“Maybe not. But we didn’t know that. And we didn’t want to be seen and identified. Coy’s got some warrants back in Oklahoma. If he got arrested here, even just for trespassing, he could be in a lot of trouble.
“Coy grabbed the gun off the bike and we ducked behind the bushes. Afterward he told me that he’d meant to shoot over the old man’s head, just to scare him off. But right when he fired, the ATV hit a bump. The old man bounced up far enough to catch the bullet.?
?
Could he believe her? Sky had always had a soft spot for his younger cousin. But the story sounded pretty far-fetched. Given the evidence, he’d be crazy to trust her.
“So after he crashed, you took his gun and left him there.” Until he spoke the words, Sky didn’t realize how angry he’d been—and was. Whether her story was true or not, there was no excuse for leaving Jasper wounded and half-drowning in the seep.
“I wanted to go to him. But Coy said that he was dead and we had to get out of there before somebody else came. The dog was barking at us. Coy was going to shoot it. I promised that if he wouldn’t, I’d get the old man’s gun where it had fallen off the ATV and go with him. That was when I dropped the knife, on the chance that you’d find it. I wanted to let you know I was here, in case we needed your help.”
Needed his help? Something went cold in the pit of Sky’s stomach. Whatever he’d stumbled into, it wasn’t good.
“You said you were shortcutting.”
“We’d picked up some supplies in town. I was driving, and Coy was sitting behind, hanging on to the stuff we’d bought. It was awkward going, so we took the shortest way there.”
A battered Ford Ranchero pulled into the parking lot, radio blaring Mexican music. Its headlights made a sweep as it turned around. An empty Dos Equis beer can flew out the window and clattered to the asphalt. Marie shrank lower in the seat as the vehicle swung close, finished turning, and roared out the way it had come in.
Sky waited for Marie to say more. When she didn’t reply, he broke the silence. “I found the marijuana operation, Marie. Did you know it was on my own land?”
She stared down at her hands. Slowly she nodded. “I went to the county recorder’s office to check the maps for an out-of-the-way spot with water. It was perfect—especially with your name on the deed. With it being yours, we figured if you caught us, you’d let us off easy. You will let us off easy, won’t you, Sky?”
When she looked up at him, Sky glimpsed the sad-eyed little girl he’d left behind in the kitchen all those years ago. But there were limits to how softhearted he could be.
“The marijuana has to go,” he said. “If it’s cleared off my land by the end of tomorrow—plants, hoses, tools, and whatever you and Coy are living in—I won’t call in the law. But if you get caught somewhere else, you’re on your own. And one thing more. You’re never to set foot on Tyler land again. Understand?”
She tossed her glowing cigarette stub out the window. “It was Coy’s idea to grow the weed, not mine. Once it’s gone, maybe he’ll get a job or something.”
“I’m hoping he’ll be smart enough to go back to Oklahoma. You too. What are the two of you doing here, anyway?”
“Lute used to call me sometimes. He said there were ways to make good money here, if I wanted to come. When I told Coy, he said he wanted to come, too.”
“Well, you know what happened to Lute.”
“Yes. And I heard that the bastard who shot him died in jail. Thanks, by the way, for paying to have Lute’s body sent home.”
“Lute was family. So are you,” Sky said. “Let me drive you back to your camp. We can talk to Coy together.”
“I’m not sleeping out there. I’m staying in the back room above the Blue Coyote. Stella takes the rent out of my pay. It’s just Coy who’s camping on your land. But don’t go out there tonight. He’s got guns. If he hears somebody coming, he’s liable to shoot first and ask questions later. You know Coy.”
Sky did. Meanness and stupidity made for a dangerous mix. “If you can come back for me in the morning, I’ll ride out with you. Coy won’t be happy about leaving, but he’ll be more apt to listen to reason if I’m there.”
Sky thought about training the colts and all the work he needed to do. Will wouldn’t be pleased by his absence. But this mess involved the safety of the Rimrock and everyone on it. It had to be taken care of.
“How early can you be ready?” he asked her.
“As early as you want.”
“Eight?”
“Fine. But not here. Pick me up outside the Shop Mart.” She opened the door and swung her legs to the ground. “Good to see you, Sky. Maybe we’ll get more time to catch up.”
Sky watched her walk around to the back door of the bar, where the stairs led up to the second floor. Some, maybe most, of Stella’s waitresses had used that room to make extra cash as prostitutes. He wouldn’t put it past Marie to be doing the same. The thought saddened him, but she was a grown woman, and after what had happened with Lute, he wasn’t in the rescue business.
After she’d gone inside, he started up the truck and headed out of town. The marijuana was one thing. But Jasper was another. If the old man had died—as he nearly had—Coy would be guilty of murder, or at least manslaughter.
There was no way Sky could keep this secret from Beau and Will. Tomorrow he would tell them about the marijuana and how Jasper had supposedly been shot. Jasper would need to be told, too. If he chose to press charges, Coy’s fate would be up to a jury.