Chapter 9
Katie was beginning to think that things couldn’t get any stranger, but one trip to the mailbox would prove her wrong. There was a letter addressed to Ms. Katie Warren-Jones. Strange that someone would put that and send it to this address. She looked for a return address or a postmark but found neither. She opened it and found a typed letter. It read:
Katie,
I hope by the time you read this, things are beginning to fall into place. I know this is all hard to understand put please don’t give up. Best thing to do is to get out of your father’s house. Go to the ranch and live there. It’s the perfect place to figure things out, and it’s where you belong. You will love it there and you will be much safer. Do this as soon as you can. I must close now. Will contact you later.
That’s how it ended. No signature, no name, no identification whatsoever. Katie was beginning to get really worried and scared. She had no idea who wrote this letter or how they knew all these things, but she had a feeling that she had to do what they said.
Katie talked to Billy’s parents and they agreed to let her live on the ranch. It was about forty-five minutes from her father. She decided that she wouldn’t tell him where she was going until she found out why he was acting so strange. Katie began packing all her belongings and told her father she was leaving but didn’t say to where. She told him that, if anything came up, to call her on her cell phone. That would be the only way he could contact her. Then she thought about Brian. How would he know? How would he contact her? Just then the phone rang.
It was Brian. He told Katie that he hadn’t had any luck finding out more information but that he contacted someone who might help. She told him she was leaving and to contact her on her cell phone from now on. She decided not to tell Brian where she was going either. So, bright and early the next morning Katie left for the ranch.
She arrived and had most of her stuff unpacked by lunch. She took a break to eat then went right back to work. The beautiful house was beginning to look like a home. About dusk she decided to take a walk and explore the area.
Katie had forgotten what a beautiful place the ranch was. The main house was two stories. It was an old log home. The outside had cherry stain and also a huge wrap around deck. The house was not more than 10 years old. She remembered when Mr. Jones had a new one built. She had always loved log houses and was now living in one of the biggest, most beautiful in the south.
At one time this had been a live working ranch. She remembered going there a few times with Billy. His grandfather ran the place until he grew too ill to do so. Billy loved the ranch and even worked on it. That’s why his grandfather gave it to him. He knew Billy would take care of it and get it up and running again. This ranch had a very good reputation. Many award-winning horses came from there. There were some champion barrel racers, equestrian champions and even a few Derby winners. Katie decided that she would somehow get it running again. After all, it was Billy’s dream.
She decided that she must first get the best horse trainers in the business. Katie figured she had enough money in her stocks and bonds to get off the ground, so she began her search. It didn’t take her long to find Mark Dean. He was one of the top guys in the horse business. Mark told her that he had worked for Billy’s grandfather. He agreed to work for her and help hire the rest of the trainers and ranch hands.
In two weeks Katie had hired 25 people to work on the ranch. Among them were trainers, horse breakers, riders, ranch hands, a stable staff, and a cooking and cleaning staff. She now had everything she needed and decided to make Mark the Ranch Boss. He would oversee all the trainers, breakers, riders, hands, and stable staff. Katie would run the business and also give riding lessons.
A month after Katie had moved to the ranch, everything was going great. The ranch was coming along and making more money than Katie could ever dream. People obviously remembered the name Circle J Ranch and the reputation that went with it. Katie had almost forgotten about the mystery with Billy until Brian called.
“Katie, how are things?”
“Great Brian. How’s the investigation business?”
“Well, not sure. I found out something strange this morning.”
“Really? What?”
“Well, a friend of mine on base got the report on the mission we were on when Billy died. The report says that the mission was a success. It reads, ‘The recovery team successfully recovered the POW’s and injured. All eight team members returned to base and were debriefed. Some members were released and others were given new orders.’ Think anything sounds strange Katie?”
“Not really.”
“Katie, it says all eight members returned home but all didn’t. Billy died. It doesn’t say anything about that.”
“Are you sure that’s what it says?”
“Katie, I am holding it in my hand.”
“Brian, I want to see that report. I am living at the ranch now. Can you come out there?”
“Well, maybe. Tell you what, set me a spot at the dinner table, and I’ll be there.”
“Okay, hope you don’t mind eating with all my workers.”
“Not at all, just as long as we can talk privately afterwards.”
“You got it. See you around seven. Bye Brian.”
Chapter 10
Brian arrived about five minutes ‘til seven. Katie’s maid, Ms. Sue, answered the door.
“I’m Brian Walker.”
“Yes, Mr. Walker. Everyone is chatting in the den. Please have a seat.”
“Thank you.” Brian walked in and saw Katie sitting in a chair by the fireplace.
She was smiling and laughing while chatting with the workers. Katie looked up and saw him. She immediately stood up and introduced him. Everyone welcomed him then resumed their conversation. Katie walked toward Brian and hugged him. She was surprised by his dress. He was dressed causal but nice and even dressed to fit the ranch atmosphere. Brian wore black jeans that fit him nicely, cowboy boots, a white long sleeved shirt, and a black suede vest.
Just as they began talking, Ms. Sue called everyone for dinner. Katie could see that Brian was somewhat uncomfortable with all the guys. She slowly got him in the conversation and before long, he was cutting up and acting just like them. They sat around the table almost two hours before Mark finally stood up.
“Okay, boys, we’ve got work to do. Let’s go.”
With that the room instantly cleared. Katie ushered Brian out to the huge front porch where it was cooler.
“You don’t mind meeting out here do you? I like sitting out here at night.”
“No, not at all. It’s nice. Here’s the mission report you wanted.”
Katie took the report and read over it several times. It read just how Brian had said.
“Okay Brian, you said Billy was murdered. What’s this all about?”
“Katie, this is long and difficult but you deserve to know. I am sure you heard the story of the mission and how Billy covered us as we headed for the chopper, which is true. As he returned to the chopper, the enemy fire slowly stopped, but just as he turned to get in, he was shot. This is all true but you were never told where that shot came from. I was the only one who saw because everyone else was helping with the wounded. As Billy jumped in, the officer in charge of our mission, Major Miller, pulled out his boot pistol and shot Billy in the chest. Major Miller then yelled that Billy had been shot. He saw me looking at him and knows I saw it. When we returned to base, I reported it. A few days later I was relieved of my duties.”
“He was shot by his commanding officer? I don’t believe this. Why?”
“Katie, I don’t know but things got stranger. I was looking at Billy while he was lying there and he didn’t seem in very much pain for just having been shot in the chest.
Sgt. Clark, the medic, yelled to Major Miller, ‘Give him his shot.’ Major Miller reached in his pack, pulled out a shot, and gave it to Billy. Five minutes later they said he was dead. Now the strange part is, why was the major carrying a shot?”
“Brian, this is all so confusing. For some reason, the Army wanted Billy dead but why and what did his dying have to do with this ranch?”
“What do you mean by that Katie?”
“Well, you said his last words were, ‘Tell Katie the key is in the deed.’ So what did that have to do with his death? The Army has no use for a 200-year-old ranch.”
“Well, what about the money? It is worth $2.5 million.”
“No, I don’t think that is it. I have been thinking about this. There has to be something on this ranch that will tell us why Billy was killed. Only problem is what is it and where is it? Anyway Brian, its getting pretty late and us ranchers have to get up at sunrise, so I guess we can talk later.”
“Sure, no problem.”
“Okay, well feel free to call or stop by anytime. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight Katie. I’ll let you know the second I find anything else.”
Katie didn’t sleep very well that night. She kept trying to think of what on the ranch could be the clue to Billy’s death and where it might be. She finally drifted off to sleep about 1:30 AM.
She awoke to the rooster crow, just as she did every morning. She got dressed and went down to breakfast. Mark greeted her warmly, same as every morning. Conversation was light. Finally, Mark asked her what she was going to do today.
“Well, I am giving riding lessons from 8 until 11 and then I guess after lunch, I’ll go look for a needle in a hay stack.”
Mark asked her what she meant by that and Katie briefly explained the conversation with Brian the night before. Katie had shared the entire story with Mark earlier, so he understood.
“If you need some help finding the needle, let me know.”
Katie thanked him and went outside.
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