“Oh, a job. Doing what?” Will enquired as we walked among the hundreds of visitors spending money hand over fist. The Shoshone-Arapahoe nation thanks you all for your patronage.
“Horse stuff. Cow stuff. You know. Ranch stuff.” Tootch blinked at us in what was his most forlorn look, I was sure. “If you can work here…”
Will shrugged. Tootch did have a point. When Will arrived, he hadn’t known which end of the pitchfork was which.
“I’ll ask my brother.”
I nearly gagged again but managed to keep it under control.
“Cool. Thanks.” Tootch gave us a smile that made a dimple appear. Then his dark eyes widened. “Oh shit! It’s him! Hide me!” He dove behind Will as if he’d just seen Satan. I glanced around Will but saw nothing but a crowd of people milling about. I saw Shep McCrary moseying along pretending like he was interested in the Native goods and crafts. At his side was Milton. The other hand—or bodyguard by the looks—must have stayed with Clayton.
“It’s who?” Will asked, going to his toes to study the throng.
“That big Indian dude with the movie star White guy.” He pointed a shaky finger at Milton. “That’s Chip Tooth Dude!” Tootch then hightailed it, leaving me and Will to gape at his retreating back. We followed Tootch to the row of Port-A-Potties then yanked him out from behind one.
“Dude, stop hiding behind the shitters. Tell us about this Chip Tooth Dude,” Will snapped. Tootch slunk behind me, peeking around my shoulder before speaking. “Tootch, seriously, start talking.”
“He was the guy that got pissed off when I couldn’t handle the dino bones. He hit me in the face then threatened me about talking.” Tootch then zipped his lips. Then unzipped them. “I’m not saying another word until we’re at the ranch. I need witness protection!”
Will and I exchanged looks. “I don’t recall him having a chipped tooth,” I said as we scanned the crowd for another sign of Milton. “Of course he barely smiled that day he was at Prairie Smoke.”
“I trust Tootch,” Will stated.
“Thanks, Will,” Tootch squeaked from behind me.
“I think we should—shit, here he comes!” Will hissed then spun around to give Milton his back. I lowered my head, the feathers on my roach tickling Will’s ear. He swatted at the hawk feathers with a grunt then we slipped around the latrines, dragging Tootch behind us, and watched as Milton left the fairgrounds. “We should follow him.”
“Okay no. That sounds like a really bad idea,” I argued but we kept trailing Milt as he made his way to the parking area.
“I second that. Let’s go hide at the ranch,” Tootch said when we ducked behind a minivan to avoid being seen.
“We’ll lose him if we do that. And no, we don’t have time to run to Nate or Landon. This is a hot lead! Let’s go!” Will ran for my truck. Tootch raced after him. I stood there, in full regalia, trying to make up my mind. Will ran back to me. “Perry, come on, have I ever led you into something that didn’t end up well?”
“Don’t even go there.”
He winked at me, stole a kiss, and then hustled off, keeping low in case Milton might look back. With a hearty sigh, I yanked off my roach, removed my dance bells, and tiptoed along after Will. I never would have guessed that falling in love would make you so stupid.