I’d be able to put the ugly thoughts out of my mind.
“Have you ever heard of RH Holdings?”
Sandra sat back, her eyes narrowing. “No. That’s the investment firm?”
“Yes, and their website seemed shady to me.”
“I should never have told you about the rumor I heard,” Sandra said. “Or about the news articles. I forgot how tenacious you always were because of your love of animals. You get that from your father.”
Sighing, I rubbed my eyes, ignoring her comment. Talking about my father was difficult. “You were concerned after I told you about the steer. You have a love of animals too, ya know.”
“Of course I do, but you can’t go around accusing people of crimes. Just slow down.”
I’d read every article she’d shared with me then found others. The rise of cattle fraud was significant, increasing every year. Maybe I should back away, let the various law enforcement agencies do their job while I tried to save mine. I thought about her request, but the same nagging remained.
“You know more about the cattle industry than anyone else I know,” I said quietly.
“Why, because I grew up on a big, sprawling ranch, my father living and breathing ranching?” She laughed then reached over, placing her hand on my arm. “I’m not criticizing you, but I am trying to warn you that ranchers are very particular. They don’t like to be accused of crimes. There are regulations for the auction houses and other sales and that’s increasing every day. Let the experts handle this before you get yourself into trouble.”
“I’ve heard that too many times already today. I could swear the injured steer was at the auction today.”
Sandra smiled. “Then that’s good news. That means you helped the animal to recover in order to be sold.”
“And slaughtered.”
“That’s a part of the industry. Why are you getting yourself so worked up? Granted, the warning call was terrible, but take it as advice to leave this alone.”
Getting worked up? That was something I didn’t have an answer to. I also wasn’t prepared to tell her that I’d taken a trip back to the ranch I’d been to on the stormy night I’d worked to save the animal. The entire place looked like it had been abandoned and not for a couple of months.
For years.
“Have you ever heard about a veterinarian used exclusively for a ranching corporation?”
Sandra lifted a single eyebrow. “Stop playing detective. To answer your question, absolutely. Depending on the industry, like the rodeo circuit for example, having a vet on staff is required. Every large ranch employs at minimum a vet tech. I could envision a very large corporation could afford to employ a fulltime veterinarian.”
“Which would make it easier to certify the cattle were ready for an auction even if they were sick.”
“You need to stop this before you get yourself worked up even more. Whatever you had to deal with sounds horrible, but the cattle you tended to could have been cornered by a cougar for all you know. Happens all the time. We do live in the wild West.”
While she’d been very animated regarding her increasing concerns, she’d also been tipsy at the time. The way she was pulling back, attempting to assure me that perhaps everything was normal left me with a lump in my throat. However, I knew better than to push it. I’d continue a careful investigation of my own.
“You know what? Maybe you’re right. I don’t know the industry and besides, I have a practice to grow.” I gave a fake smile and when I reached for the bottle of wine, I couldn’t help but grumble.
“Uh-huh. Why do I have a feeling you’re not going to let this go?” Sandra asked.
“And why do I have the feeling you’re not telling me the full story?”
She gave me a wry look. “Because it’s obvious I couldn’t even if I knew. Do yourself a favor. If, and I’m saying a huge ‘if’ you find anything, take it to the sheriff. Promise me. Being threatened is not something to mess with.”
I knew she wasn’t going to let me off the hook. “You’re right.”
“Okay, good, although I don’t buy it for a second. I tell you what. I’ll ask my father about this holding company if it will make you feel any better.”
“It would.”
“Okay. That much I can do. Now, why don’t we change the subject? This cowboy. Tell me about him again. Tell me everything.” She lifted her wineglass, a mischievous grin on her face.