“But the barn is safe! I made her a bed and she had food and she likes me.”
“Yes, she does.”
“Wehaveto find her.”
He was on the verge of tears, and Ellen worried that if he found Cleo, she might not be alive. She didn’t want him to be alone if that happened.
“I have work to do here, but I was going to send Avery to check on the Mendozas and see if they need help with the sheep. Maybe Cleo went over there.”
“They’re almost a mile away.”
“But remember that old barn? Where they used to store theirequipment? If she got scared, that would be a good place for her to hide, it’s dry and quiet.”
“Our barn is dry.” Bobby pouted.
“Take a cage. If you can find her, try to get her into the cage and bring her back. I’ll look around here as I’m working.”
He looked at her hopefully. “You will?”
“Of course.”
“Can we go right now?”
“Ask Grandma if Mrs. Mendoza called back. If she hasn’t, you and Avery can head over there—take the ATVs and a radio. Be back before two, I want you both home before the rain starts.”
He jumped up. “Okay, Mom! Thanks!”
He ran toward the house and as the screen slammed behind him, she heard, “Grandma! Grandma! Did Mrs. Mendoza call?”
Ellen really hoped and prayed the cat was okay. Bobby was a tough kid, but when it came to animals, he felt deep empathy when they suffered. Her eyes burned thinking about what might have happened to the poor stray… and how Bobby might react.
Life and death were part of living on a ranch. She knew it, and ten-year-old Bobby knew it. But that didn’t always make it easier.
It took less than ten minutes for Bobby to get Avery moving. Ellen reminded them about the roads and weather and made sure the radios were charged. As she watched them ride the ATVs on the long dirt driveway toward the gravel road, she wondered if maybe she should have gone with them. No, they were fine, she told herself. Avery was responsible, and Bobby would listen to her.
The house phone rang. A moment later, Penny called out, “Ellen! It’s Jake.”
She went inside and picked up the phone. “Done with the run-in?”
“Mom, Greg Baldwin was robbed last night. He was shot—they’re bringing in a life-line helicopter right now.”
She froze. “Greg? What? How?” A million questions cluttered her mind.
“I found Timber in the field halfway between Baldwin’s house and the run-in.”
“Oh my God, is he—?”
“He’s injured. I’m going to borrow Baldwin’s ATV and a trailer and take him to Uncle Travis. We should be able to remove the buckshot in his leg and bandage him up sufficiently until we can get him to a vet. I called Dr. Jim, but he won’t be able to get here in time. Said I could call him and he’d walk me and Uncle Travis through any problems, but I think it’s going to be straightforward, and Uncle Travis has some experience.”
Ellen’s head was spinning at the information. The poor dog… poor Greg. “Someone shot both Greg and Timber? You’re sure?”
“Positive. Sheriff Perez is here. He wants to talk to you. Mateo fixed the run-in; says it’ll weather the storm. He’s going to bring my horse home when we’re done here.”
A second later, Rick Perez got on the phone. “Ellie?”
“My God, Rick, what happened?”
“Don’t know yet. But this isn’t the first robbery in the area. Two folks over in Grayson County had something similar happen, but no one was home.”
