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“Harlan and I will help you finish, and then I’m taking you with me.” I turned to Billy: “Watch the laneway from inside the house.”

“Copy.”

“I don’t know your boy, Travis.” Her voice softened a little. “Nice to meet you, Harlan.”

“Same,” said Harlan.

We rushed through the rest of the feeding and cleaning out and as soon as we were done, Harlan took Max and Sarge and went to the house to stay with Billy, and I drove Hannah home to my ranch.

I stopped long enough to introduce her to the girls and then I had to get to the station to pick up Ted Wallace.

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

I parked at the back of the building and rushed in alone. No Harlan and no dogs.

“What’s going on, Travis? Where are Max and Sarge?”

“I left them at Hannah Hargrove’s ranch with Billy and Harlan, Molly.” I gave her the capsule version while I took Ted into the office and swore him in. From the bottom drawer of the desk, I gave him a badge and a gun.

“Wish I had time for some training this morning, Ted, but I don’t, and neither do you.”

“I heard you telling Molly what was happening with the horse thieves. They gonna steal Hannah Hargrove’s horses today? How do you know?”

“Late night surveillance at Mother Hubbard’s trailer.” I took a set of keys off the rack in the office. “We’re gonna need both squads if we have three prisoners to transport.” I handed him the keys. “Let’s go.”

“Be careful,” called Molly. “That bunch are killers.”

“Where are the dogs? Did you say?”

“With Billy. He’s watching the Hargrove ranch.”

“Right,” said Ted. “You’re on top of this already. You were putting things in motion before I was even out of bed.”

“Can you shoot that gun I gave you? We need a session at the range, but we can’t do it today.”

“I’m better with a hunting rifle or a shotgun, but I’ll be okay. I’m not too bad with a pistol.”

“What did Peterson say about you leaving?”

“Nothing. I said you hired me on as a deputy and nothing much he could say.” Ted grinned. “I like my new desk. Only got to sit in it for a minute.”

“You can sit in it later and enjoy it. Follow me to Hannah’s ranch.”

“Right behind you, Travis.”

Hargrove Ranch.

I turned the Bronco into Hannah’s laneway with Ted on my tail, and up ahead I could see that back end of a dark blue horse trailer. “The bastards are here already,” I mumbled to myself.

Slamming my boot down on the gas, I pulled in behind the rig just as the third guy was jumping out of the pickup.

I hopped out of the squad and reached under the seat for my shotgun. Not taking any chances of missing with a fucking handgun.

As I ran towards the thieves, I could see Billy on Hannah’s porch and Harlan running towards Hubbard with the dogs behind him.

“Down on your knees. Hands on your heads. All of you.” I waved Harlan to get back.

“You ain’t taking us, Sheriff. No way you can take three of us at the same time.”