She put her car in gear and oh-so-gently inched her way around the store to the rear entrance. Cal stepped out of the store onto the back porch and signaled to her that it was safe to get out of her car and come inside.
“Better stay indoors. You’re not dressed to try to outrun that bull,” he said, taking her hand and tugging her into the store.
“Where’s Sully?”
“Trying to keep everyone back. And don’t surprise him—he’s got the shotgun out.”
A little laugh escaped her. “What’s he going to do with a shotgun besides piss him off?”
“We’ve had that discussion. He said not to worry, that Stan has the big gun, but he’s not convinced Stan’s a better shot.”
“Lovely. Maybe they’ll have a shoot-out,” she said. She walked toward the front of the store, which was full of women and children. But the men and a couple of young women, it seemed, just couldn’t resist the porch. “Hi, Sully. That the Mitchells’ bull?”
“Yeah, and they’re taking their sweet goddamn time coming after him. I’m going to send them a bill. That goddamn bull had himself a party.”
“I thought that might be Cornelius. Anybody hurt?” she asked.
“Scraped knee or two. I think we’re all okay. Bet some folks’ll never trust this campground again.”
“Others will think it’s the best entertainment they’ve had,” Maggie said. And right then and there she decided. I’m going to stay here, raise my family here.
“Here she comes, about time,” Sully said. “I ought to load that bull with buckshot just for good measure. Can’t she keep an eye on her bull?”
“Watch this, Cal,” Maggie said. “You’re going to love it. When the truck and trailer pull in and park, get some of the kids up front to watch them wrangle Cornelius.”
A well-used truck, a big dually pulling a roomy trailer, pulled up alongside the bull. The driver, a young guy in a cowboy hat, gave them a wave. The passenger door on the other side opened and a young girl in tight jeans, boots and hat with long blond hair running in a braid down her back, came around the truck with a lead and a big harness. She stood for a minute in front of the bull, a hand on one hip, staring him down. The bull pawed at the ground twice and snorted meanly.
“Don’t start with me,” the girl said. She approached the big animal. He backed away. “Corny! That’s enough!”
The young man jumped out of the truck and opened up the trailer, putting down the ramp.
The bull stood still. He put his head down and the girl shook hers.
She attached the lead to a huge harness. “Come on, Corny. You’re in trouble.”
She led the enormous bull to the trailer. The bull went slowly. Calmly. When he was inside the girl jumped out and helped the young man close up the trailer. He ran to the driver’s side of the truck. He waved at Sully. “Sorry for the inconvenience,” he yelled. Then they pulled slowly away from the campground.
“What the—” Cal stuttered.
“She raised him from a calf,” Sully said. “Some nights she slept in the barn with him. His mother didn’t make it and Casey fed him from a bottle. She and a couple of the Mitchells can seem to manage him, but no one else. Don’t get the idea he’s safe—he’s a big, ornery bull. But he’s fathered half the herd and he takes orders from Casey Mitchell. She got a blue ribbon for him.”
“Isn’t it the cutest thing you’ve ever seen?” Maggie said.
“He turned over two picnic tables. Stan was going to shoot him. People were running and screaming,” Cal said.
“Yeah, I didn’t say he wasn’t a troublemaker, but I don’t think he’s ever hurt anyone. I mean, if you get between Cornelius and a heifer when they’re courting, there could be trouble, but usually he just likes people out of his way and sometimes he likes to show off a little bit. He’s mostly a big spoiled baby with only one mommy and she’s a hundred-and-five-pound teenager,” Sully said.
Maggie grinned. “I told you you’d like it. Better than a magic trick, isn’t it? The truth, California—isn’t this the most awesome place?”
“Oh, awesome! Escaped Alzheimer patients, kidnappers, naked hikers and a crazy bull so far.”
“We’re just getting warmed up. Summer’s not over yet.”
*
It made Cal uncomfortable keeping things from Maggie, but it was the nature of his profession that all cases, no matter how small or large, were confidential. So, when she asked him why he was on his laptop so much the very next afternoon, he made up a small, partial lie. “Someone I met at the bookstore in Leadville was asking questions about Colorado law and I offered to help research. A good excuse to get a little more familiar with Colorado statutes.”
“Does she have a name?” Maggie wanted to know.
“He does, but I think I should keep that confidential. Just as you would keep a patient’s medical information confidential.”
“Hmm. It occurs to me that if we were both working we wouldn’t have much to talk about.”