Peril by Ponytail (A Bad Hair Day Mystery) (2 page)

Marla’s ears popped, telling her they were climbing. While Dalton conversed with Carol, she sagged against the seat cushion. She must have dozed off, because when she opened her eyes, they were navigating the hills. Magnificent vistas opened before them as the road dipped and curved, the pink mountainsides dotted with greenery. Boulders piled by the roadside.

Marla eyed the towering rocks with trepidation. She hoped they didn’t have landslides here. This terrain was so foreign compared to flat Florida.

At the base of another hill, they finally turned down a dusty road toward the ranch, passing several horse corrals and a flower farm along the way.

“Look, there’s two deer!” She nearly jumped out of her seat in excitement.

“Actually, those might have been elk,” Carol said as they sped past. “We spot more of them than deer around here.”

A sign for the Last Trail Dude Ranch came into view. Carol entered a private driveway that led to the main lobby. This building stood apart from the others. Single-story pink adobe structures dotted the property. Flowering plants and attractive shrubbery provided splashes of color against paved walkways.

Carol pulled into an empty space and shut off the ignition. “What’s the sheriff doing here? It’s Sunday. He should be home relaxing.” She shoved her door open and exited.

Marla had noted the labeled black SUV parked in the main lot. So had Dalton, judging from his springy step as he emerged from the rear seat. He reminded her of a hound who’d just picked up a scent, especially when she sniffed a distinctive aroma in the air.

Outside, her gaze zeroed in on the animals milling inside a fenced corral. “Look, horses!”

“We
are
at a dude ranch,” Dalton said with a grin.

“Yes, but I didn’t realize they’d be so many different colors.”

“They’re beautiful creatures. I would have liked to visit here when I was younger, but Mom rarely spoke about Uncle Ray. I knew little about him and his family until we researched them for our wedding.” He lowered his voice so Carol wouldn’t overhear his last remarks.

Carol popped the trunk, and Dalton lifted out their luggage. He set their bags on the pavement until they got their room assignment.

“I’d better see what’s going on.” Carol cast a worried glance at the sheriff’s car.

“Maybe Wayne is reporting the latest incident to him,” Dalton suggested. “Is there evidence the leak was anything other than wear and tear on the water heater?”

“I have no idea. Either way, Wayne hasn’t told any of our problems to Sheriff Beresby before now. He likes to keep things in the family.”

“That’s why he invited
you,
isn’t it?” Marla said, poking her husband.

“He invited
us
to stay here and enjoy the facilities. Let’s see what this is all about.”

They followed Carol up the front steps and into the building. A fragrant floral scent pervaded the spacious lobby. It came from a bouquet of fresh flowers set on a central round table. Marla observed the western décor with a sense of pleasure she hadn’t expected. Dark brown leather couches in an L-shape faced a huge stone fireplace, while carved wood tables and accent pieces enhanced the space. Indian art, metal sculptures of cowboys and horses, and other knickknacks added to the theme. The tied-back drapes had a bright southwestern design that matched the colors in a large area rug.

An attractive redhead at the front desk glanced up at their approach. “Carol, I see you’ve brought our guests. How was the drive?”

“Not bad. Marla and Dalton Vail, meet Janice Sklar. Jan is Director of Reservations.”

Janice flashed them a smile. “I expect you’ll want your room keys. You have Hacienda Number Seventy-Five. Here’s a map.” She circled a few buildings and offered a quick review of their room location and other highlights. “Do you need help with your luggage?”

“I’ll get it, thanks.” Dalton stepped up to the counter to complete the formalities. That included the key to a loaner car from Wayne.

“What’s happening, Jan? Why is the sheriff here?” Carol asked.

The fortyish lady thumbed her finger at an inner door. “Ask your husband, hon.”

“This way,” Carol told her guests. She led them through a door marked Private.

They entered a long corridor with offices on either side. Marla spied a conference room, sales department, catering office, and a collection of computer equipment.

“Here’s where I work.” Carol indicated an office marked Accounting. “And next door is Wayne’s place.” She led them to a corner suite from where male voices emanated.

Two men stood as they entered. Marla recognized the tall man behind the desk. While Dalton’s ebony hair was peppered with silver, Wayne’s dark brown head hadn’t changed. She couldn’t recall how many years younger Wayne was from Dalton’s forty-five. He was even more imposing than she remembered with his square jaw and massive shoulders. Seeing him in the context of the ranch, she knew how he’d gotten his name.

Move over, John Wayne. Your replacement is here.

“Dalton, it’s great to see you. Marla, what a pleasure.”

Wayne circled his desk to greet them personally. They exchanged embraces before Wayne formally introduced Sheriff Beresby.

“Luke, this is my cousin, Dalton Vail, and his wife, Marla. Dalton, I’d like you to meet Sheriff Luke Beresby. I’ve been telling him how you’re a top-notch homicide detective back home.”

The men shook hands. The sheriff’s somber face was lined with ridges like a dry riverbed. He had a thatch of gray hair and a droopy mustache. From his paunch and general features, Marla estimated his age to be in the mid-fifties.

“Wayne has high praise for you.” The sheriff’s keen gaze scrutinized Dalton.

“He’s been known to exaggerate,” Dalton said with a grin.

Marla stood by, feeling as though she’d suddenly entered a men’s club. The leather furnishings, bookshelves full of bound hardcovers, and paintings of Indian battle scenes on the walls added to the ambiance.

“What’s going on?” Carol asked, glancing between her husband and the sheriff.

Wayne clapped a hand on her shoulder. “Luke came to tell us that Garrett Long is dead.”

Carol gasped and jerked away. “What? How?”

“He was found by a couple of hikers on the Snakehead Trail,” Beresby replied. “Looks like he took a tumble off a hillside, although I’ve yet to determine what he was doing out on that ledge by himself. Garrett Long was a ranger with the national forest service,” he explained to Marla and Dalton.

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 being outdoors a pleasure.