Peril by Ponytail (A Bad Hair Day Mystery) Read online

  Marla heard the doubt in his tone. Did he suspect this accident was more than it seemed? What did forest rangers do besides enforcing rules and chasing off squatters?

  “Why come to us with this news?” Carol said, her face pale. “I mean, I’d want to know, but shouldn’t you be talking to his co-workers?”

  The sheriff’s lips compressed. “Long had a note in his pocket, ma’am. Maybe you know something about it. The note was a reminder for him to call Raymond, your father-in-law.”

  Wayne’s forehead creased. “Dad and Garrett were riding buddies and often made dates together. Did you talk to Dad?”

  “Not yet. I suppose I’ll find him over at the ghost town?”

  “Yep. He’ll be upset to hear about Garrett. It’s a shock to us all.”

  The sheriff eyed Wayne. “Did your daddy ever locate that worker who vanished?”

  “Not yet. I’ve urged him to file a formal report, but he’s thinking the guy ran off for some reason. Dad has enough trouble keeping the other laborers in line. They’re saying Eduardo saw an apparition on the hill, and it may have been the goddess of death summoning him to his doom. They’re a superstitious lot. The men were ready to walk away from the job, but the foreman convinced them to remain. We’re having problems on the ranch, too. I’m beginning to wonder if these incidents are related.”

  “Oh? What kind of problems?” Sheriff Beresby said.

  Wayne swept his hand toward the door. “Just minor stuff so far. I don’t want to keep you. If you see Dad, please tell him to come home in time for dinner. His nephew has arrived.”

  “So, are you the sole investigator in town?” Dalton asked, accompanying the sheriff down the hallway while the others trailed after them.

  Uh-oh. Dalton’s fascinated expression didn’t bode well for their vacation.

  “Pretty much,” the sheriff replied. “Our office covers the unincorporated territory in these parts, so we’re stretched thin. The larger towns have their own police departments.”

  “Maybe I can buy you a drink sometime, and we can swap stories. I’d enjoy hearing about your experiences.”

  “I’ll bet you have some good ones, too.”

  “Florida has its share of wackos.”

  Marla nudged him. “Dalton, I’m sure the sheriff has enough to keep him busy. And we’re here for our honeymoon, remember?”

  Carol rallied to her defense. “That’s right. Wayne, we need to settle our guests in their room and then give them a tour of the resort. Or would you two like to rest? There’s a three-hour time difference from back east. You must be exhausted.”

  Marla glanced at her watch. “It’s four o’clock here and seven back home. We should switch to your schedule and stay awake until later. A tour sounds great.”

  “Wayne, if you wouldn’t mind taking over, I need to talk to the chef about those cooking classes starting next week. I’ll see you guys at dinner.”

  “No problem, you run along. Thanks for doing airport duty.” Wayne gave his wife a kiss before she dashed off. “Come on, we’ll get your luggage, and then I’ll show you the grounds. Did Jan give you a resort map?”

  “I believe so.” Dalton still carried the papers given him by the receptionist. He rustled through them, retrieving a printed diagram.

  “Is our room far from here?” Marla asked. The various buildings were located along winding paths and partially hidden by shrubbery.

  “You’re up this hill.” Wayne pointed on the map. “Your loaner car is parked there, too. We can walk, but it’s a haul for your bags. I’ll drive you in the golf cart.”

  He and Dalton loaded their luggage, and then they climbed into the vehicle. As they rumbled to a start, Wayne pointed left toward another road. “Down that way is the lake. It’s where we hold our weekly barbecues. You’ll want to sign up for that event. And a hiking trail heads off from there. We do nature walks several times a week.” He glanced at Marla’s sandals. “I hope you brought sturdier shoes or riding boots.”

  Oh, yeah, like you’re going to get me on a horse. The only thing I want to ride is my husband. Horsepower to her meant a car engine. As for rodeos, she’d rather watch the polish chip off her fingernails. She’d seen the shows listed on the weekly activity list.

  Then again, a rodeo might be a good place to meet other guests and sound them out about the staff. And maybe she’d learn a thing or two about ropes that could come in handy.

  “What is it?” Dalton asked in a solicitous tone. “Are you tired? We can rest if you’re feeling jet-lagged.”

  “No, I’m fine. I’m just thinking about what we can do in our room later once we have some privacy.”

  “Ah.” His hand gripped hers, and he gave her a sexy grin.

  They drove up a curving road and past a series of one-story adobe structures that Wayne said housed ordinary hotel rooms. The view of the distant mountains took her breath away. She could see how their colors might change with time of day. Now they appeared hazy and bluish in the afternoon sun.

  Further along the road were individual buildings with lanais. They were the casitas. Apparently the higher the elevation, the more expensive the accommodations.

  Suddenly, the foothills were right at their doorstep. A mound rose on the right with tall brown grasses amid shrubbery, cacti, and boulders. The rocks graduated into a mountainside.

  “Here’s your hacienda. Go check it out.” Wayne helped unload their luggage curbside at a separate unit with stone chimneys.

  Two lounge chairs and a large potted cactus decorated a covered front porch. What a wonderful view they’d have while relaxing there or on the rear patio. Marla waited as Dalton swiped his key card. Before entering, he handed her a duplicate key.

  Inside, she surveyed an upholstered sofa facing one of the fireplaces. Its zigzag design matched the avocado, brick red, and tan colors from the carpet. Plush armchairs added to the cozy ambiance. A kitchenette occupied one alcove with a small fridge, microwave, and coffeemaker. Good, that meant they wouldn’t have to rush out in the mornings. They could drink their own brew at that table with four wicker chairs.

  Glad to settle in, Marla strode ahead through an interior door to the adjacent bedroom. A king-sized bed dominated the space, while spacious drape-lined windows provided an awesome mountain view. One entire wall consisted of built-in wooden drawers and cabinets. Two nightstands, a chair, lamps, and a desk completed the furnishings. Another fireplace took up one corner.

  “Where’s the TV?” Dalton halted inside the space after wheeling in his suitcase.

  “We don’t have them in our guest rooms,” Wayne hollered from the front door. “The ranch offers enough to keep you busy. You’ll be worn out by the evening.”

  Not too worn out to enjoy our privacy, I hope. Marla put down her purse and went to examine the bathroom. She shrieked upon noticing a dark brown spider streaking across the marble-tiled shower.

  Wayne rushed inside. “Oh, that’s a wolf spider. I’ll get it.” He grabbed a wad of tissues as Marla stepped out of his way and let him take charge.

  At least the bathroom had modern amenities, with a granite countertop, double sinks, and generous counter space. Nonetheless, she might want to leave a light on here at night to avoid further insect encounters. Scorpions and rattlesnakes inhabited the desert, too, didn’t they? She’d better look under the sheets before getting into bed.

  Scratch the rustic atmosphere. I’ll take a luxury hotel any day.

  After refreshing herself, she joined the guys outside for the rest of their tour. She’d hung up a few of her garments and would unpack the remainder later.

  Trying for a more positive outlook, she imagined herself relaxing in a lounge chair and admiring the mountains. In fact, lying around reading magazines, sitting by the pool, or visiting the spa sounded ideal. Dalton could engage in all the sports he wanted while she chilled out. The best part of this stay was not having to cook. Plus the dry air provided a welcome change from Florida’s humidity and made bein
g outdoors a pleasure.

  Wayne led them on a winding path with abundant landscaping and shady trees. Some of the plants were labeled, like that prickly pear cactus. It had a purplish tint and Mickey Mouse shaped ears. She particularly liked the spreading mesquite tree with its fern-like leaves, and the beautiful palo verde tree with its bright green trunk and leafy canopy. Never mind the nature walk. She could learn about the native plants by exploring the resort. Despite its lack of grass, the grounds had their own beauty.

  Wayne introduced them to other guests they passed along the way. Like a good host, he knew everyone’s name. From the friendly greetings, she surmised that he was well-liked.

  “This is the main building,” he said as they approached a large adobe structure in a central location. “It holds our restaurant, card room, lecture hall, library, and a lounge with a television. The gift shop is located here, too.”

  Under the covered patio were wood benches with wagon wheels at either end for support. She halted on the brick flooring while Wayne pointed out a bulletin board listing the day’s activities. Signs for the Laundry and Bike Shop pointed down an alleyway.

  Marla noted the limited dining hours. “Is this where we’ll come for meals?”

  “You can eat either here or in the staff cafeteria since you’re family. You’re welcome to join me and Carol at home in the evenings. I’ll give you directions. We’re expecting you for dinner tonight at least since our kids are eager to meet you. We don’t get relatives out this way very often.”

  He ended on a slightly bitter note, making Marla wonder at the sentiment behind his words. Dalton’s mother rarely spoke about this side of the family. How had Kate become estranged from her brother, Raymond?

  “Did you get your water heater fixed?” Dalton asked, shading his face against the sun.

  Wayne’s lips thinned. “Yes, but we had a mess in there. The plumber said a valve had been opened. We have the air-conditioning going full blast to help dry things out.”

  “A valve wouldn’t turn by itself, unless it had failed because the unit was old.”

  “I know. These troublesome incidents have been happening more often lately. I can’t prove anyone is behind them, but they worry me.”

  A guy sauntered past in a plaid shirt, cowboy hat, and boots. He waved to Wayne on his way. From his lean body and lined face, Marla surmised he was one of the staff.

  “That’s Nick, a wrangler,” Wayne said, confirming her theory. “Let me show you the horses. You’ll want to make reservations for your rides. You have ridden before, right? If not, the boys give lessons but you have to sign up early.”

  Marla smelled the animals the closer they got to the corral. It appeared emptier than when they’d first arrived. As they descended a slope toward the riding station, she noted far to the left a place where the horses appeared to be led for the night. There wasn’t just one fenced corral. It was a series leading out almost to the hills.

  “Here’s our nature center.” Wayne pointed out a structure with a flight of stairs. “Stop by and talk to our naturalist when you have a chance. He’ll explain the exhibits. That building beyond has a ballroom for conferences or large social affairs.”

  Marla noted a tennis court, children’s playground, and arena with bleachers down a path to the side of the last building. It would be fun to explore the resort’s nooks and crannies. Then again, if Dalton went riding in the mornings, she would have time on her own to laze around. Her shoulders sagged. Relaxing would feel good right about now. Either the jet lag was catching up to her, or she was hungry. This would be three hours later back home.

  Dalton nudged her. “We’ll have to sign up for the breakfast ride. They make blueberry pancakes with bacon and scrambled eggs.”

  Oh, joy. “Sure,” she said, not wishing to disavow him of the notion that she’d be joining him. Maybe she should give it a try. She’d taken a lesson or two in her youth. It couldn’t be so difficult to catch on again. And the thought of eating breakfast in the great outdoors had its appeal, minus the bees and flies.

  She swatted away a fly, realizing they were much more in abundance here than in South Florida. No mosquitoes, though. The dry air took care of those pests.

  “Hey, Jesse,” Wayne hollered to a wrangler with a trim black beard and dark eyes to match. He was busy putting away some equipment. “I’d like you to meet my cousins.”

  “One minute. I’ll come out through the tack room.” He disappeared behind the building in front of them.

  Marla’s sandals crunched on gravel as the paved walkway ended. She needed better shoes. Not only was this terrain hillier than she’d expected, but being near horses brought to mind unforeseen hazards. She didn’t care to step in something unpleasant.

  Several closed doors faced them on the beige structure ahead. Signs indicated the Wrangler’s Roost, Riders Entrance, Game Room, and Staff Only. The last door burst open, and the man named Jesse strode toward them. Marla’s gaze zeroed in on his tar-black hair, mustache, and beard.

  Her eyes narrowed. That tint was suspiciously uniform. Did he dye his hair?

  Wayne introduced them. “Jesse Parker is the man I’d recommend if you need lessons, although any of our wranglers would suit. Jesse has a broad-based knowledge and can answer any questions you might have about the horses or the ranch.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Jesse said with a polite expression. He didn’t offer his hand, likely because he’d been out in the field.

  He looked fairly young, maybe in his late twenties, but his eyes held years of experience and a hint of inner pain. What drew men to become wranglers? Did they like horses more than people? They still had to work with guests at the resort. Maybe it was in their blood, like dog lovers.

  A pang hit her for her own pets. She hoped Lucky and Spooks were doing well in their absence. Thankfully, the dogs were fine after being sedated by a killer who’d used them to lure Marla into a trap. After she’d escaped, Dalton had rescued their precious pets.

  “You take good care of these people, you hear?” Wayne advised Jesse. “This is their first visit to Arizona.”

  “Is that right? Where do you guys live?” Jesse hooked his thumbs into his belt. He wore a dark brown cowboy hat, plaid shirt, and jeans tucked into a pair of high boots with spurs. His belt carried a cell phone, radio unit, and big knife in a leather sheath.

  “We’re from Florida,” Dalton replied, giving him a onceover.

  “Dalton is a police detective back home,” Wayne remarked. “We had a problem earlier today with the water heater near the dining room. A valve opened, and the floor got flooded. I’m troubled by the incidents we’ve been having lately and am hoping Dalton might shed some light on them.”

  “No kidding? Is that why I saw the sheriff’s car here earlier?”

  “Uh-uh. He came to tell us Garrett Long is dead. His body was found out on the Snakehead Trail by a couple of hikers.”

  “What? That’s impossible.” Jesse’s tan faded under his sudden pallor.

  “I know. It’s hard to believe Garrett would be so careless as to fall off a ledge. Hopefully, the sheriff’s office will investigate and determine what happened.”

  “You don’t understand. He must have gotten too close. I’ve gotta go.” Jesse spun and dashed back into the tack room, slamming the door while they stared after him.

  CHAPTER TWO

  * * *

  “What did Jesse mean by saying Garrett must have gotten too close?” Marla asked her husband’s cousin. “Too close to what?”

  Wayne scratched his head. “Damned if I know, but I’ll leave it up to you two to find out.” His cell phone trilled. He took it out and read a text message. “I have to run. We’ll see you at dinner, right?”

  Dalton nodded and his cousin took off.

  Marla hooked her arm into Dalton’s. “Let’s go back to our room and rest for a while. We can deal with these problems later.” They weren’t her personal issues, but she knew Dalton would want to help his rela
tives. And until they talked to Jesse again or learned more about him from another employee, they’d have no clue what his mysterious words meant.

  After washing up and changing into fresh clothes, they headed over to Wayne’s house.

  When they arrived, an older guy opened the door. “Dalton, it’s good to finally meet you in person.”

  “You must be Uncle Ray. This is my wife, Marla.” They all shook hands.

  Raymond’s lean build and deeply lined face hinted at years of outdoor living. He had short, cropped white hair, sharp brown eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses, and ruddy cheekbones. Having expected a grizzled old coot, Marla was surprised by his clean-shaven appearance. He wore the typical rancher outfit of a plaid shirt, blue jeans, and boots.

  “Come on inside. The gals are in the kitchen, and the children are watching TV. We can chat until the meal is ready.”

  “Can I help?” Marla offered, wishing they’d been able to stop off somewhere and buy a bottle of wine. She didn’t know where people did their food shopping around town.

  “Nope, Carol has everything under control. Wayne is late getting home. He should be here shortly.”

  The Campbells lived off-site from the ranch in the small town of Rustler Ridge. A cozy community, it could almost be missed if you travelled by on the highway. Marla still couldn’t get over the wide, open spaces between most big cities in Arizona. South Florida held one town after another, suburban congestion flowing nonstop from the cities toward the Everglades.

  The sloped yard in front of the Campbell’s Mediterranean-style home was attractively landscaped with various cacti and palo verde trees amid a ground cover of red rocks. A metal statue of a donkey stood next to a miniature wooden cart. Huge polished wood doors led inside.

  As she followed the men into the interior, Marla noted mixed Mexican and southwestern influences in the furniture and décor. They passed a formal living and dining area on their way to the kitchen, where she sniffed garlic and rosemary. She spied a stone fireplace and imagined cold winters in the desert. Mornings were cool enough by her standards, down into the sixties. She’d brought a wrap for her skirt ensemble in case the evening temperature dropped.