Harts Of The Rodeo 3 - Duke - Deputy Cowboy

by Roz Denny Fox

  Colt entered an adjacent corral leading a horse Duke recognized as a newly acquired gelding. Colt slipped a hackamore over the gelding’s head and the horse tore loose, bucking all the way around the corral.

  The boys got up from where they were sitting and as one moved toward Colt.

  “Hold on, boys,” Duke called. “If you get too close you’ll spook the horse worse than he is. I’ll let down the Ford’s tailgate. You all can sit there and watch Colt until you finish your sodas.”

  Duke was glad for the break. Tommy Marshall was proving to be a bigger pain in the butt than he’d expected. In truth, the smallest boy had the best chance of leaping on the pony because bigger kids did better holding the ponies back. But that wasn’t going to happen. Tommy had struck the deal to be the one to ride the pony, and he wasn’t budging.

  Duke’s dad drove up in one of the ranch hay haulers seconds after Colt climbed on the gelding, and the boys started to whoop.

  Joshua moseyed toward them, and Duke met him halfway.

  “What are you doing with all the kids?”

  “Not making as much headway as I’d hoped giving them pointers on surviving the Wild Pony Race,” Duke said, laughing. The men leaned arms atop the pony corral.

  “I heard one of those Chilean bulls slammed you around in Bozeman,” Josh said.

  “He was tough, but I’m okay. Hey, Beau mentioned Aunt Sarah may phase out the remaining beef cattle and the bucking bulls. Are you okay with that?”

  “The work is getting old. Or else I am,” Josh grumbled. “I haven’t been as happy since we quit running a real herd. I’ve been a cattleman all my life.”

  “You aren’t old enough to retire, Pop. What’ll you do with your life?”

  Josh didn’t answer, but stared at the distant hills, seeming dispirited. Duke thought about how his own spirits lifted when he saw Angie, or when he imagined seeing her.

  “I hear somebody’s teaching line dancing every Wednesday night at the Open Range Saloon. Maybe you ought to go. Get out some and improve your social life.”

  “Are you kidding? Don’t I always say, ‘find what you’re not good at, and keep not doing it’? That’s how I’d be if I tried to line dance...not good at it.”

  Breaking off with a growl, Josh hopped back in his vehicle and drove off in a cloud of dust. Duke pondered how flustered his dad had seemed. He shouldn’t have tried to tease his father. They’d never had that kind of a relationship, sad to say.

  In the corral, Colt slid off the tired gelding and led him out the far gate to turn him into a field with other bucking stock.

  “We’re hot,” Tommy Marshall complained. “Can we go swim now, and do this another day when it’s cooler?”

  Duke checked his watch and found they had been here over an hour. “Maybe we’ve done enough for your first day.”

  They drove to the house and Duke was heartened to see Angie’s vehicle. He herded the kids and dog around back.

  Leah, his aunt and Angie were already at the pool. Leah played with her children in the shallow end. Duke didn’t want to stare at Angie in her suit. It was modest as suits went, but she filled it out in all the right places, and he wondered how those curves would feel under his roving hands. Duke swallowed at the thought.

  “They’re all little kids,” Tommy whined, jarring Duke out of his daydream. “I like doing cannonballs.”

  “No cannonballs,” Duke snapped, his patience with Tommy Marshall near its end. “This isn’t a swim party, it’s meant to cool everyone down.”

  “How did it go?” Angie asked, squinting up at Duke after Sarah ushered the boys into the house to change into their trunks.

  “Chaotic, but I expected that for the first go-down.”

  “You look frazzled. And you’re favoring your injured hand again.” She reached out and touched his knuckle.

  Duke reacted at once to her soft touch. Then he noticed Leah watching them. “I probably tugged too hard on the rope while trying to show the boys how to hang on to the pony. I’d better go change into my suit, or the wild kids will be out here jumping in, splashing everyone.”

  He walked off. Angie dropped her sunglasses over her eyes, but not before she imagined how Dylan’s broad shoulders and slim hips would look in swim trunks. And she shouldn’t be having those kinds of thoughts.

  “Gotta love the slow hip-roll of a cowboy’s walk,” Leah remarked.

  Angie hadn’t realized she was being scrutinized. “I don’t deny cowboys are easy on the eyes.”

  “Hmm. That implies they fall short in other areas.”

  The three boys burst out the house door, trailed by Sarah, who juggled a tray filled with glasses and a pitcher of lemonade. Pretending she hadn’t heard Leah’s comment, Angie jumped up and ran to assist Sarah.

  “Oh, thanks, Angie. I have the tray, but could you go into the kitchen and bring out the cookies? Lisa Marie baked three types. There should be a kind to suit everybody.”

  Angie hurried into the house and nearly bowled Duke over. Her hands landed flat against his naked chest, and she felt the barest prickle from his chest hair. Unable to stop her response, she flexed her fingers once then snatched back her hands. “Sorry. Sarah sent me after cookies. I assumed the door opened straight into the kitchen.”

  “No, it’s down the hall on your left. Here, let me show you.”

  “Oh, wow, it’s a full platter. A lot of cookies for a small group. I’ll need to monitor the boys or they’ll go home with sugar highs or bellyaches.”

  “That looks heavy. Let me carry it for you,” Duke said.

  Angie didn’t readily release the platter she was using as a shield from the man’s dark and roaming eyes. “I...ah...thought a lot last night about what you said about selling my horse treats over the internet. It sounds great, but I don’t own a computer and I’m not sure I should invest in one just yet.”

  Duke lengthened his stride to stay even with her, and didn’t mind at all that their bare arms brushed as he shoved open the door for her to go out first. “I have an extra laptop. I can set up a trial site before I bring it over. There are free programs for small business owners that I can download. You don’t have to ship any product until the money is in your bank. Or you can arrange for a PO box at the post office and fill orders that way for people who prefer to pay by check.”

  “I know a little about that,” Angie said.

  “What are you two ordering?” Sarah asked, taking her eyes off the boys.

  “Angie is expanding her horse-cookie trade. I took samples to Bozeman and a lot of the guys who travel to rodeos wanted to know how to buy more. I offered to help her set up a website.”

  Leah glanced up. “Cheyenne’s considering selling her jewelry that way, too. I wish I had talent, or some way to earn extra money.”

  Sarah, who sat with her legs dangling over the pool’s edge, patted Leah’s hand. “I’ve never met anyone as organized as you or as good keeping accounts straight. You have a marketable skill. Get Cheyenne and Angie to hire you as their bookkeeper.” Sarah turned to Angie. “If you run a business, you don’t have time to do everything. Leah saved us time and money almost the minute she took over the ranch accounts.”

  “Miss Sarah, I’ve no doubt you’re right, but I’m renting Ruby Winston’s coffee shop, so I’m not sure I can afford Leah until I see if my business grows.”

  Duke was happy to hear her say that. If Leah took over Angie’s accounts, she’d be the one to set Angie up
on the computer. He was picturing evenings where the two of them cozied up and worked together.

  “It’s a thought for the future,” Leah said. “Hey, there’s Colt. Jill, Davey, come on and dry off. Grab one cookie each and we’ll trek home and leave the pool to the bigger kids.”

  “Yay,” Tommy yelled. He didn’t act contrite, either, when Duke scolded him and said he should apologize to Jill and Davey. The boy mumbled something indiscernible, and Duke choked off a sigh. Tommy was just a kid. Getting angry with him wouldn’t teach him manners.

  Duke eased into the pool. He stayed toward the middle where he could get to Tommy doing cannonballs at the deep end if need be, or Lucas kicking his feet on the steps in the shallow part, or Bobby dog-paddling somewhere in between. “Luke, do you want to learn to do what Bobby’s doing?” Duke asked quietly.

  “It looks h-hard,” he stuttered.

  “Only if you let it frighten you. Moving your feet and hands keeps you floating on top of the water.” Duke held out his hands palms up and coaxed Luke to lie across them. “I have you and I won’t let you slip under. Practice kicking your feet up and down and moving your hands the way Zorro moves his feet. That’s why it’s called dog-paddling.”

  “I didn’t know dogs liked to swim.”

  “Some do. On hot days they need to cool off the same way people do.”

  Angie sat at the table with Sarah. They chatted a bit about a range of topics, but Angie’s gaze followed Duke in his patient effort to teach her son to paddle and enjoy the pool like the other boys were doing.

  “My nephew is a good man,” Sarah remarked suddenly. It was plain, however, that she noted something in the way Angie kept dropping the thread of their conversation.

  Angie flushed.

  Sarah refreshed their glasses with more lemonade. “Duke probably hasn’t told you, but he was once a lot like your Luke. Quiet. Shy. Not really timid, but far from gregarious like his twin and his cousins. He had a speech problem, too.”

  “He credits Ace with helping him gain self-confidence.” Angie frowned slightly. “To see Dylan today, no one would believe self-confidence was ever a problem.”

  “I love hearing you say that. Ace got him interested in bull riding. Mercy, he’s come so far. My brother did his best, Lord love him. He raised two boys alone in a day and age when men rarely did that. I don’t mind stepping up and taking credit for Duke’s sensitivity, though.” She winked. “You know...a woman could do worse than snagging him for a husband.”

  Angie realized Sarah meant her. “Oh, Miss Sarah, there’s nothing of that sort between... We, uh, I...” Angie broke off and felt her cheeks flame as she remembered dwelling on a kiss he’d delivered, and she’d gotten huffy to hide her real reaction of liking the kiss.

  “I’m not trying to meddle,” Sarah murmured. “Heavens, I’d be the last person to play matchmaker. Two of my sons fell in love right under my nose and I didn’t see either marriage in the offing ahead of time.”

  Angie dropped her sunglasses over her eyes. “I had a bad experience with love, Miss Sarah. I’m not sure... How will I know?”

  Sarah patted Angie’s knee. “Just keep an open heart and mind.”

  Angie mulled that over as she listened to her son’s excited babble and watched Dylan’s patience with him. Maybe she could open her heart.

  Luke dog-paddled halfway across the pool before he realized he was doing it on his own. He faltered, sank and came up choking. Duke snatched him up, patted his back and stood him up out of the water, wrapping him in his towel. “That’s probably enough for one day,” Duke said. “Tommy, Bobby, time to go. I promised your mom I’d have you home by three.”

  “Oh, Luke, we need to go, too.” Angie wasn’t wet, so she stepped into jeans, boots and stuffed her blouse in a tote she’d brought.

  “May I ride home in my suit?” Luke took a cookie, then looked to her for permission.

  “If you sit on your towel. Hot as it is, you’ll dry quickly. Thank Dylan and Miss Sarah,” she prompted.

  Luke parroted a thank-you. Bobby chimed in, with Tommy a bit slower. “I want to go in and change,” he announced. His brother concurred through a mouthful of cookie.

  “I want to change, too.” Duke paused next to Angie. “I told the boys we’d try another lesson Thursday, only earlier to miss the heat of the day. Is Luke up by nine?”

  Angie nodded, but continued to steer Luke toward her vehicle.

  Duke couldn’t resist watching her walk away.

  * * *

  AS LUKE BUCKLED IN AND WIPED cookie from his face, he bounced a little in his seat. “Mom, I had the funnest time ever. But can we have broccoli or spinach tonight? Bobby and me need to get heavier so we can hang on to the pony. Remember when Duke came to supper? He said green vegetables build muscles.”

  Praise the Lord, Angie thought. “We can manage a green veggie,” she said soberly. “So you liked all of the day, including chasing after the pony?”

  Luke laughed and got louder and louder as he relayed incidents that tickled him. Angie didn’t remind him to lower his volume, it was so good to see him happy, and he hadn’t stuttered once. She had Dylan Adams to thank for that. She mulled over tidbits Miss Sarah had shared about his life. And yes, the man would be good husband material if his acquired self-confidence had come from mucking stalls, or stacking hay bales instead of from tying a cowbell around a bull and riding the poor animal into a frenzy.

  * * *

  DUKE’S AUNT COLLECTED the pitcher and glasses. “Angie is the sweetest thing, and she’s a great mom. She’ll make some lucky man a fine wife one day.”

  Duke shot his aunt a hooded glance and almost dropped the plate of cookies he’d picked up. Sarah held up a hand. “It was only an observation. You know I’m no matchmaker.”

  Duke reflected on her casual, yet calculated comments as he drove the Marshall boys home. His aunt could be sneaky. But maybe he should let her know he wouldn’t object if she did a little matchmaking.

  Chapter Eight

  A call at 3:00 a.m. sent Duke and Dinah to a dairy farm off the upper river road. Dinah was interviewing the elderly owner and his wife when Duke rolled in. “Mr. Jenkins knows all of his milk cows by name,” Dinah informed Duke. “He says none are missing. Again the thieves took small stuff.”

  “Except for my milking machine,” the old man put in. “It was brand-new.”

  “Who’d want to steal it, or rakes and hoes?” his wife asked, seeming bewildered.

  “I’ll give you a report form to submit to your insurance company,” Dinah told the couple. “Mrs. Jenkins, you said it was after two when you heard squealing tires going from your lane to the main highway?” Dinah jotted a note and turned to Duke. “Again the thieves are long gone. I came the minute Mr. Jenkins phoned, and didn’t pass a soul. If you’ll list what’s missing,” she said, handing Mrs. Jenkins a form, “Duke will send out information to the sources we know who deal in used farm implements.”

  “Are you sure you didn’t see a vehicle, Mrs. Jenkins?” Duke asked. “I see you reported being up for a drink of water when you heard a vehicle leave your lane.”

  “I saw the flash of headlights across the trees, too. That’s how I knew someone went from our gravel road to the highway. Come to think of it, as high as the beam hit, it would’ve been a pickup. I see cars leave here after dark, people who buy our fresh milk or butter,” she explained. “Car lights illuminate the snowberry bushes I planted at our
entrance. Another thing...the lights were off and they turned them on at the curve. Everything was pitch-dark before.”

  Duke retrieved an area map from his console. “So if you didn’t pass anyone, Dinah, it means between here and town they left the highway.”

  Mrs. Jenkins fetched them coffee. “Most of these fire roads are dead ends,” Dinah said. “Two lead to other ranches that have been robbed. This one goes to Mick Danner’s fishing resort. I talked to him when the Weaver ranch was hit. Mick’s cabins were all rented for the summer, but in two- and three-day increments. So I ruled out his guests.”

  “We should revisit everyone,” Duke said. “Granted, the timing and frequency of the thefts seem to point to the perpetrators being locals. They’d guess when Mrs. Jenkins turned on a house light she’d call you, Dinah. They’d assume one of us would drive out from town. It’d be simple for them to pull down a fire road and wait for us to pass. Hopefully this time someone saw them.”

  “Okay, you take one side of the highway. I’ll take the other. We’ll convene back at the office. I hate to get people out of bed. On the other hand, ranchers and fishermen are probably up.” She checked her watch.

  * * *

  THEY MET IN THE OFFICE a little over an hour later. “I can see by your face you didn’t have any luck,” Dinah said, flopping down in her chair. “Me, neither. It’s as if these jokers are ghosts.”

  “Shall we run over to the Number 1 Diner for breakfast? I saw Sierra turn the Closed sign to Open as I parked,” Duke said.

  “Sure. You know her aunt Jordan is living with her? It must be hard for both of them. Her aunt is blind and Sierra doesn’t seem her usual perky self.”

  “There’s a lot of that going around. Beau and I said the same thing about Austin. He acted strange the whole Bozeman trip.”

  “How so?” Dinah acted interested.

  “I expected him to help me drive, but no, he slept. He opted out of joining us for steak and beer. But he put in good rides.”