Flight for Life

by Stephy Smith

  He rode the horse back down the rocky incline to the big ranch house. Years of dreaming of owning his own ranch settled his soul. Two vehicles came roaring toward the house and drew his attention as he stepped from the saddle. His breath caught in his throat and he dropped his hands to his sides.

  The silver four-door pickup came to a halt, and River slid out. A small red car slipped in behind it, and Lydia and Carol barreled out as if it were on fire. The eyes of the women narrowed. Carol and Lydia blasted him with words he was embarrassed to acknowledge. Carol had a folder of papers waving them in the air.

  He turned his gaze to River. She stood with her arms crossed, tapping her foot on the ground and clenching her lips. A laugh rolled in his throat, which he quickly swallowed. It had been a long time since he witnessed her anger. There was nothing in the world they could say or do to convince him to give up his land.

  River’s long brown hair whipped across her face with the sudden breeze. The penetrating green eyes burned with confusion. He sucked in a breath, and then let it escape slowly over his lips. His gaze froze on her slender form as she waited for her sisters. He couldn’t be sure, but her anger seemed to be aimed at her sisters.

  Three years before, Miss High And Mighty River kicked him off her land in a rage. All he did was give another classmate a soft kiss on the lips and wish her luck at graduation. The whole scenario spiraled into a world of nasty and degrading name-calling. He could have lived with that. River didn’t stop there. She went berserk and told him to get out of her sight, and that she never wanted to see him again as long as she lived.

  Why did she have Gabe call and ask him to help her out with problems on her ranch? Didn’t she get her fill of abusing his heart the last time he talked to her? She knew where he was and how to get in touch with him. He sized up the situation.

  He knew why. Gabe gave him some of the details. The manager who replaced him had stolen some money, and she fired him. She wanted Carson back to manage the place, and to torture him some more. His jaws clenched. After all, she thought he would need a place to go after they stuck their dad in private care. I’ll show her, she isn’t getting to me this time. This is my place, and they have no right to come here and start trouble.

  “Whoa! Let’s get a few things straight, women. When you step onto my territory, you can be civil, or get off my land. That’s all there is to it. I won’t be threatened by your yapping lips or your attempts to degrade me.” He straightened his shoulders and hooked his thumbs in his pockets.

  For the first time in years, he wished he had found a girl to take River’s place. A split second later, he thought better of wishing for things he didn’t need or want. Not if all women were like her, he could do without that kind of drama.

  There were other things he would rather do than go back to the green eyes that haunted him. He could have said no to Gabe’s request and hers. Somehow, it didn’t appear right to leave her stranded, no matter what she’d done to him in the past. She was here now to join her sisters while they tried to bully him into their way of thinking.

  He bucked up, and made up his mind to face the vixen who had stolen his heart, and crushed it with a ten-pound hammer. There had been women he could have had a life with if she hadn’t tossed him out like a ruined pair of socks. She demolished him, and he had no desire to let another woman destroy what was left.

  It wasn’t all her. He had a long time to think about the things he did to her when they were together. He couldn’t think of anything he had done that was as cold hearted as the wrath she rained on him. Not once did he stoop to her level, and treat her as if she was nothing but cow manure stuck on the bottom of his boots.

  The odds of her changing were equal to those the lottery would hand out. Still, she was a challenge he had to deal with in order to move on.

  Round two with the beautiful vixen might tear his heart out. He shook his head as the women quieted the tirade. “Now, would you like to come in and talk about what brings y’all here to scream and yell at me?”

  “Right here is fine with me,” Carol glared. She fanned the papers in the air. “How did you con dad into selling his part of the ranch to you?”

  “I didn’t; he offered.” Carson moved closer to the group.

  “Dad would never do anything without our consent,” Lydia said through clenched teeth.

  “Your dad did a lot of things he never consulted any of y’all about.” He rocked back on his heels, then let his toes fall back to the ground.

  “We’re getting’ a lawyer. We’ll fight you for the land you’ve stolen from Daddy.” Lydia stepped forward with her chest puffed out.

  “Your daddy had the papers drawn up by his lawyer. Fight all you want.”

  River stepped to Carson’s side and faced her sisters. “He’s right. Daddy had the papers drawn up years ago. I was with him when he did it.” She ducked her head as pink caressed her cheek.

  “Get back over here, River!” Carol glared at her younger sister.

  “No! I came out here to warn Carson of your little scheme. I’m tired of being told what to do by you and Lydia. I don’t want him to go through what you have put me through since I took over my part of the ranch. You two are nothing but vultures, roosting on a worn weathered fence waiting to pounce on some dying animal. You may mistreat me, but you won’t mistreat someone who doesn’t deserve your wrath.”

  Carson lost his ability to form words. He cleared his throat.

  “Yeah, that’s just like you. Sticking up for Carson just like you always have. You’re the one who kicked him out of your life, and now you want to defend his honor?” Carol raised her arms in the air, waving them about with the papers still clenched tight in her fist.

  “Carson is a big boy, River. He can stand up for himself.” Lydia balled her fist at River.

  He stepped between River and Lydia. “You’re right, Lydia. I can protect myself. But if you ever raise a fist to River again, I’ll plow into you with a fury you won’t forget. She deserves more respect than either one of you.”

  “Come on, Lydia. Let’s get out of here. There’s no reasoning with that man.” She turned and marched toward the car with Lydia huffing behind her. The car threw dirt and rocks as it sped down the dirt road.

  “Thanks, River. I’ll be by tomorrow sometime to talk about your other problem.”

  “I tried to get here before they did. I’m sorry about the way they acted.” She walked to her pickup, opened the door and slid in. One last glance his way and then she drove away.

  Carson stood with his hands on his hips as he watched the dust fly in the air. He shook his head and pivoted to the barn to tend to the horse. With the reins in hand, he led the gelding into the barn. He set the saddle aside and grabbed the brush. Easy strokes with the bristles slid across the horse’s slick hair. “What’s gotten into River, Black Bart? I hope you have an answer for me, because I sure can’t figure it out.” He patted the horse’s neck. Shaking his head, he fed the horse then turned for the house to sit and ponder the situation.

  When he stepped onto the porch, his cell phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and plopped down on the steps.

  “Did the firing squad shoot ya?” Gabe’s laughter bellowed over the phone.

  “Naw, Carol and Lydia tried, but River jumped in, and stood up for me. Tell me, old friend, why would she do that?”

  “Maybe she still likes you.” Carson let Gabe’s words sink in.

  “I don’t think so. But hey, if you’re free tonight, drop by.”

  “Not tonight pal. Gotta date.” The phone went dead.

  “Gabe on a date? When have you taken time off to date? Now, just what got into my beautiful little River?” He stared at the cell phone then tucked it away in his pocket. He rose from the steps and walked into the house, letting the screen door slam behind him.

  Astraea Press

  Pure. Fiction.

  www.astraeapress.com

  phy Smith, Flight for Life