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I pulled up in front of the house and parked.

“Your house is big.”

“Yep. A big, old ranch house. Belonged to my uncle and I bought the ranch from him.”

We went inside and I carried Tammy’s bag of clothes and showed her the room I had ready for her. The small bedroom at the back of the house. Close to the bathroom and close enough for me to keep an eye on her and hear anything if Garrison actually showed up to grab her.

“This is your room and it’s close to mine if you need me.”

“Don’t I have to sleep with you?”

The question from a fifteen-year-old kid knocked me off base for a minute. “Nope. You have your own space. I’m close by and as soon as the dogs accept you, they will protect you too.”

Tammy’s eyes filled with tears. “Nice here, but I think Tibor will come to get me. I belong to him and he’ll want me back. I’m sure of it. He told me I was his… like for always.”

“Billy and I and the dogs will protect you if Tibor comes, Tammy. I know how scared you are, but you have to put a little trust in us.”

“Can I have a gun under my pillow, Sheriff? I can shoot real good. Tibor made me learn for when the cops came to get us. My job to kill them.”

“Oh, yeah? I’ll test you outside and see how good you are, then maybe I’ll give you a gun to make you feel safe.”

She smiled. “Thanks.”

Cut Bank Hospital.

Billy followed Garrison and his buddy to the hospital and waited while Garrison ran inside looking for Tammy. He came out with fury written all over his face when he found out she was gone.

He jumped into the pickup and they were gone again.

Billy followed to see where they were going next.

Tibor didn’t know about the ranch—at least, not yet—so it wouldn’t be there.

When they pulled out on the highway, the pickup headed east. When the truck reached the interstate, they turned north and Billy figured they were going back to Sunburst Acres to the trailer.

Sunburst Acres.

When Tibor and his buddy got to the trailer park, Billy watched from a spot he picked down the road. Garrison and his pal both went into the trailer, but they didn’t stay long. They came running out like they were in a hurry and took off again.

Billy followed the pickup north to the Canadian border, then he turned around and drove back to the ranch.

Probably a drug run. They had catching up to do.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

Billy returned and we had a beer at the kitchen table while he gave us an update on Tibor.

“He goes to Canada to get drugs to sell,” said Tammy. “Him and Tyrone got a little business going and they make a lot of money.”

I turned to Billy. “Who is the pickup registered to?”

“Tyrone Reading. Address in the same trailer park.”

“Tyrone never hurt me,” said Tammy. “Once he tried to stop Tibor from hitting me and got himself beat up too for the effort. He never tried that again and I was glad. I like Tyrone and there was no need of him getting hurt on my account.”

Billy rolled his eyes.

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.