Too Fast to Fall (Jackson Hole 1.10)

Luis gave him a weary look. “But what?”

“Are you sure he’s working alone? If he doesn’t have a truck, how did he get all this set up in the first place? And where did he get the money? The plants, the heaters, the lamps. Do you really think he built that greenhouse and started clearing that land on his own?”

Luis had gone pale. “If James…but he doesn’t have any money, and he’s only missed one day of school!”

“I don’t mean James. But that’s the other reason I want him gone. I want to watch the place. See who’s coming and going. And I don’t want to see James. If Victor isn’t the only one involved, if he’s not the money and the brains, I’m going to have to handle this as a cop, and I can’t have any reason to mention James in the reports.”

Luis looked grimmer than ever.

“How do you want to handle it, Luis?”

“Christ. Victor isn’t a great guy, but he’s not a criminal mastermind, either. He’s working for someone. Some guy who uses kids to do the dirty work, I’m sure. Will you check it out for me?”

“Yeah. You’ll send James away?”

“He’s going to be out of school for a day or two next week for Presidents’ Day, anyway. I’ll tell Teresa that John Lopez needs help with calving over in Casper. She’s always liked that guy and she keeps complaining that James needs to learn how to work harder.”

“Has calving started yet?”

“Hell if I know.”

Jenny arrived with the pitcher, and she paused as if she’d say something, but someone called her name from another table and she flitted away with an apologetic smile.

Nate poured two beers and slid one toward his cousin. “Teresa’s going to find out about all this, you know. You can’t hide it for long.”

“I know.” Luis closed his eyes for moment. “But I don’t want to tell her until I know the extent of it. Otherwise she’ll convince herself it’s nothing and we should sweep it under the rug.”

“It’s big money these days, cousin. People get shot over it. Remember that. You could’ve been killed just going out to the cabin if the wrong person was waiting. There was that case up in Gallatin Forest last year. A hiker ran across a crop in a federal forest and someone shot him to keep him from talking. Luckily, the shooter had bad aim.”

Luis nodded. “Yeah. I know. Damn it. That little shit Victor has put my family and my livelihood in danger. And if he’s involved James…” He took a deep breath. “I can’t just let it go. I’ll call you when James is on his way, all right?”

“Perfect.”

Luis only drank half his beer before he blew out a deep breath and stood. “I’ve got to get going.”

Nate stood and gave him a tight hug.

“Thank you, man. I don’t know what I would’ve done about this if you weren’t around.”

“Does that mean you’ll stop calling me The Fuzz behind my back?”

Luis slapped his shoulder and stepped away. “Hell, Nate. You know that was because of that mustache you tried to grow to be more like me in high school. I figured you became a cop just to try to live down the nickname.”

“If you want my help, you’ll keep that quiet.”

“Got it.” Luis’s smile faded. “I’ll call you.”

Nate sank back into his seat and topped off his beer. He wasn’t going to take any unofficial law enforcement action, but he could poke around the cabin a little without stepping too far outside the rules. There might be some personal danger, but Nate was willing to risk a lot for the sake of Luis and his family. Luis was more like a brother than a cousin. Nate had a sister, but she was a few years older and had always been more of a second mother than a playmate. But Luis…if he needed help, Nate would step up any day.

“Hey!” Jenny suddenly appeared, her head tilted toward the front door of the saloon. “I hope your friend’s coming back. I can’t let you drive if you drink that whole pitcher on your own. I’m sure you understand. The cops around here are real uptight.”

Nate raised one eyebrow and refused to meet her smile.

“Right. Ha! So, anyway…” she drawled.

“Luis isn’t coming back, but I promise not to finish the pitcher by myself.”

“Are you waiting for someone?”