Free Peril by Ponytail (A Bad Hair Day Mystery) by Nancy J. Cohen Page A

Patty?” Marla had read the girl’s name tag.
    “Dunno. He doesn’t talk much about himself, but I imagine he put that info on his job application. He’s qualified to teach you, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
    “Where does the fellow live?” Dalton picked out a few cashews from the carafe. “I gather most of the employees don’t reside on the ranch.”
    “Most of us live in town.” Patty sank into an empty seat at their table. “You might want to ask Juanita. He’s sweet on her.”
    “Oh? I thought it was the other way around.” Marla watched for her reaction.
    “Jesse tries not to show it, but you can see how they feel about each other whenever they sneak a moment together. I notice things from the patio.”
    “Did you spot him out there earlier talking to a stranger?”
    “Sorry, I was busy getting the bar set up for the evening.”
    Realizing this discussion was a dead end, Marla tried another tack. Dalton seemed content to let her take the lead. “Some people are saying this place is jinxed, like the ghost town up the mountain. Have you had any unusual incidents in the saloon?”
    Her lips pursed. “Huh. I came in one morning, and a keg had emptied all over the floor. I guess you can count that as unusual. I figured I’d left the spigot open by mistake, but I always double check everything before closing each evening.”
    “Were the doors locked when you came to work?”
    “Yes, they were. Why, do you think somebody may have broken in here and opened the keg? But then they must have used a key.”
    Dalton gave Marla an oblique glance. “Don’t your maintenance men have master keys to use in case of emergencies?”
    “Well, yes, but—”
    “So if there’s a saboteur around, he could get in anywhere,” Marla concluded, not liking the implications. So far the incidents had been merely mischievous. What would happen if things escalated? And what was the guy’s purpose—to chase guests away or to annoy the staff?
    “Did you hear about the flood in the dining room? Something similar happened, only it was a water heater valve that opened seemingly by itself,” Dalton informed Patty. “Do you think someone might be causing trouble on purpose?”
    As more customers entered, Patty rose. “Don’t ask me. I haven’t got a clue.”
    “Thanks for talking to us,” Marla called as she strode away to seat the newcomers.
    “It seems as though someone is methodically going around and causing mischief,” Dalton remarked, popping more nuts into his mouth.
    “If you’re counting the ghost town, I wouldn’t call our near-miss in the theatre a minor incident. We could have been seriously hurt.”
    “You’re right. Janice the receptionist said there hasn’t been anyone new on the ranch staff in the past year. People like working here and hang onto their jobs. And everyone seems to like Wayne and Carol, so a personal grudge against one of them appears unlikely.”
    “Raymond owns both properties. It’s more likely he’s the target. Do you think he’s right in blaming the other rancher?”
    “Didn’t you just overhear Jesse saying the Donovans aren’t at fault?”
    “How would Jesse know, unless he has reason to suspect someone else? Anyway, I’m basing my theories on supposition. And how does Raymond’s relationship to the dead forest ranger fit into this picture?”
    “Those are all valid questions.”
    Then how about this one,
Marla thought but didn’t voice aloud.
Why hasn’t your uncle once mentioned your mother, Kate? What happened between them that he wouldn’t attend our wedding?

C HAPTER F IVE
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    Solving crimes was easier than getting on a horse, Marla discovered early Tuesday morning at her first riding lesson. Dalton had taken off at seven-fifteen for the breakfast ride, leaving her to enjoy the buffet alone until her nine o’clock engagement. She hadn’t realized so many choices in horsemanship were offered to guests. Loping, walking, and intermediate rides or