“That’s enough, Gordon,” Beau said. “There’s no way Rey was involved in this.”
“Sometimes the truth hurts,” Gordon sneered, pulling himself into the saddle. “I’m going to count heads again.”
“Jerk,” Rey muttered.
Beau walked over to his son. “Ignore him.”
Rey wheeled on his dad. “Why did you hire such a weasel?”
“I needed someone to help run the ranch who knew more than I did.”
“You hired the wrong guy.”
“You may be right. But we have other worries now. Like who the hell did this? Will they return and help themselves again?”
“Maybe that Special Ranger can answer your questions.”
“And maybe not,” Dugan said putting his tape in his pocket. “They don’t have a hundred percent success rate, you know.”
“Do you know what that rate is?”
“Not in percentages. But they recovered more than four million last year alone in livestock and machinery.”
“Not bad,” Beau stated, hoping his cattle would be in the recovered column.
As Dugan started back to his vehicle, he warned, “You’ll need to take precautions now. With such easy pickings, they may try again.”
“Or try other ranches,” Rey added.
“Right. I’ll call Donovan and let the other ranchers in the area know what happened. Everyone needs to be more vigilant.”
Joe, who had been silent the whole time, spoke up. “I’m sorry this happened, Boss.”
“Not your fault.”
“I know, but it’s a bad thing.”
“One of the worst,” Dugan agreed as he climbed into his cruiser. “I can only hope it’s the last in the area. We’re not equipped to handle this on our own. I’ll contact Nolan Murdock, the Ranger for our district. He’s young, but smart. I just hope he’s available. I’ll let you know.”
They watched him leave.
“I hope this Murdock guy is free,” Beau said.
“So do I,” Rey added. “I’m going to look at the cattle that are left. Then, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to take Joe and do a search of the entire ranch. It’s possible they just wandered off.”
“Possible, but not likely. Still, it’s a good idea.”
He watched as the two young men jumped into their saddles and took off. Such energy. It made him feel like an old man.
“Let me know what you find,” he yelled at their retreating backs.
Rey lifted an arm in answer.
Thinking he might check cattle himself, Beau started a slower loop of the ranch. It would take him the rest of the day. He hadn’t had a minute to look into getting help for Lela.
Maybe Nell could recommend someone.
The thought of Nell brightened his dismal day.
Chapter Twelve
Nellie put the last dish in the dishwasher just as the phone rang. It was Dugan, and he wanted to talk to Donovan. Donovan was out on the ranch, and Dugan didn’t have time to make another call so she took the message. “Donovan needs to know that rustlers hit the Chandler ranch last night.”
Nellie gasped. “No. How many cattle were taken?”
“Twenty-five or so. Tell Donovan to be alert. We don’t know if a gang is operating in the area or if it’s a one-time thing.”
“I will. Is everything else all right?”
“Fine. I have to go. The other ranchers in the area need to be aware of what’s going on.”
“Thanks, Dugan. Give the family my love.”
Dropping the phone in its cradle, Nellie found the nearest chair and sat down.
“What’s wrong?” Phyl asked.
“That was Dugan. Rustlers took about twenty-five head of Beau’s cattle last night.”
Phyl, who had been cleaning out the refrigerator, dropped everything to come and sit beside Nellie. “I don’t believe it. What does Dugan think? Should we do something to protect our herd? Don’t answer that. Of course he doesn’t know. Is he calling in one of the Special Rangers?”
“I didn’t think to ask. But I’m sure he will.”
“This is terrible. How can we protect our property? We can’t afford to hire guards, even if it would only be for night duty. Neither can any of the other ranchers in the area.” Her brow wrinkled as she tried to think.
Nellie reached over to her daughter-in-law to lay a hand on her arm. “Don’t worry, Phyl, Donovan will think of something. Let’s give him a call on his cell phone.”
“No. I’m going to ride out and tell him the bad news. I know Donavan. He’ll want to gear up for a possible theft and have a million things to do. I can help.”
“Of course.” Nellie understood. She rose, went to check the oven. “I’ll take one of these pies over to Lela when they’re done. This is a terrible thing to happen to anyone, much less a neighbor.”
“I’ll bet you won’t be the only one bringing something to the Chandler ranch today. I’ll let you know if I’ll be back or not.”
“Thanks, Phyl.” Maybe it was a southern thing, or maybe a Texas one. But when a neighbor was in trouble, neighbors gathered around. Most brought food.
It wasn’t long before the phone rang again. It was Phyl calling from her cell phone. “Donovan wants to move the cattle that are anywhere near a boundary fence line into the center of the ranch. Some, he’s moving closer to the barn. It will make it harder for anyone to get to them. Not impossible, but more difficult.”
“Did he call Beau?” Nellie asked.
“First thing. Told him to do the same.”
“I’ll take Susie with me. I won’t be long.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s going to be a long day.”
“Don’t worry about it. You have work to do.”
The day was overcast with rain predicted. Nellie didn’t see how, even with Phyl, Mark, and young Jimmy, that Donovan could move so many cattle in one day. But then, she didn’t know how many were already in Donovan’s safe area.
And Beau? Could he protect the rest of his herd? Could any of the ranchers? This was a terrible thing. Only once in all the time she’d lived on the ranch had there been an episode of cattle rustling. That rustler was caught almost immediately. If her memory served her, the man wanted a calf to slaughter to feed his family. When Ed Clark, the sheriff at that time, found out the circumstances, he convinced the judge to give the man a suspended sentence and found him a job.
That was then. Times seemed simpler. Not like now.
With five-year-old Susie in the back seat, Nellie pulled up to Beau’s back door and for a moment just sat there, doing her best to quell the slight shake in her hands.
Ridiculous. Beau was out tending his herd, just as Donovan was. She wouldn’t see him. Told herself she didn’t want to.
“Let me out, Gran,” Susie said.
“Coming.”
She helped Susie to the ground, picked up the pie, took a deep breath, and went to the back door.
Lela opened it, a smile creasing her face when she saw them.
“What a nice surprise.”
“I hope we’re not bothering you.”
“This is a treat. With Mr. Beau out working, it gets lonely around here.” She reached down and gave Susie a hug.
They walked into the kitchen and once more Nellie admired the renovations. “I brought over a pecan pie.”
“How nice of you. Have a seat. I just made a pot of coffee. Susie, would you like a glass of apple juice?”
“I love apple juice.”
“Good.” Lela went to get it.
“Only for a minute.” Nellie wanted to drop the pie and run. What if Beau came in? Could she keep up her charade? But Nellie sat on the stool at the island and accepted the cup handed her. “I’m so sorry about the cattle. I know how it feels to lose what you’ve worked so hard for, much less spent time and money on.”
“What cattle?”
“I’m sorry. I thought you knew. Rustlers took some of Beau’s cattle last night. Dugan w
ill probably bring in a Ranger to help in the investigation.”
Lela put her head in her hands. “Poor Mr. Beau. He works so hard.”
The doorbell chimed.
“Who could that be?”
“Do you want me to go?”
“Would you? I move slow these days.”
“You’re allowed.” Nellie let her gaze sweep the rooms as she walked through. Despite her age, Lela kept everything spotless.
Nellie opened the door to see two other neighbors, their arms laden with casseroles.
“You beat us here,” Fanny Hudson said.
She and her husband owned the ranch on the other side of Beau.
“Looks as if we all had the same idea,” Jan Bellows added. “How’s Beau taking it?”
“I haven’t seen him. But I’m sure he’s upset.” Nellie led the way to the kitchen, introduced the ladies to Lela. “They’re neighbors, too.”
“We brought something over. Not much, just a tidbit to let Beau know we’re with him in this.”
“You won’t have to cook today, Lela.”
The doorbell chimed again.
“Maybe not for a few days.”
The ladies laughed.
It was an hour before Nellie could get away. By the time she left, Lela’s kitchen was overflowing with cakes, pies, and casseroles.
As she pulled onto the highway, it started to rain. If she’d stayed a little longer, she would have seen Beau.
It was better this way. Much better.
****
When the rain started, Beau called a halt to moving cattle. “We’ve done all we can for today. We’ll start again in the morning.”
Gordon headed for the bunkhouse.
“I’m going to move the herd in the west pasture. They’re vulnerable,” Rey said.
“Tomorrow,” Beau said, turning Taro toward the house.
By the time he walked into the kitchen, Beau was wet, tired, and hungry. Seeing the mounds of food on the counter, he sent a questioning glance to Lela.
“Neighbors,” she said. “They’re all so nice. Every one of them wanted you to know they were thinking of you and would help any way they could.
Too choked up to speak, Beau simply nodded.
“There’s enough food here for an army, I was going to take some to the bunkhouse so the boys wouldn’t have to cook.”
“No, you won’t. I’m already wet.” Plus, it would give him the opportunity to see Rey in his surroundings—see how he was getting along with Gordon.
But when he took the large box filled with food to the bunkhouse and sat it on the counter, Rey and Joe were nowhere to be seen. “Where are the boys?” he asked Gordon.
Gordon shrugged. “Playing in the rain, I guess.”
“How are they doing?”
“Being kids. Neither one knows what they’re doing.”
“I’m glad to have them. Workʼs going to double now that rustlers are in the picture.”
Gordon pulled out the food, grabbed a plate. “We’ll see.”
Beau left. Gordon would rather choke than give a compliment. Every time Beau checked on the boys they were working hard. He didn’t know what Gordon’s problem was.
By the time he showered and got to bed, Beau was too angry to sleep. He got up and roamed the house.
Some no good sons-of-guns had stolen his cattle, and it made his blood hot. Who would do such a thing? He had no enemies that he knew of.
Thinking of over fifteen thousand dollars walking into a trailer and off his ranch gave him a gigantic headache. Roaming through the house, he stepped into the kitchen for a glass of water.
Who had snuck onto his property in the middle of the night and helped themselves to what was his? Whoever it was needed to be in jail. Maybe the Special Ranger Dugan had promised to contact could find the bastard.
It was after midnight now. The house was dark and quiet. He looked out the kitchen window to see it had stopped raining. A red glow from a cigarette showed from the front of the barn.
He leaned closer, but couldn’t see the features of the man. It had to be Gordon. He was the only one on the place who smoked. But why was his foreman out so late? Especially after this extra hard day?
Beau didn’t like the guy. Hadn’t liked it one bit when Gordon insinuated Rey had something to do with the rustlers.
Just thinking about it made his gut churn. Rey was a good boy, a fast learner. He’d worked his butt off today. They all had. Rey just needed to find himself, to realize he had to make his own way from now on. Since he’d started working on the ranch a few months ago, there had been only the one incident.
The glow arced as Gordon threw the cigarette to the ground.
Beau kept his eyes on the barn for a long ten minutes. The ground was wet so the cigarette probably went out immediately. Still. He couldn’t suffer another crisis. The one today had cost him too much.
Chapter Thirteen
Beau was at the barn early the next morning when Rey came in.
“You’re up early,” Beau remarked.
“Wanted to check the cattle to make sure none were taken last night.”
“Mighty conscientious of you.”
Rey saddled Ty and pulled himself into the saddle.
“Just a minute, son.”
“What?”
“I wanted to thank you for doing a fine job.”
Rey nodded and took off.
Beau, following on Taro, caught up with him. “Where are we going?”
“To check the herd I moved last night, and see if they’re still here.”
“You moved them? In the rain?”
“Joe and I did. No big deal.”
Rey pulled to a halt at a group of grazing cattle.
“That them?”
“Yep. Looks as if they’re all here.”
“Thank God.”
“I’m going to check the others.”
“I’ll be on my cell if you need me.”
Beau watched his son race off, as comfortable in a saddle now as if he’d been born in it. Would wonders never cease?
Before he headed in the opposite direction, he saw Joe racing to catch up with Rey. Where was Gordon? It was his job to see that the cattle were safe, but it seemed the kids were doing a better job at it than his foreman.
Beau didn’t get far before his cell phone rang.
“Dad, you know where the cattle were last night before we moved them?”
“Yeah.”
“You need to see something.”
“Be right there.” He turned Taro and headed toward his son, wondering what the problem was now. He really was getting too old for this.
“I’ve already called the sheriff,” Rey told him when Beau pulled up. “He said he was on his way here with the Special Agent.”
“Were we hit again?” Beau asked, unable to keep the tiredness out of his voice.
“No, Mr. Beau,” Joe piped up. “But the Callahan’s might not be so lucky. Come look.”
Beau cursed when he saw the downed fence. “I’d like to get my hands on whoever is doing this.” A glance at his son told him the boy was as upset as he was. “Have you called Donovan?”
Rey shook his head. “I’ll do it now.”
“He’ll be right here. He’s really upset,” he said when he turned off his cell.
“Aren’t we all? I’m going to the barn to meet the sheriff and the ranger.”
Back at the barn, Beau paced as he waited. It was a long thirty minutes before they got there. They arrived in the special agent’s truck, hauling a trailer with his horse inside. “Find it easier to get around on a horse,” he explained as he climbed out.
Beau wondered if the kid was even twenty-five, and if he knew what he was doing. As they were introduced, Nolan Murdock took off his Stetson, making his blond hair look tousled. The same height as Beau, Murdock’s green eyes looked him squarely in the eye when they shook hands.
“Mind if I borrow one of yours?” Dugan asked Beau as h
e pointed to the stalls where several horses remained.
“Take Beauty. She can use the exercise.”
They mounted up and went to inspect the area under suspicion.
After introductions, the agent took pictures and did measurements. “Seems as if you got lucky, Mr. Chandler.”
“Thanks to my son. If he hadn’t moved the herd we had here, we would have been hit again.”
“Donovan lost six,” Rey explained to the agent. “He’s checking the rest of his herd now.”
“You can tell by the hoof prints and tire tracks they were loaded here. The rain yesterday helped in a way. You can see where the tracks are deeper going out than coming in.”
Across the Callahan pasture, they saw Donovan riding toward them. When he got there, he swung from the saddle and stalked over. “Any idea who is doing this?” he asked Murdock after they were introduced.
“Not a clue. This is the first in this county in a while. I’ll need a description of the cattle you lost. We’ll keep an eye out.”
“But you’re not likely to find them,” Donovan said.
“They could be anywhere, even a packing house or an auction barn in another state.”
“Losing six head hurts. Beau lost twenty-five. That’s damaging. What do you suggest we do to protect ourselves?”
“I have a list of things we advise ranchers. Check on your cattle several times a day. Vary feeding times and locations. Avoid pen feeding. Don’t pen or build pens directly off main roads. Always brand your cattle. Unbranded cattle are difficult to find. Report suspicious cattle trailers or trucks immediately.”
“Our cattle are branded,” Donovan said. “And we moved as many of the herd as we could yesterday before the rain. I think the six that were taken wandered off from the main herd.”
“Keep moving them around.”
“What’s next?” Beau asked.
“Stay alert,” Murdock said as he swung back into the saddle. “I’ll get right on this.”
“I’ll have my list of missing cattle as soon as I get back to the ranch. Where do I send it?” Donovan asked.
“Email me. I check my mail a dozen times a day.” He gave his address. “Used to just have our cell phones. Now we do a lot of our work on the computer,” Murdock explained.
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