by Naomi Niles
"So, how do we flush him out now that the herd is gone?" I asked, but Will didn't have an answer.
The problem nagged at my mind, and I wandered out to the fields where the workers were busy preparing the pasture to be reseeded for next season's herd to graze upon. Once the herd was sent to the slaughterhouse, it was time to get to work preparing for the next one.
"Have you seen anything suspicious lately?" I asked Mack, one of our oldest and best employees. He could be counted on to handle any situation, no matter how tough, and I trusted him like one of my brothers.
"Not a thing," he said.
"Did you ever suspect Jackson and Floyd of steeling cattle?"
"I knew they were up to something, but I thought it was boozing or gambling. I never would have taken them for thieves."
I nodded in agreement and turned to Clive. "How about you?"
"I'd have done something about it if I had. I've worked this ranch most of my life. It'd be a damn shame to see it closed down over some thief."
"How about you, Frank?" I turned to our newest employee.
"I knew those two guys were up to something, too. I saw them walking out in the pasture around midnight one night, heading out to a truck with its headlights on low beam."
"Why didn't you say anything?" I was furious.
"Well, I'm the new guy on the block. I didn't want to stick my nose where it didn't belong. Besides, they were rough. One of them always carried a knife in his boot. I didn't want to cross him."
"Is that why you lied about the count on the cattle?" I fired at him.
"What?" He turned white as a sheet, and I knew I had him.
"The slaughterhouse records show your count was significantly less than theirs, and I don't think the cattle got lost somewhere between the truck and the slaughterhouse. I think they were never there to begin with. You lied on the count, and I want to know why."
"No, I didn't!" Frank cried, but it was obvious he was lying.
"Cut the crap. Just tell me why you did it, or maybe you'd like to tell my brother William."
"No, don't call the Sherriff. I did it because they made me."
"Who? Jackson and Floyd?"
"Yes. They knew Bethany was my daughter, and the big one threatened to slit her throat if I said anything."
"So, you lied on the count."
"They told me that if you asked for a count on the herd, I was to give you the number they said. I never even counted the cattle; I just said what they told me to. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been such a coward. I should have told you the truth from the start."
"They really threatened Bethany?" I was no longer mad at Frank – I was mad at the thieves for saying anything against her.
"They did. I know I wasn't a good father to her, but I love her. I couldn't stand the thought of anything happening to her. I hope you can understand that."
"I can." I clasped my hand on his shoulder. "What else haven't you told me?"
Frank stared down at his shoes for long time, but I wouldn't let up my hand on his shoulder. Finally, he drew a deep breath and said in a shaky voice, "There weren't just two of them. There was a third guy. I recognized him from one of the other ranches, but I don't know his name. We used to drink together at the Hair of the Dog. He met them from the other side of the fence, handed them a bag, then got in the truck and drove away."
"Would you recognize him in a lineup?"
"I sure would."
"Good. Just don't go anywhere until William can bring in some guys for you to look at."
"I won't. I promise." He sealed the vow with a handshake. I had never liked him that well, but he'd done what he thought was right to protect Bethany, and we now shared a bond in our affection for her.
Chapter Seventeen: Bethany
"Go back home to Chicago where you belong. You won't regret it, but if you stay here, you surely will." My father's words echoed in my mind over and over again.
I loved Colton and staying on the ranch would be paradise. But was my father right? Did they think of me as just as employee that they could use and throw away? Would I grow to resent Colton if I stayed and regret having sacrificed my art career for a fleeting romance?
I desperately wanted to talk to Colton about it, but he was busy all day in his office, talking on the phone and in meetings. Then William showed up unexpectedly in the middle of the day, and Colton came out of his office to meet him.
When the two of them headed to the stable, I thought maybe they were both taking an early afternoon off, and Colton and I could finally talk.
"Not now. He's busy." William was surprisingly rude to me when I walked up to them.
I looked to Colton to defend my honor, but he just climbed onto Whiskey and said to me, "Can we talk later when I get back? Right now I need to take a ride with Will."
"I like riding. Would it be okay if I came along?" I said with a coquettish smile, but to my disappointment, Colton guided the quarter horse to walk right past me.
"Sorry, but this is just between us brothers," he apologized. "I promise to make time for us later."
I watched as they rode off together, leaving me behind in a cloud of dust. It had been this way for most of the week, with Colton treating me like an inconvenience, instead of his girlfriend. Perhaps my father was right, and I should go home to Chicago as soon as possible.
I tried to work on my painting, but I just couldn't concentrate. It was supposed to be a pretty country scene of the ranch house with the forest in the distance, but I felt like I'd done the same thing too many times already, so I wiped it out by covering the canvas with white.
This was supposed to be a piece for Colton. The other four I'd made specifically to cater to the tastes and preferences of each of his brothers, and now Colton was the only one of Margie's sons remaining. I thought I knew him well enough that this would be easy. My creativity failed me, though. I couldn't think of a single idea of what to paint that would represent the ranch, but still be uniquely him.
"I give up," I sighed and started to pack up my paints.
Just then, Brett passed by. Even though he knew I was dating his oldest brother, he still followed me around like a puppy and flirted with me constantly. At first it had annoyed me, but over time, I got used to it, and even looked forward to it. I realized that as the baby of the family, Brett was just seeking attention and had learned that hitting on girls was a way to earn a smile.
Plus, it had the added benefit of boosting my confidence on days when I was feeling homesick. A wink and a compliment from Brett was just what I needed at that moment after being brushed off by Colton at a time when my father's words were weighing heavy on my mind.
"Hi, Brett," I called out to him.
"Hey, beautiful," he answered back. This was usually the moment when he dropped whatever work he was supposed to be doing and came over to lean on my easel, give me a cocky wink, and make some obnoxious comment about how blue my eyes were or how tan my legs. Not today, however; he surprised me by walking past with hurried strides.
"I was hoping you could help me carry my canvas and easel back to the barn," I called out hastily before he was completely gone.
Brett paused in his tracks and glanced back at me. "But it's blank."
"I know. I didn't like what I'd done, so I'm going to start over fresh tomorrow. Maybe a better idea will come to me tonight."
"That's not very likely," he said, and I blanked at the insult. Brett must have realized how rude that had sounded because he flushed and said, "I mean, your ideas are already good. You're not a bad artist. The museum in Chicago is lucky to have you."
"Yeah, thanks," I said just to shut him up. With a depressed little sigh, I said, "I'll be going back there soon."
"That's good," he said. "I have to go meet Colton and William out in the pasture, so I can't help you now. But just leave your stuff there, and I'll put it back in the barn on my way in for dinner."
"Dinner. I guess I'll go help with the preparations," I said, eager
for something to d, and the chance to hang out with Margie.
She was like the mother I'd always wished Jillian could be: warm and nurturing, and a wonderful cook. In the weeks that I'd been staying on the ranch, I'd learned more about baking pies and preparing vegetables than I'd learned in my past twenty-two years on earth. Her stories were enthralling, and she made me feel like I was really helping her, even though I'm sure I was actually slowing her down.
"Hi, Margie. How can I help tonight?" I said with a smile as I entered the kitchen. The smell of beef stew simmering on the stove made my mouth salivate, and I began to wash my hands in the sink, eager to begin.
"You can take the night off from cooking," she said.
"It's okay, I enjoy helping." I turned my back as I dried my hands on a dishtowel so she wouldn't see the look of disappointment on my face.
"No need, dear. I've got everything running smooth here, and you know what they say about too many cooks in the kitchen. Go relax. Take a hot bath or a stroll around the garden. You only have a few more days before it's time for you to leave."
"Okay. If you're sure you don't need any help..." I drifted towards the door.
"I've been managing this long on my own, I'm used to it," Margie said.
I got the hint. She didn't want me around. I was in the way, just like I had been with William. Colton no longer had time for me, and even Brett was too busy to flirt with me.
I went up to my room and lay on the bed with my cell phone in my hand. I began to scroll through the photos I had taken since I'd arrived on the ranch. Colton riding Whiskey, Travis and William sitting side by side on the fence laughing, Brett in his bull riding gear, Tom kissing Margie on the cheek. They were a good-looking family: happy, wholesome, and deeply devoted to one another.
I was just a city girl who had intruded on their lives for the past month and been lucky enough to be given an inside look at the Hutchinson family. This wasn't my home, though, it was theirs.
I kept scrolling and I came to the pictures I had taken in Chicago before I left home. Jillian sitting at the kitchen table of our apartment with the sun shining prettily upon her blonde hair, me grinning proudly as I held up the letter stating I'd received the internship, me with my award-winning piece I made for school, me and Jillian with our arms wrapped around each other last Christmas.
I wiped away the tears that had come uninvited to my eyes with an angry swipe of my palms. Suddenly, I heard the front door slam downstairs and the noisy footsteps of the Hutchinson men coming in for dinner.
Giving my face a quick glance in the mirror, I straightened my hair and my clothes and went down the stairs to join them. Everyone was lively as they scooped up big ladles full of Margie's stew and buttered thick slices of her homemade bread.
"Mary-Jo is coming over after supper tonight," Brett announced through his mouthful of food. "I promised to show her the stars. There's supposed to be some kind of special comet passing by tonight."
"Yes, I was telling my summer school students about it today," Tom said, and his brothers made of show of yawning and pretending to fall asleep as he quoted some facts on the phenomenon.
He shut them up by throwing bread at them, and I tried not to laugh. When they calmed down, William said, "I don't mind shooting stars, just so long as there's not a full moon. I've got enough trouble on the job as it is."
Brett said, "Don't worry, the moon tonight is just a crescent. Mary-Jo says that's why we'll be able to see the comet."
"Yeah, I'm sure that's not all you'll see," Tom joked, and this time it was Brett's turn to throw bread. Margie shot them both a glare, ending the fight before it got out of hand.
Brett looked at Colton. "The only reason I brought it up is because I don't want anyone coming into the barn and interrupting us, if you know what I mean.”
I think the whole table knew what he meant, and I took a long sip of water from my glass to hide my flushing cheeks.
Colton said, "Don't worry. Bethany and I won't be taking a walk tonight."
"We won't? Why not?" My voice conveyed my shock. We always took an evening stroll together after dinner, and lately it had become the only time of day he ad for me. No more lunches, no more dates. Now, now more walk.
"I'm really busy. I've got a lot of work I need to do with William," Colton said in answer to my question.
"But, you promised me we could talk. I have some important things I wanted to discuss with you."
"I'm really sorry. Can it wait until tomorrow?"
"No it can't." I was furious, and without thinking, I made a decision right then. Standing up, I looked at all the faces staring back and me, and I said in a firm, clear voice, "Tonight is my last night on the ranch. Tomorrow morning I'm going back home to Chicago."
Chapter Eighteen: Colton
My throat went completely dry as I watched Bethany turn from the dining table and run from the room. I wanted to call after her, grab onto her, kiss her lips, and beg her not to go. Instead, I just strode out of the house and breathed deeply of the crisp night air.
"Aren't you going to go talk to her?" Mama asked me from the porch.
"No. I'm going to the bar. I need a drink," I stated simply. I got in my truck and drove down to the Lucky Horseshoe in Riverbend.
Bethany had a lot of nerve getting me to fall for her and then suddenly leaving without any warning. I should have known a pretty young blonde like her would drag my heart through the mud.
Well, I wasn't going to give her the pleasure of watching me beg. I was going to drown my pain in whiskey shots. I should have stayed away from her; now it was too late. When she went back to Chicago, she'd be taking a piece of my heart with her.
"Long time, no see, stranger," a pretty female voice said as I sat down on a stool at the bar.
"Katie Billings. What the hell are you doing here?" I asked the busty brunette standing behind the bar. Her ebony hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she was wearing a white blouse cut way too low in the front and a pair of skin-tight jeans that showed off her hourglass curves.
"I'm working; what does it look like?" she teased sarcastically. I remembered Katie always had a sense of humor like that back when we went to school together. She had been my first girlfriend sophomore year in high school, but only because my brothers had dared me to ask her out.
She wasn't really my type. She was too sassy, and I preferred girls with a softer, sweeter side. I tried to let her down easy without hurting her feelings, but the next week someone egged my father's truck. I couldn't prove it, but I knew it was Katie Billings.
Junior year, she hooked up with the star of the football team, Steve Campbell, and after that things were cool between us. She didn't hold a grudge, and I was friendly with her whenever we passed each other in the halls or had to sit next to each other in a class. After graduation, I heard she got pregnant and ended up marrying Steve.
She looked as sexy now as she did back then, and I couldn't stop myself from staring at her display of cleavage.
"I didn't know you worked here," I said stupidly as she set two shot glasses in front of me and filled them both with whiskey.
"Yeah, I just moved back to town a few months ago, and Ray gave me my old job back. Here's to old friends." She took one of the shot glasses and held it up. I was surprised she could drink on the job, but I wasn't about to say anything about it. Instead, I just clinked my glass to hers and downed the contents. It burned my throat, but once it hit my stomach, a warm glow began radiate through me, and I asked her to pour me another.
"How long has it been since we've seen each other?" I asked after a little while. I was already beginning to relax from the stressful day I'd had. Between the debt with the ranch for the missing cattle and Bethany deciding to leave in the morning, it couldn't have been a worse day, and I was ready to drown away my troubles with whiskey.
Katie leaned forward against the bar, presenting her cleavage provocatively as she answered my question with a sexy purr. "Too long. We sure had
a lot of fun back in high school. We should get together and hang out sometime."
"Sure. Why don't you and Steve come on out to the ranch sometime?"
"Steve? What made you think of that bag of horse crap?"
"Didn't you two get married after high school?"
"Yes, but that didn't stop him from trying to get up the skirt of every cheerleader in the squad. I caught him cheating with Melissa Morris, and we divorced six months ago."
"I'm sorry. I had no idea. Do you have children?"
"Yes, and I'm sure they'd love to see a real cattle ranch. I don't mind taking you up on that invite to come out sometime."
Not exactly what I had intended, but I couldn't rescind the offer just because she wouldn't be bringing a husband.
"Sure. How about next weekend?"
"Oh, the kids will be with Steve, but I'll still come out. I'll bring a picnic basket and some wine. We can reminisce about the good old days. Remember that night I let you get to second base in the cab of your father's truck? It must have been the first time you'd held a pair of boobs."
"Yeah," I answered awkwardly and downed another shot. My vision was blurry, and I could barely remember what had made me come to the bar in the first place.
That's right: it was Bethany. She was leaving me in the morning and with the ranch in financial trouble, I couldn't afford to offer a job to get her to stay. My whole world was falling apart. Our family would lose the ranch if I couldn't find the missing cattle, but that was nothing compared to losing Bethany.
Katie was running her acrylic fingers through my hair and thrusting her oversized chest out at me. "Why wait until next weekend to see each other? My shift ends in an hour. Why don't we go out to the lake and rekindle old times?"
"No." I shook my head, trying to concentrate through the drunken haze. "Bethany."
"My name is Katie," she glared at me angrily, but quickly forgave me. Stroking my arm with seductive fingertips, she asked, "What do you say we get out of here?”