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“Okay,” Clete Rogers said, sounding mollified. “I’ll think about it. Sounds like good advice, but right now, I’ve got to go. My cashier is waving that she needs something. I’ll let you know about the restraining order later on.”
When he put down the receiver, Joa
“Afternoon, Sheriff Brady. What can I do for you?”
“What do you hear from Deputy Montoya?”
“Not much. Things must be pretty quiet over in Tombstone this weekend.”
“Not totally quiet,” Joa
“Will do,” Tica said.
“Is there anything else going on?” Joa
“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Tica told her.
“Good,” Joa
When Tica dropped off, Joa
“Who was it?” Maria
Butch was Butch Dixon. Over Joa
Concerned about public reaction as well as Je
A bad case of writer’s block and a mutual interest in old cars had drawn him into an easy friendship with Jeff Daniels and his business, Auto Rehab, The two men had joined forces to recondition a ‘5(1 Chevrolet Bel Air. Working together, they had bought the car for a song and than refurbished it on speculation. The previous afternoon the two men had gone off to Scottsdale together, towing their pride and joy behind Jeff’s International and hoping to unload the Bel Air for a modest profit at one of Scottsdale ’s collector car auctions.
The fact that Jeff and Butch were both out of town was one of the reasons Joa
“It was work,” Joa
“Is something wrong?” Maria
“I doubt it. It sounds as though everything is under control, although Frank Montoya will probably be giving me a call in a little while.”
By then Ruth had tired of the leaf game and clambered up onto the porch, displacing Sadie’s long-eared head from Maria
“I hope he doesn’t call,” Je
“We’ve been over this before many times, Je
Unconvinced, Je
“What about me?” Maria
“Don’t you hate it that you have to work on Sundays?”
For the first time all day a seemingly genuine smile spread across Maria
CHAPTER TWO
As the sun sank behind the Mule Mountains, a sudden chill settled over the porch. Raking the steaming, foil-wrapped potatoes out of the remaining embers, Joa
Di
“It’s for you,” Je
“Does that mean Jeff and I are invited out to the ranch when we get home?” Butch Dixon asked when Joa
“Sure,” Joa
“Anything besides potatoes and meatloaf on the menu?” Butch asked.
Knowing his slyly stated question had nothing at all to do with food, Joa
“Where are you?” she asked.
“ Tucson,” he said. “We’re making a pit stop, getting gas, and grabbing some coffee.”
“When do you expect to be home?”
“Not much later than an hour and a half.”
“Where are they?” Maria
Maria
“Did you hear that?” Joa
“Got it,” he said. “I’ll have Jeff drop me off at my place so I can pick up my car. I’ll be out at the ranch as soon as I can. See you then.”
“Be careful,” Joa
“Don’t worry about Jeff and me,” Butch replied. “Neither of us is big on taking chances.”
By the time Joa