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    [Joe Pickett 18] • The Disappeared

    by C.J., Box,
    In “The Disappeared,” the 18th installment of C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett series, the Wyoming game warden is drawn into a high-stakes investigation when a British tourist vanishes near a luxury ranch. As Pickett delves deeper, he uncovers a web of corporate intrigue, environmental conflict, and local secrets. The novel explores themes of justice, loyalty, and the clash between progress and tradition in the American West. Box’s signature blend of suspense and vivid wilderness storytelling drives this tightly plotted mystery, showcasing Pickett’s unwavering moral compass amid escalating dangers. The book reinforces the series’ reputation for authentic settings and complex, action-driven narratives.
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    [Joe Pickett 18] • The Disappeared

    Chapter 17

    by C.J., Box,

    In Chap­ter 17, titled “The Dis­ap­peared,” Joe observes his daugh­ter Sheri­dan expert­ly rid­ing a sor­rel geld­ing in the indoor are­na of a guest ranch. Impressed by her skill and flu­id move­ments, he notes her abil­i­ty to guide the horse with sub­tle leg pres­sure rather than rely­ing on the reins. The cold envi­ron­ment con­trasts with the heat­ed are­na, and Sheridan’s ded­i­ca­tion to train­ing the hors­es is evi­dent as she pre­pares to fin­ish her work­day. Their warm exchange high­lights Sheridan’s pride in her role, though she admits feel­ing occa­sion­al guilt that her moth­er and sis­ter would envy her job.

    Joe vis­its Sheridan’s small but tidy apart­ment above the are­na, where she pre­pares a sim­ple meal of toma­to soup and grilled cheese. The set­ting reflects her inde­pen­dence, and Joe mus­es about the role rever­sal, recall­ing how he once cooked for her. The apartment’s per­son­al touch­es, like fam­i­ly pho­tos, evoke nos­tal­gia. Joe’s brief inspec­tion of the bath­room reveals his pro­tec­tive father­ly instincts, as he avoids snoop­ing but won­ders about Sheridan’s per­son­al life, par­tic­u­lar­ly whether any men’s items might be present.

    Over lunch, Sheri­dan shares details about her life at the ranch, explain­ing her pref­er­ence for the soli­tude of her apart­ment com­pared to the shared dor­mi­to­ries for most staff. The con­ver­sa­tion shifts to her rela­tion­ship with Lance Ram­sey, the head wran­gler, caus­ing her to blush when Joe brings him up. Joe then steers the dis­cus­sion toward Kate, a guest at the ranch, whom Sheri­dan describes as a reserved but pas­sion­ate rid­er who cher­ished the ranch’s free­dom and nat­ur­al beau­ty.

    Sheri­dan recounts how Kate strug­gled with the tran­si­tion from her high-pres­sure life in Eng­land to the ranch’s slow­er pace, even­tu­al­ly embrac­ing the dis­con­nect from tech­nol­o­gy. Kate expressed a deep reluc­tance to return home, hint­ing at unre­solved trou­bles. Joe probes for more details, ask­ing if Kate men­tioned any con­flicts with staff or guests, but Sheri­dan recalls only Kate’s dis­com­fort with the Young­bergs dur­ing a horse­shoe­ing ses­sion. The chap­ter ends with Joe piec­ing togeth­er clues about Kate’s mys­te­ri­ous dis­ap­pear­ance, while Sheridan’s obser­va­tions pro­vide sub­tle insights into the ranch’s dynam­ics.

    Down­load PDF Sum­ma­ry

    FAQs

    • 1. How does the author use physical descriptions to contrast Sheridan’s indoor riding arena with the outdoor environment?

      Answer:
      The chapter vividly contrasts the indoor arena with the harsh winter landscape outside. While the arena is heated by “forced-air furnaces the size of pickup trucks,” the cold still affects the environment, evidenced by the gelding’s visible “clouds of condensation.” This contrasts sharply with the outdoor description where “the sun reflecting off the snow” creates blinding brightness. The indoor space represents controlled comfort (Sheridan’s domain of expertise), while the outdoor whiteness symbolizes the untamed wilderness—a recurring theme in western narratives. These sensory details emphasize the dichotomy between human-made shelter and natural forces.

      2. Analyze how Sheridan’s character development is revealed through her interactions with Joe and her living space.

      Answer:
      Sheridan demonstrates significant maturity through three key aspects: her skilled horsemanship (“guided the horse by leg pressure rather than tugging on its bit”), her domestic independence (preparing soup and grilled cheese in her unexpectedly neat apartment), and her professional mindset (discussing ranch policies). The chapter highlights role reversal as Joe notes she’d never cooked for him before. Her apartment’s family photos and careful housekeeping show emotional growth from her messy childhood room. Additionally, her thoughtful commentary about guest service philosophy (“this isn’t about us”) reveals workplace professionalism contrasting with typical “self-centered” youth behavior.

      3. What psychological insights does the chapter provide about Kate through Sheridan’s observations?

      Answer:
      Kate emerges as a complex figure struggling with modern life’s pressures. Sheridan notes her initial “anxiety” when disconnected from technology, her gradual embrace of the ranch’s slower pace, and her intense appreciation for freedom—claiming she’d “never felt more free.” The troubled expression when discussing returning home suggests deeper discontent with her English lifestyle, possibly tied to social expectations or professional stress. Her passion for riding (going on extra rides with the head wrangler) becomes an escape mechanism. These details paint Kate as someone seeking transformation through the ranch experience, making her disappearance more poignant.

      4. How does the chapter use subtext in the conversation between Joe and Sheridan to explore their relationship dynamics?

      Answer:
      Their dialogue carries layered meanings, particularly when Joe asks about Lance Ramsey—Sheridan’s blush implies romantic involvement Joe diplomatically avoids pressing. The soup compliment (“It came out of a can”/“Still, it was good”) shows their affectionate, teasing dynamic. Joe’s restraint in not checking her medicine cabinet (unlike hypothetical Marybeth) reveals his respect for her privacy despite paternal curiosity. When discussing Kate, Sheridan’s detailed responses demonstrate trust in Joe’s judgment, while his approving her work philosophy (“I approve”) affirms paternal pride. These subtle exchanges showcase their evolving adult-parent relationship built on mutual respect.

    Quotes

    • 1. “‘Got to keep ’em all tuned up so they remember they’re horses,’ she said. ‘I’ve got one more to go today and then I’ll dry them off and turn ’em out.’”

      This quote showcases Sheridan’s deep connection with horses and her professional approach to her work as a wrangler. It reveals her understanding of animal behavior and her dedication to maintaining the horses’ conditioning.

      2. “‘I kind of feel bad about it sometimes.’”

      Sheridan’s reflection on her privileged position working with horses while her mother and sister would love to do her job reveals her growing maturity and awareness of family dynamics. This brief statement carries emotional weight in the father-daughter interaction.

      3. “‘We have to keep in mind that this isn’t about us…if they don’t learn to put that aside for the sake of the guests, they don’t last long around here.’”

      This quote captures the core philosophy of hospitality at the ranch and Sheridan’s professional development. It demonstrates her understanding of service mentality and contrasts with typical self-centered attitudes of many young people.

      4. “‘Kate did once say that she’d never felt more free in her life…She told me I didn’t know how lucky I was to live with such freedom.’”

      This pivotal quote reveals the transformative effect the ranch had on Kate, the disappeared guest, and highlights the contrast between her high-pressure life in England and the freedom she found at the ranch. It foreshadows potential reasons for her disappearance.

      5. “‘You could see a troubled look cross over her face when she talked about going home.’”

      This observation by Sheridan about Kate’s reaction to returning home provides crucial insight into Kate’s state of mind before her disappearance. It suggests she may have been experiencing significant distress about her normal life.

    Quotes

    1. “‘Got to keep ’em all tuned up so they remember they’re horses,’ she said. ‘I’ve got one more to go today and then I’ll dry them off and turn ’em out.’”

    This quote showcases Sheridan’s deep connection with horses and her professional approach to her work as a wrangler. It reveals her understanding of animal behavior and her dedication to maintaining the horses’ conditioning.

    2. “‘I kind of feel bad about it sometimes.’”

    Sheridan’s reflection on her privileged position working with horses while her mother and sister would love to do her job reveals her growing maturity and awareness of family dynamics. This brief statement carries emotional weight in the father-daughter interaction.

    3. “‘We have to keep in mind that this isn’t about us…if they don’t learn to put that aside for the sake of the guests, they don’t last long around here.’”

    This quote captures the core philosophy of hospitality at the ranch and Sheridan’s professional development. It demonstrates her understanding of service mentality and contrasts with typical self-centered attitudes of many young people.

    4. “‘Kate did once say that she’d never felt more free in her life…She told me I didn’t know how lucky I was to live with such freedom.’”

    This pivotal quote reveals the transformative effect the ranch had on Kate, the disappeared guest, and highlights the contrast between her high-pressure life in England and the freedom she found at the ranch. It foreshadows potential reasons for her disappearance.

    5. “‘You could see a troubled look cross over her face when she talked about going home.’”

    This observation by Sheridan about Kate’s reaction to returning home provides crucial insight into Kate’s state of mind before her disappearance. It suggests she may have been experiencing significant distress about her normal life.

    FAQs

    1. How does the author use physical descriptions to contrast Sheridan’s indoor riding arena with the outdoor environment?

    Answer:
    The chapter vividly contrasts the indoor arena with the harsh winter landscape outside. While the arena is heated by “forced-air furnaces the size of pickup trucks,” the cold still affects the environment, evidenced by the gelding’s visible “clouds of condensation.” This contrasts sharply with the outdoor description where “the sun reflecting off the snow” creates blinding brightness. The indoor space represents controlled comfort (Sheridan’s domain of expertise), while the outdoor whiteness symbolizes the untamed wilderness—a recurring theme in western narratives. These sensory details emphasize the dichotomy between human-made shelter and natural forces.

    2. Analyze how Sheridan’s character development is revealed through her interactions with Joe and her living space.

    Answer:
    Sheridan demonstrates significant maturity through three key aspects: her skilled horsemanship (“guided the horse by leg pressure rather than tugging on its bit”), her domestic independence (preparing soup and grilled cheese in her unexpectedly neat apartment), and her professional mindset (discussing ranch policies). The chapter highlights role reversal as Joe notes she’d never cooked for him before. Her apartment’s family photos and careful housekeeping show emotional growth from her messy childhood room. Additionally, her thoughtful commentary about guest service philosophy (“this isn’t about us”) reveals workplace professionalism contrasting with typical “self-centered” youth behavior.

    3. What psychological insights does the chapter provide about Kate through Sheridan’s observations?

    Answer:
    Kate emerges as a complex figure struggling with modern life’s pressures. Sheridan notes her initial “anxiety” when disconnected from technology, her gradual embrace of the ranch’s slower pace, and her intense appreciation for freedom—claiming she’d “never felt more free.” The troubled expression when discussing returning home suggests deeper discontent with her English lifestyle, possibly tied to social expectations or professional stress. Her passion for riding (going on extra rides with the head wrangler) becomes an escape mechanism. These details paint Kate as someone seeking transformation through the ranch experience, making her disappearance more poignant.

    4. How does the chapter use subtext in the conversation between Joe and Sheridan to explore their relationship dynamics?

    Answer:
    Their dialogue carries layered meanings, particularly when Joe asks about Lance Ramsey—Sheridan’s blush implies romantic involvement Joe diplomatically avoids pressing. The soup compliment (“It came out of a can”/“Still, it was good”) shows their affectionate, teasing dynamic. Joe’s restraint in not checking her medicine cabinet (unlike hypothetical Marybeth) reveals his respect for her privacy despite paternal curiosity. When discussing Kate, Sheridan’s detailed responses demonstrate trust in Joe’s judgment, while his approving her work philosophy (“I approve”) affirms paternal pride. These subtle exchanges showcase their evolving adult-parent relationship built on mutual respect.

    Note