’s back. Then, I’m going to use a pair of scissors to carefully cut away the T-shirt and then use this clean cast instead.”
Nodding, Joe watched her quick efficiency. It was a brilliant idea. “You’ve done this once or twice, haven’t you?”
She laughed a little as she gently slid the brown velvet cloth beneath the bird. “Just a few times. Great. Now lay the hawk on the table....”
Within moments, Katie had removed the greasy T-shirt and gently but firmly wrapped the hawk’s body in the thick brown velvet. The Velcro closed over the hawk’s brown-and-white-speckled breast.
“That’s a great idea to use Velcro. That way it can be opened and the scissors kept away from a struggling raptor.”
“Donna showed me this trick. It was her idea.” Once the hawk was completely cast in the brown fabric, only its head showing, it settled down. Bringing over the green cardboard carrier, Katie opened it up. “This is my special carrier for vet-bound birds.” She opened it. Inside it was long enough for a big hawk like a red-tailed. Firm foam lined the sides. She picked up the hawk and carefully laid him down in the box. The foam would prevent the bird from
being tossed about during the drive. She quietly shut the carrier.
“The hawk will settle down and relax now,” she told him, picking up the case by the handle on top. “The darkness soothes them. I hope that by the time we reach the vet in Jackson Hole the hawk will still be alive. I’m sure it’s in a lot of pain with a broken wing, but the casting will act like tape to hold it in place.”
Joe picked up her purse and followed Katie out into the morning sunlight. “Anything else you need?”
“No, just follow me to my truck.”
Once in the vehicle, Joe positioned the carrying case between them on the seat. She drove carefully down the one-mile asphalt road leading to the main highway.
“Did you have a nice weekend?” Katie asked after turning onto the major highway.
“I did.”
“Were you working with your dad? Did you learn something new about landscaping?”
Joe smiled a little. “He went over the different types of stones and gravel one uses if the soil is sandy, clay or waste type. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it?”
Laughing a little, both hands on the steering wheel, Katie said, “Kinda boring, huh?”
“I like the excitement of being a falconer. You never know on a given day what is going to walk through your door. Like this morning.”
“Usually, Fish and Game calls me about injured raptors. The folks who live around here know I have a license and sometimes they just drop the bird off to me instead of calling the officials first. I already made the call to F and G to close the loop on this raptor.”
“Was the guy who brought this hawk in an auto mechanic?”
She grinned and shared a quick look with Joe. “Yes. How did you know?”
“As I was turning in to the ranch, a guy drove out in a tow truck.” He met her smile. Katie’s blue gaze was clear today. Joe hoped the weekend had helped her sort out her feelings about the call to her estranged mother.
“Still—great deduction, Watson!” Katie teased him.
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