Two Sides of the Same Coin

by Jake Mactire

  Then he walked over to the bunkhouse and asked the guys there if they’d seen or heard anythin’. He came back to the kitchen at about five in the mornin’.

  “You boys don’t mind if I stay here another hour or so until it’s light enough to look for tracks do you?”

  “Not at all, sir. Anythin’ to catch these guys.”

  “Good, ’cause after some of your coffee, Jeff, there’s now no way I could get back to sleep.” I cleaned up the glass while Mike made more coffee.

  The sun was finally coming up after we’d finished, so the sheriff headed outside to look. After about forty-five minutes, he came back in.

  “Looks like you had another visitor that had been in the rustling camp. I can’t say one hundred percent for certain, but it looks like the boot tracks match one set from there. I took a couple of casts, so I should be able to tell you later today.” He headed back to his office, and I went inside and grabbed a hold of Mike.

  “We gotta find these guys, buddy. I’m sick of dealin’ with this shit.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  THE day was cold and cloudy. The drab, gray sky matched my mood. Mike and I had visited the hardware store in Twisp and gotten a pane of glass for the back door. We were just coming into Winslett when I suggested that we get breakfast at One Eyed Jack’s. It was still fairly early and not tourist season, so there were plenty of places to sit. We walked in and shucked our coats. In an instant, we had some coffee. Sandy was off today, but we’d see her this evening at the ranch. I had the prime rib hash, and Mike had the chicken fried steak.

  “You’re awful quiet this mornin’, Mike. What’s up?”

  “I’m just worried about havin’ Tom and Ann and their kids and Jonathan and his partner up at the ranch if whoever is doin’ this shit ain’t caught.”

  “That’s been on my mind, too, buddy. I reckon if the sheriff doesn’t have a handle on this by the end of this week, I’ll need to call ’em and let ’em know what’s goin’ on.”

  “Ya know what I see as the worst of this mess, Jeffy?”

  “What’s that, bud?”

  “I know we’ll recover from not havin’ the dude ranch part open this Thanksgivin’, and they’ll come another time, but it’s gonna break little Harrison’s heart.”

  “Don’t I know it? That’s a real shame too. I’ll talk to him after his parents tell him, but I don’t wanna get to that point. Let’s just hope that it doesn’t come to that.” The thought of having to do that and of being restricted as to what Mike and I could and couldn’t do was the cause of my drab, gray mood.

  “You were right this mornin’ when you said this has gotta get over soon.”

  “Before I forget, buddy, do you need anythin’ for your gumbo tonight? I reckon if you do, we’re in town now.”

  “No, we’ve got everythin’ I need.” Just then the waitress brought our food. I salted and peppered my eggs, sprinkled everythin’ with Tabasco sauce, and put a big dab of ketchup on my plate.

  “You and your ketchup, Jeffy. You use a lot of it.”

  “Just on fries, eggs, burgers, and hash. We’ve all got different tastes.”

  “Maybe next year for Halloween, you should go as a bottle of ketchup.”

  “Only if you go holdin’ a sign that says ‘Whimper, whimper’.”

  “All kiddin’ aside, do I really whimper when you’re…, well you know when?”

  “You sure do. Actually I really like it. It shows me I’m handlin’ you right.”

  “It doesn’t sound all wimpy?”

  “I ain’t ever thought of it that way.”

  “So you really like when I do that?”

  “Sure do.”

  “Thanks again for last night, Jeffy. That was way beyond incredible. We gotta do that again.”

  “What specific part?”

  “The spankin’ and keepin’ me on edge like that for a long time.”

  “I thought you said it made you achy?”

  “It did. But the release was like every nerve used for that was magnified twenty times. It still amazes me.”

  “No problem then. By the way, do you need help cookin’?”

  “Naw, I got it.”

  “Okay. I got two sculptures that just need to be polished up, so I’ll do that while you cook.”

  “How’s the hash?”

  “Good. You wanna try some?” I put a spoonful on his plate. The waitress came by with more coffee. As she walked away, I noticed Mark walk in. He was in his ranger uniform; I reckoned he must be on break from the office. He spoke to the waitress for a moment and then came over to us.

  “Mind if I join you two while I’m waiting for my carryout breakfast?”

  “Not at all.” Mike scooted over, and Mark slid in next to him. The waitress brought Mark a cup of coffee.

  “Thanks again, Mark, for bringin’ the tree cutting permit. You getting swamped with folks wantin’ ’em?”

  “You guys are the first and only so far. I have sold a couple hunting permits in the last few days though.”

  “How long’s huntin’ season last here?” Mike had a hopeful look on his face.

  “Into December, so you have plenty of time. I really liked the food you guys made last night. I appreciate your inviting me over. It was nice to have somewhere to go and something to do other than just sittin’ in my little rental house.”

  “Like I said yesterday, anytime. You stickin’ around for Christmas and New Year’s, or are you headin’ back to California?”

  “California? Oh, you mean to spend the time with my parents. I don’t know yet.”

  “If you are around, you’re welcome to come over to our place.”

  “Thanks. You guys are really nice.” Just then the waitress came over with Mark’s food all wrapped up in a takeout package. He stood up.

  “Before I forget, guys, I’m glad you’re okay after the trouble last night.”

  Mike and I looked at each other.

  “Word sure gets around fast, how’d you hear?” I asked laconically.

  “Sheriff told me this morning when he was on his way to the office.”

  Mike and I looked at each other once again. Mark caught it.

  “What’s up, guys? Did I say something wrong or something?” He studied us.

  “We been tryin’ to put last night out of our minds, at least for a bit. Nothin’ wrong at all, other than all this bullshit. We didn’t get too much sleep either.”

  “Oh, okay. Take a nap this afternoon, guys, I’ll catch you later!” He walked out and then turned back and gave us a funny look. We both smiled and waved. He waved back.

  “Jeff, we gotta get over to the sheriff’s office pronto. Sheriff Johnston said he wasn’t gonna tell nobody.”

  “Let him get to his office first. If the sheriff didn’t tell him anything and he is involved, we don’t want to tip him off any more than we already did.”

  “We both sounded kinda lame there, didn’t we?”

  “Hopefully, buddy, he’ll just think we’re upset about the attempted break-in.”

  “If he is involved, Jeffy, we were talkin’ about helpin’ the sheriff, and puttin’ the stuff on your laptop. Do you reckon he was after the laptop?” Mike looked at me seriously.

  “Could be. We gotta find out first if the sheriff did tell him. I reckon there’s gotta be some sort of information sharin’ and cooperation between the agencies.”

  “After we go to the sheriff’s office, we can go to see Mary Grace and see how the exhibit is shapin’ up. That way, if he is watchin’ us, it’s gonna look like we’re just visitin’.”

  “Good idea, Mike.” We wolfed the rest of our breakfasts, and paid the bill pretty quick. Then we headed off to Sheriff Johnston’s office. We had to pass by the forest service office, and it had a note sayin’, ‘Be back in an hour’ and a little clock. Mark musta put that on the door when he picked up his food. Maybe he was eating in the back. In any case, he didn’t see us walk by. We walked into the sheriff’s of
fice. One of the deputies was at the front desk.

  “Mornin’ there, Jeff, Mike; what can I do for you guys?” I had gone to high school with him, like just about anyone else my age in town.

  “Hey, Rob, how ya doin’? Sheriff around?”

  “Nope. He’s off today. He went huntin’. He had some call real early this mornin’ and went from the call home and then out huntin’ with his son. Oldest one is up from Seattle to hunt with his dad. Anythin’ I can do for you?”

  “Thanks, Rob, much obliged, but no. I just need to talk to the sheriff as soon as possible. Could you ask him to give me a call as soon as he can?”

  “Sure, he got your number?” I was pretty sure he had them, but I wrote down the home and cell phone numbers and handed them to Rob.

  “Thanks, Rob, catch ya around.”

  “No problem, take good care, guys.” We walked out into the street. I was beginning to feel a bit paranoid. If Mark was in on this and he figured out we knew it, what would he do to protect himself? I reckoned the best thing to do was let someone know to have the sheriff check on Mark, and then let José, Josh, and Smitty know we wanted to be on the lookout. We walked across the street and into the co-op. Mary Grace came over to meet us.

  “Jeff! Mike! It’s so good to see you guys.” She gave each one of us a hug.

  “Come and see the exhibit. It looks great. You’ll have to pardon me, some of your friends also contributed pictures.” We looked around the walls at the co-op. There were pictures of me and Mike, Mike working on his horsehair stuff, me casting bronze, and pictures with captions explaining each step of each process. I had eight bronzes on display, and I had two more at home that I wanted to polish up and bring in tomorrow. I thought the display was very well done. I was impressed at how well Mary Grace had put it together.

  “Wow, Mary Grace, this is incredible. You did a great job with all the details and explanations of what we do.”

  “Thanks, Jeff. I’m really excited about this show, so it made it a lot easier and kind of fun too.”

  “Mary Grace?” Mike was standing there looking down at his boots.

  “What is it, Mike? Did I get something wrong?”

  “No, not at all. I was just lookin’ at the prices of some of the stuff I made. It’s way higher than I woulda charged.”

  “I looked online, and those are the going rates for the things you made.”

  “Really? I reckon I been sellin’ myself short for a while.”

  “Once you get a name for yourself, Mike, you can charge triple these rates.”

  He gave her a big hug and thanked her.

  “Mary Grace, can I ask you a huge favor?”

  “Of course, Jeff, what do you need?”

  “First of all, a piece of paper, a pen, and an envelope.” She went to her desk in her office and brought them out. I quickly wrote on the paper.

  Sheriff,

  If something happens to me and Mike before we talk to you,

  check out Mark, the forest service ranger.

  He knew about the attempted break-in at the ranch

  last night. He’s got to be involved if you didn’t tell him.

  Jeff

  I put it in the envelope, sealed it, and handed it to Mary Grace. “If somethin’ happens to me and Mike, can you make sure the sheriff gets that?”

  “I don’t like the sound of that, Jeff.”

  “I have an idea who’s part of the whole mess we’re facin’, and they may have an idea that I suspect ’em. I’m pretty sure that with your spell we’ll be okay, but just in case….” Actually I wasn’t sure at all, but she invited us to her group and did what she did from pure kindness and care, so I wanted her to know I appreciated it.

  “Jeff, nothing will happen to you and Mike. I imagine that sooner or later, the evil they sent out is going to come back on the perpetrators, and they will be in deep trouble. With the murders they caused, the rebound could even kill them.”

  “I just hope that if it does rebound like that, everyone finds out who they are.”

  “Don’t worry, Jeff, it will rebound on them. You’ll see.”

  “Mary Grace, are you ready to get pictures of Jeff and me with the Santa caps on our cowboy hats?”

  “Actually, Mike, I spoke with Sandy and Maria, and they have arranged to go caroling with you two at the Christmas at the End of the Road festival Thanksgiving weekend. I believe José, Josh, and your new hand are joining in also. So they all have cowboy and cowgirl hats and Santa caps. So, we’re going to take the pictures, then, just like you suggested.”

  “That’s great, ain’t it, Jeff?”

  “It is. I reckon I’m gonna have to teach ’em ‘Christmas for Cowboys’ and ‘Santa Got Lost in Texas’ and ‘Two-Step Around the Christmas Tree’.” Mike laughed.

  “Jeff, that’s a very good idea. Winslett is known for being an old West town, and it would certainly be in character. By the way, I hear you two sing very well together.”

  I looked at Mike. “‘Christmas for Cowboys’, bud?” He nodded. We began to sing together.

  Several people in the gallery started clappin’. Mary Grace smiled at us. “You boys really do sing well together. That was very beautiful.”

  “Now you do know about Sandy, José’s, and Josh’s singin’ ability, don’t ya, Mary Grace?” She looked at me and laughed.

  “Yes, Jeff, I do. They told me they can’t sing a note, but Sandy and José can both play the guitar, which they are going to do. I think Josh is going to be moral support.”

  “I dunno if Smitty can sing, Mary Grace.”

  “He can and very well, Sandy told me.”

  “You ain’t been castin’ any love spells lately, have ya, Mary Grace?” Mike had a big grin on his face.

  “Not since I did the one for you two.” Mike’s mouth dropped open, and I’m sure mine did too. Mary Graced laughed at us.

  “Just kidding, boys; I would never cast a spell on or for someone without their knowledge and consent. To do so would be totally unethical.”

  “Sometime, Mary Grace, maybe we could take ya for coffee at Rick’s. I’d like to learn more about what you believe.”

  “I’d be happy to tell you all about it, Jeff.”

  “I’d enjoy that.”

  “Me too; Halloween night seemed nice and cozy and friendly, not like that bullshit my old man was always spoutin’ off.”

  “I take it you’ve had some bad experiences with Christianity, Mike?”

  “That’d be puttin’ it lightly.”

  “As you know, I’m pagan, but the message of Christianity, unconditional love and a God who became human and died for us because he cares so much, is very beautiful. But I understand what you mean, Mike. Most Christians today seem to believe something based on hatred.”

  “Does your faith believe it’s ‘the truth, the light, and the only way’?”

  “Oh Goddess, no!” She giggled. “There are many paths to the divine. Mine is only one of them.”

  “That’s what you said the other night, Jeffy!”

  “Mary Grace, that is one of my favorite sayins.”

  “We’ll have to talk about it in detail sometime. Oh, by the way boys, I have some things for the two of you.” She hurried into the back and came out with two boxes about the size of shirt boxes. They were wrapped in shiny foil wrapping paper and lots of ribbons.

  “It ain’t even Christmas yet. Thanks, Mary Grace.” Mike was happy to get a gift.

  “Thanks, Mary Grace, you didn’t have to do nothin’.”

  “I know I didn’t, but I wanted to. Open them up!” We ripped off the paper and ribbon and found we were each holding a framed photograph. Mine was the picture of Mike and me with our arms around each other’s shoulders. We were both grinning at the camera, and both of us looked really happy. Mike had the picture of the two of us sitting together on the fence, lookin’ at the camera and grinning.

  “Thanks, Mary Grace, I don’t know what to say. These are really special.”


  “They sure are, Mary Grace. This is real sweet of you.”

  “I liked the pictures, and I thought you two would too.” We thanked her again and headed out the door.

  “Hey, buddy, we gotta get some bread. Wanna get it from Rick’s and have a cuppa coffee and some pie.”

  “Sounds good to me, Jeffy; I reckon we ain’t gonna have enough time for a roll in the hay before folks start comin’ over, what with the cookin’ and all.”

  “We still got all night for that, buddy. I ain’t gonna let your ass off too easy. Anyway, let’s see when you get done cookin’.”

  We headed into Rick’s. I love the smell in there. You can smell coffee, and fresh bread, and cinnamon, and vanilla, and all sorts of spices. I took a deep breath.

  “Hey, guys, it’s nice to see you two. Coffee?”

  “Hi, Rick, please.”

  “Hey, Rick, what kinda of pie you got today?”

  “Pumpkin, apple, pecan, banana cream, and blackberry.”

  “Blackberry for me!”

  “Make that two.”

  “Okay, let me get some of the strong coffee, and I’ll have the pie out in a second.” He headed in back, and after a few minutes, came out with two huge mugs of steaming coffee and two big slices of pie with whipped cream on ’em.

  “Thanks, Rick, this is great.” Mike tried to say thanks, too, but his mouth was too full of pie to be coherent.

  “No problem, guys. I bet you two are glad that this rustling and murder business is coming to an end.”

  “Is comin’ to an end? Do you know somethin’ we don’t?” I looked at him. Could there have been an arrest or breakthrough while we were in talkin’ to Mary Grace?

  “It will end soon. The spell Mary Grace did was really powerful. The evil is going to come back on those who sent it out. Given all they’ve done, I wouldn’t be surprised if they dropped dead.”

  “Mary Grace said somethin’ similar.”

  “Thanks again for what she and you did the other night. It was a beautiful ceremony.”

  “You’re very welcome.” Rick smiled at us.

  “I’ll tell you two what, how about if I send a pecan pie home with the two of you? Mike, a Cajun boy like you shouldn’t be able to resist that.”