Just about then, the chop-chop-chop of the helicopter sounded in the distance.

Carlos looked up with the rest of the crowd. “They’ll do what they can.’’

___

Dundee County sheriff’s deputies circulated through the camp, looking for a weapon, and for witnesses who might help explain the events leading up to Doc’s shooting. So far, they hadn’t found anyone who knew anything. Except for Wynonna, that is.

Carlos pulled me aside and asked me to take her back to her camp and keep her there while he briefed the local authorities. My sisters and Mama came with us.

The inside of the Brambles’ RV was all expensive-looking dark wood. The plush carpet was hunter green. The living area featured leather furniture and a flat-screen TV. The sink in the galley was porcelain.

“Can I get y’all something to drink? How ’bout coffee?’’ Wynonna asked, pulling out cups from an oak cabinet in the galley.

“Hot chocolate?’’ Maddie asked hopefully.

Mama punched her thigh. “Whatever you have is fine, Wynonna,’’ she said pointedly.

When the coffee was made, Wynonna started to pour the first cup. Her hand shook so much she spilled it on the countertop. Maddie grabbed a paper towel. Marty took the pot when Wynonna set it down.

“Why don’t you have a seat?’’ Marty said. “We’ll get this.’’

As Marty poured and Maddie mopped, I got up and opened the small ’fridge, looking for half-and-half. The only thing inside was a couple of shriveled apples and a chilled bottle of Champagne. French. I wondered about the special occasion it was intended to celebrate.

Rustling around in the galley, I found sugar, powdered creamer, and a spoon. I put out an open bag of chocolate chip cookies. Marty got up and arranged them prettily on a plate. Maddie scarfed down the first one before we even sat down again.

“Thanks,’’ Wynonna said, looking at us gratefully. “I guess I’m in a pretty bad state.’’

“Not without reason,’’ I said. “You suffered a terrible loss; and now you’re the one who finds Doc. You’ve handled yourself better than many people could.’’

Marty took a bird-like nibble of a cookie. “I think I’d be in the hospital if all of that happened to me.’’

Mama said, “No, you wouldn’t, Marty. The Lord always gives us the strength we need.’’

Looking at Wynonna, who seemed ten years older than she had just a few days ago, I wondered if the Man upstairs had shorted her on that ration of strength.

“Honey, I sure do hate to bother you.’’ Mama shifted to stretch her leg. “But do you mind if I use that little throw pillow to prop up my foot? The one that says When Things Get Tough, the Tough Go Shopping?’’

Wynonna said, “I’m so sorry, Rosalee! I plumb forgot about your ankle!’’

I truly hoped that with Doc Abel underway to the hospital, Mama wouldn’t launch into a dissertation about her sprain.

“Oh, it’s fine, honey,’’ she said, with a wave.

I let out a sigh of relief. Too soon.

“It’s just throbbing a little with all this walking around. Doc Abel warned me to stay off it.’’

At the mention of Doc’s name, Mama went quiet along with the rest of us.

“I know he’ll be all right,’’ Marty finally said, patting Wynonna’s hand. “Those air ambulances are something. And, they can do amazing things in emergency rooms these days.’’

Wynonna smiled shakily at Marty, and then turned to Mama.

“I do feel awful about what happened with Shotgun, Rosalee.’’

“I know you do, honey. And Belle came by to say the same.’’

“It’s sure strange y’all ran into the one thing that poor horse can’t abide,’’ Wynonna said.

My brain sent a signal to the hairs on my neck.

“What do you mean?’’ I asked.

“I thought Shotgun was the greatest horse in the world,’’ Maddie said.

“Well, he is, except for a fear of bees. When he was a colt, he knocked over a beekeeper’s hive in the pasture. He got stung all over. Most horses don’t like bees. But with Shotgun, it’s a real terror. The creatures make him act pure crazy. Didn’t Belle mention that?’’

My sisters and I stared at Mama, who stared right back.

“No, ma’am,’’ she said to Wynonna. “Belle surely did not mention that.’’

A hard knock rattled the RV’s door.

Wynonna shook her head and whispered, “I can’t see anybody right now. Tell them I’m resting, or I’ve gone to bed. Just tell them to go away.’’

All four of them looked at me, waiting. I got up and opened the door a crack. A big man in sheriff’s department green and a light-colored felt Western hat filled every inch of the frame.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Bramble’s had a terrible shock,’’ I said to him. “Would you mind coming back later?’’

“Yes, I would.’’ Unsmiling, he shifted a toothpick to one corner of his mouth. “Tell her Sheriff Roberts wants to talk to her.’’ He rose onto the doorstep, and the RV rocked with his weight.

“She’s not dressed,’’ I said quickly, closing the door a fraction of an inch.

“I’ll wait.’’ He stepped back to the ground and crossed his arms over his chest. The toothpick seemed to migrate on its own to the opposite corner of his mouth.

I pulled the door closed, and turned to shrug at Wynonna.

She stood up, smoothed her hair, and tucked her cowgirl shirt at her tiny waist.

“Go ahead and let him in, Mace,’’ she said. “Though the last thing I want to do right now is describe how I found Doc, you know? The sight of that blood and that poor man trying to speak is going to haunt my nightmares.’’

She stood up straight as I swung open the door. When the lawman came in, the spacious RV suddenly seemed tiny.

“Sheriff Roberts.’’ She offered him her hand. “Would you like a cup of coffee?’’

He shook his head and looked around. His gaze rested first on Maddie, then Marty, then Mama, then me. It made me nervous to have him looking at me so intently, even though I knew I hadn’t done a single thing wrong.

“Which one of you is her lawyer?’’

Wynonna’s face went a shade more pale. “Do I need a lawyer?’’

“No, ma’am. I only want to ask you a few questions. But I know how rich people are. You folks come prepared.’’

She slit her eyes at him. I saw a trace of the haughty Wynonna I’d seen that first night at Lawton’s cook site. “I can assure you,’’ she said, “I was not prepared to stumble upon a man who was my husband’s doctor and a close family friend bleeding to death on the ground. Now, Sheriff, if you’d like to sit down, I’ll tell you whatever I can.’’

His eyes showed the tiniest flicker of . . . what? Respect? Intimidation? Anger? I couldn’t be sure. The glimpse of emotion was gone almost before it registered.

“I’m sorry, ladies,’’ he said to us, sounding not at all sorry. “Y’all are uninvolved parties. I’m gonna have to ask you to leave.’’ The toothpick bobbed as he talked. “We’re investigating an attempted murder. It wouldn’t be right for you to be here when I talk to Ms. Bramble.’’

I was relieved when he said attempted murder. Doc was still alive. At least for now.

___

Maddie and I each hooked an arm around Mama’s waist, nearly carrying her from the RV to Camp Caddy. Marty followed, holding a paper plate with the rest of Wynonna’s cookies.

When Sal saw us limp into view, the relief on his face was evident, even by lantern light.

“I was about to call in the search dogs,’’ he said. “Where the hell have you four been?’’