Page 23 of Deacon (Men of Clifton, Montana #52)

“You cowboys and your manners.” She sank into the cushion, smoothing her shirt, and he settled beside her. He lifted the glass, took a long drink, and sighed.

“That hits the spot. It’s scorching today.”

“It is.” Ava sighed. “I think it’s August’s last big hoorah.” She sighed. “I told Tyler.”

“How’d he take it?”

“He was upset at first. I lied to him… to everyone, about you. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. We’ve moved past that. He’s not going to deck me, is he?” Deacon’s grin was easy.

“No. He thought about it, then I came clean.” She paused, fingertips tracing the pattern of the sofa. “Did you tell your family?”

“Yes. They were surprised, but they want to meet you and Ellie. Hud teased me. I told them you’d be in Clifton in a couple of weeks. My dad’s looking forward to meeting you both, especially Ellie.”

Ava smiled. “Do you all live nearby?”

“We each have twenty-five acres on a hundred-acre spread. Plenty of room.”

“Does your dad still work?”

“He retired a few years ago after he spent decades with FWP, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Hud worked there too, but switched to MDOL after being involved in a big case. Case and I followed his lead.”

“Do you work closely with FWP?”

“Sometimes. MDOL handles livestock theft and predatory-animal issues, rustling, mostly. FWP only steps in if wildlife’s involved.”

“I see. So, your dad is eager to meet Ellie… and me.”

Deacon’s smile warmed her. “Yes.”

“Did you talk to my dad yet?”

“Not yet. I would’ve called, but I hoped to see Ellie. If you weren’t here, I would have gone to see your dad.”

“You should’ve called.” She shrugged, grinning. “Then I could’ve changed my shirt.”

“It looks like dinner was well-enjoyed,” he said, nodding at the stains.

“She threw hers at me, didn’t fancy spaghetti today.”

Deacon chuckled. “Girls change their minds.”

“I’d better check on her.” Ava rose, and he stood too. “Be right back.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Ava pushed open Ellie’s door to find her perched in bed, clutching the doll Deacon brought her. The toddler jabbered happily.

“Hi, baby girl.”

“Mama!” Ellie scrambled upright; arms outstretched.

Ava scooped her up, lifting the doll from the bed. “Your daddy’s here.”

Ellie’s eyes shone. “Dad-dy!”

“Yes, let’s go see him.” Ava picked her up, quickly changed her wet pull-ups, then got the doll, handed it to her daughter, and carried them to the living room.

As soon as Ellie saw him, she threw the doll aside and reached for him, her laughter a bright melody.

He took her into his arms. She pressed her cheek against his chest, looking up, he swallowed, emotion flickering across his features, then he looked at her face.

“Hi, sweetheart. Did you have spaghetti today?”

“No!” Ellie shook her head so emphatically her curls bounced, and both Ava and Deacon laughed, then they sat on the sofa together.

“Did you talk to Smith?” Ava asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

“I did. He told me who was involved,” Deacon replied, his expression thoughtful.

“Was Chet?” Ava pressed, her curiosity deepening.

“I can’t say yet,” Deacon answered, his tone measured.

“Why not? Do you think I’d tell him?” Ava’s eyebrows knitted together in mild frustration.

Deacon chuckled. “No, I didn’t mean it like that. I meant I don’t really know if he’s involved. I feel it in my gut that he is, but I need more proof.” He gave a casual shrug, conveying the weight of procedure.

“Oh, okay. I’m sure my dad will be happy to hear about it,” Ava said, a hint of anticipation in her voice.

“Yeah, but there’s still work to do. I don’t have enough yet to arrest the other person.

I want those boys to talk, and Teddy refuses.

Though, Johnny said he would, Teddy yelled at him about it.

I told them to let the sheriff know when they wanted to talk, and he’d call me,” Deacon explained, his brow furrowed in contemplation.

“What if they decide to talk tomorrow or Wednesday and you’re off?” Ava asked, concern etched on her face.

“They’ll have to wait until Thursday. They’re not going anywhere,” Deacon assured her, his voice steady and confident.

“Makes sense.” Ava’s lips curled into a gentle smile as Ellie patted Deacon’s cheek with a tiny hand.

“Dad-dy,” Ellie said, her voice bright and filled with affection, making Deacon’s face light up with a proud grin.

“I have to say, I love hearing that,” he admitted.

“I’m sure. I loved it the first time she said Mama,” Ava responded, her voice tender.

“Mama,” Ellie echoed, pointing at Ava with a small, chubby finger.

“Yes, baby. I’m your mama,” Ava said softly, her heart swelling with love.

After a little while, Ellie declared her hunger, expressing a desire for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

“Okay. I’ll get that in a minute,” Ava promised.

Deacon stood up, gently setting Ellie down on the floor. He turned to Ava. “I should get going. I want to talk with your dad, then I need to get on the road.”

“Alright.” Ava rose and accompanied him to the door.

Deacon removed his hat from the peg, casting a glance back at Ellie and offering her a tender smile. “Bye, sweetheart,” he said warmly.

“No!” Ellie screamed, her little face crumpling in protest.

Deacon’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Ava. “She doesn’t want you to go,” Ava explained softly.

“I have to,” he whispered, a hint of regret in his voice.

“I know. Just go. She’ll get over it,” Ava reassured him, though her own heart ached with understanding.

“But...” Deacon hesitated, his gaze shifting between his daughter and Ava.

“Deacon, she has to learn she doesn’t always get her way. You have to go, so do it. I’ll see you soon,” Ava insisted gently, her voice firm yet compassionate.

“Alright.” Deacon gave Ellie one last, lingering look before returning his gaze to Ava. “I’ll call or text you,” he promised. He leaned in for a swift kiss, opened the door, and stepped out, the sound of Ellie’s cries echoing behind him.

Ava knew the departure was tearing at him, as it had torn at her before, but Ellie needed to understand that sometimes things didn’t go her way. She listened to the rumble of Deacon’s truck as it started up and then faded into the distance.

****

As Deke eased his Silverado pickup onto the dusty road, his stomach knotted at the memory of Ellie’s tears.

He hated that feeling, hated knowing he’d made her cry, but Ava had been right, Ellie needed to learn that life didn’t always bend to her wishes.

The afternoon sun slanted low across the fields as Deke steered toward Rudy Hollister’s house.

When he spotted a second truck parked by the barn, his heart sank.

He’d make this visit quick if there was company.

He cut the engine, let the silence settle, then climbed the porch’s steps and knocked. The door swung open, revealing Tyler in faded jeans and a T-shirt stretched over broad shoulders. Deke straightened up and took a deep breath .

“Hey, Tyler,” Deke said, shifting his weight. “Is your dad around?”

“Deke. Come on in.” Tyler stepped aside. Deke stepped inside after removing his hat and wiping his boot on the mat. He entered through the doorway into the kitchen. Rudy sat at the table with one hand wrapped around an enamel mug. He stood the moment he saw Deke.

“Hey, Deke. How’s it going, son?” They shook hands. “Take a seat.”

Deke pulled a chair out and sat down. “Good. I’ve got some news, if you’ve got the time.”

“Of course.”

Tyler hovered at the edge of the room. “Do I need to leave?”

Deke shook his head. “No. Stay.” Tyler relaxed and slid onto a chair beside him. He glanced between the two men. “Smith talked today. He implicated the Winchester boys.”

Tyler’s knuckles whitened on the table edge. “But not Chet?”

Deke shook his head. “He mentioned Chet, but unless the boys admit it, it’s his word against theirs.”

“Shit,” Tyler muttered, staring at the oak floorboards. “I know Chet’s mixed up in it. Where else would they get the money to pay Smith?”

“Exactly what I’m thinking,” Deke said, rubbing his chin.

“But we need their testimony. Their phones, laptops, nothing showed. I’m betting they used burner phones.

” He exhaled. “I hate to admit it, but they were smart about it. They, most likely, destroyed their laptops and their personal phones were clean.”

Rudy leaned back, his chair legs scraping. “No doubt. I just don’t understand why they’d mess with me.”

Deke set his elbows on the table. “Smith knew your land’s layout, how to reach the cattle without being seen.

The Autumn Falls office took possession of the other cattle located with yours and returned those.

They still had their ear tags, so it was easy to identify them.

We need the ear tags for yours. Brands can lie; tags don’t. ”

Rudy sighed. “I understand. I’ve been through this before.”

“I’m going to head back and speak with Smith about the ear tags,” Deke said, standing. “If he can tell me exactly where they took off those tags, and if it’s anywhere near where we recovered the herd, I can speed your cattle back home to you.”

“I’d appreciate that, Deke.” Rudy smiled.

“I’ll text as soon as I talk to him. Then I’ve got to get back.”

Rudy’s face brightened. “Delivery’s tomorrow, right?”

Deke nodded. “Took two days off to get everything ready for Ellie. I just saw her…” He paused, meeting Tyler’s steady gaze.

Tyler’s jaw clenched. “Don’t hurt either one of them.”

Deke gave a wry half-smile. “I have no intention of deliberately hurting either of them.”

“Good,” Tyler said, rising. He extended his hand, and Deke shook it firmly.

“Thanks, Tyler. Rudy, I’ll talk to you soon.” Deke reclaimed his hat, swung open the door, and felt the late sun warm his back as he hurried down the steps. He climbed into the truck, slid the key into the ignition, and turned it over, then headed back to the sheriff’s office.

The lot was nearly empty when he arrived. Deke killed the engine and bolted up the concrete steps to the narrow glass door. Inside, the soft hum of fluorescent lights overhead met him. The receptionist, sorting paperwork behind a low counter, lifted her gaze and smiled.

“Back again?”

Deke nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Is the sheriff around?”

“He’s in his office. Go on back.”

He walked the linoleum corridor and rapped on Sheriff Jones’s doorframe. The sheriff looked up from his paperwork, smiled, and waved Deke inside.

“What can I do for you, Agent?” Jones asked, leaning back in his swivel chair.

“I need to talk to Smith again. If he can pinpoint where they removed those ear tags, Hollister’s cattle might be returned faster.”

“Sure thing. I’ll have Deputy Miller take him to the room. You can head back there.” The sheriff punched a number on his phone.

Deke entered the interrogation room and leaned against the wall with his arms folded across his chest. A few minutes later, Deputy Miller led Smith, in handcuffs, into the room. The deputy clamped the cuffs to the iron bar, shoved Smith onto the plastic seat, nodded to Deke, and left.

Smith snarled. “What now?”

“Where were the ear tags removed?” Deke asked, arms folded, leaning against the wall.

Smith sneered. “What?”

“What, hell. You heard me,” Deke said, stepping forward.

“I don’t—” Smith began.

“Don’t even pretend you don’t know. You were there when they took the cattle.”

Smith’s eyes flicked up. “How’d you know that?”

Deke cracked a grin. “I didn’t. But since I know now that you were there, where did you remove the ear tags?”

Smith looked away. “Old barn, two miles west of where you found us.”

“Address?”

Smith scuffed his shoe against the floor. “Don’t know. The property is abandoned. Head west past the house, take the second gravel road left. The barn is in the middle of a field, rotten boards, nearly collapsed. That’s where we pulled the tags so no one would find them.”

Deke shook his head in frustration. “You’re an idiot.” He pivoted toward the door.

Smith’s voice stopped him. “Wait.”

Deke halted; brows lowered. “What?”

“I cooperated, again.”

Deke opened the door. “Good for you. Your lawyer can try to negotiate a deal. I’ll mention your help, but don’t count on much leniency.” He stepped into the hallway, pulled the door shut, and returned to the sheriff’s office.

Inside, Sheriff Jones looked up from his desk. “Agent Anderson, did you find out what you needed?”

“Smith gave me directions to an old barn. Could you spare a deputy to take me out there?”

Jones raised an eyebrow, then called, “Miller!”

Deputy Miller appeared in the doorway. “Yes, sir?”

“Take Agent Anderson where he needs to go. Agent, you can leave your truck here.” Jones nodded. “Good luck.”

“Thanks, Sheriff.” Deke glanced at Miller, who nodded. “When do we leave?”

“Right now,” Miller said with urgency. “My cruiser is just outside.”

Deke nodded, steeling himself for the task ahead. He squared his shoulders and followed the deputy into the sweltering heat, determined to track down the next lead and bring Hollister’s herd back home.