Murder Western Style: A Sister Sleuths Mystery, #3

Chapter One

When Lea and Maddy arrived at the fairgrounds, the parking lot was already filling with cars. In the small coastal town where they lived, the annual rodeo was a popular event.

Thanks for inviting me, Sis, Lea said, watching the swarms of people streaming in. Believe it or not, this is my first rodeo.

Shame on you, girl. You’ve been missing out until you’ve seen steer wrestling and bronc riding.

I tried to get Paul to come, but he’s playing in the softball tournament today, Lea said.

You made the right choice. Rodeos are more exciting than softball games. Watching all these cowboys walking around in their chaps isn’t hard on the eyes either. Maddy laughed, shaking her long brunette hair as she pulled on a cowboy hat.

She nodded toward a man in front of them carrying a saddle. He turned in time to catch her stare. Don’t flatter yourself, cowboy, she said, peering over the rim of her sunglasses. I was looking at your boots.

His smile broadened as he tipped his hat and moved away.

Flustered, Maddy looked toward the rodeo arena. There’s Katie.

She waved at a girl dressed in a red-and-black plaid shirt, a black hat with a silver band, and leather boots with fancy red-and-black stitching.

Look at you! Maddy said, wrapping her arms around the twelve-year-old. You’ve got to be the prettiest cowgirl at the rodeo. You must be breaking plenty of young cowboys’ hearts today.

The girl’s cheeks turned rosy as Maddy turned to her sister.

Katie Miller, this is my sister. Lea, this is Scott’s daughter.

Nice to meet you, ma’am, the girl said, extending her hand before poking Maddy. It’s not my looks that will bring home the Junior Cowgirls trophy. It’s all my hard training. I hope it pays off.

She looked older than her age except for the string of freckles splashed across her nose. We only have three more events to qualify for the finals. I have a chance to rack up a bunch of points today.

Don’t worry, sweetie, Maddy said, you’ll knock ‘em dead.

Anxious to find her horse and get mounted, Katie pulled Maddy’s hand. I can’t wait to get started. Dad’s waiting for us at the horse trailer.

* * *

Lea and Maddy glimpsed the grandstand where people were filing in to find seats, anxious to cheer on their favorite contestants. Passing the concession area, they inhaled the aroma of hamburgers sizzling on the grill, brisket simmering in a smoker, and marinated ribs cooking. The sounds of men calling out and horses whinnying surrounded them. They inhaled the pungent, spicy smells coming from the tent where the barbecue cook-off was being held.

Think your dad can get us into that tent later? Maddy asked, drooling.

All the contestants get tickets to the barbecue, Katie said.

One of my customers is a judge for the cook-off, Maddy said. I told her if she could get me on that judging panel next year, I’d give her a discount on the next piece of furniture she buys.

Is your dad entered in any competitions today? Lea asked Katie, ignoring her sister’s food rantings.

He’s in the shooting contest. Dad’s the best shooter in the county, the girl beamed. He’s won the event the last five years in a row and—

Katie was interrupted by the sound of loud voices as they neared an area filled with campers and trailers. Maddy pulled the girl up short as she and Katie recognized a voice belonging to her father.

Back off, Albert. You’re being a jerk. This is a friendly competition. Let’s keep it fun for our kids.

Don’t think for a minute your daughter’s beating my girl today, the other voice snarled. Lucy can ride rings around Katie any day of the week. Your kid only wins events because she gets preferential treatment due to your position on the board of the Cattlemen’s Association.

That’s our neighbor, Albert Benson, Katie whispered. I’m riding against his daughter today. Lucy and I are friends, but her father always tries to pit us against each other. He turns everything Lucy does into a competition. He embarrasses her in front of the kids at school.

Lea and Maddy crouched and moved closer so they could see the man Katie was referring to.

That’s not true, Albert, Scott said. Katie gets everything she earns through hard work.

Maddy noted the crimson color flooding Katie’s face, but Lea’s attention stayed riveted on the man Katie called their neighbor.

His thin body shook, contorted in angry spasms. His jaws tightened as he spewed venom. Your family’s been throwing their weight around this county for years. But my daughter’s going to take all of you down a peg when she whips your daughter in the Junior Championship. There will be one less trophy for you to display on your mantel.

With an ugly sneer, the man spat a wad of chewing tobacco on the ground in front of Scott, spattering the cowboy’s boots. His arm swung out in a misdirected punch.

Dad, no, Katie screamed, a moment too late. Her father landed a hammer blow hard enough that Albert fell to the ground.

Scott wheeled around, surprised to see his daughter running toward him. What are you doing here? He stooped on one knee to put an arm around her. She was clearly shaken by the violent exchange.

Albert and I were just airing a difference of opinion. It got out of hand. It’s all right; no damage done.

No damage done, you SOB? Albert yelled brushing away the hand Scott extended to help him to his feet. You may have cracked my tooth.

You brought it on yourself, Scott said.

Says who? Albert asked, sarcastically.

Beg your pardon, sir, Maddy said, advancing toward the man as he brushed soil from his pants. We saw the whole thing. You looked to me like a man poking a stick at a bear. You should have known to stop before you made the grizzly mad.

The man glared at Maddy. Butt out, lady.

Don’t disrespect the woman, Scott warned.

Get out of my way, Albert yelled, pushing past Scott. But don’t think for a moment this is over.

Katie clung to her father as their neighbor stomped away. Are you okay, Dad?

Scott looked at the red welt spreading across his knuckles and shuffled his feet. I’m sorry you all saw that. It was uncalled for on my part. I shouldn’t have let the fool get to me that way. My apologies to you and your sister, Maddy.

I’m beginning to see why Maddy says Rodeos are exciting, Lea said.

And you haven’t even seen the bull riding, Maddy said.

They all laughed before Scott turned and headed toward a trailer calling over his shoulder. C’mon, Katie. Let’s get you ready for the barrel racing. Chief’s all saddled up and raring to go.

Is your ride today the Chumash Indian chief who lives on your ranch? Maddy asked, teasing dimples out of the girl as they followed Scott to the horse trailer.

No, silly. Katie giggled. Chief gave me a colt when we moved back to the ranch from Colorado. I named the horse in his honor. That horse and I have been together every day since.

Maddy turned to Scott as he held a stirrup and boosted Katie into the saddle. We hear you’ll be competing today.

I might try my hand at the mounted shooting, he said, pushing his hat back on his head.

Katie told us you’re the champion, Lea said.

Scott looked at his daughter. Pride shone in her face.

Now, girl. What have I told you about sounding boastful? her father said, but his eyes sparkled as he pulled at her braided ponytail. Go get ’em, girl. We’ll be rooting you on from the stands. Have fun.

The three adults watched the girl and the horse gallop away in a synchronized, fluid motion.

* * *

That was quite a dust-up you had with the other rancher, Maddy said, as they headed toward the arena.

Oh, that’s just Albert being Albert. He always walks around with a chip on his shoulder. I shouldn’t have let him get under my skin.

He sounds really competitive where his daughter’s concerned.

He’s always pushing his kids to win. He uses them to compensate for how unfairly he thinks life has treated him.

Unfairly how? Lea asked.

Life dealt him a hand that turned him bitter. His wife, Victoria, died in childbirth. She had a hard time with the birth of their son, Dalton. The doctor told her she shouldn’t have more children, but Albert wanted another boy. The second time, she wasn’t so lucky. Albert felt double cursed when the baby his wife died delivering wasn’t the second son he wanted. He got a daughter: Katie’s friend, Lucy.

The way I see things, pain is pretty much a guaranteed part of life, Maddy said. Suffering is up to the individual.

I can’t fault your take on things, Maddy, Scott said and smiled, but I don’t think anything will be changing Albert anytime soon. Let’s not let it spoil our day. We’ve got time to grab lunch before Katie’s first event. Let me treat you two to some mouth-watering barbecue.

* * *

An hour later, their appetites satisfied, Scott, Maddy, and Lea took seats in the arena near the front where they would be easily visible to Katie as she rode past. They turned their attention to the voice coming over the loudspeaker announcing the riders for the barrel racing.

Maddy sneezed, inhaling the dust rising from the arena as the horses galloped around the ring.

Scott grinned. Sounds like someone’s going to have a stuffy nose tonight.

It’s all good, Maddy replied. I’ll take rodeo dust over smog any day of the week.

When Katie’s name was announced, she rode into the middle of the arena, waving her hat over her head and smiling in their direction.

Lucy Benson’s name was called next. Several moments passed without Albert’s daughter making an entrance. Her name was repeated over the loudspeaker, and she still didn’t appear. The announcer issued a warning the contestant would be scratched from the competition if she didn’t appear momentarily.

Scott mumbled under his breath. Has that fool wasted so much time bragging up his daughter that they’ve missed the competition? I’ll go round them up.

At last, the starting gun went off signaling the start of the contest. There was still no sign of Lucy, and Scott hadn’t returned.

Katie would want you to see her, Lea said, patting her sister’s knee. I’ll go look for them.

Lea left to search for Scott, and Maddy watched alone as Katie raced around the barrels.

* * *

Running into the campground, Lea saw Scott standing beside a young girl she knew must be Lucy Benson. They stood motionless, staring at the ground in front of them.

What’s the holdup? Lea asked, coming up behind them. What’s happened?

Dad, oh my gawd, Dad, the girl sobbed.

Lea saw the answer to her question: Albert Benson’s body lying face up in the dust, blood seeping slowly across the front of his shirt.

Scott’s arm encircled the shaking girl. He looked at Lea; shock registered on his face. I’ll get her away from here.

Lea punched in the emergency number on her cell phone as she followed Scott to his camper.

Lucy slumped into a chair beside a small dining table. The color had drained from her face, and her body shivered.

Scott pulled a blanket from a cupboard and tried to wrap it around the girl, but she pulled away sharply. Leave me alone. My father hated you. He was always telling Dalton and me about how you and your family try to control things. Now he’s dead. I never want to see you or your family again.

The girl flung open the door of the camper and ran out, crashing into Katie and Maddy coming up the stairs. She hurled herself against a tree, sobs racking her slender body.

Scott started after the girl, but Katie grabbed his arm. Don’t, Dad. She’s upset. I’ll take her to find Dalton.

Scott leaned against the door-frame, shaking his head.

What was that all about? Lea asked, referring to the angry words the girl had spoken.

Old history. Nothing that has anything to do with what happened here today. Lucy’s out of her head right now.

Before Lea could question Scott further, police sirens pierced the air shattering the eerie silence that had settled in around the prone body.

I’ll go, Maddy said. You two wait here.

* * *

Scott offered Lea a cup of coffee before pulling a bottle of whiskey from a shelf in the cupboard.

That was rough, he said. Want a swig in your brew?

No, thanks. I’ll wait until I get home. I should call my husband to let him know what’s happened.

Probably a good idea, Scott said. Maddy’s mentioned Paul on several occasions. I’d like to meet him, but not under these conditions.

As far as my husband’s concerned, my sister and I have been around conditions like these too frequently. He won’t be a happy camper when he hears about this.

Does your sister always attract trouble? Scott asked, smiling. This is the third time she and I have been entangled in a dicey situation.

She has been called somewhat of a drama queen. Speaking of drama, what was Lucy saying about your family and her father being at odds?

Benson and my family have never seen eye to eye on the wild mustangs. Our view is Mustangs aren’t meant to be tamed; they should be left to roam free. My neighbor didn’t want his cows sharing the grazing land with wild horses. He wanted the BLM to control them.

The BLM?

Bureau of Land Management. It’s a federal agency tasked with protecting wild horses and cattle and their grazing lands. The agency’s idea of managing the land in this state has been to round up the mustangs and sell them, supposedly ensuring the horses go to good homes and aren’t slaughtered.

Are you suggesting some of the horses sold by the BLM end up being sent to slaughterhouses?

I’m more than suggesting it. My family brought charges against one rancher we knew was doing it. The agency finally launched an investigation, but it was only due to the public outrage created at the hearing. The BLM never admitted culpability, but they stopped doing business with the rancher.

How awful. Lea cringed. Does Lucy understand the issue between the two of you? It’s hard to believe she would side with her father.

I doubt Albert discussed it with her. He doesn’t share his point of view unless he’s sure the person agrees with him. Lucy would never have agreed with him about the Mustangs. She loves them as much as Katie does.

* * *

When Tom Elliot got out of an unmarked vehicle, Maddy wasn’t surprised. Tom was head of the Homicide and Major Crimes Division of the Buena Viaje Police Department, so murder was his bailiwick. With his six feet three inches of toned physique, sun-bleached blond hair, and gray eyes with the satin finish of brushed steel, he was also one of the most eligible bachelors in town.

What did surprise her was that he was already back on the job after a well-deserved vacation, three days of which she and Tom had spent relaxing in the wine country.

Embroiled in crime so soon? she asked, taking deep breaths to calm her shattered nerves as she walked to greet him. I thought you had two more vacation days you were using to work on your car.

Murder doesn’t take a holiday just because I do. Besides, working on my car is exactly what the term implies: work. Solving crime is my passion.

Is solving crime the only thing you’re passionate about? she asked, the corners of her mouth turning up into a coquettish smile.

Don’t distract me. He frowned. What are you doing here? I suppose the cowboy invited you.

If you’re referring to Scott, she replied, noting Tom’s sarcastic tone of voice, it was his daughter, Katie, who invited Lea and me. She wanted us to watch her compete in the Junior Cowgirls Championship.

Tom looked around. Who found the body?

"The victim’s daughter, Lucy. Katie has taken