Saddle Up

by Victoria Vane

  “Mustangs are a bit unpredictable that way,” Keith said.

  “I guess I know that now, but what are we going to do about it?” Jo-Jo asked.

  “Don’t fret about a thing,” Keith reassured her. “I know these animals pretty well. We’ll get them back.”

  “Keith has a plan,” Miranda said. “He thinks some of them will return on their own.”

  “Some will,” he agreed. “As for the rest, our first priority is to find out where they are.”

  “Will the BLM help?” Jo-Jo asked.

  Keith shook his head. “Not likely. Once they deliver the horses, they wash their hands of any more responsibility. I think the easiest way to locate them would be to bring in a helicopter to do a sweep of the mountain. It could even push them back in this direction.”

  “So I’ll have to hire a helicopter? That’s likely to cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Another expense I can’t afford.” Jo-Jo shook her head with a sigh of dismay. “Maybe Judith is right and I didn’t think this decision through as well as I should have.”

  Keith and Miranda exchanged a knowing look.

  “I’m so sorry, Jo-Jo,” Miranda said.

  “It’s not your fault, child. These things happen.” Jo-Jo gave a resigned sigh. “I s’pose we just have to find the best way to deal with it.”

  “I’ll phone Mitch to see what it would take to fly his bird in to gather them,” Keith said. “Don’t worry about the cost. Mitch’ll probably only charge us for the fuel, and I’m happy to cover that.”

  “Why should you?” Jo-Jo protested. “It’s not your responsibility.”

  “I told you I’d secure the fence,” Keith said. “It’s my negligence if they broke through it. You said the Knowltons saw some of the horses? Did they say exactly where?”

  “No, but she did say the band they spotted were being chased by a pack of wolves.”

  “Wolves?” Miranda repeated. “I didn’t know we had wolves around here.”

  “We’ve just never seen any in these parts before now,” Jo-Jo said, “but they’ve been steadily spreading across the state since they were reintroduced to Yellowstone.”

  “Wyoming’s full of them,” Keith said. “The only good thing about that is if there’s wolves up there, the horses have just one more reason to come back home. I’d almost lay money that we’ll have some of them back in the pasture by tomorrow. In the meantime, I’d like to go and talk to the Knowltons. It would be helpful if we could at least pin down the general area where were spotted.”

  “I’ll phone Donna,” Jo-Jo said, “and let her know to expect you.”

  * * *

  Two hours later, Miranda and Keith left the Flying K with only the vaguest idea of where one band of horses might be. “Dirk wasn’t the most helpful person in the world, was he?” Miranda remarked.

  “Yeah. He’s nothing at all like the guy I remember.”

  “You knew him before?”

  “Not well, but rodeo is a really small world. After two full summers doing my trick-riding gig in Cody, there weren’t too many cowboys I didn’t meet at one time or another. As I recall, Dirk Knowlton used to be a helluva rough rider.”

  “He’s rough all right. All I can say is his brother’s a whole lot more personable.”

  Keith felt an uncomfortable churning in his gut. “How would you know?”

  “Wade is Jo-Jo’s attorney,” she said. “I met him when he reviewed the contracts. Jo-Jo even tried to play matchmaker.”

  “Did she now?” he remarked, careful to keep his tone bland.

  “Yeah.” She slanted Keith a sly look. “She was quite enthralled with him. Said Wade Knowlton’s the most eligible bachelor in all of Madison County.”

  “And what did you think of him?” The truck gave a slight lurch as he slammed it into third gear.

  “Oh, he was a real charmer all right…” She grinned. “But not my type at all.”

  He glanced her way. “No? Why’s that?”

  “He was far too staid for me.” Her grin spread wider. “Not many people know this, but I tend to go for the more adventurous type—the kind of guy who likes to throw knives and roast snakes. You know, the type who also tells erotic bedtime stories…the one whose kisses make my toes curl and knows the secrets of my body better than I do.” She cocked a teasing brow. “Know anybody like that?”

  “Oh yeah, sweetheart. I know that guy real well.” He reached for her, pulling her close to his side.

  “Keith? I understand your reluctance to stay here, but it makes no sense for you not to be part of the ranch. I hate this idiotic situation. It seems so stupid and pointless. If we didn’t have you, we’d have to hire someone else. Why can’t we be together and work together? Lots of couples do so successfully.”

  “Because it would look like exactly the scenario that film intimated about me—that I’m just a lothario who preys on horse-loving women.”

  “But you aren’t!” she insisted.

  “You know that, and I know that, but what about the rest of the world? How would it appear if I’m living with you and your seventy-two-year-old grandmother, just the three of us in a happy little ménage?”

  “Weren’t you the one who said other people’s opinions don’t matter? If you don’t work here, you’d have to work somewhere close by for us to be together, and then people would probably talk anyway. So what difference does it really make?”

  “My good name makes all the difference in the world to me,” he said. “That film destroyed my credibility, and I’m still trying to deal with it.”

  Miranda chewed her lip. “Then we’ll just have to find a way to repair the damage.”

  “Nothing can ever undo the damage.”

  “So you’re just going to let that film stand in our way?”

  “No,” he said. He still didn’t know the answer, but one thing he knew for certain, his future happiness lay in finding it. “We’ll figure something out, Aiwattsi, I promise, but right now our biggest concern is getting those horses back.”

  Chapter 29

  The next day, Keith and Miranda stopped at several small hole-in-the-wall bars, making inquiries about Marvin. He had plenty of outstanding tabs, but no one had seen the man…until they asked about him at the Pioneer.

  The man behind the bar was big and imposing, with features as worn and weathered as the cracked leather barstools. He zeroed in on Keith, eying him up and down suspiciously. “Haven’t see you ’round here b’fore.”

  “Nope,” Keith replied and then sat on a stool, patting the one next to him for Miranda.

  The bartender hesitated. His gaze darted pointedly to a sign posted on the wall to the right of the bar. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE TO ANYONE. He then turned back to wiping glasses.

  What was his problem? That Keith was a stranger? Or did he have an issue with Indians? Fearing the growing tension, Miranda stepped in. “Hi. I’m Miranda Sutton. Maybe you know my grandparents? Bud and Josephine?”

  The bartender’s expression suddenly relaxed. “Yeah, Bud was a good ’un. I was sorry to hear he passed on. How’s Jo-Jo doing these days?”

  “She’s well enough,” Miranda replied, “but needing help with the ranch. That’s why Keith and I are here.”

  He cocked a bushy brow. “So you ain’t just passin’ through?”

  “No. I’m here to stay,” Miranda said. “I’m living at the ranch now with Jo-Jo. We’re turning it into a long-term pasture for wild horses.”

  “Yeah. I heard some talk about that,” he replied. “There’s some around here who might not think much of that.”

  “It’s their right to think whatever they like,” Miranda replied, “but it’s also Jo-Jo’s right to do whatever she pleases with her property.”

  “That so?” His bushy brows met in a scowl. “Them’s big words from such a little lady.” He finally asked in a gravelly baritone with a hint of humor, “What’ll you have?”

  “Two beers,” Keith answered. “Whate
ver’s on tap.”

  The bartender grunted acknowledgement and turned to fill the order. A moment later he slammed two foamy mugs onto the bar beside a dish of stale pretzels.

  “’Scuse me,” Miranda began again, “do you happen to know where we can find Marvin McRae? Have you seen him lately?”

  “That depends on why you’re looking for him,” the bartender replied, his wariness returned.

  “Some of the mustangs got loose, and we’re needing some help rounding them up.”

  “Heard some talk about that too,” the bartender said.

  “From whom? Marvin?” she asked.

  “Mebbe.”

  “So he was here?”

  “Yeah, just last night, but I didn’t wait on him. You might want to talk to Janice. The ol’ horn toad was pretty chatty with her.” He signaled a redheaded waitress from a table across the room. She dropped off her order and then approached the bar. She glanced at Keith and Miranda, and her eyes widened. “Keith?”

  Keith set down his beer, his brows furrowed as if struggling to place her.

  “It’s all right, I don’t expect you to remember me. Janice Combes. My father was—”

  “Combes Bucking Bulls,” he finished with a grin. “Yeah, I remember you now. It’s been a long time.”

  “Yeah. It has. I’ve been away for years and just came back.”

  “Do you know Miranda Sutton?” Keith asked. “She just moved in with her grandmother over at the Circle S in Silver Star.”

  “So you’re the one who took on all those mustangs?” Janice said.

  “Yeah,” Miranda answered. “You heard about it?”

  “Who hasn’t?” Janice laughed. “You’ve become the talk of the county. I also heard some of them already got loose.”

  “Word does spread like wildfire around here, doesn’t it?” Miranda remarked dryly.

  “Well, I probably hear more talk than most, working here,” Janice said.

  “The bartender said Marvin had a few words to say about it?”

  “Choice words, more like,” Janice answered. “He was on a real rant last night. He’s a mean ol’ bastard, but he tips well. In fact, last night was the biggest tip I ever got from him. Come to think of it, he threw quite a bit of money around. He also ordered only call brands. Not his usual MO at all.”

  “What did he have to say about the Circle S?” Keith asked.

  “He’s still pissed off about getting canned and went on a long tirade about getting payback.”

  “Did he now?” Keith remarked.

  “Yeah, but I didn’t pay him too much heed. You know how drunks will go on. I figured he was probably just blowing smoke.”

  “Maybe not. The horses didn’t push through that fence,” Keith said. “Somebody cut it. And it sounds like Marvin had as good a reason to do it as anyone.”

  “The fence was cut?” Janice pursed her mouth. “Well, I reckon that sheds quite a different light on things, doesn’t it?”

  “Is he a regular here?” Keith asked.

  “When he has money, he is. So I expect him back. I’ll be off for the next couple of days, but I’d be glad to see what I can coax out of him for you the next time he’s in.”

  “You’d do that for us?” Miranda asked.

  “Absolutely. Cutting that fence was despicable. Just leave it to me.” She winked. “I’ll find out sure enough if he did it.”

  * * *

  The next morning, a number of horses had congregated in the pasture. Once more Keith’s prediction had proven true. Throwing her clothes on, Miranda rushed downstairs to the kitchen. “Did you see them, Jo-Jo?”

  “Did I see what?”

  “The horses! A bunch of them have come back.”

  Jo-Jo went to the window to peer out. Her lips curved into a smile. “I’ll be damned.”

  “Have you seen Keith yet?”

  “Not yet. He’s probably out there.” Jo-Jo nodded toward the pasture.

  Miranda grabbed her jacket and boots.

  “No coffee?” Jo-Jo asked.

  “No time,” Miranda said, rushing out the door. She found Keith saddling Sassy and Sadie.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “We need to move this band to another enclosure. Otherwise, they’ll go right back out again.”

  “So you’re still leaving the fence open?”

  “Only for another day or so. If the rest haven’t returned by then, they probably won’t. We’ll need to go look for them. You’d better go grab your hat and some gloves, cowgirl,” he said. “We might be out here for a while.”

  Miranda spent the afternoon corralling horses with Keith. Although they rode harder than she was used to, Miranda easily followed his lead. She wondered more than once what it would be like to run the place together. To build a future together.

  They followed the same routine the next couple of days as several more small bands trickled in. On the third day, they got a call from Janice Combes. “Hey, Miranda! It’s Janice from the Pioneer. I’ve got some news for you.”

  “Oh, yeah? Did you get anything out of Marvin?”

  “Matter of fact I did. It took half a bottle of Crown Royal, but he finally spilled the beans. It seems that Miz Sutton’s son-in-law paid him a thousand bucks to cut the fence and stampede the horses up the mountain.”

  “So it really was a grudge,” Miranda said.

  “Sure enough,” Janice replied. “After he cut the fence, he turned Keith’s stallion loose just for pure spite ’cause he thinks Keith replaced him. Several people in the bar heard it all. So you’ve got ample witnesses.”

  “I don’t know how to thank you, Janice. That’s everything we needed to know.”

  “There’s more,” Janice said. “Dirk and I located a few of the mustangs yesterday when we were bringing stray cattle down from Bulldog Mountain. If you and Keith need any help tracking them, we’d be glad to ride up there with you. Just let us know if you need us.”

  “Keith’s trying to bring in a helicopter, but we may take you up on that,” Miranda said. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the offer, Janice.”

  “No problem. What are neighbors for?”

  “That was Janice?” Keith asked when she hung up the phone.

  “Yeah. You were right all along. It was Marvin. Should we notify the police?”

  “I’d rather let that be your grandmother’s call, since her daughter and son-in-law are involved.”

  “Yeah, I see what you mean. I doubt she’s going to want to press charges. What are we going to do?”

  “Let’s just hold off doing anything until we get all the horses in,” Keith replied. “Mitch said he’d be happy to send Trey up here with the chopper, but he won’t be free for at least another week.”

  “How many are left?” Miranda asked.

  “At last count, all but twenty-two have returned.”

  “Since there’s only a few of them still out there, should we try to gather them by horseback?” Miranda asked. “Dirk and Janice offered to help if we need it.”

  “If we go that route, I’ll need Little Bear.”

  “Little Bear? Why?” Miranda asked. “I thought you retired him.”

  “I did, but I have a strong hunch we’ll never be able to catch those horses without him. By now Blue Eye thinks those mares are his. He’s not going to give them up without a fight.” His gaze narrowed. “I suspect it’s going to come to a showdown between us.”

  * * *

  Having made the decision to go after the horses, Keith made a series of calls. To Miranda’s surprise, the trucks and trailers began pulling in the very next morning. Keith’s cousin was the first to arrive with Little Bear. Climbing out of the truck cab, she stepped forward, offering a callused hand and a friendly smile. “You must be Miranda. I’m Tonya.” She gestured to a redhead who’d accompanied her. “This is Krista Everett. Her family runs a backcountry-hunting outfit outside Dubois. I thought maybe you could use another hand, especially one used
to riding rough terrain,” she explained.

  “Nice to meet you both,” Miranda said.

  “Do you remember Krista, Keith?” Tonya asked.

  “I do,” Keith said. “I know your brothers. Jared and Reid, right? What are they doing these days?”

  “Jared’s running the outfitting business since my Dad semiretired, and Reid just got back stateside from Afghanistan. We’re hoping he’ll be home by Christmas.”

  “Is he out of the marines for good?” Keith asked.

  “He is. I think Ton and I will both be glad to have him home again.”

  Miranda wondered what that implied. Was Tonya involved with Krista’s brother?

  “Nice place you have here,” Tonya said, changing the subject.

  “Thanks,” Miranda replied. “I’ll be happy to show you around later. Should we go ahead and unload your horses?”

  Just as they were about to do that, another truck pulled up the drive with the West Livestock emblem on the door and Mitch’s son Dave behind the wheel. The engine had barely cut off when Donny jumped out with a wide grin. “Hey Keith! Miranda! Thought we’d join the mustang wrangling party.”

  “The more the merrier,” Miranda said with a laugh. “It’s great to see you both!”

  For the next few hours, Keith was like a general planning his campaign. With map in hand, he circled the area of Bulldog Mountain where the horses were last seen. Since the horses were halfway between the two ranches, he decided to split the wranglers up into two teams—Donny and Krista would join Dirk and Janice in their approach from the south, while he, Tonya, Dave, and Miranda would come in from the north.

  They set out early the next morning, prepared for a long, hard ride in near-freezing temps. Keith led the expedition on Little Bear, and Krista brought up the rear behind Miranda, who was thankful for reliable ol’ Sadie, who was as sure-footed as a mountain goat.

  After almost three hours of riding on treacherous mountain cow paths, Keith picked up a trail of hoofprints and fresh dung. Not long after that he spotted Blue Eye and his stolen harem. Signaling the riders, Keith pulled up. “Let’s not go any closer.”