As she stood there lost in her fury and sadness, Tara noticed Officer Samuel coming toward her through the broken window. He stopped in front of the door.
“I assume you have your keys with you, Tara,” he said from the other side.
“Oh, of course.” Tara rummaged through her purse. She didn’t keep her car keys on the same key ring as she’d kept the store keys so she fumbled a bit until she found the right set. When she found them, she quickly unlocked the door and noticed the dust all over the handle.
“Is it okay if I touch the door?” she asked.
“Yes,” Caleb said. “We’ve already dusted the glass and handles.”
Tara walked into the shop and couldn’t hold back the tears. Someone had wanted to hurt her. That was the only thing she could think of. Why else would someone come inside and willy-nilly destroy beautiful things? It didn’t make any sense.
“You’re going to need to give us an inventory of the items that you lost and are broken,” he said. “I’ll need it for the report, but you’ll need a copy for the insurance company as well.”
She nodded. “How soon do you need it?”
“I know you’re still a little shaken,” Caleb said with sympathy. “Just get it to me as soon as you can. Chances are this was a random act. But I have to ask. Do you have any idea who might have wanted to hurt you in any way?”
“Hurt me?”
“It doesn’t seem like this was solely for the purposes of theft. There was some destruction as well. That usually suggests someone with a grudge. Have you had any trouble with a customer lately or someone who would be angry with you for some reason? Someone who’d be angry enough to want to cause this type of destruction?”
Anger surged through her. She slammed her foot into the sidewalk as she looked at all the beautiful pieces of pottery and glass that was now broken all over her shop floor. “As a matter of fact, I have a real good idea.”
* * *
Brody had fallen into a rhythm of working on the ranch as if he’d been there years. Trip was a hands on owner, unlike some of the other ranch owners he’d worked for. He helped him get the lay of the ranch and introduced him to most of the vendors they used to make it easier to order supplies when needed.
Brody learned that although the ranch had many functions, Trip’s real passion was investing in stock for rodeos and finding new talent. He taught rodeo skills to the locals and encouraged some of the more gifted riders to compete as he had when he’d made most of his money to purchase this ranch. The more Brody was there, the more it seemed like this job was a perfect fit for him.
He’d finished his morning rounds with the hands and gotten them settled into projects that needed fixing. He took some time after lunch to do inventory of the supplies in the arena and barn so he could stay on top of supplies and orders before they ran out of anything. He was just finishing up adding sponges and hand wipes to the long list of things needed in the tack room when he heard some voices at the far end of the barn.
“Good afternoon, Trip,” Brody heard someone say.
Brody tucked the pen he’d been writing with in his shirt pocket and closed the notebook he’d been writing in as he walked into the center aisle.
That’s when he saw the police officer. And the long face on Trip.
“What’s going on?” Brody asked, walking slowly toward the men as they moved toward him. They met somewhere in the middle by Tenterhook’s stall.
“I was just about to ask Caleb the same thing,” Trip said. “Not that I don’t love having visitors out to the ranch. But since you’re wearing your uniform and not riding clothes, I’m guessing you’re here on official business?”
Caleb nodded. “’Fraid so, Trip.”
“Does it have anything to do with Levon’s murder?” Trip asked. “I thought that was all wrapped up when Tanner confessed last winter.”
Caleb put his fists on his hips. “No, it’s not about Levon. There was a break in at a shop in town. The shop owner questioned whether your ranch hands had something to do with it.”
Brody’s stomach turned. He remained silent. He learned a long time ago it was best to only respond to questions when asked rather than offer up information.
“One of my ranch hands?” Trip asked, adjusting his cowboy hat. “I can’t imagine one of my hands doing anything like breaking into a shop. When did this break in happen?”
Caleb glanced at Brody. “Are you Brody Whitebear?”
“I am.” Brody stood up straight. “But I’m not a ranch hand.”
Caleb frowned and then pulled the small notepad out of his pocket and read the notes. “I was told you worked here at the Lone Creek Ranch.”
“He does,” Trip said. “He’s my ranch manager. He’s taken Levon’s position.”
Caleb looked at Brody directly. “Congratulations. I need to ask you a few questions about what happened in town this morning.”
His stomach lurched. “I don’t know anything about a break in in town. When did this break in happen?”
“There were no cameras in the building. But we believe the break in happened between three AM and six AM this morning.”
“That’s pretty specific timeline you’re working under for having no evidence,” Trip said.
Caleb nodded. “One of our officers drove by the shop around two-thirty or three o’clock this morning and didn’t see any disturbance. The front window was still in place. He would have seen it if it were in the condition it was in this morning given that there were no cars along the sidewalk. The baker for the shop arrived at six and the window was shattered.”
“I don’t mean to be telling you how to do your job,” Trip
