Marjorie Thelen: High Desert Detective

Sammie said, “I think she would. The Tillie I saw today was more desperate than she has ever been. Much more desperate. I saw Rosemary and Esme in town today while I was waiting for Opal. They said they’d been over to Tillie and Howie’s ranch, and it is more run down than ever. They aren’t taking care of it. Rosemary said there wasn’t a cow on the place.”

Jake said, “It is unfortunate for them, but I am glad Opal said what she did.”

“Where do you think she is going to set this range fire?” Sammie asked.

Jake rubbed his chin. “The driest part of the ranch is up on that windy ridge. Set a fire up there and with a good westerly wind, it will sweep down the ridge toward the ranch buildings. I’ll clear a fire break around that side of the buildings. That should protect the house and out buildings. I’ll clear a break on the west side of the pivots also. If things get bad, I can turn on the irrigation pivots so the alfalfa doesn’t burn although that will ruin the alfalfa that is down. That’s a chance I’ll have to take if it comes to that. If the fire is too hot, it will burn everything. If the wind changes, and they set a fire on a different side, we are out of luck, dry as it is.”

Fiona slid her hand through his arm. “Do you really think it will come to this?”

Jake shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’m going to be prepared.” He rose. “I’m going out and get the boys working on the fire break. They aren’t going to like working all night but I have this feeling that she’ll make her next move pretty soon. I’d like you ladies each to pack an emergency bag with things you might need if we have to leave in a hurry. Sammie, can you pack one for Opal? She’s going to need her medications. Where’s Olympia? Does anyone know?”

“She’s writing in her room,” said Fiona. “She’s been at it all day. When she gets like this she doesn’t stop.”

“Tell her to be ready. Park the rigs to the front of the house so they don’t get trapped in the back.” He looked around. “There’s a fire safe in the office. We’ll put important papers we don’t take with us in there. Opal can help with that.”

He pulled Fiona into a one arm hug and kissed her. “Take this seriously,” he said. “People have been known to set fires around here. There might be more cattle stealing, although I have a theory about that.”

“What?” said Fiona, pulling back to look at him.

“I think the rustlers were using Lovejoy’s ranch to launder cows, so to speak. I think the new equipment in there was some they might have stolen. When we showed up and the old man put the house up for sale, they cleared out. So the question is where did they go? Maybe Reese could tell us.”

Sammie said, “I’ll see what I can find out about Reese by making a few discreet inquiries with my relations. I thought he was long gone, so it was a surprise when his name came up. I’ll call Doc. He’s a good place to start. Jake, you don’t think the cattle rustling is over?”

“Not over, just on hold till they find a new base of operation. But if I’m right that they were using Lovejoy’s place that was pretty clever operating right under everyone’s noses.” He turned to Fiona. “Keep in touch with me by phone. If either of you sees or hears anything that isn’t quite right, call me immediately, okay?”

Both women nodded their heads, and he strode away into the dusk.

Fiona looked at Sammie.

“I’m scared,” said Sammie. “Are you scared?”

“I think I am, but let’s get busy and do what Jake asks. That will take our minds off our fears. If nothing comes of it all the better, but at least we will be ready in case of any emergency. I’ll talk to Olympia.”

“I’ll see if Opal is awake. I’ll help her.”

“Right. Let’s try not to sound too alarming.”

Fiona hurried down the hall toward Olympia’s room. Was Jake being too hasty? She thought not. After the confrontation with Tillie up on the ridge and then hearing about Tillie resurfacing again this afternoon, she was of the same opinion as Jake. Tillie was going to stop at nothing to get them off the ranch. She wondered about Reese. He was on the list of suspects. They might not have to look for him. He might show his hand now that Tillie had exposed him.

Olympia’s door was closed. Fiona tapped lightly. When Olympia didn’t answer, she knocked louder and eased open the door. Olympia was frenetically typing away at her computer. It looked like she hadn’t moved from the spot since Fiona left her that morning. Her hair stood at odd angles from her head like she had been pulling on it. Her glasses were askew, and remnants of food, candy wrappers, and coffee cups littered the table top where she had parked her computer.

She looked up. “What?”

Fiona walked over to the table and leaned over to see what she was writing.

Olympia covered the screen. “Don’t look. I never let anyone see my first draft. Now what is it?”

“You’ve been holed up in here all day.”

“No, I haven’t. I’ve left to find sustenance.”

“I can see that. However, we have an emergency.” Fiona quickly ran through the day’s events before Olympia had a chance to shut her up.

Olympia frowned. “I did say if it involved fire you could bother me.” She hurriedly typed in something then smiled up at Fiona. “I was just making a plot note to myself. This new development will make an excellent plot point for my story.”

As gently as possible, Fiona said, “You need to be ready to leave in about five minutes, if Jake sounds the retreat. I don’t mean to alarm you, but that is the sad fact. We don’t know what will happen, but we need to be ready. This is a precaution, nothing may come of it.”

Olympia cast a quick glance around the room. “I can throw all of my clothes in the suitcase in five minutes, grab my computer and be off.”

“Where is your Range Rover parked?”

Olympia frowned. “I forgot about it. Paul dropped me off and took it to Nevada.”

“You’re a trusting soul.”

“It won’t be the first mistake in my life if he doesn’t return for me. But I think he will.” She smiled. “I think he kind of likes me. Now I know you are in crisis mode. You get ready. I’ll be working here. Just sound the alarm if I have to leave. Give me those five minutes. Will I fit in your truck?”

“You will. We can throw everything in the bed of the truck and be gone. I’ll keep you apprised. Are you going to work through the night?”

“Sometimes I do. I don’t know. It will depend upon how long the muse stays with me.” She turned back to the computer.

“You’re going to go blind.”

“I haven’t yet. But what a way to go.” And she began typing again.

Fiona smiled and shook her head. Olympia was one of a kind. As she left, she said, “I’m going to leave the door open so we can check on you without disturbing you, okay?”

Olympia barely nodded. She was lost in her story again.

Fiona’s next stop was the guest room she was using. She didn’t have much to pack either. She had hardly unpacked. Her attire since she arrived had been mostly jeans or sweats. She quickly figured out what she would do and arranged her roll-on suitcase on the bed. All she had to do was pull her hanging clothes from the closet, gather her toiletries and bag them. Her computer was already in its case. She gazed at the bed. She had been looking forward to another night with Jake in his big bed, but it didn’t look like that would happen. One could always hope.

She looked out the window at the darkening sky, and the soothing colors of the sunset. She couldn’t deny her heart. She was in love with Jake. She didn’t know when it had happened, but last night had clinched the deal. With his body he had shown her how much he cared for her. Surprising herself, she had done the same. There was no lingering doubt in her mind. What Lauren had said didn’t ring true. What Tillie had said about Jake’s ex-wife going after him didn’t either.