Dodge the Bullet

by Christy Hayes

  “I’m here because I owe my friend Tommy a favor.”

  “Must be a big one.”

  The hairs on his neck started prickling again and he wondered what to take of the prickly Mrs. Woodward. Dodge found it best to place women in one of a series of categories he’d come up with in his thirty-eight years of dealing with the opposite sex. The fact that each of his six sisters and every woman he’d ever dated fit neatly into one of his categories proved that he was smarter than the average male.

  Sarah Woodward was pretty enough to be in the “eye candy” category, but she downplayed her looks too much. She hardly wore any makeup and dressed in old jeans and a t-shirt. But thanks to the wind, Dodge was able to appreciate every delectable curve of her body.

  He didn’t know her enough to know if she belonged in the “never satisfied” category. She obviously wasn’t “low class” because she had enough common sense to recognize Senator Burwick as a dickhead. He didn’t think she was his least favorite, a “man hater”--her eyes were too gentle. But the only other choice, the “I’ll make you want to touch me but you never will” category didn’t fit either because she wasn’t showing off her assets: a great body, full lips, beautiful green eyes and thick brown hair that called out for a man to run fingers run through. Dodge realized that he’d let his thoughts wander away from the conversation and he couldn’t remember what they were talking about.

  “Why would slick Be --er, Senator Burwick want to make sure I was doing okay? Sarah asked. “And if you already have a ranch of your own to run, it doesn’t sound like you have the time to help me even if you wanted to.”

  “I’m just here because of Tommy,” he said, looking around. “So, what can I do for you?”

  “Short of finding someone to teach me the business, I don’t know.”

  “You’re the one with friends in high places, Mrs. Woodward. Why don’t you get someone to run the ranch for you?”

  “I don’t want someone to run the ranch for me. I’m looking for someone to teach me the business.”

  Dodge tried not to smile at her naivety. “Mrs. Woodward---”

  “Sarah.”

  “Okay, Sarah. Anyone who knows anything about ranching is too busy trying to make ends meet with his own business to bother helping another future competitor. I realize the South is known for its friendliness, but around here it’s pretty much every man for himself.”

  “I’m willing to pay someone for their help.”

  “That’s good, because the only kind of help you’ll find around here is the hired kind. But the kind of help you need can’t be bought.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Dodge tried to think of a way to explain with a certain political correctness the nuances of life in a small southern Colorado town. But he couldn’t think of a single p.c. way to do it. “You can hire a helper, but he’ll need instructions and pretty regular supervision. And a working knowledge of Spanish wouldn’t hurt.”

  Sarah kicked loose a potato rock with the toe of her shoe. “I hate to ask, but what do you suggest I do?”

  Dodge moved a few steps closer to Sarah and scratched the hair at the base of his neck. “Well, what I’m trying to say is that you should probably consider selling this place and going back home to Atlanta where you belong.”

  Sarah let out a sarcastic chuckle. “How very welcoming of you, Dodge, but I think I'll ignore your oh-so-helpful advice. I've got 1200 acres of ranch land. I think I can find someone.”

  “I’m glad you find this funny, because if you’re serious about staying and going into the cattle business you’re going to have to have a sense of humor. This ranch is so run down that if I were you, I wouldn’t know whether to laugh or cry.”

  “What are you saying? The ranch isn’t worth running cattle on?”

  “Lady, what you’ve got here is a whole lot of potential. You’ve got very senior water rights, not to mention almost three miles of river on the place.” He'd already done enough research to learn her place was too rich for his blood. “That’s about as good as it gets around here.”

  “I know I’m sitting on prime real estate. I’ve had more than one offer in the last few years to sell. But this ranch is for cattle, and I want to run cattle on it. I’m not going to be talked out of this, so if you’re not interested in helping me than I’ll find someone who is.” Sarah lifted her chin in the air. “It was nice to meet you, Dodge.”

  When she turned to walk back toward the house, Dodge bit his tongue and gently reached for her arm. “Now hold on just a second. I didn’t say I wasn’t interested in helping you. I’m just trying to be straight with you about how hard it’s going to be.”

  “If you’re too busy with your own ranch, how can you help me?”

  “There’s no real way to learn the business without jumping in and figuring it out as you go. Or you can spend four years at the University getting a ranch management degree and then have to start all over anyway because all the crap they teach you doesn’t apply in the real world.” Dodge was getting off on another sore subject and stopped himself while he could.

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “So I should just buy some cattle and see what happens? I don’t operate that way. I need a plan.”

  “I’m not suggesting you buy some cattle and let them lose on the ranch. Hell, with the shape of your fences and the pastures, they’d either starve to death or end up all over the county.”

  “Then maybe you can help me make a list of what needs to be done and prioritize.”

  Dodge felt like he’d been maneuvered. She wasn’t the weak pushover he’d imagined she’d be. “You got some paper and a pen?”

  “I’m sure there’s some in Todd’s desk.”

  “Why don’t you run inside and get it? We’ll hop in my truck and you can jot a few things down while we take a look at the property.” He ushered her along with the impatient wave of his arms. As she disappeared into the house, he rubbed the back of his neck and figured a quick drive around the property should get him off the hook with Tommy and put him on his merry way within the hour.

  ###

  Sarah eyed Dodge warily before turning to go inside the cabin. She knew the ranch had been neglected, but to hear it confirmed was like getting kicked in the teeth. She’d pinned all her hopes for the future on the ranch. She’d expected a learning curve, but not to have to start from scratch.

  Dodge obviously didn’t like slick Benji Burwick, as Todd used to call him. The senator had approached Sarah on more than one occasion since Todd’s death about buying the ranch that ‘must be a burden to her and the kids with everything that’s happened.’ He couldn’t even hide the false sympathy in his voice. The fact that the people of the state couldn’t see past his façade and voted him into the senate was more than a little frightening.

  After locating a pen and pad of yellow legal paper, Sarah stole a look at Dodge out the bedroom window. He wore the usual uniform of the valley, jeans and an un-tucked t-shirt with well worn boots and an old cowboy hat. He was tall and lean, with muscular forearms and unusual golden eyes. His calloused hands proved he was used to hard work. She could tell by the earlier tone of his voice and his uncomfortable stance that he didn’t want to help her. While she could admire his looks, she had to wonder about his motives.

  Chapter 3

  As they bumped along the overgrown roads of the property, Dodge found himself enjoying the beauty of a piece of land he hadn’t seen in almost a decade. The Woodwards had bought the old Storey place when Storey died and his kin were more interested in money than ranching. It was one of the last large river properties in the valley that hadn’t been bought and divided into 35 to 50 acre parcels and sold as mini-ranches. When Dodge first learned a family from Georgia had bought the place, he’d assumed they’d do the same. Then he’d heard that Denton Frazier had been running his cattle here for awhile, long enough to forage the land and add to its decay before leaving it in worse shape than before.

  “This is a nic
e truck,” Sarah said as she fiddled with the paper in her lap.

  “Thanks. I was just thinking the opposite about yours.”

  She gave him a scornful look and sniffed the air. “Interesting smell.”

  “Its cow shit, but it smells like money to me.” “Dodge didn’t want Sarah Woodward to like him or forget he didn’t want to help her. There was something about her that made him want to keep his distance.

  “You’ve got a real way with people. About the ranch…” She gripped the pen and tapped it annoyingly on the pad. “I’ve already put fence repair on the list. Denton Frazier used to lease this place for his cows. He stopped about a year ago because the fences needed work and I couldn’t deal with it at the time.”

  Dodge stole a sideways glance at the legal pad. “I agree the fences would be a good place to start. But repair may be just as costly as replacement. You should talk to a few companies and get some quotes. Replacement would give you the chance to reconfigure the pastures.”

  “Do the pastures need to be reconfigured?”

  “Well, Storey didn’t run cattle. He had a few sheep and mainly grew hay. Frazier never rotated his cattle and the land paid a price. It’s had some time to rest, but you’ll need to divide the property up so you can rotate the cattle from pasture to pasture. It’s a little too choppy right now.”

  “Will the fence people be able to advise me on how best to divide the pastures?”

  Dodge knew that the fence companies would say whatever it took to increase her costs. Damn it, he was getting in over his head. “Do you have any aerial views of the land?”

  “I’m sure there were some with the survey when we bought he place. Nothing has really changed since then.”

  “If you can get me a copy I can help you with the pastures.”

  “I’d appreciate your help, but if you don’t mind, I’d like to go over the pastures with you. I need to understand the reasons behind any changes made to the property.”

  Dodge could see just how involved his offer of help could get him and he didn’t like it one bit. He was going to have to get someone marginally competent out here to answer her questions or else he’d see no peace in his future. “That’s fine, Sarah. Wasn’t planning on taking over. I thought I’d made that pretty clear.”

  “You did. I just want to understand about the fences. Do you see anything else I should put down?”

  “Well,” he pulled the truck to a stop by a large slew that ran about fifty yards from the river. “You’ve got a lot of good land that can be grazed in here that isn’t fenced at all. Do you own any of the land across the river?”

  “Yes, quite a lot of it actually. But we don’t have access. I’d always assumed there was nothing we could do over there.”

  “You can graze that too, as long as the property boundaries are fenced and you run a river gap to keep the cows from wandering down beyond your property.”

  “Can the fence company run a river gap across the river?”

  “Yep.” He started the truck along the narrow road. They bounced over rock and through divots filled with water from the afternoon storms. Dodge stopped suddenly as he rounded a bend overgrown with grasses and wildflowers. “Is that your pivot?”

  “You mean the sprinkler? I don’t even know if it works. As far as I know, Denton never even turned it on.”

  He pulled the truck to where the end of the pivot had come to a rest a few years ago, its tire crusted in mud in the rutted hollow of its track. “It’s a good brand,” he said peering through the side window. “These things are like old tractors—they usually run forever.”

  “Aren’t these used for growing hay or crops? I wouldn’t need it if I’m just going to use the land for the cows.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t say that. You’re going to have to buy hay to feed the cows in the winter anyway. You may want to think of seeding it and cutting it to keep. Does it make a full circle?”

  “I have no idea,” Sarah said. “I’m sure we can tell from the aerial photos. But growing hay sounds kind of complicated considering I don’t even own a hay baler.”

  “You could pay someone to bale it for you.” He could only imagine her trying to operate a hay baler. “And if you didn’t want to fool with it you could lease the circle to someone who did.”

  “Would it be hard to find a leaser?”

  “Hell, I may be interested if it’s a full circle.”

  “Oh. Do you normally lease circles to grow and bale hay?”

  Dodge reached over and pulled the pen from her hand where she’d been tapping away on the pad. He tossed it into the cup holder. “No, I normally just buy it, but it’s cheaper to lease and do it yourself. It was just a thought.”

  “I’d be open to discussing a lease.”

  He just bet she would. What was wrong with him? With every word out of his mouth, he was getting more involved with the woman. Maybe his brain had fogged from the scent of her perfume as it subtly filled the cab.

  Dodge stopped the truck when he reached a side road with an old wooden gate held together by crisscrossing wires. “Is this the end of the property?”

  “On this side it is. You have to go back to the main road to access the back half or we could try to start up the ATVs and do it that way.”

  Dodge felt a stab of unease as he looked at the flimsy gate that stood between her property and a nearly deserted side road leading to a small cabin, tucked away in the shade of some old cottonwoods. “Who lives in that place over there?”

  “I don’t know.”

  The stab became a dull ache. “Tommy said you’ve got kids. Where are they?”

  “My sister’s bringing them out next weekend. Why do you ask?”

  “I’m just a little concerned about you being out here all alone for another week.”

  The foolish woman had the nerve to laugh.

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’m in any danger out here. Do you?”

  “Everybody in town knows you’re out here alone. Doesn’t that concern you, even a little?”

  “No. The house has a sophisticated security system. My husband wanted the place protected even when we weren’t here. Besides, I hardly think crime is an issue in Hailey.”

  He turned to face her in the truck and tried again using a different tactic. “You’re a young woman out here on this big ranch all alone. Don’t you think you should be concerned for your safety?”

  “I’m a middle-aged mother of teen-aged boys. And I’m getting pretty used to being alone.”

  “Your kids are teenagers?”

  “Just about,” she said. “Why are you so surprised?”

  She’d led him like a cow to slaughter. “You just don’t look old enough to have kids that age.”

  “Thank you, Dodge. Believe me I’m old enough to have kids twice their age, biologically speaking.” She looked him dead in the eye. “And I’m not afraid to be alone.”

  ###

  An awkward silence fell in the small cab of the truck that only moments ago had seemed so spacious compared to Sarah’s old Ford. As Dodge pulled into the drive of her cabin, she studied his profile. His hand draped lazily over the steering wheel and his hat perched back on his head. His face was all sharp angles, with a straight nose and a deep dimple in the center of his stubbled chin. It felt strange to find him so attractive, considering his grumpy attitude and atrocious interpersonal skills. Everything she said seemed to rub him the wrong way. But since there wasn’t anyone offering an opinion on how to fix the property, she knew she ought to listen to him, especially considering he’d given her more insight into her land than she’d gotten in the five years since they’d bought the place.

  “Do you want to see the other side of the property using the ATVs?”

  “It’s getting kinda late. I’d better be heading back to town. Why don’t you give me a call when you find those aerial pictures and we can take a look at the other property then?”

  “Okay.” She stepped out of the truck. “I ap
preciate your help, Dodge. Really. Any suggestions you offer I’d consider.”

  “It’s no trouble.” He scratched his number on the back of a napkin. “Call me when you find those photos. Oh, and Sarah?”

  “Yes?”

  “Lock your doors and use that fancy security system. I’ll sleep better knowing you’re safe.”

  Chapter 4

  The buzzing woke Sarah. Not the buzzing of her alarm clock that usually started her morning routine. She’d get up earlier than the boys to have a cup of coffee in peace before waking her sleepy children for their hurried breakfast and mad dash to the bus. This buzzing sounded different. It had a tone and melody that rose and fell, but not in any kind of timed rhythm. It peaked and grew louder, then seemed to stop all together only to suddenly begin again in the distance.

  Sarah first lifted one eyelid, then the other. The clock read 6:34 and for a moment she felt a panic that the alarm had been late and she sat up abruptly to wake the boys. Only when she pulled back the heavy duvet cover did reality hit her like the cold blast of air that touched her body.

  The air felt cold against her sweaty skin. She’d been mired in the heavy duvet and the weight of her dreams. Todd had been with her in the night in a way she hadn’t felt him in a long time, maybe even a year.

  She lay back against the bed and stared at the ceiling, so relieved that the boys were back in Georgia. She’d told herself and everyone else that she wanted the week, needed it, to get the house ready for them and their new beginning. On some level, one she didn’t dare face until last night, she knew there was more.

  The night had begun with a search for the survey. With one glass of wine and an unsteady breath, she began looking through Todd’s desk. She’d waited a full twenty four hours since Dodge had left to begin going through her husband’s things. Every drawer and file she opened held his essence, from the slanted words he’d scribbled on a piece of paper to his illegible signature scrawled on a legal document. She could feel him around her in an almost palpable way.