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PART FOUR

A shifting wind

Blows soft and cool,

And once again

A Calder rules.

Epilogue

The horse herd swept over a rise in the plains, their summer-sleek coats rippling with muscle in the morning sunshine. With Hattie at his side, Chase sat atop the fence, the heels of his boots hooked on a lower rail. On either side of them was a twin.

“Here they come, Grampa!” Too excited to be satisfied straddling the top rail, Trey stood up to point at the approaching herd.

“I see them.” It was something Chase had witnessed endless times in his life, but it was new to these three, allowing him to enjoy the spectacle through their eyes.

“Look at all the colors, Grampa,” Laura marveled, staring wide-eyed at the glistening mix of sorrels, bays, grays, and buckskins.

“What a sight,” Hattie exclaimed as the drumbeat of their hooves reached them, the sound of it like a low roll of thunder. “I’m glad you insisted I come watch.”

His side glance moved over her with intimate warmth. “I never intended for you to spend all your time in the kitchen when I suggested that you do the cooking at The Homestead.”

“What are you gonna do with all them horses, Grampa?” Laura frowned curiously as the herd swept toward the open gates to the big pen, accompanied by a quartet of riders.

“Roundup time is just around the corner. We’ll need the extra horses to fill out each rider’s string.” But his answer sailed over her head, requiring a further explanation.

By the time he finished, the last of the horses had trotted into the pen and the gates were swung shut. Two of the outriders peeled away from the gates and rode over to join them.

“Hi, Mom. Hi, ’Redo.” Trey rushed the greeting. “Next time can I help get the horses? Me an’ Joe, we could do it.”

“We’ll see,” Jessy replied.

Trey took it as a “yes.” “Yippee!” he shouted and launched himself off the fence. “Come on, Laura. Let’s go look at the horses.”

Hattie watched the pair race to the big pen. “Oh, to have that much energy again.”

“Getting to be a dim memory, is it?” Laredo teased, but his expression was much more serious when he directed his attention to Chase. “I saw Logan pull in earlier. What did he want?”

“He stopped by to give me an update on what they have learned so far about the scope of Markham’s operation.” The news of Monte’s death had caused an initial flurry of headlines that had died within a few days. The ongoing investigation into his activities had garnered little media attention, but the ramifications of it were proving to be far-reaching. “The numbers they have right now indicate that Markham supposedly sold close to one hundred and fifty thousand head of cattle. So far they have located about thirty thousand. Which leaves over a hundred thousand head missing, at a value of roughly fifty million dollars. And that might be just the tip of the horn.”

Laredo whistled softly when he heard the dollar figure. “No wonder he was so anxious to shut you up.”

“What made him think he could get away with it?” That was the part Jessy didn’t understand.

“He’s been at it for at least the last seven years without anyone getting suspicious,” Chase replied. “Maybe even longer than that.”

“What about the shooting? Has anyone questioned it?” Laredo asked with a certain wariness.

Only three people knew the exact circumstances—Logan, Chase, and Laredo. And that was the way Chase wanted it to stay. “Anytime an officer is involved in a shooting there is always an investigation. Logan explained what happened and the evidence bears him out.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

Jessy was too wise in the ways of a Calder not to read between the lines and guess at the real story. But she was also wise enough not to ask. She understood that it wasn’t necessary for her to know the true facts.

“Then it’s finally over, isn’t it?” Jessy said.

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