Shifting Calder Wind by Janet Dailey

his gaze making a slashing survey of the area outside the pickup.
    “That was my horse,” Jessy said in quick assurance. “I picketed him in the hollow beyond the tree.”
    “You rode here?” Laredo questioned in surprise. “Why?”
    “I didn’t want to take the chance someone would drive by and see a Triple C pickup parked around here. Nothing would start the rumor mill buzzing quicker.” That thought triggered another. “It will take me close to an hour to ride back to where I left the truck and trailer parked. If I try to take you to the line shack this afternoon, there won’t be much daylight left by the time we get there. Do you have a place you can stay tonight?”
    “We have a couple motel rooms in Miles City,” Laredo answered. “We left Hattie there to do our laundry.”
    “That settles it then. We’ll rendezvous back here tomorrow morning.” Jessy paused to consider the drive they would have to make from Miles City. “Would nine o’clock be too early?”
    “We can make it.” Chase didn’t hesitate.
    A lazy smile curved Laredo’s mouth. “I think he’s tired of being snuck in and out of motel rooms.”
    “I don’t blame him.” There was empathy in the look Jessy gave Chase. Then the practical side of her surfaced. “If there is nothing else, I need to start back. We all have a lot to do before tomorrow morning.”
    She was halfway out of the truck when Chase stopped her. “Before you go, I have a question to ask you. What was I doing in Texas? Why did I go there?”
    “You said you had a meeting with somebody named Brewster. Tom Brewster, I think it was.” Her recollection of the man’s first name was hazy.
    “Who is Brewster? What does he do?”
    “To be honest, I don’t know,” Jessy admitted. “To the best of my knowledge, the ranch has never had any dealings with him in the past. In some way he’s involved with cattle, but I don’t know if he’s a buyer, a rancher, a broker or what.”
    “Didn’t I tell you why I was going to see him?” Chase probed.
    “Just that you wanted to talk to him about some cattle.”
    “Am I usually that vague?” Chase frowned in skepticism.
    “No,” Jessy admitted with a slight smile. “But you also told me that being away for a few days would give me an opportunity to run the ranch on my own. I thought that was probably your main reason for going to Texas. I know you didn’t give me the impression the trip was of any great importance. I wish now I had asked more questions,” she said with regret.
    “Maybe the trip was an excuse to be gone.” Chase was forced to concede that possibility. “But until we can be certain of that, see what you can find out about this man Brewster.” The minute the words were out of his mouth, he withdrew them. “No, we don’t want to tip our hand in case he is an important connection. So don’t ask questions about him, but see if I wrote his address or phone number down somewhere. If I did, get that information to me. In the meantime I’ll figure out the best way to handle it.”
    “It’s logical that Chase would have called him from the hotel,” Laredo inserted. “Look through the room charges and write down any phone numbers that you don’t recognize.”
    “Logan took care of your bill while they were in Fort Worth. I’m almost positive he gave me the itemized receipt. I’ll see what I can find,” Jessy promised. “Anything else?”
    “For now, only one. I’ll need some cash,” Chase told her. “I don’t have a cent on me. I’m not sure exactly how much I owe Laredo and Hattie already, but it’s adding up every day.”
    “I’ll bring some money for you tomorrow.” Jessy swung to the ground and retrieved her rifle, then turned back to them, unusually solemn. “I’ll meet you here at nine tomorrow. Be careful.”
    “You can count on it.” Chase pulled the passenger door shut. In silence, they swung out of the old cemetery. Not until they were on the road toward Blue Moon did