Page 33 of Rocky Ride

“Oh, yeah. Bob was a great guy. Me and my husband, Charlie, went over to their house at least once a week for a game of cards.”

“You socialized with the Ellingtons a lot?”

“Uh huh. They were fun. Bob loved Sandy and he was always buying her little gifts. When I found out she was getting stuff on the side, I didn’t want to believe it at first. Poor Bob. He’s such a sweet guy.”

“Did Sandra tell you about the other man in her life?” asked Billy.

“Men,” Cassie corrected Billy. “More than one. She kept them a secret and wouldn’t tell me their names. It was funny to her—like a game she was playing, trying not to get caught.”

“Did you see these men coming or going from her house?”

“No. I didn’t see the guys, but I saw the Jeep one of them drove and the other guy drove a pickup. Dark red, I think. I didn’t spy on Sandy if that’s what you’re thinking. She was my best friend and I’d never betray her. I’d never tell Bob what was going on, even though I felt a little guilty for not doing it.”

Cassie began sobbing again, and between sobs said, “She was teaching me how to cook.”

“If you think of anything later, Cassie, I’ll leave a card for you. Or you can stop in at the station on Main Street anytime.”

“Thanks, Sheriff Johnson.”

Back in the squad Virge said, “She dumped a new load of shit on the case, boss. Who are those guys Sandra was screwing around with?”

“That’s what we have to find out, Virge. One of those two guys is probably our killer.”

“Fuck. I wish I knew their names.”

“Same.”

Wild Stallion Ranch.

“Billy and the boys are at work,” said Travis, “and can’t help me with the front steps, so it’s probably easiest if I came in the back door. You can drive around behind the house.”

“Sure,” said Sunday. “The dogs seem happy to be home. Yep. Lots of room for them to run. How much land have you got here, Dale?”

“A thousand acres.”

“Huge ranch.”

Sunday parked close to the back door and shut the engine off. “A lot less snow down here.”

“I’m thankful for that. For every snowstorm we have, highway accidents increase, and we end up with half a dozen people hurt or killed.”

“Hard to believe you’re the sheriff.” She gave him a hard stare and shook her head in disbelief.

Travis leaned on the crutch as he unlocked the back door. Sunday followed him inside and shivered.

“The house is chilly.”

“Woodstove in the front room is probably out.”

“I’ll get it going.”

“You don’t have to work the minute you get here, Sunday.”

“I can’t sit on my hands, Dale. I’ll unload the truck when I’ve got the stove going. You sit yourself down and put your leg up.”

Travis plunked down on a chair because he couldn’t do much else and propped his leg up on the coffee table. He pulled out his phone and called Harlan.

“Hey, Dad, you got service.”

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