Page 17 of Deacon (Men of Clifton, Montana #52)

Deke heard Killian yell, “Get out of the truck!” but instead the engine roared, tires spinning against the dirt. A staccato of shots rang out.

“Damn it!” Deke muttered, pulling his prisoner behind as Killian’s voice cut through the echoing shots.

“Next one goes through the windshield!” Killian yelled.

At last, the truck ground to a halt. Killian strode forward to the driver’s door, looked up, and aimed the rifle at the driver. “Shut it off and step out.”

Deke ushered the cuffed man into the back seat of his truck.

The air inside was already thick with heat.

Deke thumbed through his phone’s directory for the sheriff’s office number as he watched Rawley arrive on foot, pistol strapped to his hip, dragging the younger man in handcuffs.

Winchester sneered at him, then kicked back, hitting Rawley in the shin, making him swear at the pain.

“You little dick,” he said as he rubbed his sore leg.

The kid laughed. “Little? I bet I have a bigger dick than you.”

Rawley straightened up and looked at him. “Well, hell, son. Whip it out and let’s compare.”

Deke and Killian laughed as Rawley looked at the kid again and raised his eyebrow but the kid wouldn’t look at him.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. If you’re lucky, your balls will drop soon. Let’s go.” Rawley grabbed him by his elbow and led him to the truck .

“You’re nothing without that gun. Uncuff me and I’ll show you.”

Rawley’s eyes glittered as he grabbed the kid by the collar and spun him around.

“Threatening me? Hell, you’ve already assaulted an officer,” he said, voice low.

The boy’s bravado wavered under Rawley’s six foot five frame and easy confidence.

“Hell, you’re not even shaving, and you’re trying to intimidate me?

” Rawley laughed and released him. “Get in the damn truck.”

Killian slid the second suspect into the back seat. Deke put down both rear windows. “We’ll wait for the sheriff’s department,” he said. “Killian, can you go back to that house and look through it. I doubt if there’s anything in there, but if we could find something, it would help.”

“No problem,” Killian replied, wiping sweat from his brow as he walked down the gravel drive, carrying the rifle with him.

A voice from the back added, “Could you turn the air on? It’s like an oven back here.”

Deke shook his head. “You’re lucky I let you catch this breeze. Keep it up, and I’ll close those windows.” Deke stared into the truck. “Is your father involved in this?” he asked the older Winchester.

“I ain’t saying shit.”

“Fine. One of you will crack,” Rawley said, arms folded. “Might earn a lighter sentence if you’re first.”

“I just wonder if old man Winchester’s behind it,” Deke admitted.

“He has to know,” Rawley muttered.

Deke squared his shoulders. “Proving it’s another story. ”

“I’m going to check those cattle,” Rawley announced, his voice steady and determined, before striding toward the back of the hauler. Dust swirled around his boots as he moved.

Deke nodded, a silent acknowledgment, and leaned casually against the truck gazing into the distance with a contemplative expression. He heard Rawley open the gate, then climb inside.

Ten minutes later, Killian came back toward the truck.

“There’s nothing in that house but spiderwebs and dust. It’s abandoned.”

Deke remained silent.

“What are you thinking?” Killian asked, breaking the silence, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“I think old man Winchester is in on it,” Deke replied, his voice low and confident.

“I do too,” Killian agreed, a knowing look passing between them.

“From what I’ve learned about that family, nothing would surprise me,” Deke added, his voice tinged with skepticism. As he spoke, Rawley returned, his expression serious.

“Well?” Deke prompted; his gaze fixed on Rawley.

“It took me a while to get through all of them. Some are Hollister’s cattle,” Rawley reported, his voice firm.

“There are twelve of them with his brand and five others sporting a different brand. I bet those boys are stealing cattle for their father, but I’m not sure what this other man has to do with it. ”

Deke turned his attention to the men inside the truck, his demeanor authoritative. “I want your IDs,” he demanded to the men .

“You already saw mine,” the man said.

“Mine too,” one of the Winchester boys said.

“And?” Deke snapped.

“I don’t have mine,” the other Winchester brother muttered, his voice barely audible.

“Yes, you do. I saw it,” Killian said with a glare.

Deke opened the truck door with a swift motion. “Everyone out,” he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The men stepped out reluctantly, their expressions sullen. Deke turned them around with a firm gesture and removed each wallet, flipping them open.

“No ID, huh, Theodore Winchester?” Deke said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he read the driver’s license.

“So, this must be Jonathan Winchester,” Killian said, nodding toward the second brother.

“And this is John Smith,” Rawley interjected as he looked at the man’s ID, shaking his head in disbelief. “Man, if I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I’d say that was a fake name.”

“It’s my real name,” the man snapped, his voice defensive, which only made Rawley grin.

“Sounds like I touched a nerve,” Rawley teased, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

“He probably hears that a lot,” Killian quipped, a smirk playing on his lips.

“I’ll call Dave and have him run a background check on Smith.” Deke retrieved his phone, dialing quickly. After a brief conversation, he hung up and turned his attention to John Smith. “It seems that Mr. Smith here has been arrested for rustling before.”

“That was a long time ago,” Smith protested, his voice edged with desperation.

“How long ago?” Killian inquired, his tone interrogative.

“Twenty years,” Smith admitted, a hint of resignation in his voice.

“Well, apparently you didn’t learn your lesson because now you’re going right back inside.” Deke nodded, motioning for them to re-enter the truck. Smith paused beside him; hesitation clear in his posture.

“I’ll talk for a lighter sentence,” Smith offered, his voice laced with a hint of hope.

“That’s not up to me, but since this isn’t your first time, I doubt the court will go for it,” Deke replied, his tone dismissive.

“Then why should I talk?” Smith asked, a note of frustration creeping in.

“You’re the one who suggested it. I don’t have the authority to lessen your sentence, but you never know what will happen if you talk.” Deke shrugged, his expression indifferent, before shifting his gaze to the Winchester boys. “Anything you want to say?” he asked.

“No,” they chorused, their voices flat and synchronized.

“I hope you can act tough in prison because they’re going to love you in there with your blond hair and blue eyes,” Rawley remarked, his words laced with irony, causing Killian and Deke to exchange knowing grins.

As soon as the two sheriff’s cruisers appeared on the dusty road, a cloud of dirt billowing behind them, the men straightened up.

The vehicles rolled to a stop, and two officers emerged and strode toward Deke, Killian, and Rawley.

After a brief introduction and a firm handshake, the three men from Deke’s truck were handed over to the law enforcement officers, who ushered them into the back seats of the cruisers.

Deke bent down to peer into the vehicle, a smirk playing on his lips when the men inside averted their eyes.

“I’ll be in touch,” he declared, his voice carrying a hint of amusement, before turning to the deputies. “Thanks,” he added, with a nod of appreciation.

“No problem. We hate rustlers as much as you guys do,” one deputy replied with a grin.

Deke returned the gesture with a nod. “I’ll be in to talk with them soon.”

“You know where they’ll be. Take care,” the deputy assured him.

With that, the cruisers revved their engines and kicked up another swirl of dust as they departed. Deke, Killian, and Rawley climbed back into Deke’s truck, the familiar creak of the seats beneath them.

“Damn, can we go home now?” Rawley grumbled, his voice tinged with exhaustion.

“Yes, once we get back to Killian’s truck, you two can go. I’m going to stick around a while to see if they’ll talk,” Deke replied, starting the engine.

“Let’s hope they didn’t tow your truck for being there too long, Killian,” Rawley quipped with a sly grin.

“Man, that is not even funny,” Killian muttered, though his words only prompted laughter from Deke and Rawley.

As they drove, Deke mused aloud, “I’ll call Mr. Hollister once I get back.

I have to let him know there’s a process we have to go through before I can get the cattle back to him, but being a rancher, he probably knows.

We just have to verify his brand. It’s too bad the ear tags were removed.

” His words hung in the air, a reminder of the challenges that lay ahead.

****

Saturday evening, Ava sat in the passenger seat as Joella drove them toward town, the evening air crisp against their faces. The glow of the streetlights flickered as they moved silently through the streets.

“Was Jeanie okay with watching Ellie?” Joella asked.

“Yes. She loves having Ellie spend time there.” Ava shook her head. “I don’t know how she does it. Of course, Tyler helps her.”

“Tyler is gorgeous. I had such a crush on him a long time ago,” Joella confessed, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

“I know you did,” Ava said with a smile.

“He was dating Jeanie then. I am glad he’s happy though,” Joella said, her voice soft with sincerity.

“He’s very happy. Jeanie is amazing,” Ava agreed, her tone warm and genuine.

“She always has been,” Joella said with a knowing smile.

“Yep. So, after Tyler, is that when Eddie came along?” Ava inquired, curiosity lacing her words.

“About a year after Tyler got married. Eddie was the biggest mistake of my life,” Joella admitted, a rueful chuckle escaping her lips.