Title: Mystery of the Oxbow
By: greygoose70
Summary: "Why are you being so god damn stubborn!" Castle yelled.
"Because I'm god damn good at it!" Kate yelled right back.
DISCLAIMER: Own nothing associated with the show, AWM, or ABC.
Chapter 1
Day 1
Canmore County Sheriff Kurkwood Blaine stood in the grassy edge along Montana highway 21. He was staring down at the overturned prisoner transport bus where members from the Canmore volunteer fire department were working to retrieve the dead and wounded from the wreckage. He shifted is gaze upward to the dense forest and mountain range in the distance, the expanse where three prisoners had escaped into.
Just as he considered what the three escapees were about to face his radio sounded. It was the helicopter pilot reporting that as of yet he hasn't found them. Sheriff Esposito told him to check out around Spring Creek that they might have gotten that far, and that he wanted those bastards found.
As the chopper began an 180 degree turn Deputy Sheriff Kevin Ryan approached the Sheriff and handed him an evidence bag. Inside the bag was a make-shift wooden knife. "Pulled this out of the drivers neck, Sheriff," he said handing it over.
Sheriff Blaine took the bag and stuffed it in his jacket pocket, then turned to watch as a pair of EMTs pushed a gurney past carrying a wounded guard. "What do you think they are going to do?" Ryan asked trailing along behind the Sheriff.
"Hell, I don't know, find a nice quiet lake somewhere, live happily ever after. There's only one thing stopping them," he said turning and once again staring out at the expanse on the horizon. "Four thousand square miles of the meanest acreage God but on this earth."
Sheriff Blaine no sooner got those words out when he espied a car pulling up, and four men in suits getting out. Feds he immediately thought. He tuned to Ryan and said, "Find Castle."
"Why would you…" Ryan began before the Sheriff interrupted him. "Just find him."
"Yes sir," Ryan said sprinting for his vehicle.
Ryan pulled into the drive of Castle's property and parked, jumped out and sprinted to where he saw Castle working on the fireplace for the new cabin Castle was building. Ryan called out to Castle, quickly explaining what had happened, and the sheriff wanted Castle to hunt them down.
Castle got down from the scaffolding he had been standing on and walked toward the deputy telling him he "didn't do that kind of work anymore," then walked into his trailer returning moments later with a beer that he popped open and taking a drink.
"Come on, Castle; just talk to him," Ryan said as Castle walked past, "otherwise he'll chew me out." Ryan then lead Castle over to his vehicle where he reached in and retrieved the radio mike, handing it to Castle.
Castle took the mike, activated it and spoke, "I'll tell you the same thing I told your deputy…" he was immediately interrupted. "Look, Castle, besides our differences you're still the best tracker in the state."
"You always were a charmer," Castle replied.
"Ryan," the Sheriff began, "is that mangy dog of his there?" When he received an affirmative reply, he said, "place Castle under arrest. Fifteen days for lack of an appropriate license and failure to obey the leash law."
"The leash law," Castle spouted.
"You shouldn't antagonize him," Ryan said.
"I shouldn't do a lot of things,' Castle responded. "Come on Trip, looks like we're going hunting.
Back at the wreckage site Castle was finishing adjusting the straps to the saddle on his horse when an onlooker made the comment saying, "you going in after them fellows."
"Looks like it," Castle replied in return. "My cousin went in there twenty years ago, never came out," the man said,' then added, "said his wife ran off with another man."
Castle gave a smirk, then mounted his large gray mare and rode up until he was next to Sheriff Blaine. "That will be four thousand dollars per man plus expenses," he stated.
"You'll get what you always get and not a penny more," the sheriff declared. Castle turned his horse around while calling out to his dog, "Looks like we're going to jail, Trip." He hadn't rode more tha a few feet when he heard his name called. He turned in his saddle and saw the Sheriff holding a badge above his head, turned back around he took the badge stuffing it in his jacket pocket.
The Sheriff handed Castle a picture of one of the escaped prisoners telling Castle he didn't care about the other two but this one he wanted brought back alive. Castle gazed at the prison photo of one Gregg Sears, number 35814. "I'll treat him with kid gloves," Castle said folding up the picture and sticking it in his shirt pocket, then asked, "where'd they go in at?"
"Down by the ravine," the Sheriff answered. "Weapons?" Castle then enquired. "12 gauge pump and .357 pistol," Blaine replied.
Castle spurred his horse, Lady, taking off down the embankment, passed the overturned bus and into the forest of trees, Sheriff Blaine watching him the entire way until he was out of sight.
Castle didn't have any trouble picking up the trail. The deep impressions from their prison shoes in the dirt and broken branches were easy to follow. But when he got to Spring Creek he had a mild dilemma…which way did they go. Sitting there atop his faithful steed while she drank from the stream, he saw his dog staring up at him. "Well what are you waiting for, get to work," he ordered.
Trip instantly turned and crossed to the other side of the stream, began sniffing down one way and up the other.
Trip is an Australian shepherd, primarily known for their herding and guarding capabilities. Castle has owned him since he was a pup, trained him as a tracker. Trip had helped Castle during his days as a tracker for several law enforcement agencies in and around the state of Montana. It was only natural that Trip would be with him on this manhunt.
Suddenly Trip began barking so Castle rode over to see what he found. There deep in the muck of the bank Castle saw a footprint where the escapees had exited the stream. "Good boy, Trip," he said spurring his horse forward following Trip as he picked up the scent. As dusk began to set in Castle decided to call it a day and pitch camp, they would pick up the trail again in the morning.
End of Chapter