Dammit. “Well,” Arden started.
Kyle set his phone on the desk, open to one of the photos he’d just taken. “I realize this isn’t much to go on, but that’s Muir’s bootprint from your parking lot. You can clearly see the tread in this photo. Scroll through to the earlier photos and compare that one to the tracks I photographed last night around the barn and down Arden’s driveway. You’ll see they match. Muir’s been menacing Arden now for a long time, trying to get her to sell her ranch but she won’t budge. That’s his motive. I believe he was looking to sabotage her business by letting the horses free in the face of a storm. He was stopped by a mountain lion.”
George let out a surprised laugh. “You don’t say? That old boy’s been roaming the area. I’ve had complaints about that cat for a week now.” He rubbed his chin. “Wouldn’t surprise me Muir knew about it too.” He picked up Kyle’s phone and scrolled. “Yup, there’s his pawprints.” He shook his head. “Woulda been bad business if that lion got to the horses.”
“He very nearly did, George. Hell, he almost gotme,” Arden said. “But if Muir had set the horses free…” She shuddered at the thought. “Do the bootprints match?” At this point, Arden was backing Kyle one-hundred percent. She really did believe that Rick the Dick was fucking around on her ranch.
“The bootprints from last night aren’t as crisp as today’s,” the sergeant said. “Might be the same boots, might not be. But, I can see similarities.” He sighed and fixed them with his stare. “If I didn’t know Mr. Muir, I’d say you didn’t have much of a case. But I do have the displeasure of knowing Mr. Muir, and just between you and me, I wouldn’t doubt he was up sniffing around your barn looking to make some trouble. But the problem is, you’re not bringing me anything solid enough to take action. You understand the situation I’m in.”
Arden sighed. “Unfortunately, yes.”
“That’s theofficialsituation,” George added. “I’ll be keeping an eye on him for you though. I’m just sorry the two of you decided to come in when you did. Bad luck is all.” He tapped the restraining order. “I figured it was gonna take me a couple three days to get up to the ranch, Arden. You know, with the weather and all. Lots of accidents on the road taking priority, hard to get up to your place too. Low priority threat.” He grinned.
Arden smiled. “I do appreciate that, George.”
“Unfortunately, with y’all right here in front of me and Mr. Muir as a witness to that, I’m afraid you’re gonna have to consider yourself served, Mr. McGuire.”
“I understand,” Kyle said as he picked up the order.
“However, like I said I’m going to be pretty damn busy around here with the weather being what it is to answer any calls Mr. Muir might make. So, I will file your complaint, Arden. If Mr. McGuire here will be kind enough to forward me those photos, I’ll add them to the report.” He slid a business card with his contact information across the desk. “Now, don’tyouhesitate to call me if needed.” He winked at Arden.
The sergeant stood up and they stood along with him. “As for you, Kyle, I do suggest you keep a low profile around Mr. Muir. I’ve met men like him, and I hesitate to call him a man. But he’s got some power behind him, and so I have to at least humor his request. He’s not one to tangle with…directly. You might stand a better chance against that old mountain lion. I think you know what I’m saying though. You look out for little Ardie here.”
“Oh, God,really, George?” Arden laughed. At one time, George, Walter, and Dr. Volker had been Poker buddies and they never forgot her dad’s nickname for her.
Kyle gave the sergeant a tight smile. “Yes sir, I do know what you’re saying, and protecting Arden is my highest priority. And I do appreciate your understanding.” The men shook hands.
George nodded. “Now that that’s done, I suggest we all go on our way. Clouds are rolling in, and my wife is back home baking cookies. I’m a cookies man.” He nodded solemnly.
Arden grinned. “Well, I make some pretty mean cookies too, probably nothing compared to Cynthia’s. But, I might just have a few extra that I can run on back down to town once the weather is better.”
“Merry Christmas y’all,” the sergeant said as he walked them to the front.
“Happy New Year,” Arden replied.
The sergeant stopped short of the front door. “Great-looking dog by the way,” he said. “Unusual coat on him. What’s his name again?”
“Camo,” Kyle said. “Named for his coat. He’s a chimera, two dogs in one.”
“You don’t say? Is it okay if I pet your weaponized animal?” The sarcasm dripped heavily from the last two words.
“Absolutely, sir. Camo, sit.”
The sergeant ruffled Camo’s ears. “Yep, great-looking dog. I know all about military dogs, and they are the best. Worked with them in law enforcement.” He straightened and added, “I also could not fail to note that Camo took an immediate dislike to Muir the moment he got a whiff of the man. You didn’t happen to put him on the scent of whoever left those tracks last night, did you?”
“Matter of fact, I did, sir,” Kyle answered.
“Think I might just put that in the report too.”
As George held the door open, he patted Arden on the shoulder. “I’m sorry about everything that’s happening to you, girl. You let me and Cyn know if there’s anything else we can do.”
Arden’s stomach lurched as her heart squeezed. Gratitude filled her, even if she didn’t want to think about the hurts of the past year. About everything she’d lost and was still losing.
“Thank you,” she managed without her voice breaking. “Give Cynthia a hug for me.”
* * *
They rode back just ahead of the storm. Once they got back to the ranch, Arden checked on the steaks she’d left to thaw in the refrigerator. They were just about perfect. Those along with a couple of baked potatoes and an apple pie would make an amazing Christmas Eve dinner.
