Silver Wilderness Range Read online

  Copyright © 2017 Kieran York

  SILVER WILDERNESS RANGE – A Royce Madison Mystery: 5

  Published December, 2017

  All right reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission from the publisher. This included electronic or mechanical recordings or by any information storage and retrieval system, except for the quotation or brief quotation used in critical articles or reviews, without prior permission from Scarlet Clover Publishers L.L.C.

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, locales and events are used fictitiously.

  Cover Design Director: Karen D. Badger

  Interior Design and Formatting: Karen D. Badger

  Front Cover Photography: jaynes pehney

  Edited by: Denise Nash, Kathie Solie, and Barbara Oatley

  Published by Scarlet Clover Publishers L.L.C.

  P.O. Box 621002

  Littleton, Colorado 80162

  Printed and bound in the United States of America, UK, and Europe

  ISBN-13: 978-1976380129

  ISBN-10: 197638012X

  Books also written by Kieran York

  Fiction:

  Ballad of Raindrops

  Astray

  Primrose

  Trevar’s Team: 1 (A Beryl Trevar Mystery)

  Trevar’s Team: 2 (A Beryl Trevar Mystery)

  Touring Kelly’s Poem

  Loitering on the Frontier

  Night Without Time

  Earthen Trinkets

  Careful Flowers

  Appointment with a Smile

  Royce Madison Mystery Series:

  Timber City Masks: Book 1

  Crystal Mountain Veils: Book 2

  Shinney Forest Cloaks: Book 3

  Rasp Meadow Crossing: Book 4

  Timber County Cuisine: A Royce Madison Cookbook

  Poetry:

  Blushing Aspen

  Realm of Belonging

  Once Word

  Festival of a Moment

  Short Fiction:

  Sugar With Spice

  Within Our Celebration

  Contributor to Sappho’s Poetry Series, edited by Beth Mitchum:

  Wet Violets, Volume 2

  Roses Read, Volume 3

  Delectable Daisies, Volume 4

  Fallen Petals, Volume 5

  DEDICATION

  I’d like to make this dedication on both CEO Clover’s behalf, and my behalf. We dedicate this book to our dear friend, and Clover’s veterinarian, Dr. Ray Cox.

  Since I moved into this area, in 1979, I have had dogs. When I first moved here, my standard poodle, Katy, had an urgent medical problem, I had no idea where to take her. My previous Vet was across town. So, I picked the nearest animal hospital, and took my ailing dog there.

  When I saw the young, very young, doctor, I cringed, wondering if he could save my dog. Was he experienced, I questioned myself. He told me that her stomach had flipped over on itself. It was gastric torsion, a twisted stomach. This would require that he extend a tube down her throat, and try to get her stomach turned. If that didn’t work, my precious dog would need emergency surgery.

  I had a rapid decision to make. Dr. Ray looked confident, and quickly explained the procedure. Although I was apprehensive, there was something about this young Vet that allowed me to trust him. When he completed the procedure, he told me it was a success. Thankfully, the surgery would not be needed. I was appreciative. He has been my dogs’ doctor and our friend throughout the last thirty-eight years.

  AND he is not only one of the world’s best in his profession, he is a consummate reader. Over the years I’ve gotten to know about his wonderful family, about the work he does, and we’ve discussed his love of literature.

  Silver Wilderness Range is dedicated to Dr. Ray Cox, D.V.M. – founder of Deer Creek Animal Hospital; Littleton, Colorado.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  First and always, I acknowledge the wonderful women that made this book, and all the previous Scarlet Clover Publishers literature, come true.

  Thank you to Editors Denise Nash, Kathie Solie, and Barbara Oatley. I thank Kathie Solie for her knowledge of elder care. And Barbara Oatley for her knowledge of medical procedure, elder medical treatment, and geriatric care.

  Thank you to Karen D. Badger for cover design and formatting the book. And thanks Karen for keeping my brain functioning while under the duress of the final touches of a book. I value your friendship, humor, and professionalism. Also, thanks to jaynes pehney for the beautiful Colorado cover photography!

  It is a privilege to work with you all.

  This is the fifth Royce Madison mystery. We also have the cookbook, Timber County Cuisine. Over twenty years ago I had the idea to write a mystery about the great Colorado mountains, and a small, colorful town, filled with colorful people. That first book, Timber City Masks, was published, along with a second, Crystal Mountain Veils. Then nearly a couple decades later, they became second editions under the Scarlet Clover banner. Each edition became an Amazon Gay and Lesbian Best-Selling Mystery. Along with mystery 3 and 4.

  I never tire of hearing a reader say that they’ve fallen in love with the soft-spoken Sheriff of Timber County – Royce Madison. Sure, I also have a crush on her. But then, I have a crush on nearly all women.

  And so again, I appreciate those women helping me construct the wondrous, fictional Timber County. It is certainly a very real place in my heart. ~ Kieran York

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Timber City Cuisine

  About The Author

  Coming Soon

  Chapter 1

  Sheriff Royce Madison had just driven her Ford Police Interceptor SUV toward the side road. She was on the outskirts of Timber City, Colorado. A quick turn would take Royce onto Main Street. For over forty years, from her infancy, this was the path to the town she most loved.

  Timber City, Colorado was glowing in autumnal majesty. The area always appeared to light up as the aspens began to diminish. Reds and rusts intensified. A multitude of flaring colors blended, and the entire outdoors became a well-designed canvas.

  Before arriving back at the Timber County Justice Building, which abutted the old City and County building, she had a call. The dispatcher informed Royce that although a squad car was on scene, the sheriff’s presence was being requested. Royce continued her drive through Timber City to the Western side of the small mountain community.

  Beyond was a magnificent range area called Silver Wilderness Range. Just before the range, a cluster of old, historical Timber City homes had long ago been constructed. She looked at the address again. It was certainly well-known to the sheriff.

  When she arrived, she allowed her vehicle to roll to a stop in the long driveway, behind one of her deputy’s squad car. On the post, beside the mailbox was a ‘For Sale’ sign. The signage shocked her.

  Glancing up, she saw Daisy Barnaby on the porch of the large, elegant, century-old home. The woman was frail, and in her mid-eighties. She sat sternly, only slightly leaning back against the splats of her porch’s rocking chair. She clutched a small decorative th
row pillow.

  Royce went immediately to Deputy Sam Dawson. He was seated in his squad car. Sam was the most recent hired deputy. Royce enjoyed being around the sweet dispositioned young deputy. There wasn’t much noticeable about him. He looked like a million other men. With light brown hair, neatly clipped, and dark hazel eyes, he was plain looking. Then, when his toothy, infectious grin eased across his face, he looked joyous. And his was an identifiably special appearance.

  “What’s going on with Daisy?” Royce inquired.

  Sam’s face twisted into a frown. “She’s a trespasser.”

  “A trespasser! She’s lived here all her life.”

  “I suspect they might have the wrong address.”

  “Who might have given you the wrong address?” the sheriff questioned.

  “Silver Wilderness Assisted Living Center’s administrator. Her name is Eileen Austin. She called in a report about a missing resident. Mrs. Austin even told me where to find her. She says that the assisted living community now owns Miss Barnaby’s house.” Sam’s musical snicker indicated that he was not a fan of Eileen’s. Royce was amused because Sam was such an even-tempered deputy. He was often teased. Other deputies and town’s people called him Deputy Sunshine.

  “I take it that Eileen Austin was unpleasant.”

  “Royce, she was beyond curt. Insistent.” He grinned. “I figured you’d get her path corrected in a hurry.”

  “I’ll try to destabilize her curt persona,” Royce promised.

  “Miss Barnaby asked if I’d call you.”

  Royce’s head automatically lifted as she glanced across the forty-acre rangeland that was between Daisy’s house and the assisted living home. Beyond, the facility was set up like a compound. There was a stone wall surrounding some of the Silver Wilderness Center’s property. It abutted the part of the range where the foothills began to lift into the wilderness.

  “I’ll see if I can help Miss Daisy. Before I call on Eileen Austin.”

  “Miss Daisy seems a little cantankerous, but she was sweet to me.”

  Royce explained, “Miss Daisy is a friend of my grandmothers. She’s been a teacher in Timber for decades. She taught both my father and mother in grade school, and a generation later, Miss Daisy taught me. I’ll try to sort this out without a disturbance.” Royce’s sarcasm was evident.

  Sam’s wide grin flashed. “I wasn’t about to handcuff her.”

  Amused, Royce joked, “Back in school, I wouldn’t have sassed her.” Royce squinted up at the bright sky. Her thoughts traveled in reverse for a few moments. “She was tough. But we respected her. And learned more from her than any other teacher. She saw to it.” A partial smile emerged before she looked away.

  “Neither of us could probably take her down,” Sam said with a chuckle.

  “Not a chance.”

  The German shepherd’s ears lifted. She’d heard her name. Royce was still becoming used to not using the word ‘chance’ in her conversations. Her trusty K-9 Deputy Chance would stand at attention each time the partially grown German shepherd would hear her name.

  “At ease,” Royce uttered. She approached the porch swing and sat across from the woman. “Miss Daisy, I’m Royce.”

  “I know who you are. You’re the sheriff and your daddy, he was sheriff, too.”

  Royce realized the woman was cognizant of her surroundings. “Miss Daisy, I’m just checking to see if you’re okay.”

  “Those awful people at that Silver Wilderness Center have stolen my house from me. They say I’m senile. But I’m no such thing. I’m fine. You were my pupil from second grade to fourth grade. And your daddy was in my class from first grade to third grade. Both of you excelled in science. When you were in fourth grade, you won a science prize by making a rain gauge for measuring the water content in snow.”

  Royce smiled. “I’d almost forgotten that.”

  She watched the slight beam of a smile across Daisy’s lips. “I haven’t forgotten. Those folks at the assisted living place tell that I’m not right in the head. They gave me pills and then I got confused.”

  When Sam approached, Royce asked, “Did Mrs. Austin explain?”

  The deputy looked away. Royce assumed that he had been told by Eileen Austin that Daisy was impaired. “Some. She just requested that Mrs. Barnaby be returned. When I say requested – I mean more like she demanded. She’s in their care, Mrs. Austin said. She claims that the facility has guardianship of her.”

  Royce asked Daisy, “What seems to be the problem today?” Royce leaned back, studying the older woman. Daisy Barnaby’s thin, small frame was taut, and her face was drawn into a scowl. “How can I help?” Royce questioned softly.

  Daisy squinted. “As I said, I’ve been run off of my own home.”

  “Who exactly is running you off?”

  “My only living relative and those scoundrels at the Silver Wilderness Center. And they’re drugging me and lying.” Daisy glanced up. Her eyelids closed.

  “Drugging you?”

  “But I stopped swallowing the pills. I started flushing them down the toilet. Otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to hike over here.”

  “You walked all the way across the range?” Royce inquired with amazement.

  “The range has been my backyard for my entire life,” she answered. “It was a hike this morning, but I made it.”

  Royce frowned. She hadn’t been told that Miss Daisy was now a resident at the Center. That was something she would have expected to have heard. Royce commented, “It’s quite a trek. Are they mistreating you at Silver Wilderness?”

  “I just said that they’re drugging me. Heck, yes. I don’t want my brain all confused.”

  She paused. The woman scanned the horizon. “And you’re the law, so I better tell you this. I’m afraid they killed someone.”

  Royce leaned forward. “Killed someone?’

  “Seth Egan disappeared. It was late at night. In the hallway. He was fighting with Mr. Austin, Eileen Austin’s husband.”

  “Arguing?” Royce asked. “Larry Austin and Seth Egan fought?”

  Daisy’s face grimaced. “Yelling, and I could hear the shuffling, and then I heard someone falling. Mr. Austin was calling for a fella named Alec to come help him restrain Seth. I never saw Seth again. Not that anyone wanted to see Seth. He’s an ornery old goat. That was awhile back. I can’t remember when. They put so many pills down me, time has gone all catawampus. Please don’t make me go back there.”

  Sam’s face cast a quick glance toward Royce. She could tell that he was also dubious about how to proceed. “Sheriff, if Miss Barnaby is fearful, maybe we shouldn’t return her right away.”

  “Sam, I’m just deciding about whether to take her to my mom’s bakery, or over to The Timber City Times. I’m sure Gwen and Nadine would like to visit with her, too.”

  “Do you want me to take her there?”

  “No. I’ll want to get more information.” Royce frowned. “You can do me a favor. Call and tell Eileen Austin that I’ll drop by Silver Wilderness Center later to talk with her.”

  “She said it was urgent. She isn’t going to like that,” Sam replied.

  “Tough.” Royce took a deep breath of the late autumn mountain air. “I’m not liking any of this.”

  Nodding in agreement, the deputy spoke quietly, “You’re getting the same feeling about something being off?”

  “The very same feeling.” She returned to Daisy’s side. “Miss Barnaby, why don’t we go into Timber City and visit with Gwen and Nadine.”

  “You aren’t taking me back to that home?”

  “No, I’m not.” The sheriff’s usual calm, well-modulated voice sounded defiant. Her expressive sapphire eyes backed up her hostility. Her usual slender, square face, with pouty lips, softly cleft chin, and dimples, was normally pleasant. Her corn silk colored hair was clipped short and stylish, and it now showed a few wisps of gray. Royce’s tall, wiry build displayed pride. Her carriage produced a commanding stride. She worked
out regularly, and her shoulders lifted, increasing her authoritarian demeanor. That came from being a woman sheriff for the past decade and a half. She knew better than to look vulnerable.

  “You’ll get in trouble with Mrs. Austin,” the elderly woman admonished.

  “Now, Miss Daisy, you’ve known me too many years to believe I’d ever get in trouble with anyone.” Royce put on her sunglasses, and smiled.

  Daisy chuckled. “That I do, Royce. That I do.” It was the exact same laugh she used when the class had met with her approval years ago.

  ***

  The Timber City Times office had transformed from the small weekly newspaper and print shop to an updated version, yet without changing the flavor of the old west. Gwen Ives and her lover of over forty years, Nadine Atwell, were co-publishers of the paper. Gwen and Royce’s mother had been best friends from the time they were toddlers. Gwen had come out to Royce’s mom, shortly after she’d met Nadine.

  Molly, owner of Molly’s Pantry, had taken that news with complete acceptance. Twenty years later, Molly daughter – the sheriff – came out to her mother. Molly found it difficult, but supported Royce.

  Now, as the sheriff opened the over-sized Timber City Time’s door for Daisy Barnaby to enter, she considered how much she loved both Gwen and Nadine. Nadine Atwell glanced up from her receptionist’s desk. “Hi, Royce. Daisy.” Nadine pressed her eyeglasses back and squinted. “If you’re looking for Gwen, you just missed her.”

  As the women shared greetings, Royce wasn’t certain how she would approach the topic. “We’re not really looking for Gwen.”

  “So how can I help you two women?” Nadine questioned. Nadine could usually be found at the front desk, sorting stories, and answering the phone. Her short brown hair was graying as it flowed back from her face. With an aquiline nose, and strong chin, she was aging gracefully. Her topaz eyes flickered when she smiled. Her crooked teeth somehow added to her charm.