In Death 14 - Reunion in Death

with Chuck Springer. I know her mama had some worries about that. But then as I recollect, he started seeing one of the Larson girls. Maybe it was the Rolley girl. They were kids," he added. "I didn't pay much mind to it. Then when I started up with Julianna, I didn't pay mind to much of anything but her."
    "Do you know where I can find this Chuck Springer?"
    "He's one of my wranglers. Look no, he's a married man, got a little boy and another on the way."
    "Wrangler? Would that be a cowboy?"
    Parker snorted out another laugh, adjusted the brim of his hat. "New York City," he said with a shake of his head. "What the hell else is a wrangler but a cowboy?"
    "I'd like to speak with him."
    Parker sighed. "Then let's go hunt him down." He circled the paddock, jerked a head in the direction of the horses prancing inside. "Got some fine stock there. You ride?"
    "Not on anything with more legs than I have," Eve answered and made him hoot with laughter.
    "You?" he asked Roarke.
    "I have done."
    That stopped Eve dead. "On a horse? You've ridden a horse?"
    "And survived. Actually, it's exhilarating. You'd probably like it."
    "I don't think so."
    "Just gotta let 'em know who's boss," Parker told her.
    "They're bigger, they're stronger. I'd say that makes them boss."
    He chuckled, then let out a shout to one of the hands. "Where's Springer?"
    "Out the east pasture."
    "Nice ride out there," Parker said conversationally, and tucked his tongue into his cheek. "Could set you up on a nice, gentle hack."
    "I'm going to pretend you didn't just threaten a police officer."
    "I like you, city girl." He jerked a thumb. "We'll take a Jeep."
    ...
    It was probably an exhilarating ride. It certainly seemed to Eve that Roarke enjoyed it. But as far as she was concerned, they were bumping through dangerous terrain full of large bovines, cow shit, and whatever might lurk in the tall grass.
    She saw another Jeep. On the flat plain it might have been half a mile away, and closer in, riding along a fence line, a trio of men on horseback. Parker veered toward them, giving his horn a little toot-toot. Cattle lumbered out of the way with a few annoyed moos.
    "Need a word with you here, Chuck."
    A lean, rawboned man in the ranch uniform of boots, jeans, checked shirt, and hat, gave some signal to his mount. They trotted up, and had Eve easing cautiously toward the far door of the Jeep.
    "Boss." He nodded at Roarke, tapped the brim of his hat at Eve. "Ma'am."
    "This lady here's Lieutenant Dallas, city cop from New York. She needs to talk to you."
    "Me?" He had a long face, tanned nearly as deep and gold as a deer hide. It registered puzzled shock. "I ain't never been to New York City."
    "You're not in any trouble, Mr. Springer, but you might be able to help me in an investigation." And how the hell was she supposed to interview him when he was all the way up there on that horse? "If I could have a few minutes of your time."
    "Well." He shifted in the saddle. It creaked. "If the boss says."
    He dismounted, with more creaking, yet with a fluidity that made Eve think of water sliding down a sleek rock. He kept the reins in one hand as his mount lowered its head and began to crop grass.
    "It's regarding Julianna Dunne," Eve began.
    "I heard she got out of prison. They say she killed a man."
    "Her counts up to three on this leg," Eve corrected. "You knew her when she lived in this area."
    "Yep."
    "Have you had any contact with her since she left?"
    "Nope."
    "You were friends with her when she lived here."
    "Not 'xactly."
    Eve waited a beat. Texas interview rhythm, she decided, was a whole lot different from New York's. "What exactly were you then, Mr. Springer?"
    "I knew her. She was my daddy's boss's stepdaughter. My boss, too. Haven't seen hide nor hair of her since she lit out. No reason I should. Boss, I got fence to ride."
    "Chuck, Lieutenant Dallas is trying to do her job. Now if you're thinking I'm going to be peeved over something that went on between you and Julianna when you were a knot-headed teenager, put that aside. You know me well enough, know what happened with me well enough." He paused there as Chuck frowned down at his boots. "I figure you don't hold that against me. The same's gonna go. The lieutenant wants to know if you tumbled Julianna."
    The man blushed. Eve watched, fascinated, as dull red crept under the deep gold tan. "Aw, Jake T., I can't talk about that sort of thing with a woman."
    Eve pulled out her shield. "Talk to the