Read Online Death on the High Lonesome by Frank Hayes - Free Book Online

on the place, they should be heading in before long.”
    â€œVirgil, I think I hear something.”
    Virgil looked back down the ranch road he had just traveled. “From that dust cloud, I’d say the ambulance is about a mile off. Rosie, why don’t you go in the house while they take care of Velma? See if you can find an address book so we can call Velma and Charlie’s family.”
    â€œAll right, I can do that.”
    â€œRosie, you okay? I mean, I know you weren’t expecting any of this.”
    â€œI’m all right, Virgil. Just trying to get my balance back. Like you say, I wasn’t expecting this, but then I guess neither was Velma. Now, I wonder what became of Charlie? Maybe his horse threw him. He could be lying out there in the mesquite wondering why no one is coming to help him.”
    â€œThat ain’t likely, Rosie. The last time a horse threw Charlie Thompson, he still had his baby teeth. I’m not saying you’re wrong. He might be lying out there, but it’s not because his horse came out from under him. More ’n likely, it’s because of something he never saw coming.”
    *   *   *
    The last of the sunlight was ringing the horizon by the time Virgil was heading back down the Thompson ranch road toward the asphalt. He had sent Rosie back over an hour earlier. As expected, Manuel and Lorenzo had showed up. They said they had been out running fence. Virgil mentioned the couple of spots he’d seen on his way in that needed attention, but Manuel told him what was left of the herd had no access to that area. In any event, they had it on their list. He broke the news to them about Velma.
    â€œMiss Velma, no. She was good this morning. No.”
    Virgil could see they were both shaken by the news. He asked if they had any word from Charlie. They both shook their heads.
    â€œDo you have any idea where he might be?”
    â€œ
Quién sabe
, no can say,” Manuel replied. “Mr. Thompson, he rode off into the high country two, three days ago.”
    Virgil could see the worry come into his dark eyes.
    â€œHigh Lonesome,” Lorenzo added. Virgil looked at the younger, smaller man. His face still lacked the deep chiseling effects of wind and rain that grooved Manuel’s face.
    â€œThe High Lonesome?” Virgil said.
    â€œSeñor Thompson always call the
montañas
,” Manuel said. “The High Lonesome. He always say that’s where the ranchero begins, up in the High Lonesome. That’s where the name of the ranch comes from. The
montañas
. The mountains.”
    Virgil mulled over Manuel’s words on his way back to town. He was surprised when he pulled into the lot to see Rosita’s car there.
    â€œWhat are you doing here? I told you to go home.”
    â€œI was going to but Dave is down in Redbud. Won’t be home till late, if at all. Alex’s wife is due anytime. Dave is covering for him so he can be available. I understand, but the house is empty. Dave junior is away in college and since Harlan discovered girls, between them and football he’s a ghost. I just didn’t feel like being there by myself. Here at least there’s stuff for me to do. Kyle was here when I came. Dif will be coming in soon. Keeps my mind occupied.”
    â€œI guess you got a little more than you bargained for today. I’m sorry about that.”
    â€œIt’s not your fault. There was no way of knowing. It was just that I didn’t expect to find Velma like that. We still don’t know what became of Charlie.”
    Virgil lowered himself into his chair, throwing his hat onto the desk. “I got a strange feeling about all of this.”
    â€œWhat do you mean, Virgil?”
    â€œWell, that woman that’s lying over there in the morgue. It struck me when I was riding back, something Manuel had said. She actually came out onto the interstate from Thompson land. That’s too