Page 86 of River Ride

“Sounds like the driver couldn’t get far hurt that bad,” said Willy. “Maybe he crawled into the bush and bled out. Wolves will make a meal of him or more likely a cougar dragged him off. The mountain cats like to hide their food and save it for later.”

“Could happen just that way,” said the sheriff. “The driver had a girl with him and her belongings were in the truck. Her name is Tammy Bristol. Deputy Sheriff, Tammy Bristol. She’s a wanted fugitive and she’s written up as armed and dangerous.”

Willy smiled. “I ain’t seen anybody but if I see either one of them, I’ll call the office.”

“Thanks, Doc. Appreciate it.”

Willy took George and Gracie into the cabin and locked the door.

“I should leave, Willy-John. I’m only going to cause trouble for you. You’re a good, sweet person, and I’m poison to everyone around me.”

Tammy held out her good arm and the dogs ran over to her. “My dad has nice dogs.”

“Where’s your father, Tammy?”

“In Montana. He’s the sheriff up near the Canadian border. That’s where I came from. Way up north, but I can’t go back. Too many bad things have happened and I’m responsible for most of them.”

“All that can wait, Tammy. Today and for at least the next week, you have to stay here and heal. You are not ready to go anywhere. I mean that. You physically can’t be moved right now. You have some extremely serious wounds that are trying to heal.”

“I’m in your bed and you only have one.”

“I have a spare in the barn out back and I plan on bringing it in and setting it up for you today. Not a problem.” He stood up and examined the leg propped on the pillow. “This is an animal bite and a vicious one. Was it a dog?”

“Yes, a huge black dog named, Cleo.”

“You knew the owner?”

“I know him, but I’m never going to see him again. I realize now that all my problems came from loving the wrong person. He’s a serial killer and I wouldn’t believe it when my step-mama told me that. Everything I did, was because of him. When the police find me, I’ll be going to jail for the rest of my life.”

Willy-John listened to the story Tammy told and felt bad for her. Another ruined life. Her story had a familiar ring to it.

Harrison County Courthouse. Coyote Creek.

Travis was happy to see lawyers from the DA’s office in Cut Bank sitting at the prosecutor’s table for the arraignment of Graham Arnott and Trevor Carpenter.

They would have stiff competition from Van Cedar, counsel for the Arnott boy. He was a competent attorney and would present a solid argument for bail.

Cases were called one by one, and Graham Arnott was called before Trevor Carpenter.

Mister and Mrs. Arnott sat across the aisle anxious to see their son and they were probably paying big bucks to Mister Van Cedar.

Graham stood in front of the judge and entered his plea of not guilty. Standard practice. Rare that anyone pleaded guilty anymore.

The judge spoke a few words to Graham and then Van Cedar argued for bail. First offense, two loving parents, about to go to college in September—all the usual stuff.

Bail was granted and the amount was high for murder of a state employee. A million dollars. The Arnotts would have to come up with a tenth of that. Cash or collateral of some sort.

They followed the bailiff, Mister Van Cedar and their son out of the courtroom and onto the next phase of freeing young Graham.

Trevor Carpenter was next. The bailiff brought him into the courtroom, and he had no lawyer to speak for him. His father was dead and wasn’t watching over him like before. Trevor was on his own.

The bailiff placed him in front of the judge, and he stood there staring. He answered the judge’s questions, then waited whilethe DA’s representative spoke with the judge about the dangers of granting bail to Trevor Carpenter, who’d previously been charged with two other murders.

Travis held his breath while the judge made his decision and this time he sided with the DA’s office and refused to grant Trevor bail.

“No bail. The prisoner will be held in the county jail until his court date. Case dismissed.”

“We’re getting Trevor back, Dad,” said Virgil. “He’s the asshole of the two. I’d rather have Graham.”

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