“Okay, here goes nothing. Radar, heel.”
The two girls wandered around stopping to chat with the other contestants. Maggie had memorized everyone’s stats it seemed. She had something to say to each cowboy showing she knew more than Susannah expected–or the cowboys—about scores, horses and plans.
It was flattering and more than one cowboy flirted right back at her.
Susannah began to feel like a fifth wheel.
As they headed for another trailer, she looked at Maggie. “You don’t need me.”
“Sure I do, you don’t think I’m this forthcoming on my own. It’s part of the act to see what we can find out. But I have to say I’m getting discouraged. Your dog hasn’t paid any attention to anyone.”
“That’s good news, isn’t it?” Susannah said. “I hate to think anyone I know is involved with drugs.”
“Maybe, but doesn’t help get Toby’s partner free,” Maggie said.
“We haven't even covered half the lot, let's keep going. How do you remember all those stats?” Susannah asked.
“I have a great memory. Never know when I might want to chat up some cowboy. It pays to know something about them,” she replied with a wink.
Chapter Seven
Toby found Jesse sitting in the sliver of shade by his trailer, working on a laptop.
“Anything?” he asked.
Jesse shook his head. “Still waiting for more intel. I'm expanding the search parameters to include those who follow the circuit but who aren't involved as contestants. For all we know the smuggling operation has nothing to do with the rodeo, just some smart operators taking advantage of the traveling most contestants do.”
Toby sat in the empty chair next to him.
“Where's Susannah?” Jesse asked, glancing around and then looking at Toby.
“She and a friend are wandering around to meet all the cowboys. They're taking Radar in hope he'll alert for drugs.”
Jesse shook his head. “And if he does?”
“They say they'll call the cops.”
“Unless the guy is wise to drug dogs and know he's been made. No telling how far someone would go to escape detection.”
Toby nodded. “Still, with all the people milling around, it's unlikely he'll do anything overt, right?”
“From your lips,” Jesse said, closing the laptop. “Let's get in some practice. It's been a while since I roped anything, much less a running calf.”
Three hours later Susannah and Maggie plopped on their beds in the motel.
“I'm more tired than if I'd competed a dozen times today,” Maggie said, eyes closed.
“Me, too.” Then Susannah laughed. “So far we only identified two guys and they were smoking pot when we approached them.” She reached over the side of the bed and petted Radar. “You did good, boy.”
“So much for my brilliant idea,” Maggie said.
“Well, all's not lost, remember Brian Dougherty, he wanted to get to know you better.”
“As if I'd become involved with a rodeo cowboy. Unlike you, I'm staying clear of guys whose first love is chasing the buckle.”
“I'm the same way,” Susannah said lazily. A quick nap wouldn't hurt anything.
“Except for super hottie Toby Palmer.”
Her eyes flashed open. She'd forgotten their charade.
“Well, he's different,” she said.
“Yeah, he's a winner, good looking and he seems head over heels for you. What's not to like?”
“If he and Kyle win enough money this year, they plan to buy a ranch and settle down.”
“Ah, perfect timing for forging family ties. When's the wedding?”
Susannah was silent for a moment thinking about what it would be like to be courted for real, to marry Toby, a man who understood her own aspirations on the rodeo circuit. Who spoke her language so to speak. She loved Walt and Sherry on the Bootstap Ranch, but to have a place of her own, a home to raise kids in. It was something she rarely dreamed about.
“Did you fall asleep?” Maggie asked softly.
Susannah closed her eyes and feigned sleep. It saved having to respond to the question.
A knock on the door woke Susannah up. She rolled over and looked at the clock. It was after six! She had actually fallen asleep.
Maggie stumbled from her bed and opened the door. “Oh, it's you,” she said, and turned around to flop on the bed again.
Toby stood in the frame, smiling at the picture in front of him as Radar came over, his tail wagging.
Susannah rose and crossed to the door. “Is something wrong?”
“No, I wanted to see if you wanted to get supper. I didn't know this is how you spend your afternoons, I thought you two were going to track down some suspects.”
She rubbed her face, trying to become fully awake. “We found a couple of cowboys smoking pot, but since that's legal in Colorado, we didn't consider that a lead. No one suspicious after that.”
“So, supper?” he asked.
“Yes, come on in. I just need to splash some water on my face and redo my hair.”
Toby stepped into the motel room. Maggie had dragged a pillow over her head.
“Want to join us?” he asked the recumbent form.
“Thanks but no. I want to go back to sleep,” she mumbled from beneath the pillow.
In a short time, Susannah was ready to go.
“I need to see to the horses and feed Radar and then we can go,” she said as she grabbed her purse.
“Feed mine, too, please,” Maggie's muffled voice said.
“Will do.”
“I'll leave my truck here and we'll take yours, if that's okay,” Toby said, heading to the bright red pickup. “I want to keep it under supervision if we can.”
“Works for me. Did Jesse find out anything?”
“Nothing definitive. He'll join us for supper. We practiced today and he's checking in with the agency while I pick you up.”
They hurried through the chores until all animals had been fed.
“Shall I leave Radar here?” Susannah asked when Toby said it was time to let Jesse know they were ready.
“Might as well. It'd be cooler than sitting in the truck in some parking lot while we eat.”
After dinner had been ordered, Jesse leaned back in his chair. The family-style restaurant they'd chosen was only half full. Families with small kids seemed to dominate the clientele. None sat near them, so after a quick glance around, Jesse relayed what he'd learned so far.
“So basically nothing,” Toby said when he finished.
“We'll move all those to the bottom of the list of possibles.” He glanced at Susannah. “You're cleared, too.”
She blinked.
Toby took exception. “You can't have suspected her!”
“I take nothing for granted. But her record's spotless. I think that's one reason they chose her truck. Whether in addition to Kyle's or after his truck was out of commission, I don't know.”
“I guess I feel good about that,” Susannah wasn't so sure. She was touched Toby jumped to her defense so quickly.
Looking at him, she tried to remember they were only playing a charade to fool anyone watching them. Sometimes, it was hard to remember.
“You hear from Kyle?” Jesse asked.
“I called the jail this afternoon, bail was denied—flight risk. I tried two lawyers, too, but only one wanted to touch the case. It seems open and shut to them, so he was talking plea bargain and I hung up on him. Do you know anyone?” Toby asked.
“I know a couple in the state who have done some work for us. Let me see what I can do,” Jesse said. He looked at both of them. “And the drugs won't be in your truck much longer. I contacted some DEA guys, they'll be here tomorrow. We'll meet away from the rodeo and they'll take possession of the drugs.”
“That'll be a relief,” Susannah said wholeheartedly.
Toby and Susannah drove Jesse back to the trailers. After double checking on all the horses, they got Radar an
d headed back to the motel.
“Do you think the drugs are still in the door?” Susannah asked, when Toby parked close to the car in the next slot.
“I do, and I figure we'll make it as hard as possible for anyone to get to them tonight. We don't know how far they want to chance using your truck,” he said, shutting off the engine. He turned and looked at her. “You doing okay?” he asked.
She nodded. “Except for living in fear some cop will find the drugs and think I'm smuggling.”
“A few more hours, hang in there. Once the DEA agents take the drugs, you can relax about being found out by cops. Then we just have to keep watch to see who tries to take the panel off.”
Susannah looked at him in the faint light. “Unless we have some sort of round-the-clock surveillance, we could never catch him. Who knows when or where he makes the switch.”
I figure once the drugs are gone, we make it tempting for him. We'll spend a night or two at the fairgrounds. With Radar's help, we can watch and be prepared. If not here, then maybe the next rodeo, or the next.”
“I hope we can catch this guy,” Susannah muttered.
“Me, too. For Kyle's sake if nothing else.”
“And before too much more rodeo time is lost,” she said. “In the meantime, what else can we do?”
“Act normal. There's a place in town one of the guys told me that has dancing. Want to go tomorrow night?”
She tilted her head slightly. “Part of the charade?”
He reached for her hand, lacing his fingers through hers. “More of a date, I'd say.”
Susannah's heart skipped a beat. “So not part of the charade.”
He slowly shook his head, his gaze searching hers for some clue as to her feelings.
Slowly she smiled. “I'd like that a lot,” she said.
Once in bed that night, Susannah was a long time falling asleep. She kept thinking about Toby, the feelings that were growing around him, and her long-time vow to avoid rodeo cowboys.
The next day was the first day of a three day rodeo in Colorado Springs. The synergy of the fairgrounds was electric. Horses were being groomed. Others were working out to get them limbered for their event. Cowboys milled around, ignoring those who had come to watch and get a preview of the cowboys and their horses by wandering around the parking lot.
Susannah loved the feel of the rodeo. The air of excitement, the fans, the adrenaline rush when her event was up. Even Missy seemed in high spirits. For a few hours, she'd forget the quest to find the drug smuggler and focus on the rodeo.
Peggy rode up, her horse practically dancing with energy.
“Thanks for your help, I've been practicing,” she said, leaning forward to pat the horse's neck. “I feel really lucky today.”
“Go for it. I hope it helps,” Susannah said, mounting Missy and walking along with Peggy as they headed for the staging area prior to their event.
Maggie was already there walking her horse in figure eights. She smiled and waved. “I heard Peggy's going to give us a run for our money today,” she called when they were close.
“I'm shooting for first,” Peggy said, looking nervous but determined.
“Good luck!” Maggie said. “But I think I'm going to beat the socks off everyone here.”
The others laughed.
Susannah hadn't known these women for very long, but they were already friends. While each wanted to win, she knew she wouldn't be too unhappy if Maggie or Peggy placed ahead of her—this one time. She was focused on getting to the national event in Las Vegas in the fall. One or two second place wins wouldn't kill that chance.
She drew number 6. Fingers crossed that was a lucky number.
Toby rode into the group of women, heading straight for Susannah.
“Good luck, today,” he said, drawing up next to her.
“Thanks. You, too. You and Jesse are in all three events?”
“Yep. Win, lose or draw, I sure appreciate his subbing for Kyle.”
The grandstand announcer called the next event—the barrel races.
Toby reached over and caught Susannah behind her neck, drawing her closer for his kiss.
“For luck,” he said gazing into her eyes.
Heart racing, she smiled. “For you, too,” she said leaning over and brushing her lips against his.
Then it was time for concentration, not fantasies about a hot rodeo cowboy who was helping her find who was using her truck for contraband.
She didn't forget their date that night. And her heart skipped another beat. She grinned at the teasing from the other barrel racers and settled herself in the saddle to focus on the event.
Toby rode to the side of the arena where he could see a little over the high fence but was out of the way of the contestants. Jesse joined him a couple of minutes later.
“Watching the barrel races?” he asked, following Toby's gaze.
He nodded.
Jesse glanced around and noticed they were away from others. “I don't want anyone to see the DEA agents, so after the events, you and Susannah want to meet us in a secure location? We'll do the drug exchange. They want to substitute harmless packets with a tracking device to see if they can follow to the next stage. These drugs are bound for somewhere.”
'No problem. Just let us know when,” Toby said.
Susannah was next and when she and Missy started the run, Toby silently urged them on. Flying past the first barrel, it tipped slightly then righted. He held his breath as they almost spun on a dime around the second barrel and headed for the third. Once around they flew back to the starting point and finished the run with the highest score of the event.
“She's good,” Jesse said.
“Yep. Let's hope we do as well.”
One event followed another. Toby focused on psyching himself to do the best he could at each event. When the team roping event came, it turned out Jesse was almost as good as Kyle. They came in third, but almost tied the second place team.
On the steer wrestling, they came in second. The points went to the total for the finals. Susannah watched from the end gate as he performed in each event. She caught her breath when he jumped off his horse to wrestle that steer to the ground. She'd never get use to any cowboy doing that. When he came in among the top two she cheered louder than anyone else.
He came in first in calf roping--and made his personal best time for this year.
“That was fabulous!” Susannah greeted him when he had remounted his horse and rode out of the arena.
“Could have been better,” he said, though he was pleased with the result.
“Always. Still, you're tops right now.”
“Two more days to go on this rodeo, who knows what could happen,” he replied.
They drifted toward the horse trailers, letting the horses cool off as they walked.
“Jesse wants to meet off site,” Toby said. “We'll take care of the horses and then head out.”
“Finally,” she said. “I don't want to end up like Kyle. How's he doing?”
“Hanging in there. I've filled him in on what's going down. If we could prove someone else is doing this, he'd be out in a heartbeat.” Toby fisted one hand and pounded his thigh. “We're so helpless until this plays out.”
“It will. Then you two can rack up all the points needed to make it to the finals,” she said.
“Where you'll be yourself if you keep on winning,” he said.
Chapter Eight
Susannah pulled out of the rodeo grounds and turned left as Jesse had instructed. It took a good twenty minutes to reach the ranch and turn onto the drive. Cattle grazed in a field to the left of the long drive. It must have been half a mile in before she glimpsed the house and out buildings. Following Jesse’s instructions, she drove straight to the barn and parked.
A man rested one foot on the lower rail of the corral as he watched the few horses dozing in the afternoon sun. He watched Susannah drive up and when she got out of the truck, he turned and walked her way
. Radar leaped down and sat beside her.
“Help you?” he asked.
“I’m Susannah Davis. Is this your place?”
“No.” He narrowed his eyes. “Are you here to see the owner?”
“Depends,” she hedged, turning to close the door to the truck.
When he took a step closer to the truck, Radar gave a low growl which stopped the man instantly.
He looked at the big German Shepard. “Not too friendly, is he?”
“Only when he wants to be,” she replied. He still hadn’t given her any information. Was he Jesse Knight’s contact?
He backed up a step, keeping his eye on the dog.
Another man came around the corner of the barn.
“That’s the woman,” he said. He stayed back when Radar turned his attention to him. “We’re the good guys, but until that dog knows that, I’m not coming closer. DEA Agents Bennett and Sampson. Jesse coming?”
She nodded. “He should be right behind me.”
Even as she said it, the big black pickup truck pulled into the yard. Jesse and Toby climbed out and walked toward Susannah.
“Dirk, good to see you again,” Jesse said with a smile, holding out his hand.
“Interesting situation you’re in,” Dirk said gripping his hand.
“You’ve met Susannah, this is Toby Palmer. His partner’s in jail in Pueblo. Suspected of drug smuggling. Same set up as we have here. If her dog hadn’t alerted us to the drugs chances are good they'd have gotten away with it.”
“The dog’s a drug dog?”
“Used to be,” Susannah said. “He’s retired on disability, but nothing wrong with his nose.”
Susannah called Radar away from the truck. The two DEA agents had come prepared with tools and made quick work of removing the panel. The drug packets were still sandwiched in between the struts of the door. Removing them, Agent Sampson opened one and sniffed.
“Seems like,” he said, closing it up. He put a tag on it with his name and date. Each packet was logged into evidence and then all were put in a metal carrying container.
“What if the crooks come for the drugs and find it’s gone. Won’t they be after Susannah?” Toby asked.
Cowboy Charade: Rodeo Knights, A Western Romance Novel Page 6