Josh ignored a trickle of irritation. “I’ve never seen any of them before. You had complaints from anyone else?”
“No, just you.” The sheriff lifted his tan cowboy hat and scratched his head, settled the hat back in place, and tugged down the brim. “Seems like trouble has a habit of following you around, don’t it?”
Josh said nothing. From the corner of his eye, he saw Tory at the kitchen window, listening to the conversation.
“You’ll need to come down to the office and file a complaint,” the sheriff said. “Give us some kinda description.”
“All right.”
Howler stared off toward the dark red, newly constructed barn. “You know, Randy Stevens confessed to burnin’ down your barn. Jim brought the boy in hisself. Randy’s doin’ community service.”
Should have been a whole lot more as far as Josh was concerned, but it was better than letting the kid skate completely.
“His dad’s a good man,” Josh said.
“That he is.” Howler turned toward the smashed cold box, the pieces of red plastic scattered all over the ground. “I’ll keep an eye out. If I hear anything about these hombres, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks. I’ll be in town tomorrow. I’ll stop by your office and file that complaint.”
The sheriff nodded. Tugging on the brim of his hat, he stepped off the porch and walked back to his pickup. Tory came out of the house as the truck drove away.
“I heard what he said. Looks like we’re the only ones they’ve bothered. I wonder why that is.”
She was standing just a few feet away. Josh couldn’t help thinking how pretty she looked in the morning, with her fiery curls and peaches-and-cream complexion. He ignored an itch to have her that was becoming way too strong.
“Linc and Carly stayed the night at Blackland Ranch. I talked to Linc earlier, asked him to see if he could set up a meet with Tag Joyner. Tag’s president of the Asphalt Demons. Linc called back. Tag’s meeting my brother and me at Jubal’s Roadhouse tonight.”
He smiled down at her. “You feel like a night on the town?”
Her big green eyes widened, but he saw none of the apprehension that had been there after she’d roused him from the dream.
“That sounds like fun,” she said. “I’ll talk to Mrs. Thompson when I pick up Ivy, see if she’ll babysit tonight.”
“Roadhouse isn’t much, but you’ve been cooped up on the ranch awhile. I figure any place is bound to look good.”
“There is that. I hope Tag Joyner can help us.”
Josh looked at the destruction around him. “Yeah, so do I.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jubal’s Roadhouse turned out to be a wood-frame building outside the Iron Springs city limits. With its false front, wooden boardwalk, and double swinging doors, Tory thought it looked like something out of the eighteen sixties.
Spotting a row of motorcycles parked in a line out front, she caught Josh’s arm.
“It’s okay,” he said. “Those belong to the Demons. The black Harley with the silver conchos on the seat is Linc’s.”
Tory glanced up. “Seriously?”
Josh grinned. “Yeah. He and Carly rode over from the ranch.”
She had to admit she was impressed. It occurred to her that if Carly could ride a hot-looking Harley, she was ready to do more than walk and trot Rosebud around the pasture.
For years, she’d run a top-notch advertising team for one of the largest, most successful firms in Phoenix, earning a fat salary in the process. But something as simple as riding still remained a challenge.
A challenge she was enjoying and mastering a little more every day. Expanding her abilities felt good.
They pushed through the swinging doors together and stopped just inside. A jukebox played Willie Nelson, and peanut shells littered the floor. A long wooden bar stretched in front of them and the clack of pool balls resonated from the back.
