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Kent mounted quickly, both trying to shake off the feeling like he’d been mildly and pleasantly shocked and trying to hold on to it all the same. Whatever was happening to him was the opposite of scientific. It was pure madness. He flipped the reins over the pommel and quickly mounted.
If what he felt was madness, it was nothing compared to what they were walking into. “Have you any thought as to how we’ll get any information? They may or may not give me anything. Not only do I look like someone has splattered me with acid, I’m the animal doctor and they could assume that I’m there to blame them for something.”
“True,” she said and continued to ride. “I’ll need time to think. They may let me in, since I’m merely a woman, but I have my doubts they would tell me anything for the same reason.”
“If we’re unable to find anything, do we have a reason for risking life and limb?” He rode up alongside her and she halted, reaching over, and gripping his reins.
“Look.” She angled her head toward the man on the horse, guarding the road ahead. “We won’t get past him to see what’s inside the plant. That’s true. But we might be able to catch a glimpse of the river right next to the plant. We might be able to get a sample there, which would tell the doctor more.”
“Or it would eliminate this as a possibility.” He felt the need to point out. Hopefully, there was nothing going on here because if a large swath of the town men lost their jobs because the plant was closed, they might take their anger out on her.
“True. Dr. Spight said that eliminating false assumptions was just as important as finding new questions. I guess truth is eliminating all that is not true until you’re left with what is.”
He gently removed her hold on his reins and turned his horse to the west to go around the plant and come around on the back side. Hopefully, there wouldn’t be anyone on that side. If there was, they’d have to cross the river and come in that way.
The guard eyed them, lifting his gun slightly as they neared him. Alice waved slightly. “Good afternoon.”
Kent didn’t expect the man to reply, but his sudden grunt seemed to start his voice. “Is it?” He glanced around. “Good day for you all to get a move on. This is private property.”
“I’m so sorry. We didn’t mean to pester anyone. There is just such a pretty view of the river just over there.” She delicately pointed toward the plant.
The guard laughed. “Pretty? I don’t know what you think you’re going to see, but the heat from the plant pert-near burned all the grass within ten feet of where it spills out into the river. It ain’t pretty. You ain’t missing anything. Now, go on. You’ll get me in trouble if you linger.”
If he’d known the man, he could’ve asked more questions, but the guard wasn’t from Belle Fourche. “Come, Alice. Let’s be on our way.”
She cast a bright smile at him that didn’t quite seem real and they rode past the man until the next bend in the road. “Now, we’ll have to go around this way and double back closer. I’m sure he didn’t mean to pique my interest with what he said, but if the plant has killed all the grass, what else is it doing to the water?”
“You seem to have this all decided. You can’t do that.” He’d kept from touching her until that point, but he risked it now, laying a hand to her arm gently. “Just like if I’d immediately assumed the problem with your sheep was completely different from that of my cattle, just because they were different animals.”
Her mouth dropped open. “It is possible, I suppose.”
“It is, but unlikely. They both have similar symptoms, though we haven’t had any loss yet. I’m sorry.” He hadn’t offered any consolation for the loss since they’d had their argument then. He couldn’t help but think the same fate was coming for the Douglas herd. A few head of cattle had looked very weak when he’d left that morning and he was helpless to do anything for them.
“Thank you. I hope you don’t have any. Sheep are smaller. Perhaps they are less resilient and you won’t have to lose any cattle. Your father will not deal with it well if it happens.”
He had to agree. He dismounted and led both horses along the rough terrain around the outer edge of the property owned by the plant. They’d marked it well with signs, stating people should keep out or face arrest.
“I don’t suppose Blake will be too keen to arrest me,” Alice mumbled.
“At least he’s your brother-in-law. I’ve got no relation to lessen the sting.”
She chuckled quietly. “I think you’ll have to trust me when I tell you that since Hannah married Blake, they have expected us to follow rules we didn’t know existed to make sure he and everyone he is connected to is above reproach. You will get off easier than I.”
That wasn’t something he wanted to worry about for either of them, so he’d make certain they caught neither of them. “Do you hear that?” he whispered. The silence was so strange. Only the sound of water trickling and grass rustling broke the silence. No birds calling or the quiet rustle of a flowing river. This was water pouring, not flowing.
“Where is it coming from?” She craned her neck to see further, then sunk back down, gripping the pommel. “There’s someone up there.”
He had her out of the saddle before she could ask and kept her firmly behind him. If anyone got shot on this mission, it would be him. He led them away from the man and further down the river.
“I don’t want to get too far away.” She pointed to her watch necklace. “I’m down to one hour.” She held up a single narrow finger to enunciate their lack of time.
Kent found a large rock near the path and picked it up, then tossed it to the man’s right. He sprinted off, leaving the path to the edge of the river open. “We’ll have to follow the river on this side back toward town or we’ll risk being seen. He won’t fall for that trick again.”
She frowned. “You’d think they’d be used to the sound of animals. Your rock didn’t sound like a person at all.” She ducked low, so the grass hid her, but there was no way to hide the horses. They’d have to hurry.
He tugged the reins until they came alongside the river. It was wide in that area, forming a natural pool. “It’s oily.” Alice’s lip curled in disgust. “Do you see that shine when the sun hits it? Just like bacon grease in a hot pan.”
Her words reminded him of what the man on the other side of the river had said. He made sure no one was looking, then crouched next to the almost stagnant water and stroked his finger through it. The temperature was like that of bathwater left out in a washtub all day. The river near the Douglas ranch stayed cool and fresh.
