Duke sighed. “Have you been around to any of the cattle auctions yet?”

“Not yet. That’s on the agenda, but as you know, they’re only open on sale days, and so the ones that were open yesterday aren’t open today. We’re going to take a quick run through the ones holding auctions today and maybe we’ll get lucky and find someone with a slash on his boot heel who’s trying to sell six head of cattle.”

“We appreciate anything you can do,” Duke said.

“Sure thing, and we’ll be in touch,” Treat said, then disconnected.

Duke slipped the phone back in his pocket. “Sorry. That was one of the deputies who’s investigating our case. After I got home from Blessings yesterday, we discovered we were missing six head of cattle. The wires had been cut and we found where they’d loaded them up and left through a neighbor’s property. The man who owns it is in a nursing home now, so it was way too convenient for them to come into the back of our property without ever being seen.”

Cathy gasped. “Rustlers? I didn’t realize that was still an ongoing thing for farmers and ranchers!”

Duke shrugged. “Yes, it’s a pretty big problem for people with cattle herds. Over the years, I’ve become something of a cynic. No matter what you own, someone will try to steal it.”

“I’m so sorry. Is there any chance of getting them back?”

“Slim to none,” Duke said. “I came into town to get some batteries to put up some game cameras, in case they try to make a return visit.”

Cathy reached across the table before she thought and put her hand on his arm.

“Are you in danger?”

“I don’t think so. But I always carry a rifle with me when I check cattle. Never know when I might run across a predator. But enough about our troubles. Were you able to get any sleep last night?”

Cathy frowned. She didn’t like knowing this was happening…and that he might be in danger. She hadn’t expected this kind of thing to be happening in a small town. This felt like big city trouble. Then she remembered he was waiting for her to answer.

“Uh…oh…not a lot. But I’ve already had almost a two hour nap this morning.”

“Is there anything I can do for you? Or any errands you need me to run? I’m totally competent to help with pretty much anything. Our parents died when Jack was still in college and I kept the farm going and him in college on my own.”

Cathy was not only instantly empathetic, but was wondering if family responsibilities like that had anything to do with his single status.

“I lost my dad when I was twelve. Mom died a couple of years ago.”

Duke hesitated. He wanted to know everything about her, but he wasn’t going to pry.

“I remember you said you were backpacking when you got here. How did you learn that? Was it something you and your husband used to do together?”