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“We have nothing to do with your grandfather being gone,” Boone cut in, all cool and co person”

“Then where is he?” she demanded

“Ask Echohawk,” he replied with a shrug

“Quint?” Dallas frowned in surprise “What does he have to do with this?”

“Your grandfather works for him”

“That’s a lie” Her denial was quick and heated, an instant reaction to the shock of his statement

“Believe me, it’s true,” Boone stated

“He couldn’t—he wouldn’t—” Dallas felt sick inside, knowing it was exactly the kind of thing her grandfather would do Yet parts of it made no sense “I don’t understand Iit somehow disloyal

Boone guessed at the question “How did he get back and forth to the Cee Bar when you have the truck? Echohawk picks hi after you’ve already left for work—and brings him back between four-thirty and five”

Dallas withheld any co so fast she couldn’t separate theer as Boone waited, clearly expecting her to say so she could say And she certainly wasn’t going to offer any apologies or excuses for her grandfather’s actions, not to a Rutledge

“Your grandfather is a very foolish old man,” Boone said at last

For all the ease in his voice, there was an unmistakable note of threat in it Dallas felt cold to the bone It was fear that gave birth to fury

A long line of big, round bales stood caterpillar-like along the pasture fence, one huth and bulk of them dominated the view from the Cee Bar’s ranch yard

The hay bales were the first thing Quint sahen he eed from the barn, one arm hooked around the half dozen steel posts balanced on one shoulder He crossed to the rear of the black pickup, hoisted the posts off his shoulder, and slid theate into the truck bed next to the roll of fence wire

When he stepped back froainst an old iron triangle shattered the stillness Quint auto it had to be Empty Garner Thebehind a half-rotted leather harness in the barn, he’d held it up triumphantly