Chapter 36
"Were you able to determine how many?" Sam asked as they rode along.
"I think so," Jake nodded, not looking over at her. "Looks like four, maybe five."
They were following the tracks. Jake's eyes remained on the ground for the most part. Every once in awhile he'd look around as if he were picturing in his mind what the tracks on the ground were telling him.
Sam was used to tracking with him, knowing he wasn't ignoring her, just concentrating on what he was doing. She loved to watch him track.
After awhile they came to a clearing and it was obvious that this was where the thieves had parked the truck and trailer they used to transport the stolen cattle.
Jake dismounted again and got down and looked at the tire marks.
"Want me to call the sheriff?" Sam asked.
"See if you can get a signal," Jake said, continuing to look at the tire marks and following them on foot. Witch trailed along behind him.
Sam checked her phone and seeing she had a signal, she dialed.
"Hello, this is Samantha Forster," she said to the person who answered the phone at the sheriff's office. "I'm out on the range with Jake Ely of Three Ponies, who is tracking the cattle thieves?"
"Yes Samantha," the woman responded. "We're aware of Jake Ely and the missing cattle."
"We found some tire tracks…," Sam began, then took the phone away from her ear. "Jake where are we?"
Jake told her and Sam turned back to her phone to relay the message.
"Thank you Samantha," the woman told her. "I'll let Sheriff Ballard know. Hang on a moment."
"She's letting Sheriff Ballard know," Sam nudged Jester forward to keep pace with Jake.
"Okay," Jake said without looking away from the tire tracks.
"Samantha?" the woman was back on the phone.
"Yes," Sam responded.
"Heck said for you and Jake to stay there, he's on his way," Sam was told.
"Okay we will, thank you," Sam ended the phone call.
"Sheriff Ballard's on his way," Sam put her phone back in her coat pocket.
"Go ahead and get down," Jake turned back to her before looking back at the tracks.
Sam dismounted from Jester and stood where she was. She didn't want to interfere in what Jake was doing or mess up any of the tracks.
Jake looked up and pointed over to the side. Sam led Jester there and stood watching him.
Soon, she saw him nod to himself before starting back to her. Witch had moved to a nearby patch of dried grass and was grazing.
"One of the horses has distinct shoes," Jake told her.
"How so?" Sam asked.
"There's a rub mark or something similar on the off front hoof," Jake responded.
"So if we find that horse, we'll find the thieves," Sam mused.
"Possibly," Jake nodded. "Of course, if they change shoes on their horse…" He shrugged.
"We need to find them before they do that," Sam said.
Jake nodded.
"Go ahead and turn Jester loose," Jake said.
Sam looped her reins around the saddle horn and gave his rump a slap. The paint trotted over to where Witch was grazing and bent his head to do the same.
Suddenly Sam felt the smack against her butt and squealed. Jake was laughing softly. She swatted his arm as he pulled her to him, his large hand rubbing her cheek where he had smacked it.
"I'm not a horse," Sam reminded him.
"You don't want me rubbing your butt?" Jake lifted an eyebrow at her.
"You better not volunteer to rub anyone else's," Sam gave it right back to him.
Jake chuckled.
Sam heard the slamming of Sheriff Ballard's car door and Sam looked towards the sound. It figured Jake had known the sheriff had arrived before she had. She felt Jake kiss the top of her head one last time, before he released her to go meet the sheriff.