Page 15 of Deacon (Men of Clifton, Montana #52)

“Sounds good,” Deke agreed, pressing the button to end the call. He watched as the vehicle ahead signaled right, guiding him off the highway exit toward the promise of food.

After maneuvering into a snug parking spot in the parking lot of a quaint roadside restaurant, the men strolled to the entrance and pushed open the door, stepping inside.

The place was bustling with activity, a symphony of clinking cutlery and animated chatter filling the air, yet they managed to find an empty table and settled into the worn wooden chairs.

Deke picked up a laminated menu, as did Killian and Rawley.

“I’m starving,” Rawley declared.

Deke chuckled. “You’re either hungry or sleepy,” he teased.

Rawley laughed. “Add horny to that and you have me pegged,” Rawley said making Killian and Deke laugh.

“It looks like we have the option of breakfast or lunch,” Deke said as he scanned the menu stating breakfast was served twenty-four/seven.

“The pancakes and scrambled eggs sound good,” Killian mused, his eyes scanning the list of offerings as he pressed his lips together in thought.

A woman, appearing to be in her late sixties, approached their table with a welcoming smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes. “Hello, boys. What would you like to drink while you look at the menus?” she inquired, her voice carrying a friendly warmth.

“Just water for me,” Deke replied, offering her a polite nod.

“Same for me,” Killian echoed, while Rawley simply nodded in agreement.

“Alright. I’ll be right back with those. Have you been here before?” she asked, her curiosity genuine.

“No, ma’am. We’re passing through from Maple Ridge to Clifton,” Deke replied, his smile polite.

“Oh, I love Clifton. I’ve been there several times. Is it still growing?” she asked, her eyes alight with interest.

“Every day,” Killian answered, the corners of his mouth lifting in a slight smile.

“I see you’re MDOL,” she noted, gesturing to their badges. “On a case?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Rawley said.

“Well, thank you for what you do. My husband and I own a ranch. We don’t know what we’d do without you out there,” she said .

“We appreciate that,” Deke responded, his tone sincere.

“Let me know when you’re ready. I’ll get your water,” she said before walking off.

Deke cast a casual glance around the restaurant, noting the nods of acknowledgment from several patrons.

Then his gaze landed on a particular booth.

He turned to Rawley and Killian, lowering his voice.

“Don’t look now, but I think the Winchester brothers are in the back booth.

I don’t think they’ve noticed us,” he warned, letting his gaze drift away to avoid drawing attention.

“I see them,” Rawley confirmed, his eyes still fixed on the menu, unaffected.

“Yeah, I do too,” Killian added, his jaw tightening as he maintained a casual demeanor.

“I wonder how long they’ve been here. I’d hate to have them leave before we have a chance to talk to them,” Rawley mused, his eyes glancing toward the back booth where the two young men sat.

“I’m going to find out,” Deke replied as the waitress returned, balancing their glasses of water on a tray. He looked up at her. “Ma’am, just out of curiosity, how long have those two young men in the back booth been here?”

He watched as she casually glanced over her shoulder at the pair. “They just sat down before you did. Josie is waiting on them, and they haven’t ordered yet,” she informed them, her voice steady and untroubled.

“Thank you,” Deke nodded, a slight smile playing at the corners of his lips.

“You’re welcome. There isn’t going to be trouble, is there?” she asked, a hint of concern in her eyes.

“No, ma’am. Nothing will happen in here,” Killian reassured her, his tone calm and steady.

“Okay, good. Have you decided what you want yet?” she asked, ready to take their order.

The men placed their orders, then resumed their hushed conversation. Rawley sighed, a hint of worry in his voice. “I’m hoping they don’t get out of here before we do.”

“Maybe we should get our order to go. We could eat in your truck, Deke, until they come out,” Killian suggested, a practical edge to his voice.

“I’m going outside for a minute. I want to look at some license plates,” Deke announced, rising from his seat and striding toward the exit.

Once outside, he meandered through the parking lot, his gaze sweeping across each vehicle as he noted the county numbers on the plates. Each county in Montana had its own distinctive number, and Deke was searching for one starting with forty-eight.

His eyes landed on two plates, and he quickly jotted down the numbers before dialing Dave.

“Could you find out who these plates are registered to?” Deke asked, the urgency clear in his voice.

“Yep, what are they?” Dave replied, ready to help.

Deke read off the numbers, then paced the lot, his mind racing as he awaited Dave’s findings. He knew Dave would handle it swiftly. Deke could hear his fingers tapping on the keyboard.

“Deke?”

“Yes, sir?” Deke responded, halting his pacing.

“The second one you gave me is registered to Chet Winchester.”

“Thanks. That’s all I need for now,” Deke said, a sense of clarity settling over him.

“If you need backup, you let me know. I’ll call Autumn Falls.”

“Killian, Rawley, and I are at a restaurant, and the two older Winchester boys are here. I wanted to check the tags. According to the waitress, they got here just before we did. I think we’re going to get our meals to go and wait in my truck. I don’t want those guys to see us.”

“Okay. Let me know,” Dave replied before hanging up.

Deke quickly called Killian. “Yeah?”

“Get the meals to go. I’ll wait out here,” Deke instructed, his mind made up.

“You got it,” Killian agreed, understanding the plan.

Ten minutes later, Deke spotted Killian and Rawley making their way toward him across the sun-drenched parking lot. The heat shimmered off the asphalt in waves, distorting their figures as they approached.

“We’ll eat in my truck and wait,” Deke suggested. The three of them climbed inside, the interior stifling with midday heat.

Rawley handed Deke a crinkling brown paper bag containing his lunch, and a bottled water. Soon, the small space was filled with the rustling sound of bags being opened and the scent of burgers and fries wafting through the air.

“Can you turn on the A/C? It’s like a fucking furnace in this truck,” Rawley complained, wiping sweat from his brow.

Deke glanced over at Killian with a smirk. “Does he always bitch this much?” he asked, amusement in his voice .

Killian chuckled. “You get used to it,” he replied.

“Fuck you both,” Rawley retorted with a mock growl, though he joined in the laughter.

“Hell, he’ll probably fall asleep after he eats. We’ll be on our own,” Killian teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Hey, I have never fallen asleep on the job,” Rawley protested, punctuating his defense with a grin that made them laugh again.

“Seriously, you’re both damn good agents, and I’m glad to have you with me on this,” Deke said.

“Happy to be here. I want those men,” Killian said.

“I think we all do. I wonder what they did with the cattle,” Rawley murmured.

“I’d bet it’s not good.” Deke sighed as he bit into his sandwich, keeping an eye on the entrance of the parking lot.

Deke peered through the driver’s side window, his posture shifting to alertness. “Here they come,” he murmured, noting how Killian and Rawley remained focused on their tasks. Their instincts were finely tuned for moments like this.

“I see them,” Killian confirmed, his eyes fixed on the side mirror. He observed the two men silently maneuver behind the truck before slipping into a car. The vehicle’s dull metallic sheen caught the afternoon light, marking it as their target.

“Is that the right car, Deke?” Rawley inquired, his voice steady.

“Yep,” Deke affirmed with a nod. “I’ll give them a few minutes, then we’ll tail them.”

Deke’s gaze flickered to the rearview mirror, catching Rawley’s watchful eyes trained on their quarry. Moments later, Rawley spoke again, “ They’re pulling out.”

With precision, Deke allowed the car to exit the parking lot first, carefully engaging the truck’s gears before following at a cautious distance.

As they cruised down the street, the surroundings blurred by, causing Deke to silently hope their destination wasn’t back to Maple Ridge. But the road signs indicated otherwise.

“Damn it. It looks like they’re heading home,” Rawley muttered with a hint of frustration.

“Yeah, it looks that way,” Deke replied, shaking his head, a frown etching his brow.

“Well, I’m glad we didn’t get too far out,” Killian exhaled, a sigh of relief mingling with disappointment.

Ahead, the car veered right, signaling a deviation from the expected route. “Not heading home unless they know a different way back,” Killian speculated, eyes narrowing.

“I was just thinking the same thing.” Deke’s jaw tightened with resolve. “I want those two.”

Silence descended upon them, a mutual understanding passing unspoken. Deke knew Rawley and Killian shared his determination. The pursuit of rustlers was a constant shadow in their thoughts, a challenge they were always ready to confront.

As they tailed the vehicle, Deke ensured to keep another car between them whenever possible, using it as a screen.

He knew Killian was vigilantly watching, ready to alert him if their target suddenly turned and he failed to notice.

Abruptly, Deke slammed on the brakes as a car unexpectedly pulled out in front of him, forcing him to a screeching halt .

“Son of a bitch,” he muttered under his breath, casting a quick glance at Killian. “Can you still see them?”

“Yeah, they turned left at the light,” Killian replied, his eyes still locked on the target.

Deke nodded in acknowledgment. “Okay.”

“Hey, look there,” Rawley said as he pointed to a sign stating they were back in Maple Ridge.