THE wizened old cowboy filling his pickup truck at the service station in Elko tipped his hat back. “The Bonnibelle, you say?” His head turned toward the mountains. “Everyone knows it’s right over there in the valley, beneath those snow capped peaks.”

Catherine had heard of it, of course, but coming from the other side of Nevada she could be forgiven for not knowing exactly where to find it.

“Biggest cattle ranch around,” he expounded. “Thirty-five thousand acres. Can’t miss it. After you leave town, take the 227 and follow it all the way.”

Straight as the crow flies? she wanted to respond, but quashed the impulse because the older man thought he was being helpful. To his mind, he’d given her all the directions she needed.

O ye of little faith, she chided herself before thanking him. Then she got back in the car.

Having made her visit to the ladies’ room, plus purchasing a cold bottle of water along with the gas, she was ready to go. But who knew how many more miles she had to travel before she reached her destination?

There wasn’t any point in consulting the map she’d bought before leaving Reno. It was of no further use to her now except to tell her she was headed toward the Ruby Mountains.