Читать книгу Familiar Texas - Caroline Burnes - Страница 11

Hank had ridden the western fence line while Rodney rode east. The wind had begun to pick up a little, and Hank was glad for the breeze. It was still hot, but at least the air was moving. He’d chosen Flicker, a red roan mare, from the six horses Rodney kept in the McCammon barn. She was a willing mount with an easy trot and tireless energy.

The land dipped slightly and he came off the rise and reined Flicker to a stop. He couldn’t believe it. The fence was still up, but obviously not for long. A bulldozer sat against the fence, perched to plow it down.

“What the hell is going on?” he asked himself as he rode up to the piece of heavy equipment. No one was around. It was as if the dozer had been driven to the ends of civilization and then abandoned. But he knew better. Someone would be back, and in a matter of minutes, that person could rip out what would take months to replace. He slipped the key to the dozer into his pocket and followed a heavy set of tire tracks that led out. Someone had brought the dozer, unloaded it and left.

Hank had no doubt the intended target for the dozer was the fence. There wasn’t anything else around to take down. He turned Flicker to the east and headed back to the ranch at a gallop. Someone was dismantling McCammon Ranch as fast as they could. Like it or not, Stephanie was in for a real fight.

When he pulled up to the barn, Flicker was tired and hot. After dismounting, he uncinched the mare’s girth and walked her to cool her.

“Hank, thank goodness you’re back!”

He turned to see Stephanie running across the barnyard toward him. He lifted the saddle off Flicker’s back with one hand and carried it into the tack room. “What’s wrong?” he asked, turning to face her.

“Uncle Albert’s cattle are at McElhanney’s feed lot. They’re going to be killed in the morning.”

Hank’s mouth was a tight line. “I don’t think so. Those cows were sold illegally, from what you tell me. Hop in my truck. We’ll ride over to McElhanney’s and see what they have to say.”

When Stephanie opened the truck door, the black cat leapt inside. Hank gave the cat a look. “Biscuit’s going to be very irritated when he smells cat in his truck.”

“Familiar has to go.” Stephanie sighed. “Sorry. That sounded very bossy. The cat needs to hear all of this.”

Hank got into the truck and started the engine. “Avis McElhanney has run his feed lot and slaughterhouse for the past twenty years. I wouldn’t sell a dead coyote to him, but he’s convenient. The way he treats animals is a shame. Did you find out who sold the cows?”

“I did.” She looked out the window, and he knew she was composing herself. He could only imagine what it would be like to come home for funerals and then find the place she expected to inherit being sold out from under her. “A man called Nate Peebles. Do you know him?”

“Some folks call him a lawyer. I think that’s too classy a label.”

Hank turned onto County Road 17 and he pressed the gas pedal to the floor. “Hang on. Tell me about the will Peebles claims to have.”

Stephanie’s jaw squared. “He says Uncle Albert and Aunt Em left everything to him. Every single thing.”

Hank was stunned by the idea of it. “That’s impossible. Albert meant to leave it all to you. He said so more than once. He said maybe you’d come home and run the ranch like you’d been taught.”

Stephanie felt the wind whipping through the window and was glad that it dried her tears before she could shed them. “Peebles says the will I have isn’t legal. There was a new will. One Uncle Albert signed just before he died. Peebles says there’s nothing I can do.”

“What about the cows?”

Her jaw had firmed and her eyes were hard and dry. “I have enough money to buy them.” She turned to him. “Could I put them at your place until I decide what I’m going to do? We could mix the herds and let them all stay by the creek.”

It was the most sensible solution. The same solution that Albert would have made, had he been alive. He cast a glance at Stephanie. With her perfectly shaded makeup, her expensive earrings and her manicured fingernails, she didn’t look like a rancher. But she thought like one. She had that same generous spirit and determination that had allowed cattle ranchers to stay in business for decades. He was developing a healthy respect for her, and Hank Dalton didn’t give his respect out lightly.

In the distance he could see the ramshackle barn where McElhanney kept his livestock standing in manure and filth until he was ready to either kill them or load them onto trucks to ship. Hank pulled beneath the shade of a dying pecan tree.

“Stephanie, this isn’t going to be pretty. Maybe you should stay here. I’ll be glad to negotiate to get your cows back.”

“Where are they?” She got out of the truck and slammed the door. “If he’s harmed them in any way…”

Hank accepted he wasn’t going to be able to protect Stephanie. She’d grown up on a ranch. She knew what was what. He motioned for her to follow him as he led the way to the office. Maybe they could set a price and he’d arrange to have the cattle shipped in the morning.

Stephanie strode into the office with Hank and the black cat one step behind her. Hank had to hide a smile as he watched her walk to the desk, put her hands on her hips and lean down into Avis McElhanney’s surprised face.

“You have my uncle’s herd of red Angus. I want them back. Now.”

McElhanney’s surprise turned to bluster. “I bought those cows fair and square. They’re mine. They’re due to be shipped out tomorrow.”

“How much did you pay for them? I’ll buy them back.”

Hank lounged against the door frame. It didn’t look like Stephanie needed any help. She was doing just fine.

“Twenty thousand dollars.” McElhanney’s grin was smug. “Take it or leave it.”

Hank straightened up, ready to do whatever was necessary.

“That’s outrageous,” Stephanie said.

McElhanney smiled. “You want the cows back, that’s what you’re going to pay for them.”

“Ten sounds more reasonable.” Stephanie reached into her back pocket and brought out a checkbook. “I’ll give you a check for ten right this minute.”

“Twenty, or I’ll call in my staff and butcher the whole lot tonight.” McElhanney’s smile widened. “Seems to me like I have the upper hand in this negotiation, little lady.”

Hank stepped past Stephanie, leaned across the desk and grabbed McElhanney by the shirt collar. He snatched him out of his chair so hard the man was across the desk and standing on his tiptoes in front of Hank. “I want to see the bill of sale you have for the cattle. Now.”

“Well, I don’t—I didn’t get a bill.”

“Stephanie, pick up the phone and call 555-1313. That’s my foreman, Junior. Tell him to bring the hands over here right now. We’ll ride your uncle’s horses home and get your cows. Mr. McElhanney has no bill of sale, then he has no legal right to the cows.”

“You can’t do this! I’ll have you in prison.”

“You can recoup your losses from Nate Peebles,” Hank said as he pushed McElhanney into the wall hard enough to knock the breath out of him. “You weren’t going to report the income on the cows, were you? A nice little tax dodge.” He nodded as he talked. “I may just give a call to the IRS and see if they’ve audited you lately.”

McElhanney caught his breath. “You are a downright bastard, Hank Dalton.”

“You’re a crook and a scoundrel. Now I wouldn’t go any further with this name calling or I’m going to call you an empty colostomy bag and it’s going to be true because I’m going to stomp the hell out of you.”

McElhanney backed against the wall. Familiar leapt onto the filing cabinet next to him and hissed.

Hank turned to Stephanie, who was smiling. “Keep an eye on him. If he tries to use the phone, jerk it out of the wall. I’m going out to get the cows ready. We’ll just drive them back home.”

“Saddle a horse for me, if you get time,” she said. “And where is Banjo?”

Hank turned to McElhanney. When he didn’t speak, Hank reached out and grabbed his shirt again. “I can’t tell you how long I’ve wanted to thump you into next Sunday. Please, please give me a reason.”

“The dog is locked in a cage in the barn. He kept trying to go home.”

Hank pushed McElhanney back against the wall, knocking the breath out of him again. “One word of disrespect to Ms. Chisholm, and I’ll make you regret it the rest of your life. Got it?”

Familiar arched his back, fur puffed out and growled.

McElhanney cowered against the wall and nodded.

CIMARRON TROTTED up to the rear of the herd as Stephanie caught up with Hank. From behind, she couldn’t help but admire his seat in the saddle. And his shoulders. And the way he used his body to control his horse.

He heard her horse and turned over his shoulder, a smile breaking out on his face. “How does it feel to be a cattle rustler?” he asked. He leaned back so he could address Familiar, who was reluctantly seated behind Stephanie on Cimarron’s back. “Now I’ve seen a lot of things, but I’ve never seen a cat ride a horse.”

“It feels wonderful to be back in the saddle, at least to me. Familiar isn’t thrilled, but riding back was preferable to staying with Avis McElhanney, that creep.”

“You look good in the saddle,” Hank said, his gaze taking in her legs and posture.

“Cimarron is still as good a ride as she was two summers ago.” Her smile faltered. “Uncle Albert bought her for my birthday. She’s six now.”

“I know she’ll be glad to get home.”

They both turned at the yipping of a dog. Banjo broke out of the ditch, herding a stray heifer. The dog sent the cow back to the herd, then changed directions and went after a calf that had strayed into someone’s front yard.

“He’s the best cow dog I’ve ever seen,” Hank said.

“Uncle Albert adored him. He slept on the bed with them.” Stephanie held on to her smile. She had to get to the place where every good memory didn’t bring pain. Uncle Albert and Aunt Em wouldn’t want her to suffer for them. They’d want her to be happy, and she knew they’d be happy if they could see her moving cattle down County Road 17 and back to McCammon Ranch.

“Used to be every rancher in the county drove his herd to market like this,” Hank said. “Now the roads are too busy. City folk don’t like the inconvenience of traveling behind cows.”

“City folk like me?” Stephanie asked. She felt his cool gaze assess her again.

“You don’t look too refined this minute,” he said. “You’d better check a mirror. You’ve got a streak of dirt down your right cheek and what looks to be, naw, couldn’t be what I think it is, right by your right ear.”

Stephanie put a hand up and felt the dirt and something else. Something that could be sweat or worse. She brushed it away. “Thanks, Hank. You’re compliments are about as sweet as your disposition.”

He was still laughing when she closed her legs on Cimarron and leapt forward to check on the front of the herd. They only had about two miles to go, and so far she hadn’t heard any sirens coming after her. McElhanney must have been thoroughly cowed, no pun intended, not to call the police. She smiled. She’d won the first battle, but the war was far from over. Hank had told her about the dozer. As soon as she got back to the ranch, she was calling a towing company to move it. The owner could pay for the towing and the impound. That was what happened when someone trespassed on ranch property.

She saw the white fence post that marked the edge of the McCammon property. They’d made it. She looked behind her at the cows as they meandered on home. There wasn’t any point to make them hurry. They were just happy to be away from the place where they smelled death.

She leaned forward in the saddle and asked Cimarron to gallop. The little quarter horse mare responded with a blaze of speed. Stephanie let out a whoop, and then remembered Familiar was right behind her. She reached back to steady him. “Sorry, fella,” she said. “I just got carried away. This is my first cattle drive, and I just had a brainstorm. I could set up greenhorn drives. That way I’d never have to sell a single cow again.”

Greenhorn cattle drive. Sounds like hell. Who in his right mind would want to sit on top of a horse for hours on end, pushing cattle from one place to the next. I can just imagine how it was in the glory days of the west. A bunch of old men, riding horses for days, no baths or showers unless they hit a creek or it rained, bad food, sleeping on the ground. Right. A dream come true. Not for this kitty. As soon as we get to the house, I’m going to get something to eat and recline on a soft bed. I think I’m getting saddle sore!

But I learned some interesting things today. Whoever is behind all of Stephanie’s troubles is someone who can move fast and get things done. Nate Peebles. I think it’s time we paid this lawyer a visit. If I can get a ride into town, I can do a bit of sleuthing on my own. Hank, it seems, will have his hands busy with Stephanie.

I’ve been watching the two of them. He’s attracted to her, but just when it seems he’s going to make a move, he backs away. Then he gets this stern look on his face. And when he mentioned her being a city girl, he wasn’t teasing. There’s something there, but I don’t know what.

As to Stephanie, I think she’s beginning to find joy in the life she once disdained. I know she was engaged to marry Johnny Benton before she left for New York City. She told me that her folks liked Johnny and sort of pushed him on her. She went along with it as long as she could. A few weeks before the wedding, she returned his ring and left for the city. She did her best to fulfill her aunt and uncle’s dreams for her, but she had to have her own dream. Now, though, the pressure is off, and she’s beginning to enjoy the ranch. And Hank.

Now, I wonder what kind of menu Stephanie is going to offer for my dinner tonight. I gave her my brochure, which lists all of my kitty needs: heavy cream, fresh salmon, something crunchy, any type of grilled seafood or chicken, catnip treats for when I need some herbal help, scratching post, clean litter on those days when I have to stay in and think. She’s a great hostess—I’m looking forward to dinner.

HANK SAT BACK at the table and gazed at the faces of his cowhands and Rodney. They were replete and satisfied. Four of the men got up to go outside and smoke cigarettes, and the others followed. Finally he was alone with Stephanie. He stood up and began to help clear the table. Stephanie had surprised them all by putting out a spread that was as delicious as it was colorful.

“Where’d you learn to cook like that?” he asked as he helped her load the dishwasher.

“Aunt Em taught me a lot, and then I took some cooking classes in the city. Believe it or not, I entertained a lot. Advertising has a lot of wooing the client involved.”

“What did you advertise?”

“All sorts of things. Brokerage firms, baseball teams, news programs. We did a lot of television.”

“Did?” He’d heard her correctly, but he wasn’t certain what tense she’d meant to use.

She turned to face him. “I may not go back.”

He didn’t bother to hide his surprise. “Really?”

“Is that so shocking?” She stepped past him so that her face was hidden from his view behind her dark curls. “I had an idea today. I need to investigate it before I talk about it, but I may be able to keep the ranch running.”

“Want to bounce it off me?”

She turned to him, smiling. “We say that a lot in advertising where we try ideas out on one another.”

“Ranching has gotten very sophisticated.” He laughed. She was easy to talk to, and even though she had a fancy job in a big city, she didn’t act like she thought she was better than others. And she looked so excited about the scheme she’d hatched. He couldn’t help but wonder what her idea might be.

“Thank you for your help today, Hank. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“It wasn’t anything.” He wanted to reach out and pull her against him, but it would be completely inappropriate. He’d met her only that day, and Stephanie was a grown woman who knew her own mind. She wasn’t the kind of woman to be attracted to a rancher.

“It was a lot. I don’t know what I would have done. That creep would have killed the cows and both of us know it.”

“He would have done his best to kill them.” Hank leaned against the refrigerator. “Where in tarnation is that cat?”

“According to his contract—“

“Contract?” Hank asked. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“I told you, he’s a legitimate detective. According to his contract, he’s served grilled seafood or chicken. I made some snapper for him. He ate and now he’s taking a snooze.”

“He is something else. I think if McElhanney had made a move toward you he would have bitten his nose off.”

“Or worse. I take a lot of comfort in Familiar. Now Banjo is home, too, so I’ll be fine.”

“If you’re frightened, I can stay.”

She walked up to him. “I’ve never had a man stay with me because I was frightened of anything. I won’t start with you.”

“I didn’t mean—”

She put her fingers on his lips. “I know what you meant. I’m okay, Hank.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed him lightly on the lips. “I’m really okay. I know how to shoot a gun, and believe me, I will.”

“I’m going to block that trapdoor in your bedroom before I go.”

She nodded. “That room was originally designed for a child back when the ranch house was built in the 1800s. I’d forgotten all about it. If you’ll do that, I’ll finish cleaning the kitchen.”

Rodney had left the supplies in the bedroom, and it took Hank only a few minutes to hammer a board across the trap door. It wasn’t the prettiest carpentry job he’d ever done, but it was effective. No one could sneak into the house.

While he was there, he took a quick look around to make sure no one was hiding in the extra bedrooms or closets. He found Familiar asleep on a down comforter in a guest bedroom. When he returned to the kitchen, Stephanie was running cold water into the coffeepot to set it up for the next day.

“I’ll be going then.”

She put the pot down and walked up to him. “Thanks.”

Her lips were so inviting, turned up to him. He wasn’t a man to pass an invitation like that. He bent down to kiss her, intending a light kiss. When she opened her mouth to accept his kiss, he pulled her tight against him. The kiss was as surprising as it was unexpected.

When she drew away from him, he released her, though his gaze lingered on her lips. He’d never felt such a dizzying array of emotions before. He touched her cheek, wanting to draw her back to him for another kiss. He was about to do just that when she spoke.

“Thank you, Hank. I’ll ride over tomorrow and make sure my cows aren’t causing any difficulty for you.”

He’d been dismissed. “Yes, ma’am. If you’re done with me, I guess I’ll be heading home.”