Chapter 32
The county attorney advised the detectives that the charges were appropriate and to let the court sort it out. Fred and Oriole wrapped up the investigation into Lisa’s death, the pornography, the embezzlement, and the blackmail. It was well after midnight when they left downtown Prescott.
“You guys got home late last night. Any news on your case?” Summer asked over coffee at 9:00 the next morning.
“It’s a wrap. Three suspects, three separate cases, lots of charges.” Oriole said in between bites of toast and bacon.
“There’s a lot of finger pointing going on. We may never know who did what, but at least the dirty hands are in custody.” Fred chimed in sipping coffee and stuffing his face with waffles.
“Whose hands are dirty?” Chalcey came in through the screen door from doing chores looking at her hands. “I washed up in the barn.”
“Not you, honey, the case we just finished. Come here and give your ma a kiss.”
“Are you and Fred taking the day off? Does that mean we get to do something fun? Will you guys work with me on the opening ceremonies?”
“Cupcake. We’re going to take the whole day off. I’ll saddle up Red and you eat breakfast and then we’ll put him through his paces. Your mom can go soak in a tub or wash windows or whatever her little heart desires. She did one heck of a job. You have a right to be proud of her.” Fred put his arm around Chalcey and kissed the top of her head while grabbing his hat and winking at Oriole.
The day was spent in ranch leisure, scooping, mending, stacking, hauling, and watering. The physical labor was a welcomed end to weeks of tension and paperwork. Summer prepared a celebratory supper of baked cod with garden salad, fresh garden vegetables, and homemade bread.
"I think we all deserve a party to celebrate our solution to the case. What say we get something going for Saturday? We could put together a picnic and go for a trail ride. I have a new trail I want to investigate." Fred spoke slowly and clearly although anyone who really knew him would have been able to tell he was excited about something.
"Fred, you've been secretive about something for weeks now. What's up with you? Are you sick or something?" Oriole asked as she cocked her head to one side to scrutinize her partner.
"I've no idea what you're talking about. I think we all deserve some down time and I'm willing to put it together so we can have fun and relax. What's wrong with that?" Fred mustered up his best look of insulted hurt.
"Look Fred, if you're up to something, tell me. I can keep a secret with the best of them. I'm dying here."
"Saturday will be here before you know it and we'll all saddle up and ride this new trail. Now leave it be, Snoopy."
Fred left Oriole twisting in the wind, placed a call to the deli for sandwiches and salads and drinks for Saturday, then called the florist shop to have them deliver a big bouquet to Crimson Ranch house, and finally Fred drove into town to buy a new pair of jeans and a Resistol for the occasion.
Dawn broke Saturday morning to find Fred in the barn getting everything organized for the trail ride. Saddles were oiled, tack checked for tears and breaks, horses hooves were examined for stones, and Gus the mule was lined up for work. Fred’s excitement carried on the air, electrifying the animals.
By 10:00 in the morning everything was ready for the Bear women. Sensing fun was afoot, the women had donned their best trail outfits: Summer wore a soft leather split gaucho riding skirt with matching bolero; Marlowe had chosen brand new Q Baby stretch boot pants with a leather fringed jacket and Luchese boots in dark mahogany; Oriole, never to be bested by her mother or grandmother, wore chaps and spurs, with her best Levis; and Chalcey chose her rodeo outfit of royal blue sequined top and tan trousers.
The riders moved out at a gentle pace following the trail to the south pasture and up over the rise to the creek beyond. The women would take turns riding with Fred to ask about this special trail they were seeking, but Fred kept silent drawing out the "excitement."
Marlowe had moved Buttercup up to join Fred, "Okay, Mr. O'Neill, tell me where we're going. Is there a trail I've missed over the 50 years I've been riding?"
"My dear, you will just have to wait like all the others. Shortly, your questions will have answers." Fred smiled and rode ahead.
As they rounded the knoll and eased into the valley that abuts Crimson Ranch, Fred called a halt to tighten his cinch. "When was the last time any of us looked in on Crimson to see how things were holding up with Rod gone?" He asked in general.
"I haven't had time to go over there since right after Rod moved out." Summer offered.
"Maybe we should take a detour from our leisure and check the barn and the fences and the house just to make sure nothing is out of place." Fred suggested surreptitiously, moving the women toward his new home and his surprise for them.
The five horsemen rode into Crimson's yard and dismounted. Fred walked rapidly up to the front door and turned the knob. "Hey, the door's open. Maybe we should check the house first."
The women approached the door, Oriole in the lead, as Fred opened the door and stepped back to display the banner of welcome home and the bouquet of flowers announcing the new owner.
"Oh my God, Fred that's why you've been so secretive. You bought Crimson. Congratulations." Oriole put her arms around Fred and gave him a tight hug.
"I'm glad to see Crimson with you. You will be good for each other. Welcome neighbor." Summer looked Fred in the eye and hugged him.
"Uncle Fred, you can't ever leave now. And you can teach me all the things a kid my age should know and we can train Pelo together. I'm so excited." Chalcey put her arms around Fred's waist and squeezed.
"My turn." Marlowe moved in closer to Fred and the others all took a step back. "This means you're truly settling down and really moving on with your life. If I remember right, you have some delicacies on that pack mule and Rod left a dining room table. Let's eat. Chalcey you and Oriole pack in the food, Summer would you be so kind as to help them." Taking the hint the others left Marlowe with Fred.
"I'm so happy, but I'm also sad. I liked you hanging out at the ranch. I liked seeing you at the end of the day. I enjoy our time together. Maybe I'm a little jealous or disappointed. Maybe I'm feeling sorry for me." Marlowe put her head on his shoulder and he put his arms around her.
"I'm not gone. We can get together here even more than at Bear and with fewer prying eyes. Not that anyone of them is nosey. I don't mean that. And it's not that I'm saying you have to spend the night, I mean not unless you want to and you don't even have to spend the night if you worry about the ones back home. Oh, hell, Marlowe. Help me here. Every time I try to tell you what you are to me, I get all tongue tied and you sure as hell don't help. I went to the hardware store and made two extra keys-one for you and one for Summer to keep like she always did for Rod. Here." Fred handed Marlowe a jeweler's velvet box. Marlowe opened it to find a shiny new key on a Kokepeli key ring.
"Fred, how absolutely romantic. Can I show the others?" She kissed him on the cheek.
"No, you cannot show Chalcey or Oriole. Summer probably knows simply because she knows everything all the time anyway."
"What do I know all the time anyway?" Summer pushed open the door and carried the basket to the dining room table.
"Nothing, Summer. Fred was just admiring the fact that you are so wise." Marlowe smiled up at Fred, winked and whispered, "Our little secret."
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1M. Alex Harris lives and works in Prescott, Arizona. Born in Oregon, she attended the University of Oregon and Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College in Portland. For the last two decades, she has served as an attorney, judge, mediator, and teacher, handling a wide variety of cases: death penalty to special education issues. She and her husband have an Appaloosa,(Spottypants), two goats, two dogs and at last count, five grandchildren. For the last 30 years, she has taught at community colleges and universities sharing her love of education with others. As a forme
r law enforcement officer, her husband, Kevin McCarthy, provides technical advice for her books
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