Peril by Ponytail (A Bad Hair Day Mystery) (23 page)

When it didn’t appear as though Marla could convince the young housekeeper to say more, she headed back to her hacienda up a sandy path. As she climbed higher, the view stretched to encompass the saguaro forest and the mountains beyond.

A side road branched off, twisting into the distance. Marla did a double take. Had she seen a woman in a white dress and wearing a hat waving at her? But after she blinked, the lady was gone.

Marla dodged past the sign that said Staff Only. This might be a back route to the barbecue pit as it seemed to go in the same direction. She swallowed past a dry throat, realizing she needed to drink more water in this moisture-free climate. Her hair elevated in the static electricity, and her nasal membranes throbbed.

The vegetation grew thicker on either side of her, surprising her with its denseness. Saguaro stalks poked up from among the shrubbery, aiming toward the sky. Ahead, the hills took on a bluish tint in the afternoon sun. Weedy brown grasses grew wild, obscuring the soil and any critters that might live there. In between were large patches of reddish dirt.

Stepping around a rock, she continued along for a short distance before coming to a broken-down wagon that decorated the side of the road. Further along appeared to be a parking area, because a glint of metal hit her eyes. Sure enough, this must be where the staff brought in supplies for the outdoor barbecue dinners. A side road must cut between the areas. Guests could walk from the ranch down the other road.

But who was that up ahead? She paused next to a hedgehog cactus and a branching ocotillo plant. Having to squint to see better through her sunglasses, she wondered if her prescription needed changing. At least she could make out the wiry figure in the cowboy hat talking to another guy. The second fellow handed something to the wrangler she recognized as Kevin Franks. He stuck the item in his pocket.

Wait, was that Matthew Brigham, the engineer from town? What was he doing way out here? Marla hadn’t realized the two men were acquainted.

“Hey, fellows,” she called, waggling her fingers in the air.

They glanced at her in unison, exchanged a few more words, and then scattered. Brigham jumped into his car, while Franks disappeared into a thicket of vegetation. Moments later, she leapt out of the way as Brigham’s car zoomed past.

When she’d recovered her wits and the dust cleared, she spied Franks galloping away on a horse that he must have had tethered nearby. Why had they reacted as though spooked instead of offering her a friendly greeting and asking if she’d gotten lost? And who had that woman been on the trail? Had it been an apparition directing her there? If so, for what reason? To catch these guys meeting together for some clandestine purpose? From the way they’d taken off at her arrival, it certainly appeared as though they’d wished to avoid recognition.

Pondering these issues, she trudged back toward the main road. She’d reached the front stoop of her hacienda when her cell phone rang.

“Annie, is that you? What’s up?” she said upon noting the caller I.D.

“I have news,” the younger woman stated in a breathless tone. “Eleanor Reardon contacted me.”

“What?” Marla pressed the phone tighter against her ear.

“She’s all right, and Christine is with her. Mrs. Reardon wanted to apologize for missing our appointment. Can you imagine? The poor woman said she’d spoken to the police. Somebody had called her the morning of her husband’s death and warned her to leave the house along with her daughter.”

“Why would she obey without telling anyone? Did she know who it was?”

“No, she didn’t recognize the man’s voice, and her cell said unknown caller.”

“That’s odd.”

“The person said if she told Tate or anyone else, he’d reveal what he knew about her.”

“And what was that?”

“She’d been having an affair with Garrett Long.”

“Tate Reardon’s wife was having an affair with the forest ranger?” Standing in the middle of their hacienda, Dalton stared at her incredulously. He had returned from his consultation with Wayne, and she’d burst out with her news before giving him a chance to speak. “I wonder if the sheriff knows.”

“I’d bet he does. Do you think this is what the psychic meant about looking closer to home? Sheriff Beresby did say he was checking into the personal angle regarding Garrett’s death. That would include family members and close associates.”

“But how did the woman even meet Garrett Long?”

“Tate worked long hours at the water bottling plant. Perhaps his wife was lonely and ran into Garrett in town. Or maybe she visited the nature center and took a fancy to him there.”

Dalton scraped stiff fingers through his hair. “This development puts a whole new spin on things.”

“Do you believe the same person who killed Garrett also murdered Mr. Reardon?”

“The sheriff ascribes his death to a gas leak.”

“Yes, it was a convenient accident, same as Garrett Long falling off a ledge in a place where every rock must have been known to him.” They locked gazes. “Garrett was married, wasn’t he? We haven’t heard much about his wife. Sherry, isn’t it? If she’d known about her husband’s illicit affair, she would have a motive to get rid of them both.”

Dalton’s brows knitted together. “That doesn’t make sense. I could see her eliminating her wandering spouse, but why kill Tate Reardon instead of Eleanor?”

“Yes, I see your point. And it would have to be a separate issue from the problems at the dude ranch and the ghost town. There’s still something we’re missing.” Her face brightened. “Guess who I just saw together? I spotted Kevin the wrangler talking to Matthew Brigham.”

“And who is he again?”

“He’s the district engineer responsible for the inspections at the bottling plant. Brigham handed Kevin something, but I couldn’t see what it was. The men split when they noticed me. They met on a side road for staff only.”

“Interesting, but I’m more concerned about Wayne. He and Uncle Ray are going to pay Donovan a visit to see what the man knows about the copper mine. If you want to come along, get your things. I’m joining them to make sure tempers don’t escalate.”

“I wouldn’t miss this chance to meet the guy, although Jesse says he’s not to blame for the incidents here. I caught up to Juanita, the housekeeper. She said Jesse needs proof for his theories before he’ll tell anyone about them.”

“Theories about what?”

She shrugged. “Who wired the trail where Carol rides every day, perhaps, and the other acts of sabotage around the ranch.”

Dalton’s lips pressed together. “I wish the sheriff would tell us what he knows. It’s so frustrating not being included. I can’t help my cousin with only partial knowledge.”

Stepping forward, she rubbed his arm. “You’re doing your best. We’ll get to the bottom of this. Maybe Hugh Donovan will shed light on things.”

She ran into the bathroom, fixed her hair and makeup, and hastened outside to join her husband. Raymond had arrived by the time they returned to the lobby. Wayne sat them all inside his four-wheel drive SUV, and they tore off down the road.

A half hour later, Marla studied the view as they approached the Donovan ranch. Shady trees and strategically placed cacti adorned the granite chip landscape in front of the main house. Beyond stretched a series of corrals and occasional outbuildings.

When ringing the doorbell brought no answer, Raymond indicated the fenced enclosures. “Hugh must be out in the field.”

Wayne shaded his eyes with a hand. “Somebody’s coming. They must have spotted us.”

A couple of men trotted over on horseback and dismounted. The younger guy’s profile seemed familiar, but the older man attracted Marla’s attention. His folded brows and tense mouth didn’t bode well for their visit. While the other fellow tended to the horses, this one strode over, a camel-colored cowboy hat on his head and knee-high leather boots on his feet.

“What are you doing here, Raymond?”

“I came to tell you to stop harassing me, Hugh.” Raymond’s voice rang out loud and clear, piercing the air like a rifle shot on a quiet day.

The two elders sized each other up. Hugh had aged better than Raymond, Marla concluded. His skin didn’t show the ravages of time same as Dalton’s uncle, although they had to be close in age. Something that looked like regret flared in their eyes as they stared each other down like two gunslingers at an Old West battle. These men had been friends before tragedy tore them apart. Did they yearn for forgiveness? Or were they so accustomed to casting blame on each other that an avalanche couldn’t move them?

Hugh jabbed a finger at his visitor. “You have nerve to come here, where my stock is suffering because of your actions, and you tell me to back off?”

“Stop these pranks before someone else gets seriously hurt.”

“I have no idea what you mean.”

“We have a saboteur on our ranch and at my project. Likely they’re working for you to undermine my properties.”

“You’re insane. I could say the same for you. Did you sneak somebody in here to poison our feed? Is it your intent to kill off my cattle?”

“Hey, guys, let’s be rational about this.” Wayne raised his hand in a stop sign. He glanced at the younger man whose features puzzled Marla.

Why did she get the feeling she’d seen him before?

“Ben, how have you been?” Wayne said. “This is my cousin and his wife, Marla and Dalton Vail. They’re visiting from back east.”

Ben tipped his hat at them, his expression wary. “What Pop says is true. We’ve had offers to sell. They have to be coming from you. You’ve always coveted our property. Pop claims you and he used to talk about merging the ranches when you were kids.”

“Those were pipe dreams, son.” Raymond glowered at him. “Any plans we had shattered when Harry died. He should never have gone into that mine.”

Marla clutched her handbag under one arm, wishing for some shade. What did Raymond hope to accomplish here?

“The past is over and done, Ray. You can’t bring that boy back. God knows I’d want the same thing. Revenge is a petty way of getting even. You kill my livelihood, and you kill me. Is that what you’re after?”

“You’re the one who’s trying to shut down my operations. We’ve had incidents. Are you telling me your people are not responsible?”

“What sort of incidents are you blaming me for, Ray? Or is this a way to shuffle suspicion off yourself?”

Wayne mentioned the acts of sabotage. “Somebody is behind them. If not you, then who?”

Dalton stepped forward. “If you’ll allow me to intervene, it appears both of you are suffering from a targeted effort.” He eyed the opposition. “You’ve accused my uncle of tainting your feed. Have you had it analyzed?”

Hugh stroked his bearded jaw. “Well, no. We’ve had a drought in these parts, too. I figured Raymond’s project is at fault. He needs water for the construction. He’s siphoning from our stream up on the mountain, and I doubt he pays the town for what he takes.”

“I have permits for the work, you asshole. The council has seen my surveys and the engineering reports. The more farsighted among them can see how the ghost town will be a boon to the area. It’ll bring in jobs and tourists as well as tax dollars.”

“Yes, but at the expense of the environment.”

“So are your cattle actually sick?” Dalton persisted. “Have you had them examined by a veterinarian? Or is their grazing ground merely suffering from the dry conditions, and they’re feeling the effects?”

Marla grinned at him in approval. He was trying to get them to examine the evidence rather than fling accusations back and forth.

“It’s more than lack of water, although that’s one problem. The vet has been here. Doc says they aren’t right, but he can’t pinpoint the cause.”

“Why do I care what happens on your ranch, Hugh?” Raymond’s mouth pinched. “I wouldn’t waste my effort hiring someone to contaminate your feed. There’s enough to keep me busy on my own properties.”

“Exactly. You don’t care what happens elsewhere. That project of yours is an abomination.”

“Are you joining the environmentalists now?”

“No, but you should watch out for them. They target places like yours.”

“Otto Lovelace up on the mountain seems to fear them more.” Marla finally spoke up. These two men seemed too obstinate to look beyond their own noses. “From what I’ve heard, he has armed guards patrol the perimeter of his water bottling plant.”

“Have you considered that his operation might be contaminating your soil?” Dalton asked with a raised eyebrow.

“That’s nonsense. Water bottling is a clean industry, and he’d have nothing to gain. Lovelace is right to protect his property. Maybe I should start doing the same.”

“I’ll bet you know about those caves,” Raymond said with a snort of derision, “and you’re secretly trying to acquire my property.”

“What the hell are you talking about now?”

A black bird soared into the sky, dipped toward them, and then rose toward the hills. Marla’s gaze followed it toward a white plume of vapor. Was Lovelace’s facility situated directly above the Donovan ranch?

“We’ve discovered somebody has secretly reopened the copper mine,” Raymond added.

Hugh gave a cackle of disbelief. “Tell me another story.”

“All right.” Raymond hooked his thumbs into his belt and widened his stance. “You’ve discovered it’s profitable again to extract the ore, or else you want the side products. You know the tunnels underlie my renovation project, so you’ve hired somebody to cause accidents and spook my workers. Well, we found the body of my missing employee. He fell down a ventilation shaft that had been exposed.”

“So, what does that prove? You know these mountains are riddled with tunnels. We both understand the dangers.”

“Marla and Dalton hired a guide and went exploring. Someone has an operation going down there.”

“It ain’t me, Ray. Now I don’t know if you’re full of hogwash or not, but if this is true, you should tell the sheriff.” His expression turned canny. “Or maybe you don’t want Luke to snoop around too much.”

“Meaning what? Spit it out, Hugh.”

Wayne and Ben exchanged an exasperated glance. Marla wondered if they’d ever had the chance to get to know each other. Probably not, considering how their fathers harbored so much resentment. Did the younger Donovan know about his mother’s dalliance with Raymond? That would put him solidly on his father’s team. Could he have been acting without Hugh’s knowledge against a family enemy?