McBride leaned closer, filled in the blanks for Jason. “Jack West is one of the wealthiest men in the state. He’s also about as honorable and generous a person as you could hope to meet—and a good friend. He and his family have been running cattle and breeding quarter horses for generations. He hosts the best barbeques.”
Then Winona was back. “Jason, can you come with me? We need your help.”
Chapter 5
Winona listenedwhile Jack explained the situation to Jason, the three of them standing outside Knockers, the cold wind making her wish she’d worn her jacket.
“My son and I run black Angus on our ranch north of town. I’ve lost a few prime steers, and it looks like wolves could be to blame. The strange part is that we haven’t had wolves in Colorado for about eighty years.”
Winona couldn’t deny that the idea of wild wolves in the state excited her. “There have been confirmed sightings of lone wolves who’ve wandered down from Wyoming, but they never stayed. If wolves have settled in the mountains north of Scarlet, that’s going to be big news.”
Jason raised an eyebrow. “You want me to confirm that it’s wolves?”
Jack shook his head. “Based on the size of the tracks, I’m pretty sure it’s wolves. I want to know whether we’re talking about a pack or a lone wolf passing through. I was hoping Chaska could help me, but he’s doing more important things right now. Winona tells me you’re one of the best trackers in the country.”
Jason crossed his arms over his chest. “What do you plan to do if we find wolves on your land? Are you going to eradicate them?”
“God, no!” Jack looked appalled at the thought. “You’ve got my word on that. If it’s wolves, I need to change how we’re managing the herd—put a couple of ostriches in the pasture or something.”
“Ostriches?”
The look on Jason’s face almost made Winona laugh.
Jack grinned. “Ostriches make effective guard animals—llamas, too.”
“I’ve told Jack that I’m happy to help.” Winona owed Jack a favor, but she would have helped no matter what. “I’ll ask Dr. Keene to cover for me at the clinic. I can examine whatever remains are left and see if the scene looks like the site of a wolf kill, but I can’t track.”
Jason considered it for a moment. “I’m in. I need to get McBride home. He and I drove here together in my truck. I’ll spend the night at his place and pick Winona up from her house early tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll meet you at the gate to the ranch at ten. Is that too early?” Jack asked.
Winona met Jason’s gaze. “Does that work for you?”
“Yeah. No problem.”
“I’m much obliged to both of you. Lunch will be on us.” Jack’s brow furrowed. “We don’t want this reaching the media, so it’s best to keep it quiet. That’s why I dragged you out here in the cold. Word travels fast in Scarlet.”
Winona knew he was right. Wolves had been eradicated in Colorado in the 1940s, and people had strong feelings about their return to the state. Many supported it for environmental reasons, while others were vehemently opposed and believed they should all be hunted. If the media got wind of a pack of wolves north of Scarlet…
“We’ll keep it to ourselves.”
“I’d best get back to my family, and you need to get inside before you freeze.” Jack opened the door, held it for them. “See you tomorrow morning.”
Winona walked back to the Team table, one thought chasing another through her mind. If wolves truly were returning to Colorado on their own, there would be no need to fight legal battles to reintroduce them. It would improve the health of the entire mountain ecosystem. Ranchers wouldn’t be happy, but the state would reimburse them for lost livestock like it already did.
Jason walked beside her. “You’re excited. I can see it on your face.”
Shewasexcited. “I love wolves.”
“We get Mexican gray wolves moving through TO land once in a while.”
“Have you ever seen one?”
“Only from a distance. Sadly, my job doesn’t involve tracking four-legged creatures, just the two-legged, criminal kind.”
They ended the conversation before reaching the table.
“You going to tell us what that was about?” Megs asked.