Read Online Peril by Ponytail (A Bad Hair Day Mystery) by Nancy J. Cohen - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Nancy J. Cohen
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pioneer wife?
“I’ll probably be here late, so I may grab something to eat on my way into town later. Over by the highway are a few fast food places. Listen, let me know if you guys need anything, you hear? Meanwhile, enjoy your stay on the ranch. Have you been riding yet?”
“We’ll get to it.” Dalton gave him a clap on the shoulder. “Good luck with this project. I’m impressed by how much you’ve accomplished so far.”
“Thanks, son. See you later.”
Marla faced her husband in the empty street after they were left alone. “So do you want to explore the hillside or head back to the ranch?”
“Let’s take a look at the hill as long as we’re in the area. We might see something the others missed in regards to the worker who vanished. I don’t think the sheriff would have investigated since they haven’t officially declared the guy as missing.”
Her breath came short as she climbed the steep stairs to the main level. “Man, I need to get in shape.”
“You’re not used to this altitude. The air is thinner here.”
“That’s true.” She trudged toward the hill at the far end of Harrison Street, the main road through town. Sounds of hammering mingled with the whine of drills and the steady thumping noise of heavier construction. Dust filled her nostrils and covered her sneakers.
They passed an open lot holding various relics—a stone statue of a monk, an old bathtub, rusty wagon wheels, and more. A breeze rustled leaves on nearby shade trees.
“If Eduardo saw something he interpreted as an apparition, it might have been situated up there.” Dalton pointed to a summit looming over the town to their left. “We’ll have to find a way across to that location.”
Marla slung her purse strap diagonally over one shoulder, wishing she’d locked her bag in their car. Her walking shoes crunched on a pile of stones as she took her first steps off the road and up a slight rise. A higher stretch forced her to reach upwards and clamber onto a higher rock, her fingers gripping its cool surface. At least this slope was fairly gentle, with small rock ledges for hand and footholds.
After maneuvering across several flat-topped boulders that rose in ridges, she found an easier gravel path to follow. Dodging bushes and boulders, she gasped and huffed her way upward. Cactus didn’t grow at this elevation, but other shrubs and a few scraggly trees mingled with evergreens. By her standards, they were sparsely scattered among the red dirt and rocks, and they provided little shelter from the blazing sun.
She paused to adjust her sunglasses, thinking she should add a wide-brimmed hat to her shopping list. She’d forgotten to pack one of her sun hats from Florida.
“Watch out for rattlesnakes,” Dalton said with a teasing grin. He took the lead, and she followed his broad back on their makeshift trail.
“Oh, joy. I suppose scorpions can be hiding under these rocks as well.” Despite the sweat breaking out on her brow and her heavy breathing, she was enjoying the exercise. “We should have brought snacks and water bottles in a backpack.”
“You’re right. Remember it for next time.”
Her skin felt dry, and her hairs stood out from static electricity. Missing Florida’s humidity, Marla breathed through her nose to minimize moisture loss.
She halted at the top of a rise. Small bushes dotted the terrain but not much else. Two hills rose on either side of them. She guessed they should stay to the left toward the town. If Eduardo, the guy who’d vanished, had seen something on the hillside, it might have been from there as Dalton had suggested.
Unfortunately, the slope on that side consisted of solid chunks of rocks. They had to climb further, helping each other over one rise after another.
“Ow,” she said, banging her toe on her last attempt as she half-crawled over a boulder.
“We’re almost there.” Dalton surveyed the territory ahead. “This isn’t getting any easier. Who knows what
“I’ll probably be here late, so I may grab something to eat on my way into town later. Over by the highway are a few fast food places. Listen, let me know if you guys need anything, you hear? Meanwhile, enjoy your stay on the ranch. Have you been riding yet?”
“We’ll get to it.” Dalton gave him a clap on the shoulder. “Good luck with this project. I’m impressed by how much you’ve accomplished so far.”
“Thanks, son. See you later.”
Marla faced her husband in the empty street after they were left alone. “So do you want to explore the hillside or head back to the ranch?”
“Let’s take a look at the hill as long as we’re in the area. We might see something the others missed in regards to the worker who vanished. I don’t think the sheriff would have investigated since they haven’t officially declared the guy as missing.”
Her breath came short as she climbed the steep stairs to the main level. “Man, I need to get in shape.”
“You’re not used to this altitude. The air is thinner here.”
“That’s true.” She trudged toward the hill at the far end of Harrison Street, the main road through town. Sounds of hammering mingled with the whine of drills and the steady thumping noise of heavier construction. Dust filled her nostrils and covered her sneakers.
They passed an open lot holding various relics—a stone statue of a monk, an old bathtub, rusty wagon wheels, and more. A breeze rustled leaves on nearby shade trees.
“If Eduardo saw something he interpreted as an apparition, it might have been situated up there.” Dalton pointed to a summit looming over the town to their left. “We’ll have to find a way across to that location.”
Marla slung her purse strap diagonally over one shoulder, wishing she’d locked her bag in their car. Her walking shoes crunched on a pile of stones as she took her first steps off the road and up a slight rise. A higher stretch forced her to reach upwards and clamber onto a higher rock, her fingers gripping its cool surface. At least this slope was fairly gentle, with small rock ledges for hand and footholds.
After maneuvering across several flat-topped boulders that rose in ridges, she found an easier gravel path to follow. Dodging bushes and boulders, she gasped and huffed her way upward. Cactus didn’t grow at this elevation, but other shrubs and a few scraggly trees mingled with evergreens. By her standards, they were sparsely scattered among the red dirt and rocks, and they provided little shelter from the blazing sun.
She paused to adjust her sunglasses, thinking she should add a wide-brimmed hat to her shopping list. She’d forgotten to pack one of her sun hats from Florida.
“Watch out for rattlesnakes,” Dalton said with a teasing grin. He took the lead, and she followed his broad back on their makeshift trail.
“Oh, joy. I suppose scorpions can be hiding under these rocks as well.” Despite the sweat breaking out on her brow and her heavy breathing, she was enjoying the exercise. “We should have brought snacks and water bottles in a backpack.”
“You’re right. Remember it for next time.”
Her skin felt dry, and her hairs stood out from static electricity. Missing Florida’s humidity, Marla breathed through her nose to minimize moisture loss.
She halted at the top of a rise. Small bushes dotted the terrain but not much else. Two hills rose on either side of them. She guessed they should stay to the left toward the town. If Eduardo, the guy who’d vanished, had seen something on the hillside, it might have been from there as Dalton had suggested.
Unfortunately, the slope on that side consisted of solid chunks of rocks. They had to climb further, helping each other over one rise after another.
“Ow,” she said, banging her toe on her last attempt as she half-crawled over a boulder.
“We’re almost there.” Dalton surveyed the territory ahead. “This isn’t getting any easier. Who knows what
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