The Corral Cat Caper (Klepto Cat Mystery Book 7)

by Patricia Fry

  She shook her head. "No thanks. Hey, something has occurred to me. Maybe we have missed the obvious."

  Craig cocked his head, lowering his bushy greying brows. "Um, missed the obvious?"

  "Yeah," she said, "in our search for my horse and that rustler guy. We've made some assumptions and maybe those have taken us away from the truth rather than toward it."

  "Savannah, you're talking in riddles."

  "Oh, sorry, Craig. I've just been thinking that maybe the guy who took my horse is hiding out at the old shack where Elsie lives—maybe she knows him or she doesn't know he's there—he's hiding out in an outbuilding or something. Maybe he's holding poor Elsie hostage."

  Craig shook his head slowly. "Savannah, you sure do have an imagination." He stared at her for a moment and then said, "But you could have something there. We've looked everywhere but in the obvious place." He was silent for a few moments. He then glanced toward where Iris stood chatting happily with some of her coworkers. "Would you excuse me for a moment, Savannah?"

  She put the baby monitor up to her ear. "Oops, someone's awake. Yes, I'll go get Lily and meet you back here."

  Ten minutes later, Craig joined Savannah and Colbi, who held Lily on her lap. "There's the handsome groom," she said.

  "Well thank you, Colbi," Craig said, with a sweeping bow. He hugged her. "You look lovely today. Are you dressed for a special occasion?"

  "Very special," she said. "A wonderful couple I know just got married."

  "Yikes, who would do such a thing? Marriage? Yuck."

  "Silly boy," Savannah said.

  Craig smiled then addressed Savannah, "Say, do you think you can get me a horse to use?"

  "A horse!?" Savannah said. "Are you kidding?"

  "No. I've ridden horses before," he said. "Of course, it's been a long, long, time ago. But yeah, I want you to take me out to that place you've talked about. I think we ought to snoop around, don't you?"

  Savannah's eyes widened. "Yes. I do! When?"

  "How about tomorrow?" he said.

  Savannah looked into his eyes and then glanced over at Iris. She frowned. "But your honeymoon…"

  "I talked it over with Iris. We agree that this is important. We'll take off just as soon as we find your horse."

  Savannah, jumped up out of her chair and grabbed Craig around the neck. "Oh thank you, thank you! I just know she's out there. I'll call Bonnie right now and make arrangements." She started to walk away, turned and said to Colbi, "I'll be right back."

  Colbi looked down at Lily. "We're just fine. Go…"

  Chapter 6;b>

  The next morning, Savannah kissed Lily and Michael goodbye and headed for Bonnie's stables. "Thank you for accommodating us," she said after greeting her friend. "Will you be able to join us?"

  "Not today. We're running a horse camp for a home-schooled group and this is our final day. We have an awards ceremony and all sorts of fun." She tilted her head. "I'm sure you can find your way around out there, can't you?"

  "I think so. We may be exploring some new territory, too. Knowing Wilson, he can get us back here if we get lost."

  "Speaking of Wilson, I thought we'd put the detective on him and you can ride Zeke. Are you okay with that?"

  "Oh, your horse?" Savannah asked.

  "Yes, he's pretty mild-mannered; I don't think you'll have any trouble with him. Just remember to give him his head on the trails." Bonnie looked up when she heard a car pull in. "Oh, that must be the detective."

  Savannah waved. "Hi Craig. Come meet your mount."

  "Good morning ladies. I'm ready for my workout."

  "Good," Bonnie said. She lifted a pair of chaps from a nearby corral fence and handed them to Craig. "Here, you might need these. The brush is thick out there." She looked down at Craig's feet. "Oh, you have boots. Good. I was going to offer you some."

  Savannah strapped on the chaps she'd borrowed from Bonnie, then checked the cinch on the saddle.

  "Detective, this is Wilson," Bonnie said. "He's gentle and game. Can be a little lazy at times. Just nudge him along with your knees if he lags." She checked the cinch on Wilson's saddle and then stood back so Craig could mount him. When she saw him strain to get his foot up into the stirrup, she said, "Just a minute." She walked away and returned with a mounting stool. "Here, this makes it easier," she said, placing it next to the horse. When she noticed Craig eying the stool suspiciously, she said, "I use it all the time. Helps me get up on a tall horse with these short legs of mine."

  "Thanks," he said, easily climbing into the saddle. Bonnie adjusted the stirrups for him and soon the pair was off, through the ranch, into the pasture.

  "I have a key here," Savannah said, dismounting. "Bonnie said to just latch the gate and lock it again when we get back."

  They'd ridden for about an hour when Savannah said, "Okay, the old homestead is just around the bend. What do you propose we do once we get there?"

  Craig shook his head. "Play it by ear."

  "You doing okay?" she asked.

  He rose up in the saddle slightly, grimaced, and said, "Yeah, never better."

  "Okay, that's the place—a woman named Elsie lives there."

  Craig looked around. "She must come from sturdy stock," he said.

  "Yeah, I'd say she has grit. But there is something odd about her."

  "What?" he asked.

  Savannah gazed toward the old house. "You'll see. There she is now, milking the goat."

  "The Teagues' goat?" he asked. "Aren't they missing a goat?" he whispered.

  "Yes, but Bonnie said that one isn't hers." She squinted and shaded her eyes. "Hey, that's a different goat. So maybe that one is hers." She pulled her phone out of her jacket pocket, snapped a picture, and quickly sent it to Bonnie's phone.

  As the riders drew closer, Elsie noticed them. She stopped milking and called out. "What do you want?"

  "Are you Elsie?" Craig asked, continuing to ride closer.

  "Who wants to know?" was the abrupt response.

  "Hi Elsie," Savannah said. "We came to visit. Remember, I'm Savannah Ivey. I brought you home from the veterinary clinic a few days ago."

  Elsie stood and walked toward the riders. Savannah noticed that today she wore jeans and a ratty sweatshirt. A large floppy hat covered her grey hair, which appeared to be pulled back in a severe bun. "You didn't bring me home," she said sternly, "and you're not welcome here."

  She must have a mood disorder, Savannah thought.

  Craig dismounted and walked toward the woman leading his horse. Savannah rode Zeke a little closer, letting Craig take the lead.

  "I'm Detective Craig Sledge, ma'am. I'd like to talk to you. You may be in danger out here."

  Elsie cracked a hint of a smile. She laughed out loud. "What kind of danger, Detective? Oooh, is a wild animal going to attack me?" she said sarcastically.

  "More like a wild human, perhaps," he said. He continued to move toward her until he and Wilson were on her property. He walked up to her and asked, "Are you missing any of your livestock?"

  "What livestock?" she said with a laugh. "My goats? Chickens?" She motioned around the yard and said, "As you can see, I have plenty of both."

  Craig scanned the area and noticed about a dozen chickens scratching and clucking and a wire pen harboring at least three goats.

  By then, Savannah had eased off Zeke and tied his lead to a fence rail. She walked up behind Craig. "You don't remember me, huh?" Savannah asked the elderly woman.

  "Yeah, I saw you with that little black girl on your horses a time or two, but I never got into a car with you."

  "Ma'am…Elsie, have you seen a stranger out here lately?" Craig asked.

  She looked at him defiantly. "Yeah, I'm lookin' at one right now and I'm askin' him to get off my property," she said raising her voice.

  "I have a warrant," he said.

  She looked him in the face. "What does that mean?"

  "It means I'm going to look around your property whether you like it or
not. Now we have someone violating the rights of nearby property owners and we need to find him. I'd appreciate your cooperation, but I don't need it. Now tell me, have you seen a stranger dressed in camouflage around here?"

  She scowled. "Well sure. It's what the hunters wear."

  Craig stared at her before saying, "I'd like to look around."

  Savannah took Wilson's reins from Craig, tossed them over the horse's neck and tied the lead to the fence rail next to where Zeke was tied. She felt apprehensive about being where they were obviously not wanted, but excited to think they might learn something that would help her find Peaches. She followed as Craig walked to the right of the shanty. They saw nothing out of the ordinary—a broken-down corral, a chicken coop in need of repairs, old farm equipment nearly buried in overgrown brush, and an abandoned outhouse. Craig stopped to examine something and Savannah gazed around the landscape. What's that? she wondered. Is that someone in the house? I thought I saw someone move quickly away from that broken window. She continued to stare at the window and ultimately decided she was seeing things. I'm a bit jumpy, she admitted to herself.

  When she looked back at Craig, he had already walked a distance ahead and she took long strides to catch up. Now they were on the backside of the house. "This is an area we couldn't see from the trail," she told Craig.

  "Yeah, the place is pretty much surrounded by that brush. There's nothing obvious here," he said.

  "Except that little trail," she said pointing.

  "Oh yeah, into the brush. More brush," he said sounding disinterested. He continued to walk toward the south side of the house, while Savannah continued to stare at the trail. She walked over and examined it more closely. It looks well-used, she thought. I wonder where it leads. Look at the obvious, she recited in her mind. She scanned the area and saw that Craig was examining another piece of farm equipment, so she decided to go exploring. She walked easily along the trail, seeing nothing but brush on all sides. It's gotta lead somewhere, she thought. Someone's been using it regularly. Wait, she thought. She has a raccoon and a dog. Where are they? Maybe she keeps them in pens out here. She hastened her pace.

  Suddenly, she felt something hit her square in one shoulder. "Ouch!" she yelped. She grabbed her shoulder and quickly knelt down, peering through the brush per chance she could see who was hiding in there. She glanced in both directions on the trail and saw nothing. Who's out there, she wondered, and what the heck did he hit me with. She examined the area around her.

  Thud!

  She spun around and saw a rock about the size of a walnut lying on the ground near her. She felt her heart begin to pound. Someone's throwing rocks at me. I've gotta get out of here. "Craig! Craig!" she called as she sprinted back up the path as fast as she could.

  "There you are," he said. "I wondered where you disappeared to." When he took a closer look at her, he asked, "What happened?"

  "Someone's throwing rocks at me," she said, while trying to catch her breath. She grasped her shoulder. "Hit me with one of them."

  Craig reached under his jacket and put his hand on his gun. He then moved toward the trail, slowly and carefully. "Stay there," he ordered Savannah in hushed tones.

  Savannah found an old cement wall behind the house and sat down. She was still rubbing her shoulder when she heard a sweet voice ask, "Are you all right?"

  She jumped to her feet. That's when she saw Elsie standing to her left now wearing a housedress. "Not really," she said. "Someone threw a rock at me."

  Elsie walked closer. "I'm sorry," she said as if she really meant it. "That's no way to treat a girl as nice as you are—I mean, you drove me and Ellwood home and all."

  Savannah stared at Elsie. "Now you remember that?" she asked.

  "Sure, I remember. You were nice to me. Your husband helped my dog."

  "Yes, that's right." Savannah looked confused. "But a while ago, you said…"

  "I guess he took off," Craig said when he returned sounding a little breathless. "You've changed," he said when he spotted Elsie.

  "Who are you?" she asked Craig suspiciously. She leaned toward Savannah and asked more quietly, "Is this the one who threw rocks at you?"

  "No, Elsie. Don't you remember, this is Detective Craig Sledge. He's looking around your place."

  "I'd like to go inside now," he said.

  Elsie became agitated. She wrung her hands and backed slowly toward the house. "Oh, I don't think you should do that… no, you can't come inside."

  "Ma'am, we already talked about this. I have a warrant, remember?"

  Elsie looked frightened, put her hands up to her mouth, and disappeared around the side of the house. They heard the door slam shut and a lock engage.

  "Well, damn," Craig said. He walked to the front of the house, made his way gingerly up the broken steps, and rapped on the door. Savannah followed.

  Suddenly, the door creaked open and there stood Elsie, wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. Craig shook his head. "What are you, some sort of quick-change artist?" He glanced back at Savannah and rolled his eyes.

  Elsie stood firm for a moment and then she lowered her head and stepped aside. Craig entered the hovel and then stopped.

  Savannah moved closer to see what he was staring at. Her eyes widened. "There are two of you," she said, looking from Elsie dressed in jeans to Elsie wearing a dress. "Twins!" she said. "But…why?"

  "Why what?" the woman in jeans asked. "Yeah, we're twins. What's so odd about that?"

  "Well, which one is Elsie?" she asked, squinting her eyes suspiciously at the two women.

  The woman in the dress giggled and explained in melodic tones, "Both of us. I'm Elsie Sue and she's Elsie Beth."

  Craig scratched his head. He blew air out through pursed lips. "Okay, is there anyone else living here with you two?" he asked looking from one to the other of the women.

  "No," Elsie Beth said definitively.

  At the same time, Elsie Sue said in her animated way, "Yes!"

  Elsie Beth scowled at her sister. "No!" she shouted. "Obviously, she's not quite right. She's probably counting the dog, goats, raccoon…" she said.

  Elsie Sue smiled. "And the horse and that delicious little piggy," she said, suddenly looking sad.

  "Horse?" Savannah asked eagerly.

  Craig put his hand up to stop Savannah from saying anything more. He looked at Elsie Sue, and asked in his most charming manner, "Um, would you show me the rest of your home?"

  "Sure," she said gleefully. "Come on. It's small." She giggled. "Won't take long."

  In the meantime, Elsie Beth continued to glare at Savannah, who was about to burst in her eagerness to hear more about the horse.

  "And where does your nephew sleep?" Craig was asking Elsie Sue sweetly when they returned to the living room, arm in arm.

  "Grand nephew," she said, correcting the detective. "Oh, he don't like being closed up—he beds down out there, somewhere," she said motioning with her free hand. She grabbed Craig's arm and said, as if in confidence, "He has a sleep disorder—prowls around a lot at night, you see. Sometimes he brings gifts, like that beautiful…"

  "Elsie," her sister cautioned. "That's enough. You talk too much." She then said more gently, "You look tired, dear. I think you should go lie down now."

  "Oh, okay," Elsie Sue said. She turned to their guests. "I'm going to take a nap now."

  Once she'd left the room, Craig ushered Elsie Beth out the front door and demanded sternly. "Where is he?"

  "Who?" she asked innocently.

  "Look lady, you know perfectly well who. Your nephew."

  "Oh dear," she said. "My sister does have an imagination and she gets confused. We used to have our sister's grandson staying with us when we lived in the city. But he's gone now—got a job in New Mexico."

  Craig stared at the woman for a few moments and then said. "One of you is lying and I'm pretty sure I know which one. Come on Savannah, let's see where that trail takes us. He pulled his handgun out, making sure Elsie Beth saw it and h
e and Savannah headed swiftly toward the trail.

  "Wait!" she called. "You won't need that. He's not armed. Please don't shoot him. He doesn't mean any harm." She clenched her teeth before saying, "Yes, he has a horse, he did some work for a rancher and they gave it to him." She stared defiantly at Craig and insisted, "He's not a thief."

  Craig turned and looked at her. He calmly asked, "Then why are you trying so hard to protect him?"

  She lowered her head for a moment and then said, "There are warrants out for him in another state and we've been letting him hide out here. He does have problems and would not be able to handle being in a jail cell."

  "What charges?"

  "Oh vagrancy, loitering, things like that."

  Craig grimaced, rubbed his hand over his chin, and shook his head in disbelief. "This is no way to live, ma'am. For any of you. If he's got mental problems, you can petition to have him put in a mental facility. Sounds as if he might qualify." He walked over to her. "Now we think he took this woman's horse. Would you show us the horse he's keeping? If it's not her horse, we'll get out of your hair."

  "You won't take him in?"

  "Nope. I see no reason to do that, unless…"

  "Unless what?"

  "Unless he continues stealing."

  Elsie Beth looked from Craig to Savannah and then said, "Okay, I'll take you out to where he keeps the horse." She looked at Savannah, and snapped, "I just hope it ain't your horse."

  The trio traipsed along the trail cut between thick, shoulder-high brush until they reached a small clearing in a dry riverbed. There, though crudely constructed, was a small wire corral. Savannah's heart beat faster, partly from exertion and partly from excitement, as she rushed toward the enclosure. When the corral was in full view, she let out a mournful cry. "Oh no! It's empty. She's gone."

  Craig sighed and turned toward Elsie Beth. He asked her in his deep, I-mean-business voice, "Where is she?"

  The woman looked clueless. "I don't know. Maybe he took her out riding. She was here just last week. I saw her."

  So did I, Savannah thought. This is exactly where I saw her in my dream. But now she's gone.

  ****

  "Darn," Savannah said once the riders had left the shack. "That was disappointing…and downright odd." She squeezed her eyes shut, but it didn't keep the tears from falling. "I'm so sorry, Craig," she said.