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

made his way over to Jim. The siren of an old station-wagon style ambulance drifted on the breeze. “Come on. Let’s get you taken care of.”

Jim rose to his feet, but winced when Colt gripped his shoulder.

“Mind if I have a look?” Colt gestured at Jim’s arm.

The man shrugged and looked away, so Colt pulled open his shirt and slid the fabric over Jim’s shoulder. Colt sucked a quick gulp of air. Bruised skin and torn, inflamed flesh surrounded obvious bite marks on Jim’s arm. The angry red wounds oozed and already streaking with infection.

Colt grimaced. “Didn’t you go to the doctor?”

Jim shrugged with his good shoulder. “I didn’t want to have to answer any questions.”

“If this were to get infected, it could give you blood poisoning—which could kill you.”

“Might be better to die that way, than to spend the rest of my life in jail.”

Colt shook his head with incredulity. “Maybe if you thought about that ahead of time, you’d have been smart enough not to murder someone. Come on.” He took Jim by his good arm and led him down to the edge of the lawn to wait for medical assistance.

Caitlyn waved to him from the Jeep. “As acting deputy, I just called the sheriff in Gillette. They have room for Hague and Tackett as soon as they’re released from the clinic. Stay at the facility with those two and don’t take your eyes off either of them.”

Caitlyn’s assertive demeanor took Colt back for a second, but he responded to her, grinning. “Yes, ma’am.”

Caitlyn nodded and called Renegade to her side. Together, the woman he loved and her dog jumped into the front seat of the sheriff’s car and drove away like they owned it. Colt chuckled under his breath. Maybe he’d hire her on as his deputy full-time once he was officially the new sheriff.

30

By the end of the following week, Caitlyn and Colt had completed processing the murderers and their accomplices along with typing up the complete investigation. The four suspects were in various county jails awaiting their official indictments and trials.

Finally, Caitlyn enjoyed a much-deserved day off. She smirked to herself as she made the last turn into her family’s ranch. As if working cattle is a day off.

Caitlyn reached over and ruffled the fur on Renegade’s head. “Ready to chase some cows?” She opened the door and hopped out of the truck, and Renegade leapt to the ground behind her.

Dylan strode out of the barn and smiled at her. It occurred to her how handsome her oldest brother was when he wasn’t scowling. He raised a hand to wave. “About time you got here. Half the day is over already.”

“Whatever.” She laughed. “Let me get Whiskey saddled up and we’re all ready to go.”

“I appreciate the help.” Dylan checked the cinch on Sampson’s saddle.

“No problem, Dyl. I’m happy to be here.” Caitlyn went into the barn to tack up her horse. It was good to be on speaking terms with her brother again after so many long months of animosity.

Together, they rode out to the farthest pasture. It was time to round up the herd and move them up to the BLM for summer grazing. Caitlyn and her brother rode side-by-side with Renegade scampering along behind them. She gazed at Dylan’s profile for a moment before she asked, “So, how are you doing?”

It took a while before he responded. “Did I tell you I offered to marry Wendy when she told me she was pregnant?”

“No, but it doesn’t surprise me. That’s the kind of man you are.”

Dylan glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “She said no. She told me she loved Jim and didn’t want to marry me, but that Jim wanted her to have an abortion.” Dylan sighed. “I tried to talk her out of it. I begged her not to do it. But I guess men don’t have any choice about the lives of their unborn babies in these situations.” He was quiet for several strides. “You know, looking back, she seemed afraid of making Hague angry.”

“And now we know why.”

“Yeah.”

They rode in silence for a minute. “I’m really sorry, Dylan.”

“I told her I would raise the baby if she didn’t want it. But nothing I said mattered to her. I don’t know why she bothered to tell me. I kinda wish she didn’t, because now I have this hole in my heart.”

Caitlyn couldn’t find the words to say. Still waters really do run deep.

Dylan chuffed. “I didn’t even know I wanted kids. But now, it’s all I can think about.”

“Well, it’s going to be hard to meet someone if you never leave the ranch.” Caitlyn teased, hoping to lighten the mood.

Her brother chuckled. “I suppose that’s true enough.”

“I have Saturday off. Let’s go out. Me and you. It’ll be fun!”

Dylan flashed her a skeptical look. “Now you want to take me wife shopping? I think I can handle that on my own.”

“I doubt it. You’ve done a pretty crappy job of it so far.”

“Hey, now.” Dylan gathered his reins. “Race you to the gate.” He closed his legs around his horse, and they bolted forward.

Caitlyn laughed and did the same, knowing she and Whiskey would never catch up to them with Dylan’s head start.

Her brother leaned down and unlatched the double gate that opened to the BLM. As one unit, Dylan and Sampson maneuvered the panels open before both riders circled the herd. Dylan tracked to the left and Caitlyn and Renegade turned to the right, gradually pushing the cows towards the open gate. Renegade surprised her, acting like a trained shepherd, instinctively herding the cows. It wasn’t long before the lead cows realized they were being guided toward open pasture and started gamboling toward the gate. By the end of the hour, Caitlyn and Dylan were securing the gate to the summer pasture and turning for home.

“I have some good news for you.” Caitlyn nudged her brother’s leg with her boot as they rode side by