Renegade (Tin Star K9 Series Book 1) by Jodi Burnett (literature books to read .txt) 📗

Caitlyn nodded and ran out to the arena to help put up the remaining horses. It took the sheriff over thirty minutes to get there from town. Finally, they heard his tires rolling across the gravel. The hood of his Jeep crested the last hill before the SUV descended into the barnyard. Sheriff Bruce Tackett and Deputy Colt Branson climbed out of the Jeep, simultaneously placing their dove colored felt cowboy hats on their heads as they stood. Caitlyn hadn’t seen Colt in a while. Was it possible he was getting even better looking with time?

The sheriff adjusted his belt. “Morning, Dylan, Caitlyn. What’s all this you called me about?” He peered at Caitlyn. “Dylan tells me your dog found a body?”

“Yes!” Caitlyn stepped toward him and thrust her hands out in urgency. “I was on a trail ride, and my dog smelled something. He took off and then sat down and barked. I went to find what he was trying to show me, and there was a grave.”

“A grave?” The sheriff removed his sunglasses and stared hard at Caitlyn. Colt stood behind the Sheriff to his right and crossed his arms. Caitlyn couldn’t read his eyes behind his mirrored aviators.

“Yes, well, I didn’t know that’s what it was at first. But then I saw a hand. Fingers poking right up out of the dirt.”

Colt moved around the sheriff and addressed Caitlyn. “Are you sure that’s what you saw, Catie? Maybe it was an animal?”

Caitlyn glared at him. “I know what I saw, Colt.” She pulled out her phone to show him one of the pictures she took. “That’s not an animal. It’s a woman’s hand.” She pressed her fists into her hips. “Do you think it could be Wendy Gessler’s body?”

The sheriff mirrored her stance, resting his right hand on the butt of his gun. “Don’t get all excited, now. We won’t know what it is until we go have a look. As far as we know, Ms. Gessler is alive and well.”

“Caitlyn and I will go on horseback, you two can take the ATVs.” Dylan pointed toward the all-terrain vehicles parked next to the barn.

Caitlyn swung up onto her horse. “We’ll meet at the trailhead, and Ren can lead the way.”

Sheriff Tackett nodded, and he and his deputy made their way to the ATVs. Caitlyn glanced around for her dog, not sure where he’d run off to this time. It surprised her to see that he was already waiting for her by the arena gate. He knows something’s wrong. “Let’s go, Ren. Stopa!” Caitlyn used one of the Czech commands Logan had taught her, asking Renegade to track.

Renegade took off toward the trail. Caitlyn and Dylan loped their horses to follow him. Before long, the sheriff and his deputy caught up to them on their ATVs. They all stopped at the base of the mountain.

“It’s a switchback trail and can be rocky in spots, but I think you should be fine on the ATVs.” Caitlyn pointed the direction they would go. “I’ll lead the way. It’s almost at the top of the ridge. Let’s go.” Caitlyn turned Whiskey onto the path and urged him into a trot. In places, he bounded over tree roots and rocks, his powerful haunches rocketing Caitlyn up the hill. Renegade sped to the lead. When they got near the summit, he darted into the woods with Caitlyn on his heels. Her brother, the sheriff, and Colt joined her there.

Caitlyn led them to the shallow grave—to the fingers protruding from the ground. “Here, Sheriff, here’s the hand.”

Sheriff Tackett climbed down from his ATV and, followed by Colt, they made their way to the edge of the grave. “This appears to be freshly dug dirt.” He knelt down and took a pen from his pocket. He slid it under the exposed digits and lifted them slightly. “Curious.” He glanced up at Dylan. “How’d a body get way up here, do you suppose?”

“You’re asking me?” Dylan crossed his arms.

“It is your property. I’m just asking if you know anything about this?” Sheriff Tackett unsnapped a leather pouch attached to his belt and pulled a rubber glove and a zipper-close baggie out. After slipping the glove onto his right hand, he lightly pinched the flesh of the hand. He stirred his fingers around in the loose dirt, finding something he dropped into the bag. Pushing himself to his feet, he scowled at Caitlyn’s brother and held the bag up to the sun. Inside the plastic was an empty brass bullet casing.

Renegade curled his body around Caitlyn’s leg, and she felt more than heard his low guttural rumble.

6

“Easy, Ren.” Caitlyn reached down and stroked the top of her dog’s head to calm him. The tension in the air was palpable. It wasn’t surprising that it agitated him.

“What exactly are you asking, Sheriff?” Dylan crossed his arms over his chest. He glared at the lawman. “You know, just because this is my property, doesn’t mean I had anything to do with this.”

“It looks suspicious—all’s I’m saying.” The sheriff stuffed the evidence into the leather pouch and snapped it closed. He removed his sunglasses, pulled a corner of his shirt out from his pants, and cleaned them before re-tucking his shirttail into his tight waistband. “When did you say the last time you saw Wendy Gessler was?”

Dylan slid his hands down and propped them on his hips. “Look, Sheriff, just because there’s a tree planted on my property, doesn’t mean I planted it there.” Dylan continued to glare at the big man, and Renegade’s growl rolled, his hackles bristling.

“What makes you suspect Dylan, Sheriff?” Caitlyn’s belly tightened. She couldn’t make sense out of what was happening. She glanced at Colt, who shrugged. “Why aren’t you suspicious of me? I’m the one who found the body.”

The sheriff shifted his steely gaze to her. “Should I suspect you?” He ran his fingers across his jaw. “I’m just trying to get an idea of what might have happened here. When was the