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“Nobody’s going to shoot us,” she said to Martin. Then she looked at Craig. “Do you want me to try to get you off this team? I would be happy to do that for you.”
He narrowed his eyes and didn’t answer. She took that as a no. She looked at Martin. “I don’t know how much you’ve brushed up on your toad knowledge, but you’ll need to wear neutral colors.”
He nodded. “I have camo.”
“Perfect.” She started to slide out of the booth. “I’m going back to the phone.” She was excited to call Holden. “Keep your phones on and try to be ready to go. I’ll give you more info as soon as I have it.”
She dropped a ten on the table and walked away. She heard Craig mumble something. It was probably about her, and she worked not to wonder what he’d said.
She hurried back to her room and called Holden. Of course he didn’t answer. It was morning, and she knew the Bannon ranch was well beyond busy in the morning. She texted him a request to call her as soon as he could.
That only turned out to be an hour later, and he sounded worried.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” she said, and then explained the situation.
“Oh, I thought it was an emergency.”
“It is for the toad.”
Holden laughed. “I know just the guy.”
Relief flooded through her. “Who?”
“Tucker Bridge. He lives in West Hope, but he often guides hunts in the Black Hills. It’s one of his sweet spots.”
Her stomach sank at the sound of the name. “Someone said something to make me think that he might not be the best choice.”
“Why?”
She didn’t know the answer to that.
“He’s not the friendliest guy in the world, but he’ll be able to help. I don’t know if he’ll bewillingto help, but he’ll be able. Do you want me to give him a ring for you?”
No, she wasn’t going to let Holden do her job for her. “No, thank you.”
They chatted for another minute, and then she punched off.
She looked up Tucker Bridge to find he had the best website of any outfitter she’d seen thus far. That was a good sign. Maybe he was a real professional. And he even answered the phone, but he didn’t sound happy. “I heard you might be calling.”
She gave him some details and then asked if he’d be interested in guiding her team.
“Do you plan to shut down the Black Hills for hunting season?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I’m hoping that we find the toad and that we find lots of them, so that we don’t have to close off much land.”
“So you’re on the hunters’ side here?” He sounded surprised.
“I’m not on anyone’s side.” Well, maybe she was on the toad’s, but she didn’t want to say that. “I have a job to do, and this species might be endangered. That is my first priority, but yes, I grew up in Pine Ridge, so I’m sympathetic to the needs of the hunters.”
He hesitated for so long that she checked the screen of her phone to see if the call had been dropped. “And if we haven’t found it before hunting season starts?”
“Again, I don’t know. I’m not in charge here.”
“I’ll help you, but not because I want to. It sounds like the best thing I can do for hunting season is to help you find this toad.”
“I think you’re right.”
She asked him questions about equipment, and he had lots to offer. She was impressed. But he didn’t have the lights she needed. She would have to do some quick shopping today.
