Chapter Two

Jeep's feelings grow stronger that something unnatural is stalking in the range.

Chapter Two

When they reached Pearce Ridge, Jeep stayed up top with the truck, letting Matt lead the Game Warden down the hillside to where the carcass lay. His knee was beginning to complain loudly from all the physical activity. "Damn arthritis." Leaning against the tailgate of the truck, he watched as the two gestured in animated conversation below.

A screech echoed from somewhere overhead. Shielding his eyes with his hat, he looked up to catch sight of a red-tailed hawk soaring above, drifting in a circular pattern on the air current. "You just hold on there fella, we'll be out of here shortly."

He looked out over the interior of the range. The grass-covered slopes provided good grazing for stock, but the land held little use for much else. Volcanic upheaval centuries ago had hardened the land with granite and rhyolite formations. Pumice, quartz and obsidian lay strewn everywhere. Wild oaks and berry brambles dotted the hillsides, along with scrub bushes and a variety of trees providing a habitat for many forms of wildlife. He loved the wildness of this land and the wildlife thriving within.

He held a sense of pride that his ancestors were part of its history. Sixty-two years ago, he had drawn his first breath on this land, as had his father and his father before him; the good Lord willing, it will be here when he draws his last. It could be a hard life but it was a good one. He had married a local gal and fathered a son, Matt's dad. Both rest in the family cemetery near to where he was standing. Jeep had brought Matt and his mother, Grace, to share his home after his son was killed while serving in Afghanistan. When it is his time to rest in the family plot, the land will pass to Matt and his children.

Henry appeared from below shaking his head as he joined Jeep. "Hard to say what happened, varmints have desecrated that cow and the entire area. My best guess is we got us a lion on the prowl." He looked to Jeep. "Could be the same cat that took after Ludlow's mare. I'll put out the word to be on the lookout."

Jeep nodded. "Be a good idea to let everyone know to keep their kids and pets inside until it's captured." He kicked at a mound of loose dirt in frustration. "We need to move hard and fast on catching whatever is doing these killings. This is going to be costly if the ranchers have to round up and feed their stock for long." He froze as an uneasiness crept back up on him. Removing his hat, he used his forearm to wipe at beads of sweat from his brow. Turning in a full circle, he let his eyes scan the surrounding terrain...'something is out there'.

As if in answer, the sky darkened as a bank of thunder clouds moved overhead, blocking out the rays of the sun. A gust of wind shook the branches of trees, rattling their leaves to whispering as if in warning... Jeep felt a chill course down his spine. "Let's get out of here." He moved toward the truck, not waiting for the other two.

Matt's voice carried confusion and concern as he called out to the retreating back of his grandfather. "Hey Pops, you okay?"

Jeep stopped, opening the door, he called back. "You two going to stand there all day, or are you coming?"

Henry looked at Matt as they headed for the truck and shrugged. "He's not leaving without us... I've got the keys."

During the ride back to the diner, the men agreed on a plan of action. Henry would notify the authorities. Jeep would get the word out and call an emergency meeting of the landowners. He reminded Henry he would need permission from the landowners to access their properties, but under the current circumstances, he didn't think it would be a problem. Jeep said he was counting on Henry's influence and reputation within the mountain communities to sway their acceptance until they eliminated the threat.

As they neared the diner parking lot Jeep caught sight of a rusted old blue pickup parked alongside the building. "Henry, you mind dropping Mattie off at home? I need to take care of some business."

Henry nodded. "Sure, I'm going right past there."

Jeep looked at his grandson. "You get the horses in the barn and tell your momma to keep the dogs indoors for now." As he got out and shut the cab door, he leaned through the open window. "Son, mind me now, don't be taking off. You stay ta home, you hear me?"

It took Matt a moment to find his voice. "Yeah Pops... what are you going to do?"

"There's someone I need to see."

Jeep knew Matt had spotted the pickup as they pulled into the parking lot. So wasn't surprised when Matt pleaded, "Nah, Pops, don't go in there."

"Don't you never mind about me... do as you're told." Jeep slapped the side of the truck. "Henry, let me know as soon as you get word. I'll be in touch with place and time." He stepped back and watched as the truck exited the parking lot in a cloud of dust.

~~

Upon entering the diner Jeep could match each table of patrons to the vehicles parked outside. That was the benefit of having been born to families who had lived there for generations. Everyone had a connection to the range and each other, they all played a significant part of its history; past, present and future.

He spotted him sitting at the far corner table by the jukebox, eyeglasses perched on his forehead just above his eyebrows, reading a newspaper. Balding and hatless, what hair he had left was white and caught in a ponytail. His AC/DC tee shirt covered a once fit torso whose muscles had lost their tone with age. He wore a watch and ring of sterling silver and turquoise on one hand and a copper rope bracelet on the other.

Jeep moved toward the table with purpose and spoke softly. "We have problems."

"Last time someone said that to me, I had to kick the shit out of him." Martin never looked up from his newspaper as he spoke.

Jeep smirked as he grabbed a chair and sat. "Seems I remember it different."

Martin folded his newspaper carefully as he looked across at Jeep. "That's the problem with age..." he pointed to his temple, "memory gets all jumbled."

Jeep smiled. "Hello Martin, how you doin?"

Martin gave a long sigh as he reached for his coffee. "I was enjoying some peace. To what do I owe the honor of your company?"

Jeep paused as he looked long at his brother, then leaned forward and whispered. "It's time you visit the old man."

Martin Holcomb's glasses dropped to sit off kilter upon the bridge of his nose as he stared at Jeep. He straightened the spectacles, then frowned and removed them. He carefully folded the frame arms in upon themselves and placed them upon the table. "I don't even need these things except for driving." He looked across at Jeep as he tapped his brow. "Near-sighted, everything beyond a few feet is a blur." Looking back down at the folded frames, he began turning them in a slow circle on the tabletop. "Usually have no interest in seeing anything that's not up close and personal."

Jeep took a second to savor his brother's obvious discomfort before commenting. "Lost five cows."

Martin snorted. "You lost a few cows. Sounds like there's a hunting party gathering soon. What are you hunting, lion, coyote? You know some wolves have been spotted over in the foothills."

"Listen to me. I was just out there with Henry. I could feel it in the quiet; something lingering in the shadows." Jeep kept his voice low, his fear loosened itself, creating a tremor in his voice. "You go out there, see for yourself."

"What did the Game Warden surmise?"

Jeep hesitated, knowing his answer would not achieve the result he was looking for. "Lion... one went after Ludlow's mare. But..."

"No!" The abrupt shout was accompanied by a fist hitting the top of the Formica table setting the condiments to dance precariously close to its edge. A red flush coursed up Martin's face as he looked around at the startled faces of customers sitting nearby.

"Everything okay here, guys?" Debi quickly appeared with a coffeepot in hand; an open attempt to diffuse any arguments. She bent forward and whispered. "Maybe take this outside, huh?"

Raising an open hand to the room in submission, Martin raised his empty coffee cup for a refill. He smiled in reassurance as he looked up at the young, nervous face of the waitress. "Sorry, we'll keep it down."

Jeep sat back in his chair, eyeing the brother that sat across from him, his own face now flush from anger. He remained silent as he slowly shook his head from side to side, his mouth set in a firm line.

Martin sat looking at a point on the far wall, his hand moving the spoon in his cup in a slow, circular motion.

Jeep suddenly stood. Stepping next to his brother, he leaned down and whispered in his ear. "Pearce Ridge, see for yourself." He turned and left without a further word.

~~

Henry slowed as he pulled onto the dirt road that led back toward the mountain and Matt's house. "Rural America, gotta love it..."

He had moved to the area after accepting the assignment with Fish and Game a little over five years ago. Single and childless, Henry had become an integral part of the mountain community as the only form of local law enforcement. Having no genetic ties to the Range, he would always be an outsider. It took several years for his status in the community to be elevated to that of a 'trusted outsider.' He kept a tight rein on trespassers and poachers; the landowners appreciated having Henry in their midst.

The house sat back a good quarter mile off the road. The Holcomb's house was an el-shaped one level ranch house that was built in the early forties and butted up against the slope of the mountain. Several trees shaded the western exterior of the white shingled structure. The front door sat on the eastern side of the house sheltered under a wrap around porch.

Brown grasses studded with rocks covered the mountain slope. A few wild oaks provided some shade to the otherwise barren landscape. Matt told him that after finding the dead cows, he and his grandfather had rounded up the rest of their stock and brought them to the hillside that was now dotted with the black and brown hides of a few hundred grazing cattle.

A large, old two-story barn sat to the right front of the house, its gray weathered spines sitting upon a rock foundation. The front section of the walls held loose fitting boards, allowing sunlight to seep through. Its large opening revealed a hard-packed dirt floor that disappeared into shadow towards the back. An opening overhead led to an open loft equipped with a beam supporting a rusted hay elevator; evidence of loose straw dangling from its steel claws laid evidence it was still functional.

The boards of the barn's back walls were fitted together tightly, providing protection from sun and weather. Henry could barely make out the image of stalls in the dim dark back interior. The roof, though its slope sagged in places, seemed solid. Several obvious fixes marked evidence of decay over the years. Pieces of rusting tin positioned here and there, covering worn spots, create a haphazard patchwork effect.

Henry asked Matt, "how old is that barn?"

The boy shrugged. "Dunno, I see it in some pictures on the walls Pops has..." He frowned. "Never thought to ask, but I'd say a hundred years at least." He looked at Henry and grinned. "Old, like everything else around here."

Henry chuckled. "That it appears to be... very old."

Matt nodded toward the house. "There's Mom."

Henry pulled the truck to a stop where the driveway ended. Opening his door, he stopped and waved to the woman standing on the porch steps with her hand raised, shielding her eyes from the glare of the afternoon sun. "Hi Grace, dropping off your boy."

Grace Holcomb was a vision of loveliness in Henry's eyes. Her long dark hair was lying in a loose braid against one shoulder. The hue of her skin suggested Latino or Indian influence in her heritage. Her skin glistened with a sheen of perspiration as she smiled and waved a questioning hello. "What has he done now?"

Henry chuckled at the question. "He's not in trouble, just doing a favor." The last time he had brought Matt home, it was with a warning about shooting ducks out of season. He had heard through the rumor mill Grace was harder on the boy than an understanding Jeep. According to local gossip, Jeep has had a rifle misfire upon occasion and a feather or two fall from the sky.

Matt was coming around the back of the truck as his mother asked, "Where's your grandfather?"

"He wanted to stay at the diner for a minute to talk to someone." Henry noticed Matt didn't mention who that someone was.

She looked from Matt to Henry. "Well, thanks for bringing him home." She smiled shyly then offered, "I just made a pot of coffee. Would you like to come in?"

Matt stepped past them, opening the screen door, "Come on in... its cooler in the house." He disappeared through the doorway, leaving the adults on the steps. A hoot of triumph came from inside, "I thought I smelled cookies."

A smiling Grace motioned to the Game Warden as she followed her son into the house. "Please, come in."

"Thank you. I appreciate the offer." He smiled at her through the closed screen door, "a raincheck maybe?"

She frowned and stepped back out onto the porch. "What is it? What's wrong?" She stopped him on the bottom step. Her brown eyes coming level with his own. "Should I be worried?"

Henry paused; he didn't want to worry her needlessly, but there was good reason for caution. "You know about the dead cattle?"

She nodded toward the hillside. "They brought the stock down. Did you find what is killing them?"

"It could very well be a mountain lion." He smiled in assurance. "I need to get the landowners together and put the word out. It would be a good idea to keep the dogs in close and keep an eye out on the stock." He told her about Ludlow's mare being attacked. "Usually, they only kill for food. I am concerned we have a killer on our hands." He shrugged. "Maybe a rabid cat. When you go outside, have someone with you. And a rifle." He touched her elbow and squeezed it softly. "Just to be on the safe side."

Her brow creased with concern. "There are families with small children out here."

"That is why I can't stay. I need to get everyone on board to what is going on." He smiled as he stepped off the porch, "You see anything, call me... And tell that boy of yours not to eat all those cookies, save one for me."

~~

Grace stayed on the steps and watched as he backed out to where he could turn his truck around and disappear down the drive. Her hand found its way to her elbow, where just a few moments before he had touched her. A small smile played at the corners of her mouth. She wouldn't say the Game Warden was handsome, but he was pleasant to look at with his short curly blonde hair. A face full of freckles and a pair of blue eyes that twinkled when he smiled. Yes, he was definitely pleasant on the eyes.

A loud barking brought her attention to the cattle on the hillside. Barney, their Blue Healer, was herding a cow and her calf back down the hill. Flip, the Border collie, was working from the other end. She turned to the house, "Mattie, bring the horses in... and don't eat all those cookies." She stepped into the coolness of the house, "I'm going to make some calls and let the neighbors know what's going on...Who did you say Jeep stayed to talk too?"