Bloodshed in the Badlands by Judith A. Barrett

Author:Judith A. Barrett [Judith A. Barrett]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wobbly Creek, LLC
Published: 2023-09-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Wren stared at the box of stories on the passenger’s seat. She gave me her coin, pen, and stories; where do I find the silver key?

She slowly pulled away from Miranda’s house and headed to the campground. When she parked next to her camper, Wren rubbed her forehead. Miranda said Thomas told her I’d be there. Thomas said an old friend needed him, and Miranda told me that she and Thomas went way back.

She carried the small box into the camper and was suddenly overcome by grief. Her tears flowed and almost blinded her as she set the box next to her comfortable chair; after she collapsed onto her chair, Wren cried until she had no tears left.

Wren sniffled then splashed cold water on her face. “Let’s walk to the office and tell Betsy.”

Wren kicked the rocks and sand as she walked. Tell Betsy what? That Miranda died before I got there, but she waited for me?

When Wren and Rascal went inside, Betsy glanced up then rushed to give Wren a quick hug. “I’m so sorry, Wren; Miranda passed, didn’t she?”

Wren nodded. “Her niece gave me a silver coin and a pen that Miranda had left me.”

“Is there anything I can do for you?”

“No, but thanks for the offer; Rascal and I wanted you to know.”

When Wren headed toward the door, Betsy said, “The marshal called here for you; I told him you weren’t in the office, and he should call your phone if he wanted to talk to you. I had the distinct impression he was checking up on your whereabouts.”

Wren smiled. “Thanks, Betsy; you didn’t tell him we were in Cahoots, did you?”

Betsy laughed. “In Cahoots; that’s hilarious.”

After Wren left the office, she said, “Let’s check the saloon, Rascal; Thomas might be back.”

When they reached the saloon, Thomas was swinging his feet while he sat on the false front. “The library lady was glad she waited for you.”

“Is she gone now?” Wren asked.

He tapped his temple with his index finger as he rose. “You’re right thick in the head sometimes for a smart girl; her job was done, so she’s gone.”

“When’s your job done, Thomas?”

“You’re slowing me down with your jabbering, girl. I gotta find the saloon lady.”

Definitely infuriating.

As the hot wind picked up, Wren watched a small dust devil dance on the desert behind the campground then disappear as quickly as it had appeared.

“Things appear then quickly disappear around here, don’t they, Rascal? Let’s look at those maps again.”

Wren poured a glass of tea and sipped while she studied the map. “There are eight coordinates listed: there must be eight rods. I have an idea.”

She pulled out the magnifying glass the forensic science technician with a specialty in entomology had given her when she wrote the article about the advances of forensic research and the revealing details found in soil and insects at a crime scene. Wren smiled. Nobody loves bugs like an entomologist.

After she spread out the map, she narrowed her eyes then found a black dot near the road that led to the current town of Hidden Gulch.

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