by Kim Redford
“Hey, Ivy. Good to see you again,” Jack said, casting a warm and gentle smile on her as he came to a stop. “And Slade.”
“Hi, Jack.” Slade knew he was an afterthought, because Wildcat Jack was well-known for having an eye for the ladies.
“Like y’all to meet Miss Betsy here.”
“Bitsy.”
“Right.” Jack gave his honey a big smile, then turned back. “Glad to see y’all taking advantage of the Hall instead of working all the time.” Jack kept an arm around his dance partner, as she smiled adoringly at him.
“Plenty to do,” Slade said.
“Don’t I know it.” Jack watched Ivy as he answered Slade. “Eden and I are getting all set up for live streaming during the cattle drive. Ought to be spectacular.”
“Should be,” Slade said.
Jack turned the wattage up as he smiled at Ivy. “You’ll be serving grub and drinks at Wildcat Hall during the drive, won’t you?”
“That’s the plan.” She returned Jack’s smile with a little wattage of her own.
Slade stiffened beside her and squeezed her hand. Every guy in the county knew you couldn’t trust Jack with the ladies, because he just had that way about him that would’ve earned him a fortune if it could have been bottled and sold.
“Are you up for live streaming from the Hall, too?”
“Why not?” She smiled even warmer. “You’ll be here, won’t you?”
“I wouldn’t miss a minute of interviewing such a lovely lady as you.”
“Thank you. I’ll look forward to it.”
Slade held back his temper. Jack was a bred-in-the-bone flirt. If he hadn’t been so disarming with his charm, he’d probably have been decked by a guy six days out of seven.
“Oh, yeah,” Jack said, “I heard there’ve been a couple sightings of that big, black Angus bull of yours that got stolen.”
“Sightings?” Slade asked, hardly able to believe his ears. “Who? When? Where?”
“No facts. You know how folks call into the station with crazy ideas.”
Slade rubbed a hand across his jaw thoughtfully. “Do you think it could possibly be true?”
“No way to know. Do you want me to announce it on the radio? I could just ask for anybody that sees your bull to give you a call.”
“No,” Slade said. “Folks would laugh their heads off if you announced to the world that I imagine my bull is so massive, strong, and smart that he broke loose, knocked out the rustlers, and is on the run.”
“It’d definitely be grist for the gossip mill.”
“Just in case, I’ll ask the cowboys to keep a lookout for Fernando.”
“Fernando?” Jack laughed, shaking his head. “Where’d you get that name?”
“Storm named him, like he’s a lover not a fighter.”
Ivy chuckled, too.
“It’s going to be hard to resist talking about Fernando the bull outsmarting rustlers,” Jack said. “This sounds like something right up the alley of the Ranch Radio Rowdies. They could investigate Fernando’s capture and escape on their program. I mean, something like, ‘Call in and share your Fernando sighting.’ I bet we could come up with some dynamite songs to up the suspense, maybe from the Highwaymen. Now that I think of it, Fernando is important enough to have his own theme song. Craig could probably write and sing one for us. After all, he is Cactus Craig on the show.”
“Don’t breathe a word of it, or I’ll never hear the last of Fernando.” As it was, he’d probably never live down letting the big-bucks bull get stolen in the first place. If this kept up, Fernando could become a country legend and even end up with his own radio show with Jack impersonating a sharp-as-a-tack bull who saw all and knew all.
“Worse things than encouraging folks to laugh and have a good time.” Jack grinned, excitement shinning in his dark eyes.
Slade groaned in disbelief. Jack looked too mischievous and happy for comfort. Why had he ever mentioned the bull’s name? If Storm heard about Jack’s idea, she’d be itching to get on the air and explain how she’d recognized unique qualities in the big bull and given him a suitable name…or something from her fertile mind. It didn’t bear thinking on.
“Sounds like fun,” Ivy said. “Maybe Fernando needs his own Instagram page. It might help find him. The entire state of Texas, or even beyond our borders, could get into looking for the kidnapped bull that broke free because he couldn’t bear to be parted from his lady love. What’s her name?”
“There are no lady loves,” Slade said, doing his best to stop the momentum. “He’s not a cow bull.”
“Lack of love is enough to make any male break free. It’s a powerful incentive. Bet Fernando is looking for a pasture full of hot honeys. Those AI bulls get no fun out of life.” Jack chuckled, nodding as if agreeing with himself. “I’ll talk to Eden. Maybe we could make Fernando’s story part of the cattle drive.”
“He’s not part of the cattle drive. He’s gone,” Slade said with as much force as possible. He didn’t want Storm given false hope by this fantasy.
“Got you.” Jack winked at Ivy. “I’d better get back on the dance floor before this lovely lady on my arm deserts me.” And he whirled Bitsy away in a swirl of full skirt and tapping boots.
“What an absolutely charming and clever man,” Ivy said with admiration lacing her voice.
“That’s Wildcat Jack all right.”
“And he never married?”
“Too many times to count.”
“Really? And now?”
“I think he’s still on the loose.”
“You know, Wildcat Bluff just gets more and more interesting.”
“Maybe too interesting.”
He didn’t want her thinking another second about Jack or Fernando or anything except him. He led her out onto the dance floor as Craig started in on a slow two-step, singing all about lost love, found love, and the power of love. Slade could totally agree, except for the lost love part—and he had no intention of ever going there, not with Ivy.
As he held her close, moving in a slow circle to the crooning of Craig’s deep voice, he pulled her closer, so there was little distance between them. She was warm and soft and everything he could ever want.
After a bit, she stroked his shoulder, sniffing his shirt. “You smell sweet.”
He chuckled at her words. “That’s what I baked for the orders—pumpkin and pecan. I wore an apron, but I guess I was messier than I realized when I cooked those pies.”
She reached up, stroked his earlobe, and put her fingertip in her mouth. “And you taste even more delicious.”
“Don’t tell me I’m wearing batter.”
“If you don’t want to hear it, I won’t tell you, but you do taste like pumpkin pie.”
He chuckled. “That’s what happens when I come straight from the kitchen to the dance hall.”
“You can do it anytime.” She reached up and stroked his cheek, smiling happily. “I’ll lick you clean.”
“If you keep that up, we won’t last here long.” He grinned down at her. “I’ll be hauling you up to the cabin in no time.”
“Yum. That sounds good, too.”
He whirled her around faster. If she kept teasing him, making him want to go someplace private so she could lick him to her heart’s content, he was more than ready to go there, plans or no plans. Still, he wanted them to have a sort-of date, so he’d stick it out a bit longer, because he savored having her in his arms, feeling her sway to the music, knowing she was thinking about him and wanting to be with him and willing to take him home.
After a bit, Craig’s voice trailed away and the song came to a close, Slade stopped dancing, but he kept holding Ivy in his arms—close and tight and just right. He heard the other dancers leave the floor, but he didn’t care. He didn’t move. She didn’t move. Neither of them wan
ted the dance to end, so they didn’t let it. She laid her head on his chest, as if she could still hear the music or maybe she heard the beat of his heart.
“Okay, folks, I called last dance,” Craig hollered, getting their attention. “Slade and Ivy, maybe you didn’t hear me or maybe you don’t care. Dancing for the night is officially over.”
Ivy raised her head and looked at Slade with tenderness. “One dance with you isn’t nearly enough.”
“I know. It’s not for me, either.” He gently kissed her forehead. “I want to dance with you for the rest of my life.”
She smiled just as gently as he had kissed her.
“Hey, you two,” Craig hollered again as he stepped down from the raised platform while the band packed up. “I called last dance.”
Slade finally looked up as Craig stopped beside them. “You couldn’t have sung one more?”
“You don’t need another song. You need to get a room.”
Slade grinned at the old joke, shaking his head at the truth of his friend’s words.
“We’ve got a room,” Ivy said with a smile. “We just wanted to dance.”
“Next time, come earlier.” Craig returned her smile. “We’ll play something special for the two of you.”
“‘Always on My Mind.’” Slade looked at Ivy.
“Willie Nelson,” Craig said. “You got it.”
“Thanks.”
“You and the band were great tonight,” Ivy said. “Y’all are a huge boon to the Hall, and I appreciate it.”
“We’re glad for the venue.” Craig glanced away, hesitated, then focused on Ivy. “Fern? Is she okay? She doesn’t return my texts.”
“I’m sorry,” Ivy said. “As far as I know, she’s enjoying singing on the cruise. Yet I think she’s a bit lonely, too.”
“That’s hard to imagine, but I know I am.” He hesitated again. “Do you think she’ll be home anytime soon?”
“I doubt it. Christmas is a big season for cruises.”
“Yeah. I guess so—like it is for Wildcat Bluff.”
“I meant to ask you before, but I’ve just been so busy,” Ivy said. “If you have time, I’d like your help with planning gigs. You’re much more knowledgeable about bands than I am.”
“I’m happy to help. Fern and I…well, we’d made some plans about how to up our presence online and draw in more talent and tourists.”
“Great. I want to hear it all. Maybe we can add to your list.”
“Let’s get together soon,” Craig said. “I’m swamped with the ranch, the firefighting, the radio, and—”
“Reminds me.” Slade cut him off. “If Jack comes to you with some cockamamy story about a big bull, don’t listen to a word of it.”
Craig appeared puzzled a moment, then he started to laugh. Finally, he took a deep breath before he started to tease. “This doesn’t have something to do with that fancy bull you had snatched out from under your nose, does it?”
“Fernando does get around,” Ivy said sweetly.
“Fernando?” Craig laughed even harder. “That’s the bull’s name?”
“Storm named him.” Slade could see he wasn’t going to get any backup for his position on the missing bull, at least not this night. “Apparently, he reminds her of some cartoon character that caught her fancy.”
“Fernando’s a lover, not a fighter,” Ivy said even more sweetly, as if being nothing but helpful. “And there have been Fernando sightings.”
“Sightings?” Craig chuckled as he looked from one to the other as if he couldn’t believe his ears.
“Whatever you do, don’t let Jack talk you into composing Fernando a theme song.” Slade sincerely hoped this would be the end of the matter, but he had a sneaking sensation that he’d just made matters worse. “And for the record, I had that bull in a secure location.”
“Right,” Craig said quickly. “Everybody in the county knows it’s not your fault. Those cattle rustlers are…are—”
“Not smart enough to hang on to a big, bad bull named Fernando,” Ivy finished for him with a grin.
Craig started to laugh again. “Sightings? Theme song? Wait till the Ranch Radio Rowdies hear about Fernando.”
“We don’t know those sightings are a fact,” Slade said. “And he does not need his own song.”
“It’s Christmas,” Craig said. “Fernando may well be our miracle this year. Remember when Misty Reynolds came to town, and everything started to go right? We called her our Christmas angel.”
“I remember.” Slade gave up. Somehow or other, Fernando was capturing hearts in his supposed bid for freedom. He really hoped it was true, but how could it be?
“Wouldn’t it be great if Fernando actually did come home in time for Christmas?” Ivy smiled hopefully.
“Yeah, it’d definitely be a miracle,” Slade said, wishing it were possible.
“I’m all for miracles.” Craig’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm. “Maybe Fern will even be home for Christmas.”
“I guess anything’s possible.” Slade didn’t want to see anybody hurt by too much hope and too little reality. Then again, he was no one to talk. He’d been walking around with his heart on his sleeve since the moment he’d met Ivy.
“We’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?” Ivy clasped Slade’s hand. “For now, Craig, why don’t you get some rest while Slade and I—”
“Get a room.” And he said it with a great deal of relish.
Chapter 25
When Ivy walked into her cowboy cabin with Slade right behind her, she felt like she was coming home. Everything was beginning to seem more familiar and comfortable now…and she liked it.
“Smells delicious.” She glanced at the sack Slade carried over to the countertop and set down. “I love the way you feed me.”
“I hope that’s not all you love about me.”
She just smiled as she put an arm around his waist and hugged him while she peered around to see what he was taking out of the sack.
He chuckled as he set out several closed containers. “Are you sure Wildcat Jack didn’t steal your heart tonight?”
“Ha! He doesn’t feed me. But he is a funny guy, particularly the way he went on about Fernando.”
“You didn’t have to encourage him.” He snagged a couple of bowls out of the cabinet.
“I couldn’t resist. It got too funny.”
“Not for me.”
“Folks know your bull was stolen. You didn’t just lose him.”
“Guess you’re right. Still…”
“Tell you what. We lingered at the Hall to close up. Jack might be on the air by now if he went straight from the Hall to the station. If so, let’s hear what he’s saying. I bet he doesn’t even mention Fernando.” She walked to the end of the countertop and turned on the vintage radio shaped like a stagecoach.
Slade filled the bowls with thick, rich stew, then set them on the table. “Cornbread, too.”
“Thanks.” She set napkins, spoons, and glasses of water on the table and then turned up the volume on the radio. Wildcat Jack came in loud and clear.
“Did you miss me while I was boot scooting at Wildcat Hall to the renowned Craig Thorne? Hope so. I sure missed y’all. And as if you didn’t know, this is Wildcat Jack coming to you from KWCB, the Wildcat Den, serving North Texas and Southern Oklahoma since 1946. Our ranch radio is located on the beauteous Hogtrot Ranch for your listenin’ pleasure.”
Slade snorted, chuckling. “Jack’s gotten a lot of mileage out of that old joke over the years. In case you didn’t know, it’s the Rocky T Ranch, but he does like to tease.”
Ivy smiled as she sat down. She could easily imagine Jack keeping a joke going for a long time. He was just a naturally comical guy.
Slade sat down across from her. “Hope you like the stew.”
She took
a bite, sighing in contentment. “It’s wonderful. And it’s really good after a long day.”
“Folks,” Jack said in a serious tone. “I’ve got a BOLO—be on the lookout—for you tonight.”
“Oh no.” Slade set down his spoon and stared hard at the radio.
“That’s right. BOLO. I just received word that the big Angus bull that cattle rustlers swiped from Steele Trap II may have escaped his captors.”
Slade groaned, shaking his head.
Ivy felt sympathy for him. She hadn’t thought Jack—or Craig—would actually go forward with the funny scenario. But here it was, right in their faces.
“Now we can’t say for sure.” Jack lowered his voice to a conspiratorial tone. “But we’re sure hoping the sightings of this special bull are true. What I’m asking of you, my sharp-eyed listeners, is to keep a lookout for him.”
Ivy reached over and patted Slade’s hand as he continued to watch the radio like he wanted to smash it.
“If you see that bull, don’t stop him or try to capture him. That’d be foolhardy. He’s a massive critter. Two thousand pounds on his lean days. I know that means nothing to strong-hearted cowboys who can rope and ride like the wind. But if this bull got free, that means he’s one big, bad bull on a mission. Don’t get in his way. Make sure he’s got an open gate or he’ll plow through your fences, because he’s making his way across pastures coming from who knows how far away, determined to get home to Steele Trap II in time for Christmas.”
Slade groaned. “If anybody takes Jack seriously and leaves their gates open, we could have Angus bulls roaming all over the county. I don’t know how long it’d take to get them sorted out and back to their ranches.”
“It’s just hyperbole, isn’t it?”
“I can only hope. At least they’ll be tagged or branded or tattooed. Jack’s just playing this for all it’s worth, and it could cause trouble.”
“I’m sure the ranchers will know not to follow Jack’s instructions.”