Former Posadas County Sheriff Bill Gastner, now a New Mexico Livestock Inspector, is enjoying a day on Herb Torrance\'s ranch - soaking in the sun, counting a small herd of cattle, and thinking about meeting an old friend back in town for lunch.
Forced into two tangled investigations, Bill faces one of the most complex cases in his 35-year career..
But there\'s no sign of cowpuncher Pat Gabaldon or his boss\' $40,000 truck and livestock trailer.
Then the small herd of cattle Bill had just counted is found wandering down a county highway.
But something isn\'t right.
A couple of bites later, he collapsed - dead of an apparent heart attack.
Too impatient to wait for Bill, his friend George Payton decided to eat lunch on his own.
He is summoned by undersheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman to investigate an unattended death.
Moments later, Bill\'s day goes from bad to worse.
But suddenly a light breeze stirs the dust, a horse spooks, and Bill finds himself ferrying a broken cowpuncher in the back of his SUV, headed out to meet an ambulance.
Former Posadas County Sheriff Bill Gastner, now a New Mexico Livestock Inspector, is enjoying a day on Herb Torrance\'s ranch - soaking in the sun, counting a small herd of cattle, and thinking about meeting an old friend back in town for lunch
