by Patricia Fry
"Whatever you want, Son. It has to be your choice. I agree that your first time out, you might want to start with the smaller animal on your list."
"Huh?" he said. "Oh, you mean a sheep might be easier for me to take care of than a cow or a steer?"
Michael nodded. "Right. Or you could raise a pig."
"Naw," Adam said. "A pig would probably be my last choice. The little pigs are cute, but when they grow up they can be kind of ugly."
"Well, let's get you signed up in 4—H or Future Farmers first. Once you learn a little about what's required with each type of animal, we can go shopping for the one you decide on."
"I want a bunny," Lily said.
Savannah turned in her seat. "The bunnies sure were cute, weren't they? And some of them are really tame and make good pets."
"How old do you have to be to have an animal at the fair?" Adam asked.
"I'm not sure there's an age limit," Savannah said. "We'll have to find out. Do you think we should let Lily show a rabbit?"
"Maybe," Adam said. He asked, "Lily, want to take a rabbit to the fair?"
She nodded.
"I want a duck," Teddy said.
Michael chuckled. "He was interested in the ducks in that pond, wasn't he?"
"We could build a pond at your house, Dad…" Adam started.
"Our house, Son," Michael said, glancing a couple of times at the boy in the rearview mirror.
"Our house," Adam repeated quietly. "I never thought of it like that."
Savannah smiled at him. "You are part of this family."
Adam was quiet for a moment, then asked, "Can I bring friends over—I mean, when I make friends at my new school?"
"Of course," Savannah said.
"Can friends go with us on vacation trips sometimes?"
"I guess we could arrange that," Michael agreed.
"Can I get my own horse?" he asked, excitedly.
"Now, wait a darn minute," Michael said. "We have two horses, and you do well on Peaches. What do we need another horse for?"
Adam laughed and sat back against his seat. "Yeah. Now I feel like part of the family." He nudged Lily. "Did you hear that? Dad said no to me." He patted Michael on the shoulder from behind. "Thanks, Dad."
Savannah and Michael smiled at one another, both of them choking up a little.
****
The following morning as Adam, Savannah, and Lily fed and watered the horses, Savannah's phone chimed. She looked at the screen and answered, "Hi, Craig."
"Hi, what are you doing this morning?"
"Feeding horses right now, how about you?"
"Nothing that earthy," he said.
"Earthy, huh?"
"Who's with you?" he asked. "Do I hear Lily?"
"Yes," she said, "and Adam. I have helpers today. Good helpers. Lily is filling the water troughs and Adam is tossing the hay. Ooops," she yelped. "Adam just sprayed Lily with hay."
"I'm sorry," Adam said, laughing a little. "I'll help her pick it out of her hair. "No!" he yelled, when Lily tried to sprinkle him with water from the hose.
Savannah laughed. "Well, it's a circus out here. So what's up?"
"I'm still thinking about your cousin's comments regarding the man in the trees. And with those weird things happening around your house and Maggie's, I wonder…"
"What, Craig?"
"Has anything else happened since the vandalism you told me about?" he asked.
"Yeah. Well, we got another note, but we don't know how long it's been here. Adam found it."
"It was Rags," Adam said.
She corrected herself. "Well, Rags and Adam found it. It said something similar to the first—something about moving—leaving this land. I don't know if Auntie and Max have received anything else. Why?" she asked.
"Remember when Rags tried to drag me out behind the grove of trees? Well, I just wonder if you know who lives back in that direction—west of you."
"It's a rancher and his wife," she said, "Randy and Loretta Randolph. They attend our church. Michael and Bud take care of their cattle—you know, during calving season and when it's time for inoculations."
"As far as you know, do they have any animosity toward you and Michael or your aunt?"
"No," Savannah insisted. "I can't imagine that they would, and if they had a problem, they'd surely talk to us about it. Why, Craig?"
"Just trying to cover all the bases," he explained. "When did you see the Randolphs last?"
"Oh, it's been a while," she admitted. "Michael may have been over there more recently to tend to their animals."
"Would you ask him about that?" Craig said. "Find out if he thinks they could be angry about something, or maybe they're losing it. Are they elderly?"
"In their sixties, I'd say. Yeah, about Auntie's and Mom's age." She chuckled. "And yours, I'd guess."
"So, young," Craig quipped.
"If you say so, Craig. Hey, I'll talk to Michael this evening and let you know what I learn, okay? The kids could use my help right now."
"Sure," he said. "Thanks."
****
"So what did you ask me?" Michael asked later that night after dinner. "Something about the Randolph property?"
She nodded. "Craig called again today. He's been thinking about what happened when he walked through the grove looking for that man Jake told him about. Remember, he said Rags was leading him away from the grove once they got to the other side of it. I wonder if he was trying to take Craig over to the Randolph ranch. It's their property that butts up to ours, right?"
He nodded. "Yes. In fact, we share that grove. According to the maps I've seen, our property line runs through the grove and butts up to the Randolph ranch. But how would Rags know anything about the Randolphs? He's never been over there."
"That we know of," Savannah said. "He's been out many times over the years when we had no idea where he went."
"That's true, but I don't imagine Rags was actually trying to take Craig to the Randolph ranch. He was probably just stalling because he wasn't ready to go home." Michael picked up his paper, then lowered it moments later. "As a matter of fact, I haven't heard from Randy this year."
"Oh?" Savannah prompted.
"He always calls us out this time of year to pregnancy—check his cows and administer vaccines. That's peculiar. I wonder if he's okay."
Where does he run his cattle?" Savannah asked. "Does he have many? I never hear them or smell them. He must have a large spread over there."
"He does," Michael confirmed. "The cattle run on the other side of his house and barn, in the foothills." He chuckled. "You probably see and smell them when you ride out that way. The trail you take runs along the edge of his property. He generally keeps around thirty head."
She raised her eyebrows. "Interesting."
"What?" he asked.
"That we could live so close to them and not be aware of any cattle."
Michael grinned. "They probably aren't aware that we have horses and cats." He grimaced. "Unless Rags has been over there visiting." He stared at her for a moment, then said, "Maybe I'd better call Randy tomorrow and check on things. Surely he hasn't found himself another veterinarian."
****
"Good morning, Iris," Savannah said into the phone the next morning. "How's your workload this week?"
"Huh?" Iris muttered. "Why? Are you going to invite me to lunch or something?"
"Sure, we could have lunch. Actually, I'm looking for a riding partner—one who likes to go exploring."
"Uh—oh," Iris said. "Sounds like trouble brewing." Excitedly, she asked, "When?"
"Oh goodie, you're on board."
"Of course," Iris said. "When?"
"Well, the kids will be in school this morning, and Adam's going over to help Auntie with the kittens. What do you think?"
"Oh, Adam's there this week?"
"Yes, until tomorrow."
"Cool," Iris said. "Okay, say nine? Where are we going?"
"There's something I wan
t to check out near here," Savannah said. "Can you make it nine fifteen? I drop the kids off at nine."
Overhearing this, Gladys waved a hand at Savannah, saying, "I'll take the kids to school. Go on and do your ride."
Savannah smiled and nodded. She said into the phone, "Mom's taking the kids to school; come on over at nine."
****
"So where are we going?" Iris asked from atop Peaches. She watched Savannah mount Gypsy.
"Through that grove of trees, then I'm not sure. We may run into fences, so we might have to go in from another direction."
"Go in where?" Iris asked. "What's over there?"
"A ranch," Savannah said. She tilted her head. "You probably know Loretta and Randy Randolph, don't you?"
Iris thought for a moment and said, "They're ranchers?"
Savannah nodded.
"I may have met them. I'm pretty sure I know people who know them. They live next to you?" Iris asked.
"Their property butts up to ours. I think their house and barn are a ways from ours."
"Do you know them?" Iris asked.
Savannah nodded. "On sight. I've talked to them a few times at church, and once when we ran into them at the diner. Oh, and they were at that meeting when everyone was worried about wolves in the area. Remember that?"
"Vaguely," Iris said. "I wasn't involved, not having livestock." She nudged Peaches ahead and said to Savannah, "Lead the way."
"This is an interesting piece of property," Savannah said a while later. "I don't know how many times I've driven past and never really noticed the terrain."
"You wouldn't see all of it from the highway. Look at that dense foresty area in that—what do you call it—crevice?"
"Draw," Savannah said. She pointed. "There's the main ranch house. It's nice, isn't it?"
Iris agreed. "And secluded. No wonder I didn't know this place was back here. You can't actually see anything but the flatland from the road. Look, there are corrals and a barn. This is nice back in here."
Suddenly Savannah shouted, "Cat!"
"Cat?" Iris repeated. Fearfully, she asked, "Mountain lion? Cougar?"
Savannah laughed. "No, a kitty—cat. See it over there?"
"Oh yes," Iris said. She looked around. "Gosh, I wonder where it came from."
"Probably belongs to the Randolphs. Most ranchers have barn cats." To the cat she said, "Are you a barn cat? You're pretty cute, there, with your white bib and ear tufts."
Iris pointed. "She has friends."
"What?" Savannah asked.
"There are more cats. Three of them."
"Yeah," Savannah said, "probably all barn cats."
Just then something else caught the riders' attention. A man appeared and he shouted,
"Hey! What do you want here?"
"Oh, hello," Savannah said, riding closer to the man. "I didn't see you."
"Obviously," he said sounding annoyed. "I thought you were going to walk right over me with those horses."
Savannah looked puzzled. "Where were you?"
"Never mind," he growled. He stared at Savannah, then Iris. "What are you doing here? What's your business?"
"I'm Savannah Ivey. I live in the old Forster home."
"The what?" he asked brusquely.
"Forster. Next door there," she said, motioning with one arm.
"Oh," he said, "Ivey. Now I know who you are."
She squinted toward the man. "Are Mr. or Mrs. Randolph home?"
The man cleared his throat. "I'm Mr. Randolph."
She studied him for a moment and said, "I'm looking for Randy Randolph. Is he or his wife here?"
"Um, well, yeah, I guess you didn't hear. My brother wanted out of the ranching business. He was getting too old, and he picked up and left. I'm the owner now."
"Oh!" Savannah said surprised. "You're Mr. Randolph's brother?"
He nodded. "Yes, Reggie."
"Nice to meet you." She said, glancing around the property. "I have a question. Do you have people working for you? Ranch hands, maybe?"
"Um…no, not on a fulltime basis nor nothing. I haven't been here all that long, but I do have people come in and help when I need it."
Savannah stared down at him from her mare. "How long have you been here, Mr. Randolph?"
"Going on three weeks now." He added, "I lived with my brother before that, and he left me in charge of the place now that he's retired. I'm the younger brother, you see, and I have more energy than he does, and some ideas about what to do with the property."
"It doesn't look like you're doing anything with the property," Iris noticed.
Reggie huffed, fidgeted with his large Western hat, and said, "Well, I have plans."
"Where are the cattle?" Savannah asked, looking around.
"My brother sold them before he left. What was I going to do with all that livestock? I sure don't want to take care of animals."
"Why did you take over a ranch if you don't want animals?" Savannah asked.
"Say, you ladies are starting to get on my nerves," Mr. Randolph said. "You're asking too many questions that are none of your business." He turned to walk away, saying, "I'd like you to get off my land now."
Savannah continued to stare down at the man, then she backed Gypsy away from him and reigned her in the direction they'd come from.
"By the way," Reggie called. "I'm in the market for more property when—I mean—if you ever get of a mind to sell."
"Why?" Iris asked. She made a sweeping motion with one arm. "You have all this acreage here that you're not doing anything with. Why would you want more land?"
Reggie let out a sigh and said through gritted teeth, "It's a secret." He looked from side to side and said quietly, "I'm sworn to secrecy, but I need to get your property and that land to the north, then we'll have everything we need to…"
"To what?" Iris asked, frowning.
Instead of responding, Reggie leaned toward Savannah and asked, "Say, that house at the end of your driveway. closer to the highway, is that part of your property?"
Savannah shook her head. "No. It belongs to my aunt and uncle, and I can tell you that it is not for sale, and neither is our property."
He grinned. "Well, we'll just see about that, won't we?"
Chapter Seven
"Michael, I met one of the Randolph brothers today," Savannah said over supper.
"A brother?" he asked, frowning.
"Yes, Iris and I rode over there."
"Why?" he asked.
"Craig thinks there may be something to what Jake's saying about him talking to someone in the trees. When Rags kept trying to pull Craig out the other side of the grove, Craig got it in his head that Rags knows something."
Michael chuckled. "Yeah, he knows how to bamboozle people like Craig."
Gladys snickered.
Michael grinned at her, then looked to Savannah for more information.
"Craig can't get it out of his mind that there may be something or someone he needs to check out beyond the trees, so Iris and I rode over there to see what we could find out."
"And you found a brother?" Michael shook his head. "I swear I never heard of Randy having a brother, but then I don't know much about his personal life."
"Michael, I think something has happened to Mr. Randolph. His brother, or supposed brother, said Randy retired, sold all of his cattle and other animals, and moved away."
"What?" Michael exclaimed. When he realized the children were alarmed, he said, "Sorry guys. Daddy was surprised, that's all."
"What's so surprising?" Gladys asked. "People retire and change their lifestyle all the time."
"Well, Randy just doesn't seem the type to do that," Michael explained. "The ranch is his world—the ranch and the cattle, and…" He asked, "Did he take his dapple, Darla?"
"I don't know. His brother didn't mention him taking any animals. Oh, and Iris and I saw quite a few cats. I guess they're barn cats."
"Cats?" Michael asked, puzzled. "I sure don't remember
seeing any cats at the Randolph place." He shook his head. "What you're telling me is just odd. Cats on the property, no cattle, and Randy moving off the ranch. It just doesn't make any sense."
"Kids," Gladys said, "things change in people's lives—priorities change. Maybe his wife got a terrible diagnosis and they've moved closer to a big medical center. It happens, I tell you."
Michael thought about it, then said, "I guess you're right, Gladys, but I think I'll pay the brother a visit just to see for myself what the situation is." He shook his head. "This just isn't making any sense to me."
"Well, I doubt you'll get much cooperation over there," Savannah said. "That brother isn't what you'd call cordial. He doesn't seem to like people coming around. At least he was kind of rude to Iris and me."
"Yeah, well, I can be rude too," Michael said. He glanced at the clock. "I think I'll just wander over that way after supper."
"You're walking?" Savannah asked. When he hesitated, she grinned. "Yeah, it's a long walk. Want to take Peaches?"
He smirked playfully at her. I'll drive, thank you."
"We need a golf cart," Adam said.
"We do?" Michael asked. "Why? Do you think we're going to build a golf course here?"
"No, for driving around to visit neighbors and things. Ranches have golf carts. My friend Caleb has a ranch or a farm—they have orchards and chickens and horses and goats. They have a golf cart for when they want to go out and pick fruit or check on the horses in the pasture."
Michael chuckled. "Well, I think we can just walk out to pick fruit and check on the horses, don't you? By the time you could start a golf cart and turn it in the right direction, I could be there already on foot."
"Those golf carts go pretty fast," Adam said.
Michael gave his son a stern look.
"That's two ideas I've had that you turned down," Adam complained. "I thought this was my house, too."
"Get over it," Savannah said, jokingly. "He turns down my ideas, too. That's what he does."
Adam looked at her, then at Michael. He asked, "Want me to go with you to see the brother who might not be a real brother?"