Chapter 11
"We arrested Pigson last night," the county sheriff told Jody and Rob. "He led us to Mac and Harry ... Snyder had hired them to rape you and kill your cattle. Jesus, what a bunch of bums, huh?" the sheriff said emphatically, shaking his head.
"And the inquest into my father's death...?"
"Yes, that's been reopened."
Jody let out a long sigh and stared through the rain splattered window of the Beaver Police Department headquarters to the empty church pew outside the saloon. Despite the inclement weather the street was lined with pick-up trucks and cars, and no doubt the suds were foaming behind the barroom door, the place heady with gossip.
Rob read her thoughts. "It's all over with, Jody."
Her lower lip trembled and a burst of emotion scalded her eyes. "I know," she sobbed. "It is all over. The ranch is a disaster. Half my cattle are dead, the chickens drowned ... I've nothing much left, you know."
"But you've got a fortune in oil! I told you...."
"I don't care about that damned oil. I've loved that land since I was born ... it's all I have left of father and I don't want oil rigs and bad smells ruining the tradition of that land. I'll never sell it...." she said resolutely.
He swung her around by the arm and pinched her chin between his thumb and forefinger. "What you need is someone to help you get back on your feet ... someone to manage things for you. Let's do it together, Jody ... you and I and that land."
"But...." She bit her lip, staring up into his eyes rapturously. "You have your work at the reservation, Rob and I have the ranch. That's my life out there, every prairie dog ridden acre of it. And I think it should stay that way for a while until we see how we feel later ... "
He had been her super-hero, her savior. He had rescued her from Snyder and his perfidious cronies, he had made love to her when her body cried for the strength of a man ... Could she convert that divine image into an ordinary flesh and blood male animal?
Rob hid the disappointment in his eyes because something in her expression called for that. "Well," he said genially, "does that mean we can't have a drink together?"
"Rob Jackson, if you think I'm going to subject myself to that saloon-!"
"Who said anything about the saloon?" A wide smile grew across his lips. "I know of a cozy motel on the other side of Beaver." Maybe he could change her mind yet.