Page 49 of September’s Cowboy Travis

“I know.” Morgan laughed. “I'm not asking you to do anything. I just thought you'd want to know.”

I did. That was irritating. “What does it say?”

“Not enough yet. There are Hale references in an old livestock ledger that overlaps some of the Cedar Draw entries.” She tucked the folder under her arm. “I'm going to dig into it.”

I glanced across the street. Beau was leading one of the Clydesdales toward the trailer while Travis followed with the other.

Livestock… Hale… That could become somebody else's problem.

“Good luck,” I said.

Morgan narrowed her eyes. “You sound pretty pleased to say that.”

“I am.”

“Can I call if I need your opinion on something?”

“You know you can.” I shook my head. She’d drag me into this one way or another.

“Thanks. I’ll reach out when I need you.” She smiled again, then headed back toward City Hall.

I joined Travis and Beau near the trailer.

“Everything okay?” Travis asked.

“Morgan found another Hale reference in some livestock records.”

He groaned. “You working again?”

“No.”

Beau looked between us. “Hale?”

“It’s a long story,” Travis said.

Beau glanced toward Morgan as she disappeared inside City Hall. “What kind of livestock records?”

“Old ones,” I said. “Possibly tied to some of the Cedar Draw accounts.”

He rested one hand on the trailer door. “Cattle?”

“Morgan isn’t sure yet.”

“Could be horses,” Travis said. “Cedar Draw moved more than cattle.”

Beau looked back toward City Hall, his expression thoughtful. “I've got some old sale and trade ledgers at the barn. Never had much reason to look through them.”

That got my attention. “How old?”

“Old enough that half the handwriting looks like it was done from horseback.”

Travis laughed. “Sounds useful.”

“Sounds like Morgan's problem,” I said.

Beau gave me a look. “You sure you're done with all this?”

“Completely.”