Cowboy intrigue, p.1
Cowboy Intrigue, page 1
Cowboy Intrigue
Barb Han
TorJake Publishing
Copyright © 2020 by Barb Han
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Editing: Ali Williams
Cover Design: Jacob’s Cover Designs
To my family for unwavering love and support. I can’t imagine doing life with anyone else. I love you guys with all my heart.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Also by Barb Han
About the Author
1
The frigid blast of cold air blew across Mika Taylor’s face as she rolled down her truck’s window, a warning of what was to come. A shiver rocked her body. A cold snap was headed to Cattle Cove and she hoped to be finished with her next case and headed somewhere warm before the winds picked up. A thin layer of cotton was the only thing keeping her bare-naked skin from exposure. Her jacket, last she remembered, was still draped across the back of the chair in her living room next to the door. Not exactly within reach now that she was more than an hour from home, parked in front of a trailer. Being forgetful was starting to become the rule, not the exception. She cursed her bad memory—a memory that was showing stress cracks now that her mother had moved in full time.
Ever since her mother’s diagnosis and her father’s disappearing act, concentrating was getting more and more difficult. Mika bit back a yawn. So was a good night’s sleep. And just to prove Murphy’s Law that everything that could go wrong would, two of her recent cases had resulted in her being threatened. In the O’Rourke case, she’d busted up a dogfighting ring with ties to a notorious crime group known for weapons smuggling. And then she’d seized a pair of Doberman Pincers from a baseball player, Andre Jimenez, who’d been recently kicked out of the league for all manner of violations, including beating his wife. The story had gone public and blown up in a big way on social media. He’d threatened Mika when she was the one taking his animals away, after a neighbor videoed him ‘disciplining’ them using his belt.
In her line of work, threats weren’t exactly unusual. These two, for some reason, stuck with her and made her uneasy.
A break from work was coming, though. All she could think about was getting through this shift. With her mom safely in Colorado for a week visiting family, Mika would finally be able to take a hot bath after work and then curl up in bed. She had three days to sleep in and be lazy after too much overtime, along with the stress of her mother’s illness. Her dad had bolted, saying he wanted to enjoy his life not be strapped with caring for his wife in the few precious years he had left. Few? Mika rolled her eyes. He was in his sixties, not nineties. The real truth was that he’d been having an affair with his administrative assistant. Someone who cared about his needs, he’d said. What a jerk.
It was selfish to feel lonely, but her mother moving in had killed what little social life Mika had been clinging to, and the road ahead was going to be a difficult one.
With a whole lot of effort, Mika set those thoughts aside. After this shift, she would get a break. Three whole days off. Nights too. Basically a chance to catch her breath and ready herself for the long, uphill climb that was coming with her mother’s health.
Mika let out the breath she’d been holding; just thinking about her family situation and how much it had changed on a dime was enough to make her tense up. Rather than go down that road again—the one that had her wondering how she was going to provide for her mother’s care, as well as maintain some kind of life now that their circumstances had changed—she refocused on the case. Besides, she could set aside her stresses for the next week while her mother was away. There were so many good shows to binge watch, not to mention the stack of books on her nightstand she’d picked up but hadn’t had time to read.
Mika gripped the handle and threw her shoulder into the door. It opened. Her sunglasses fell out of her front pocket and tumbled onto the dirt and rocks. She reached down to pick them up and bumped her head on the door as she pulled up to sitting. Well, graceful, that was going to leave a bump.
A deep breath and quick check in the mirror later, and she was ready to exit the county-issued vehicle. Stepping outside and into the cool morning air shouldn’t send an icy chill racing down her back. She glanced around as the feeling of eyes on her caused the hair on the back of her neck to prick. Her recent transfer, so she’d be closer to home, left her in the dark about her new territory, which was a shame. And it had the tendency to make her a little more jumpy than usual.
The gate to the property was open enough to walk through, but the opening wasn’t big enough for her department issue vehicle. There were two other trailers within view. Each with a yard.
The residence she was checking on had a large dog chained to a tree in the front yard. It was her job to place a notification on the door for the owners and then if the situation wasn’t corrected, seize the animal. Mika scanned the area, not wanting to be surprised by an attack. She didn’t rush to the front door anymore. Not after a case where a Doberman had been left to roam in a yard with a gate half opened. She’d been tricked into thinking the dog had run away. In reality, an electric fence kept the dog inside the yard. She’d mistakenly believed he was either gone or inside the residence right up until the moment she crossed the threshold. Lucky for her, he came at her so hard she bounced out of the yard and a line he couldn’t cross. He’d gone straight for her nose. She still had a tiny scar on the left side where one of his teeth cut through her skin. She’d had a nice butterfly stitch to tape the small hole closed, and a permanent reminder not to enter anyone’s front lawn without the expectation a dog could come out of nowhere and attack. It had been a rookie mistake. One, she wouldn’t make again.
So she surveyed this yard again carefully. There were several mesquite trees and a few oaks dotting the landscape. The trailer was old and looked like something she’d see in a meth bust on TV. White and aqua blue seemed to be the color scheme. Cinder blocks were stacked one on top of the other to form the stairs to what looked to be the front door to the single wide. Even from twenty feet out, she could see the piece of paper taped to the window. An officer had been here yesterday, and it didn’t appear like the resident had been here since.
A rusted metal trash can was pushed up next to the place; it looked like the one most people used to burn trash in. The clink of heavy chains drew her gaze to a tree ten feet in front of the door. A large, dark figure loomed. She heard a low, throaty growl.
“You’re okay,” she said as calmly as she could. She would need her metal loop to wrangle this guy at a safe distance. Straining to get a better look, she said a few more words meant to convey a sense of calm to the animal.
Footsteps on crunchy gravel caused her to turn toward the sound.
“Why didn’t you take this poor poor dog the last time you were here?” A woman who looked to be a few years older than Mika was crossing the road. She chalked the eerie feeling of being watched that she’d had earlier to the woman heading toward Mika. The neighbor was most likely watching her through a window.
“I have to follow protocol, ma’am,” Mika responded.
The woman glanced around nervously and issued a disapproving sigh.
“Are you Mrs. Lynn?” Mika asked.
“Yes. That’s me. I’m Jayne Lynn.” She had on pajamas, a short robe, and fuzzy house slippers. Her hands gripped the front of the robe like she was hanging on for dear life. “I’m the one who made the call because I haven’t seen his truck around lately and this poor dog is always outside. I could have sworn it was crying the other night.”
“How well do you know your neighbor, ma’am?” Mika asked, hoping she could get a little intel from the neighbor.
“Not at all. I’ve only ever seen one person and he sticks to himself. I couldn’t pick him out of a lineup if my life depended on it.” She sniffed and pulled a tissue out of her pocket, dabbing it under her eyes. “What kind of person leaves an animal all alone for days on end?”
Not one Mika wanted to get to know on a personal level. She shook her head in solidarity. The neighbor was good enough to make the call and file the complaint, so Mika figured Mrs. Lynn had a little bit of scoop as to what went on around her. “How long has this person lived here?”
“A couple of months,” she said.
“Any idea if the person owns or rents?” Mika might be able to track down a renter. She didn’t see any bowls for food or water around. This was at the very least a criminal neglect case. It was looking like animal cruelty could be added to the list. Leaving a dog to be exposed to outside elements with a thick chain around its neck, no food or water absolutely ticked the cruelty box. As much as Texas believed in individual rights, and they were strongly acknowledged, animal abuse wouldn’t be tolerated.
“He rents. We all do. Elias Hunt owns everything in this area. The land has been in his family for gen erations. There’s no way he’d sell. So, whoever lives here has to be a renter.”
“And how long since you believe the person in question has been home?” Mika asked, hoping to get a timeline.
“A week at least.”
“Is it possible the person works odd hours or is away on business and has someone checking on the animal?” Mika had to cover as many bases as possible while building a case.
Mrs. Lynn blew out a breath and tightened her grip on the robe. “I seriously doubt it. There’d be water somewhere and I don’t ever see any. My husband says he sometimes hears a vehicle in the middle of the night when he gets up to pee.”
Didn’t exactly rule out the chance she was mistaken.
“And, pardon my saying so,” she flashed her eyes at Mika before looking around like she half expected him to jump out from behind a bush any second and yell, Boo. “He gives me the creeps.”
Not exactly cause for arrest. “Why is that?”
“I don’t know. The way he never stops by or shows his face. It’s almost like he’s hiding something.” She shrugged.
“Some folks like their privacy,” Mika pointed out. She was playing devil’s advocate here. Looking around, she wouldn’t disagree this place was creepy.
“True. Me and my Buddy keep to ourselves mostly. But, you know, you give the occasional wave if you come across a neighbor driving down the same street. It’s common courtesy in these parts.” She said the words like everyone should know and be on board. Mika had grown up in a small town and she could attest to the fact Mrs. Lynn wasn’t exaggerating. It was part of small-town charm. Friendly waves. People who smiled when someone passed by. Not observing local culture didn’t make someone a criminal. Although, to be fair, it did make them suspect and an outsider. City folk?
“Is the person male or female, as best as you can tell?” Mika asked.
“Definitely male.” There seemed to be no question in the woman’s mind. Mika took note.
“How about the dog?” Mika asked.
“She’s a sweet girl.” She flashed her eyes. “Don’t get me wrong, she’ll bite in a heartbeat while protecting her territory. But she’s not bad to the bone.”
“What else can you tell me about her?”
“She seems friendly enough whenever I bring over food. I’m scared to death he’s going to catch me and I don’t stick around to see what happens. I drop the food and run.” Her pale blue eyes widened when she said, “Gives me the willies just being over here.”
Again, she glanced around, fidgeting with her robe and shifting her weight from left to right foot. Her actions were putting Mika on edge.
“Can you provide your landlord’s information?” Mrs. Lynn was proving a goldmine of information. Maybe this case would be more cut and dried than Mika first feared.
“Yes, ma’am. I have it right here.” She pulled her cell out of her front pocket and thumbed through her contacts, stopping on the name Elias Hunt. She held up the screen and Mika entered the information into her own cell. There was probably a way to hold the phones toward each other and make the transfer, but this was a new phone and Mika wasn’t the most tech savvy person on the planet.
She preferred a simple life with less gadgets. The thought of a simple life, considering her mother’s condition, would make her laugh if it was funny. Nope, her future was going to include doctor appointments and an uncertain future. How was that for funny?
Mika shook off her revelry. Time to focus on something she could help. The dog was going to get a better life, whether she knew it or not. Mika went to great lengths to make sure every dog that was confiscated found a forever home. It made the days at work longer and she used her days off to make calls, but seeing an animal that had been abused or neglected find a home, find people who would love and protect it, made every ounce of energy she put into the job worth it.
With her mom’s condition, though, Mika was going to have to shift her priorities. She glanced over at the animal. Not before she found her a home. Mika could still take care of this girl.
“Thank you,” she glanced up at Mrs. Lynn, who still had tears in her eyes. She seemed like a big-hearted person. One of the many reasons Mika loved small towns in Texas. Everyone should look after each other this way. Of course, there were always bad seeds, just like even the most well-tended and beautiful gardens had weeds. “Any idea what her name is?”
Mrs. Lynn shook her head. “I call her Sweetpea when I bring her food.”
“Does she growl at you?” Mika figured it didn’t hurt to ask.
“Sometimes. She seems protective of this…” Mrs. Lynn waved her arm in the air, “crap hole.” She flashed eyes at Mika. “Pardon my French.”
“No worries here.” Mika gave a half-hearted smile. “I’m known for saying much worse.”
That seemed to ease Mrs. Lynn’s fears that she’d overstepped her bounds.
“I just get frustrated, you know?”
“Yes, I do.” It was the whole reason Mika decided to do this job in the first place. Animals were so helpless. They were one hundred percent dependent on their people. Some didn’t take the responsibility seriously or, worse yet, got dogs for all the wrong reasons. The closest thing to God in Texas wasn’t family, it was football. The other thing Texans loved were their animals. In the case of the star lineman, the dogs came first.
She’d placed the sweetest bait dog in the care of a former U.S. Marine. He’d been injured, rehabbed, and came home with one robotic hand. Mika, who normally didn’t do tears, cried like a baby when she saw the instant bond between those two. It was the whole reason she gave up weekends, and now that part of her was going to have to be put on the backburner to care for her mother.
Without being able to follow a case all the way through and make a real difference, this job held little appeal. Without that, she would have more heartache than happiness. It was exactly what got her through seeing an animal, like this girl, chained to a tree with little to no human or other animal contact. In fact, in these parts, it could also mark her as easy prey to a coyote or bear despite her size.
Even from here, it was easy to see she was a substantial girl.
“You already mentioned her protectiveness. Has she ever tried to bite you?” Mika asked, figuring she’d gotten about as much as she could from Mrs. Lynn.
“Never stuck around long enough to find out.”
Those words weren’t exactly encouraging. Mika would start with food and water so she could get close enough to assess the dog’s threat.
“Well, I better get back across the street, unless you still need me.” Mrs. Lynn was surveying the area carefully. Strange, because at that moment, Mika felt the sensation of eyes on her again.
“No, ma’am. You’ve been very helpful already.”
The neighbor smiled before taking off, all the while looking around like she was a school kid trying to stay under the radar of the teacher while passing a note. Not exactly reassuring but Mika had that same creepy-crawly feeling from earlier. It was intensifying.
Now to see if Sweetpea was going to leave the easy way or the hard way. Mika had already filled out the form that needed to be taped to the window. She retrieved it from the vehicle and walked to the front door. Instead of removing the notice she’d place on there three days ago, she added today’s notice to the window. She wished she could have gotten back here sooner. She was in the clear to seize the animal.
Looking around at Sweetpea’s living conditions, once again Mika had to remind herself of the good that was coming for her. This was the low point. Never again would she be subject to this kind of neglect even if Mika had to take her in herself.
“Hey, sweet girl.” Mika took the couple of steps toward the tree.
The animal moved. Nose wrinkled, ears back, and hackles raised, were signs of fearful aggression. And then she lunged. Mika fumbled back a couple of steps. The smell of fire wafted over her. Was it burning trash day?
