by Sioux Dallas
“What do they expect to do?” Frank questioned.
“They’re going to be new hands that are hired and will keep an eye, and an ear open, on everything going on around here. Maybe they can discover a traitor on our property, if there is one. I hope and pray there won’t be. It would break my heart to find that I had trusted a man and he betrayed us.”
Hank mumbled mostly to himself.
Frank thought for a few seconds. “We’re still going to need at least six more hands temporarily for the cattle drive. We need to keep the other men near the ranch house and the horses nearby for protection.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. Ginger, why don’t you write an ad for the Lake County Leader and The Advertiser. You might also place your request on KCFW television and on Montana Public Radio. We don’t have much time. Make it clear that they must have a list of where they’ve worked and know they will be checked out by the sheriff.” Hank mused.
“Could we also ask for a birth certificate in case someone is living under an assumed name?” Frank asked.
“I don’t think that’s necessary. Having the sheriff check will be sufficient. Don’t forget the undercover men will be with them. Ginger, include the Billings Gazette in that ad. They’re read all over the area and in other states.” Hank was angry but happy that he was still useful.
“Sounds like a good plan. Hank, will both agents go on the drive? Wouldn’t one stay here on the ranch?” Ginger puzzled.
“We’ll ask them when they show up. They’ll have orders to follow and they’ll also have someone that they have to report to.”
“Hank, can’t I tell James Deerhunter? He’s a trusted friend.”
“No, Ginger. The fewer know, the safer it will be. Before I forget it, please thank Juanita for me for sending such delicious food down. I hope to be able to do for myself soon. I’m able to stand longer and am getting stronger.” Hank grinned.
“Don’t hurry it, my sweet friend. I want, all of us want, you strong and more like your old self. I hope to count on you for many years.”
“Ginger, my darling girl, I hope to be around to teach your children how to ride and be good ranchers.”
“Holy smoke. Let me get married first. I don’t even have anyone in mind.”
Laughing delightedly, Ginger excused herself and left to go back to the house. She left Hank and Frank talking. She assumed it was regular ranch business. She knew she could trust and depend on both men.
Two days later Hank called her to bring Frank and come down to his house. They drove down on an ATV because both of them were very busy with daily duties and walking would take too long.
Hank introduced them to Raymond Saunders and Michael Rogers, the two undercover park policemen. Raymond was to be called Saunders and Michael was to be called Sharpie. They were going to appear to be almost low-lives and Michael was supposed to be a gambler. They would report only to Hank and to their superior.
Michael was thirty-one, single and an only child. He stood about six-one, one hundred eighty-six, dark brown hair, amber eyes, dimples and a flirtatious manner.
Raymond was twenty-nine, single and had siblings and parents, but would not discuss them. He was an even six feet, one seventy-eight, black hair, green eyes, a ready smile and whistled and sang a lot.
Frank escorted the two men to the bunkhouse and introduced them to the hands. He explained that a friend of Hank’s had recommended them and they had been checked out by the sheriff. They were immediately accepted.
Saunders and Sharpie told them that they had horses being brought in by a friend. That afternoon a trailer pulled in with the two horses and tack. Of course the driver was another undercover police but was introduced as a friend who had worked with them on another ranch.
Saunders and Sharpie told the men they had been pals since grade school in Missoula and had even gone into the Army Air Force together. They had been separated for a tour in Afghanistan but had found each other after a discharge.
The two police were surprised when James Deerhunter came to see Ginger. They had briefly met him when he was a Marine pilot and had also trained as a SEAL (sea, air and land) and as a BUD (basic under water demolition) He had not told Ginger of his time in service because he had been discharged for medical reasons and felt badly about it.
James was quickly brought into the equation and could be trusted to keep their secret. They just hoped they wouldn’t run into other service personnel who might recognize them.
Work went on as usual and the undercover men were excellent workers.
They were impressed with Juanita’s good cooking. They finally had to ask Ginger to talk to Irene about following them around and flirting. She decided to talk to Helen and let her talk to her sister.
The Ming sisters’ younger brother wanted badly to work on the ranch and earn money of his own. He was a high school senior and Ginger wanted him to finish school first. He was intelligent and learned quickly, so she privately wondered if she couldn’t help him go to college. She was understanding and sympathetic with the knowledge of the crowded home they were in. The Ming children had no material items and very few clothes, but they were taught to be clean, well-mannered and responsible.
Ginger asked Frank to allow Johnny Ming to work after school and on weekends to earn some money. Too, if he were working and contented, he wouldn’t be tempted to get with the wrong crowd and have troubles galore.
One morning an open truck pulled in with about eleven men in the back.
The driver said he had been told that Ginger was hiring a lot of day workers and could use these men.
“Who told you?” she was angry and scared. “I have only advertised for experienced cattle drivers who could stay and work.”
“I dunno who gave the order to bring them out. I found an envelope with money in it under my windshield wipers and instructions to gather men from the street and bring them out. These men all need work.”
“I’m so very sorry you were given the wrong information. As I told you I haven’t asked for day workers, only cattle drivers. You’ll just have to take them back to town.”
“Now that’s a dirty deal. Are you just going to send these men off with no job?”
“I’m very sorry, but I can’t use them.”
By now Frank, Saunders, Sharpie, Moose and Arturo were standing by her. All of them had pistols on their hips and two men stood in the doorway of the barn with rifles. No one was verbally threatened, but the driver gulped and ordered the men back on the truck. During their protests he informed them that there had been a mistake. He left in a hurry.
Ginger was mystified. “Okay, now I’m getting hot under the collar.” She told the two new “hands” of the harassment to her with the mistaken deliveries previously. “I intend to find out who is doing this and why.”
She stormed on to the barn where she proceeded to exercise horses.
Saunders told Frank he would report this to his superior and there would be an investigation. “It sounds as if someone is trying to destroy her reputation and maybe cost her financially. We’ll find out their intentions and hopefully put a stop to the harassment.
Juanita was flustered with Sharpie’s flirting but tried to ignore him because she thought he was really a gambler and not to be taken seriously.
She was a Christian and helped in the church as often as she could. She had high standards of a man she would be interested in.
The weekend before the cattle drive, Senator Oren Hough called Ginger and asked if he could come by for a visit. He explained that he had known her Grandfather and her parents. He would be meeting with politicians and business people in St. Ignatius and would love to visit the ranch. She, of course, was flattered and told him he would be most welcome.
Ginger, Juanita, the sisters, Hank, Frank and several trusted hands were instructed to make certain the property was presentable and the house was clean. Juanita and the girls planned a delectable luncheon and a special menu.
Com
ing home from town Ginger did something she had not done before.
She paused on the long driveway to look at the house and decide what kind of a first impression would be made. The house had first been built of logs and wood that burned and destroyed everything in it. Thankfully no lives were lost. The house was rebuilt with big stones from the fields. By now concrete foundations and flooring could be laid. Red cherry paneling was used for the interior. A front door with diamond-shaped glass on the top half was specially ordered. Storm windows were specially ordered. A wraparound porch was on three sides of the house. A white banister was around this, giving about ten feet of width for the porch.
Entering the front door one stepped on smoothed and highly polished mahogany flooring. To the left was a twenty by twenty-five living room with two six by four windows, a four ft. wide fireplace and an oriental rug. To the right was a dining room with a round oak table and ten high-backed, plush chairs. An antique china cabinet graced one wall.
Through the dining room was the twenty-five by thirty kitchen with all modern appliances and a fireplace. Through the kitchen was a twelve by thirty back porch with tables and chairs on it.
Beside the kitchen was Juanita’s suite of rooms. From the front door going down the hall was a half bath for guests and two large bedrooms on the right. On the left was the large room and full bath that the sisters used and a smaller room which Ginger used for an office.
Upstairs was four bedrooms. First on the right was a closet for linens and incidentals. Beside that was Ginger’s big comfortable room and private bath. Beyond her was a guest room. The other bedrooms were on the left with a large, full bathroom. All of the bedrooms had thick carpets.
Ginger’s mother had never lived on a ranch until she married Steve. She wanted a softer look around the property. She had the men haul the manure and dirty straw to be placed around the house in an area about four ft. wide. When she felt she had enough, she had the men plow this into the dirt. She then planted flowering shrubbery and flowers around most of the house.
Ginger felt sad that she had never really looked at the house and appreciated what had been left to her.
Being a cattle ranch, naturally Juanita’s menu was beef with small potatoes, onions, carrots and green beans around it. She would have home-made yeast rolls and her famous apple pie and berry pie. The beverages would be coffee, milk, water and a punch made of ginger ale and fruit juices.
Frank, Hank, Saunders and Sharpie felt a little nervous with the Senator’s visit. They were afraid that the criminals would take this opportunity to cause problems. They didn’t confide in Ginger because they didn’t want her to be nervous and anxious. They wanted her to be at her best for the visit.
Moose helped Hank to come to the house because he and Frank were expected to be included in the luncheon. Ginger wasn’t aware of it, but Frank had armed men stationed all around the house. The meal was to be served at one o’clock. The Senator had said he wanted to look over as much of the ranch as he could before he had to leave for a seven o’clock dinner meeting in town.
At twelve thirty-five the Senator’s car drove up driven by a state patrolman. There was an armed man riding shotgun with the driver. The Senator apologized and informed Ginger that his life had been threatened by anonymous phone calls and letters. He had sent his wife and three children to Virginia to stay with her parents for a visit.
Everyone enjoyed the excellent meal that Juanita had prepared. The Senator asked for the cook to come in and be introduced so he could compliment her personally. Juanita was so excited and nervous, but conducted herself as she had observed Ginger and Ginger’s mother do.
After the meal, the Senator walked to the barn to look at the horses there.
“Ginger I understand that a lot of your neighbors have had severe losses and trouble from unknown sources. Have you had any trouble yet?”
Frank didn’t like the questioning. He observed the Senator’s eyes shifting around while he talked. He couldn’t seem to look anyone face to face while talking and viewing the ranch. A wave of apprehension slithered up Frank’s spine which he couldn’t explain.
While they were talking a big van pulled in and two big brawny men got out.
“We’re here for Ginger Proudfoot.”
“I’m Ginger Proudfoot. What is it you need?”
“It ain’t what we need; it’s what you need. We have your horses, but we need to be paid for them before we can unload.”
“What horses? I haven’t bought any horses.”
“Not yet, you ain’t. You have to pay for them first.”
I have not bought, nor have I ordered any horses to be delivered to me. I have a ranch full of horses now.”
“Well, ain’t you the rich lady. Just pay us the eighty-four thousand and let us be on the road.”
“You can get on the road at this nanosecond. Turn around and leave before I call the sheriff.”
The men looked at her as if they would like to hit her.
“Look lady, I agreed to miss my kid’s program at school to make this run because I was told the great Ginger Proudfoot wanted these horses immediately. Now are we getting the money or not?”
“Not.” At this Frank stepped forward. He looked apprehensively at Ginger. Ginger’s fear and anger were so palpable they were like a sheer force that knocked the oxygen out of the air and out of her lungs.
“Who’s doing this? What is the purpose in all of this?”
Senator Hough had been standing listening. He now stepped beside Ginger and placed an arm around her. “Gentlemen, you have been misinformed. Someone either fouled up an order or someone is trying to cause serious trouble for Miss Proudfoot. I suggest you take the horses back where you got them and leave immediately.”
“And who are you, old man, to tell us what to do?”
The state patrolman stepped forward taking a pistol from a holster under an arm. The two men looked as if they’d been pole axed. Their eyes grew big and they hurried to the van, jumped in, turned around and peeled away.
“Ginger, has something like this happened before?” the senator asked her.
Ginger was trembling and couldn’t seem to speak. Frank suggested that they return to the house and discuss this in privacy and safety.
In the house again, Frank briefly told of all the harassment.
“Ginger, I’m appalled and am so sorry. If you can think of anything I can do to help you, please let me know. What are you doing to combat these confusing events?” the Senator seemed concerned.
Ginger looked at Hank and Frank, but said nothing. Hank said, “We’re keeping in touch with other ranchers and pledging to help each other when needed.”
“I guess that’s the best you can do. You haven’t hired bodyguards?”
“Oh, no. I trust my hands to protect me and the property. We’ll get through this. Thank you though, Senator. You have your own problems.”
“I’m not beyond helping you if I can.”
“Thank you. How kind you are, but we’ll manage.”
“I hate to leave, but I need to get back so I’ll have time to take a shower and change clothes. I hope to lie down for a short rest. Missing my wife and children and doing all this traveling has left me feeling tired and weak. I’m sorry to leave in this manner. Thank you for a lovely dinner and your gracious hospitality.”
He left hurriedly with his bodyguards. Ginger drew a relieved breath. Turning to her two foremen she gave a soft cry of anger. “I hope I get hold of whomever is doing this soon. I feel if I had them here now I’d do something I’ve never done and that is beat them to a pulp with my own hands.”
Frank was angry and looked serious, but Hank grinned. “If you ever do lose control in that way, I hope I’m around to be a witness. Your sweet, lady mother would be upset with you for forgetting to be a lady.”
“I never saw my mother even show anger, but dad sure exploded several times. I wanted so badly to be like him when I was younger.”
Juanita
was as upset as Ginger. She had grown up with Ginger and felt she couldn’t have been closer to a sister. She realized Ginger was the employer and she was a paid worker, but she loved Ginger and felt so close to her.
Of all the people around her, Ginger thought she’d like to talk to James and discuss everything with him. But she did as Hank asked her to and went to her room to change clothes and rest. She didn’t just run up the steps, she assaulted them in her anger and tried to rest.
Ginger was not privy to the fact that Frank’s anger knocked on his heart. Like a sledgehammer the heavy pounding raced blood to his brain so strongly that he almost blacked out. He took several deep breaths and then called to Moose to take Hank to his house.
Frank knew he had to be alone and calm down before he called for Saunders and Sharpie to join him at Hank’s to discuss what had happened.
What else would be done to upset Ginger? These events were irritating enough; Frank was just thankful that there had been no gunfire.
Plans would have to be made and implemented. To sit around doing nothing would give these low lives a boost. They needed to be aware that the ranchers were planning something but not know what was being planned or for when. If they could be caught off guard, some of them might be apprehended. If the ranchers could find just one, it might be possible to lean on them and get them to talk and inform on others.
Frank, Hank, Saunders and Sharpie had an after dark meeting. They finally decided to invite some select ranchers, that they felt sure of, to meet with them somewhere and make plans. It would not be wise to meet at the ranch in the event that someone was passing on information.
Of the ten great food places in St. Ignatius, they settled on Eric’s Bison Inn Café. If someone came from a distance, or wanted to stay over, this would be a good location. Hank volunteered to contact the ranchers they felt sure of. Frank suggested the Amish farmers be invited also and the others agreed.
Now they had to decide on a day and time. The following Friday at eleven A.M. was decided. They knew there would be a lot of discussion and it would take a lot of time. Hank volunteered for the Majestic Ranch to pay for lunch. If anyone stayed through dinner, they were on their own.