After watching the security guard carefully lock up the barn, Robbie led the way back to the parking lot.
"Pop, why don't you ride back with Ian and Mom; I'll report in and see if Andy's seen anything yet. Call me after you…"
Rick's transmitter chose that moment to beep, and setting it to receive, he listened as A.J.'s voice sounded. "Rick, come in."
"Hey, A.J., we're just leaving Starlight, how's Ricky doing?"
Rick's expression lightened as his brother replied, "He's angry, Rick….but he feels worse for Robin and Laurie. I had to sit on him to keep him from taking off to meet you."
"Tell him he's exactly where he needs to be, little brother. We're on our way to the ranch, can you meet us there?"
"Sure Rick. I'll leave in a few, want me to call Ron?" A.J. asked, and Robbie spoke up.
"Thanks, Uncle A.J.. We could use his help, have him page me if he can meet up at the ranch."
Signing off, Rick and Laurie climbed into Ian's truck and waved as Robbie pulled out then followed him down the road.
"I'm glad you got to the ranch in time, son. Steve and Jaime really enjoy seeing the children." Rick told Ian, and the younger man grinned as he turned onto the highway
"Petey and Katie love his stories, Dad. In fact, Petey always asks if he's going to be at the ranch now."
"That's my grandson." Laurie smiled, then leaned her head against Rick's shoulder. He put his arm around her as he could tell it was bothering her about Starboy. He was surprised then when she suddenly raised her head and blurted, "I know where that piece of shirt's from!"
Ian almost slammed on the brakes as Rick looked at her. "Sweetheart?"
"The plaid on that scrap of shirt, remember the boy who ran into Melly and threw soda at us? That Mitch Fogel's kid. He had on a plaid shirt just like that, it was torn on one arm."
Rick planted a kiss on his wife's cheek. "Darlin', I love you….I think you've just handed us our first real lead."
Putting his transmitter watch on, Rick signaled to Robbie and relayed Laurie's information. At once his son's voice cheered up. "Good work, Mom. I remember how messed up he was. Fogel even accused me of roughing him up until one of the merchants came forward and said he'd grabbed him by the shirt to stop him."
By the time Ian drove into the ranch driveway, Robbie had already had the small lab at the Silver Rock station testing the piece of material. Rick barely had time to help Laurie out of the truck when Steve and Jaime and their family came out to greet them.
"Grandma! Grandpa!" the children squealed and ran up to them, giving hugs and kisses.
Rick immediately hoisted both Petey and Katie on his shoulders as A.J. embraced Laurie.
"Robbie called us, Sis. Good work, now we need to narrow down who the other creeps are!"
Within minutes Robbie and Ron arrived, then Rick led the makeshift posse out onto the patio to talk. While they were outside, Laurie pulled her daughter aside.
"Robin, did you talk to Ricky?"
She nodded. "He was pretty upset after Uncle A.J. told him, but he calmed down after I told him Robbie was investigating at the ranch. I can't believe Chad Fogel would be Involved with him, Andy used to run around with him until they moved."
"Chad? Oh, that's the boy's name. I never knew who it was because your father handled
filing the complaint." Laurie replied, then smoothed Robin's hair. "Thank you for putting aside your own feelings, sweet. I know it's upsetting to think what might happen to Starboy."
She nodded, relief in her expression. "Thanks, Mama. I'm not so worried now, Robbie seems to think he's not too far away."
"Well, he's probably right." Jaime came up to them, then motioned her head to where the two children were watching cartoons.
"Robin, I've been meaning to tell you how great Petey and Katie are, every time I see them they're well-behaved and play so well together."
Robin smiled. "Thanks, Aunt Jaime. You don't know how good it is to hear that. I think Petey takes after his dad, he always shares and the few times he gets upset, well, it's usually because Katie gets them both into trouble. I think she has a bit of Pop in her!"
Jaime and Laurie giggled at that, as she added "Plus I followed Grandma's advice, I don't let them watch too much television, so it's more of a treat for them."
Just then two small voices raised in welcome and the three women turned to see Oscar Goldman at the door.
"There's three of my favorite girls…." He began, then tousled the hair of both Petey and
Katie as he came in the house. Laurie noticed how happy Jaime was to see him and was grateful again for her friends coming to live in Arizona.
"We're glad to see you too, Dad, but I think the guys want your presence more." She told him, giving him a quick hug. Putting a glass of ice tea in his hand, Robin embraced her surrogate uncle as he made his way outside.
Rick lifted his head from the discussion he and Robbie were having and was relieved to see Oscar join them.
"Dad, I'm glad you're here, Robbie just got some information from Andy about the possible location of the missing livestock and horses."
The older man nodded then turned his attention to the young sheriff as Robbie told them, "Andy says at least part of the missing herd, as well as the horses are at the rear of the old Redstone spread. He's contacted the local judge for a warrant, but we'll have to move after dark if we're to prevent them from scattering the livestock."
"Good idea, son. How do you want to do this?" Oscar directed his question to Robbie, and Rick saw the pride in his expression at being treated like a leader.
"I want us in teams of two at the entrance, back and just outside their gates. Andy will block any access to the highway, so we have a better chance of getting all of them. Now Mom's recognizing the piece of shirt that we found in Starboy's stall was good work, it does belong to Chad Fogel, son of one of our so-called "victims". Ron contacted the family, but we're not getting any response, we'll have to go after this bunch first."
Agreeing to meet in an hour, the Simons and their friends planned to get together at the sheriff's station, then caravan to the "abandoned" manor.
"Remember, Laurie, you stay put, any chores can just wait." Rick told his wife as he put a spare shirt in his bag.
"I know, love. I just want you to be careful." She told him, putting her arms around his neck. At once Rick drew her close for a kiss, then held her tightly.
"I will, sweetheart. We'll be back later, so don't hold supper, just keep a plate warm." He whispered.
Just then A.J. called, "Rick…" and he picked up his bag. "Come back to me, love."
Laurie managed, then gave him one more kiss.
"I will, love you." He said, then let her go as his son stuck his head in the house.
"We'll be back, Mom."
"I know, I know, son. Be careful." She urged, then watched them go in the fading afternoon light.
As the moon rose and shone brightly over the flatlands, Rick kept his eyes on the tree-lined grazing land. He was riding back and forth behind the herd, A.J. on the other side of the makeshift corral, when he heard shouts, then Robbie's voice…."Drop the weapons and lay flat on the ground, now!"
Turning his mount around, Rick started to ride toward the commotion, only to have someone ride into him and knock him off his horse. Rick found himself sliding to the ground, and immediately tried to catch himself. Suddenly there was pain, and everything went black.
"Rick! Where are you?" It sounded like Steve, only he was in Ojai, no, he was here.
"Pop! Uncle A.J., I can't find him……call Rob and Ron!"
Rick thought he was dreaming, his head hurt and he heard voices…then he managed to open his eyes and saw he was staring up at the sky. Moving slowly, he turned and saw lights in the vicinity, then took a deep breath.
"A.J! Robbie?" he yelled, trying to sit up. At once running footsteps sounded close to him, then a light flashed in his eyes, nearly blinding him.
"Rick? Oh my God! Robbie, I found him, he's here! Hang on, big brother!" He saw the shadow of A.J. standing there, then Robbie's face was leaning over him.
"Pop, stay still, what happened? Are you all right?"
"Yeah, someone ran into me, then pow!…..what's this?" Rick dazedly lifted a piece of paper off his chest, then A.J. shone his lantern light on it. Immediately he let out a swear word.
"Uh, uh, A.J., I'm going to tell Mom on you." Rick managed, bringing a reluctant smile to the younger Simon's face.
As Steve ran over and helped him up, Rick looked around and noticed he was near the road. "How 'd I get way over here?"
"I don't know...you've been missing for at least 20 minutes, we arrested 3 of the rustlers then Rob noticed someone riding off. When Ron started to follow them, he found your horse but not you, so he gave the alarm" A.J. told him.
.Just then Rick finally got a look at the note, and his face reddened with anger.
"Drop the investigation, Sheriff, or next time he's dead."
