Breaking Free: A Colorado High Country Crossover Novel, Pamela Clare [i can read book club .TXT] 📗

into the cab of Jack’s truck when a US Marshal Service vehicle entered the parking lot. Several marshals got out, including Zach, who was wearing body armor and carrying a rifle.

He spotted them and walked over, a big grin on his face. “Jack, Nate, good to see you two. Looks like you’ve got your hands full, Winona. Hey, Chiago. I heard that bastard fired off a few shots. I’m glad you still have your head. Are those nicks from bullet fragments?”

Jason shot Zach a look. “Tree bark. The round hit a tree, and the bark splintered.”

Winona gaped at him. “He almost shot you?”

Jack crossed his arms over his chest. “I hadn’t heard this either. Anyone care to elaborate?”

Jason filled them in. “He fired off a few rounds to hold us off so he could get away. We took cover, and he hopped on that four-wheeler. No big deal.”

“No big deal?” It seemed like a big deal to Winona, but then she wasn’t in law enforcement. “You let me think you’d had a run-in with a tree trunk.”

“I didn’t want to worry you.”

Zach frowned, held a finger to his earpiece, and turned away, listening. Then he spoke into his hand mic. “Copy that. We’re on our way up.”

Just then, a dozen pagers went off, including Winona’s. She drew it out of her pocket, read through the message. “They found him. The four-wheeler flipped, and he’s pinned beneath it and injured.”

“Listen up! Grab your gear. We’re heading back up the mountain.” Megs walked over to Zach. “McBride, are my people in danger? What about the other wolf?”

Zach zipped his parka, adjusted his hand mic. “I just heard from Incident Command. The wolf ran off, and the fugitive has been disarmed. I’ll be right beside you.”

“That’s good enough for me.” Megs set off. “Let’s move, people! And remember to watch for traps!”

Zach turned to Jason. “You coming, Chiago?”

“I’m sticking with Winona.”

Zach’s eyebrows rose. “Got it. See you later.”

As Winona and Jason got into Jack’s truck for the drive to Scarlet Springs, the Team headed back up the mountain, Zach and his men beside them.

Jason, Jack, and a group of volunteers helped unload the crate from the back of Jack’s pickup and carry the sedated wolf inside, her pups scampering along behind them.

“I’m heading back up to the ranch.” Jack shook first Winona’s hand and then Jason’s. “Thanks for solving this mystery. You are welcome under our roof anytime.”

“Thanks for the hospitality.” Jason had never imagined he’d enjoy hanging with a family of white millionaires. The West family and their ranch were far beyond anything in his experience. “The Cimarron is a special place.”

“Then I’ll see you again. Take care.” With that, Jack left the clinic.

Jason watched as Winona worked, impressed with her confidence around animals that would scare most people.

She examined the mother, drew blood samples, and gave the animals rabies vaccines. “You guys didn’t see that.”

Her volunteers laughed, understanding a joke that sailed over Jason’s head.

Winona explained. “Rabies vaccines aren’t approved for wolfdog mixes, but I give them anyway. I do what’s best for the animal.”

She gave the wolfdog a drug to revive her, then left her and her pups in the crate with fresh water to rest. “Thanks, everyone, for your help. Heather should be here any minute. I’m going to fill out the paperwork.”

While Winona filled out vaccine certificates, Jason cased out the clinic, looking at its security from a law enforcement perspective, taking photos with his phone. A criminal would have no trouble gaining entrance. Only the back entrance was truly secure. The front door was mostly glass, making it an easy point of ingress, and he had no difficulty forcing the windows open from the outside.

He carried their bags next door to her house and scoped it out, too, finding much the same thing—doors and windows that were easy to force or break, as well as a deck railing that would make it easy for someone to climb into her bedroom.

He couldn’t leave it like this, but none of this was his decision to make. He’d talk to Winona tonight, give her the business card of Nate’s friend in Denver.

As he walked back to the clinic, the truck from the wolf rescue pulled up. He watched as Winona, the volunteers, and the woman from the rescue transferred the still-groggy mother and her pups to a new crate.

Winona handed the woman all of her paperwork. “Thanks, Heather.”

“Any word on the male wolf?”

Winona shook her head. “He ran off when the rangers and sheriff’s deputies approached. I’m worried about him. He might not know how to hunt or fend for himself up there. I’m going to contact wildlife officials and ask what they plan to do.”

“If they catch him, we’ll take him in.” Heather gave Winona a hug. “I need to get Mama and pups settled before dark. See you soon.”

Winona watched them drive away, then let out a relieved breath. “I’m hungry. How about you? Want to head to Knockers?”

He was hungry—for food and something more. “How about we grab something quick and stay at your place?”

“Do you like tacos?”

“Do I like tacos?” Jason stared at her. “I’m O’odham and a Mexican citizen.”

They climbed into Winona’s Outback and drove to a taco truck that was doing a brisk trade, the words Tacos Sabrosos painted on its side—Tasty Tacos.

Winona ordered three tacos with shredded chicken and queso. “No jalapeños. Gracias, Juana.”

“No jalapeños?” Jason had to tease her just a little. “Are they too hot for you?”

Winona lowered her voice to a whisper. “I’ll explain in a minute.”

Jason ordered a smothered burrito with the jalapeños, the two of them standing beneath a heat lamp while they waited for their order. “Okay, let’s hear it. What’s the problem with jalapeños that makes you whisper in public?”

Winona leaned closer. “Chaska and Naomi got some food from Juana’s one day, and they were … intimate afterward. Naomi had eaten jalapeños, and the oils from the pepper burned Chaska on his… She says