Life at the Ranch

by Malone, Misty

  Thinking about that, she remembered a part of that event she'd forgotten. After explaining the danger involved in running he'd told her, 'Don't let me catch you running on the pool deck again,' and gave her a smack on her bottom. It wasn't a full swat, but it was more than a playful smack. She'd wondered about it at the time, but quickly dismissed it. Now that she thought back on it, it was a warning. It was warning her to be careful, and safe. Hmmm.

  That evening after supper she and Bo and Wyatt were watching a movie on television. She was sitting next to Bo, but not cuddled up with him as before. He had his arm across the top of the couch, giving her a place to cuddle to him if she wanted, but he wasn't being pushy. He was giving her space. She appreciated it, but was unsure what she wanted to do.

  While she was contemplating it they heard a car drive up to the house. Bo glanced out the window. “Oh, no, not again.”

  She and Wyatt both looked out, and saw the sheriff's car. He was getting out and heading to the house. Bo started to get up, but Wyatt held out his hand. “I've got it. It's my house he's coming to.” He went to the door, but came in with the sheriff and a deputy less than a minute later. “Bo, he wants to talk to you again.”

  Bo, who had already stood when the sheriff entered the room, reached out to shake his hand. “Good evening, Sheriff. What can I do for you?”

  “Bo, this is Deputy Sam Cryton. I have one question. Where were you Saturday night?”

  “This past Saturday night?”

  “Yes, two days ago.”

  “Right here all night, along with Wyatt, Alicia, and Kayla.”

  “Kayla?”

  Wyatt answered that question. “Kayla Robertson, the lady I've been seeing. We were all here.”

  Bo was frowning. “Why are you asking, Sheriff?”

  “Bo, there's something I want you to see. Can you come down to the station with me?”

  “Yes, sir. Can Alicia and Wyatt come see whatever it is, as well?”

  The sheriff looked from Bo to Wyatt, and then to the deputy. He started to shake his head, but shrugged his shoulders. “Sure. They may be able to shed some light on things.”

  His comment had them all wondering what they were about to see. Wyatt drove to the station behind the sheriff, with Bo and Alicia with him.

  Sheriff Culler took them all to a small room, where he had a computer set up. He explained what they were about to see. “We had another house burglary Saturday night, Bo, and some of this one was caught on the home owner's security cameras. Watch this and tell me what you think.”

  The three of them watched as someone burglarized a home. The thief kept his back to the camera, but from what they saw, the thief sure looked like Bo. When it was over they turned to look at Sheriff Culler, who spoke. “Look like anyone you know?”

  “I agree it sure looked like me, Sheriff, but I assure you, I was home with the three of them all evening.”

  “And the only witnesses you have to verify your alibi are the same people who saw you the last time?”

  Bo had to admit that even sounded fishy, but there wasn't anything he could do about it. “That's right, Sheriff.”

  The sheriff ran his hand through his hair. He turned to the other two. “Does anyone have any explanation for what we just saw? Anything I can use to keep from arresting Bo?”

  Alicia stood up, hands on her hips. “Arresting him? You can't be serious! He didn't do anything.”

  Bo was a little surprised, but happy to see her defending him. He had to keep from smiling as he watched her. She looked adorable standing up to the sheriff, hands on her hips like she was ready to take him on. He didn't want her to lose her temper with him, though, and get herself in trouble. He stepped over and pulled her in next to him, putting an arm around her. “Honey, it's okay. Look at it from his eyes. That sure looks like me.”

  “But it's not you, Bo. I know it's not. Even if I wouldn't have been with you, I know you wouldn't do anything like that.”

  “But he doesn't know me well enough to know that, Alicia.”

  Wyatt looked at the computer. “Now that we know what it is, could we see it again? Maybe we'll pick up on something this time.”

  “I can let you see it again,” the sheriff agreed. “I hope you do find something useful.” Before he played it again, though, he turned to Bo. “Bo, I have to be honest with you. After the last incident, after I met you and saw how much you matched the description, I came back to the office and did some checking on you. No prior record, so we checked further. Everyone we talked to told me about the same things your friends said; you wouldn't do anything like that. We even talked with several of your professors in college, and a few people where you grew up. We didn't have one person say a thing that would fit someone breaking into a house. And burglars are generally experiencing a cash flow problem, shall we say? But we checked your bank accounts, and that's not the case.”

  Bo was obviously shocked, and not quite sure what to make of this news. “I'm glad to hear I checked out okay.”

  “You checked out better than okay. That's why this tape surprised me so much, and why I'm letting you see it, instead of just arresting you. I mean, you've seen it. What do you think? Can you help us out here?”

  “I admit it looks like me, Sheriff, but it's not. I'm wondering if this is all a huge coincidence and there is indeed another man around this fairly small town that looks like me, with the same name, or if I'm being set up somehow.”

  “Set up?”

  “Well, what else could it be? What are the odds of another Bo that looks like me, around Lindale? Have you found anyone who's heard of another Bo?”

  “No, I haven't, and that's part of my problem. The home owner who walked in on the first incident distinctly heard the other man refer to him as Bo.”

  “That's why I wondered if I'm being set up. He called him Bo, but we don't know for sure that that is in fact his name. I could call you George, but that doesn't mean that's your name.”

  “I see what you're saying,” the sheriff replied. “Let's watch it again and see if we can find anything I can use to keep you out of jail.”

  Bo's little firecracker, Alicia, pulled loose from him and stepped in front of him, as if protecting him. “What do you mean by that?” Again, hands on her hips, she looked ready to fight.

  The sheriff had to fight back a smile, as well, as he answered. “Well, little lady, you've seen the tape. His alibi is the same people as last time. For all I know, Wyatt could be the other man involved, and you were out waiting for them in the get away car.”

  “What?”

  Bo pulled her back against him and tried to calm her down. “Alicia, he's just doing his job. Before you get all upset, let's watch the tape again and see if we can find something we can use.”

  The sheriff agreed. “Good idea.” He reprogrammed the computer and brought the tape up again.

  In the middle of it she yelled, “Stop, right there!”

  Deputy Cryton froze the tape and they all turned to look at her. “Bo, that's not you.”

  “I know that, honey, but how can you tell?”

  “It's pretty clear now. I think you're right, someone's trying to set you up. That's definitely not you. You can tell by your hat and your wallet.”

  “My hat and my wallet? His hat looks like mine, and I didn't even see the wallet.”

  “Well, you don't really see it, but you can see it in that man's back pocket.”

  “How can you tell it's not mine?”

  “It's in the wrong back pocket. You're right handed and you keep your wallet in your right back pocket. You can see the outline of a wallet in that man's left back pocket.”

  The sheriff's eyebrows rose. “I didn't notice that. I'll play it again, but first, what are you referring to with his hat?”

  She turned to Bo. “Remember that time we talked about your hat? I said you look good in a cowboy hat, and you said it's not for looks, it's for function?”

  “Yes.”

  “
You told me then that it wasn't for looks, it was for functionality, and that this one has to sit lower on your face than most, but it keeps the sun out of your eyes better than any you've had?”

  “That's true,” Bo confirmed.

  “This man's wearing it up higher, like most cowboy hats.”

  The sheriff backed the tape up and played it again. Wyatt nodded. “She's right, Sheriff. I hadn't noticed, but she's right. Bo wears his hat lower in the front, which makes it higher in the back.”

  “She was right about the wallet being in the left pocket, too,” the Sheriff said. Bo, can you stand up and turn around a minute, so I can check?”

  Bo stood and turned so the sheriff could see his wallet in his right back pocket. “Okay, thank you.” The sheriff thought a little longer, then he and Deputy Cryton stepped out in the hall.

  When they returned a few minutes later the sheriff addressed Bo. “Your background check doesn't match this type of activity. With what Alicia pointed out, we have enough of a question in our mind that we're not going to arrest you, but I do have to tell you we're investigating this further, and ask you not to leave town.”

  “I'll be out at the ranch, Sheriff,” Bo said. He was being cordial, but inside he was steaming. “What happens next?”

  “We're going to keep investigating, but frankly, we don't have a lot to go on. We'll keep looking for this mystery Bo, but I have a couple questions for you. You mentioned someone might be setting you up. Is there anyone you can think of that might be doing that; anyone that has an ax to grind? Any enemies?”

  “Not that I can think of, Sheriff, but trust me, I'll be giving it a lot of thought.”

  “If you think of anything, or anyone, call me and let me know. We'll check it out.”

  Chapter 7

  The three of them talked about the tape on the way home, but no one had any idea who or why anyone would be doing something like this. “I have a friend from college who's a private detective,” Bo said. “I think I'll give him a call. Maybe he'll be able to help.”

  That night when Bo told Alicia good night, he gave her a hug. “Thank you for your help tonight. If it weren't for you I might be sitting in jail right now.”

  “You don't belong there,” she said.

  He grinned. “I don't know. You may think I belong there, not for burglary, but for what I actually did Saturday night.”

  It took a minute for her to understand. Saturday night was when he'd spanked her. “No, not any more.”

  “You did think that, though?”

  “Maybe, for a little while. It really hurt, Bo.”

  “I don't doubt it.”

  “But you'd do it again?”

  “If you give me reason to again, yes.”

  She looked appalled. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Alicia, I told you I will always be honest with you, and that's what I'm doing now. This is something I believe in. I've seen so many couples break up because they fight and argue all the time, but this prevents that. It's over, it's done with, and everyone knows where they stand. There's no dancing around each other, not knowing what they're thinking. I hope you can understand that. I'm willing to talk about it if you want, but I can't apologize for how I feel. I feel this keeps relationships healthy, and I care deeply about you. I love you and hope our relationship is one of the rare ones, where the couple's love lasts forever.”

  She looked up at him. “You love me?”

  “Of course I love you. I wouldn't have spanked you if I didn't love you.”

  “Really?”

  “Of course. As I got to know you better, I cared more and more about you and my protective nature started kicking in. I will spank you if I feel you've done something that's unsafe to you or to our relationship. That's my way of protecting the one I love.”

  She laid her head on his shoulder. “I never thought of it that way.”

  “Then maybe I didn't explain it very well. If I didn't, I apologize. Spanking you is my way of protecting you, making sure you don't do the same unsafe thing again. It's something I would only do if I love you.”

  “Thank you for explaining it that way. I hadn't seen it like that before.”

  After another couple minutes he kissed her goodnight and went home. He had a lot to think about, and didn't sleep well again. The burglary was on his mind, but the main thing that kept his mind working instead of sleeping was Alicia. She obviously still cared about him, or she wouldn't have tried to protect him like she did. He had to chuckle at how she looked ready to take on the sheriff to protect him.

  And she seemed to appreciate hearing his explanation for spanking the lady he loves. Maybe they would be able to work through this. He hoped so, but he knew he couldn't rush her. Protecting and spanking the woman he loved had to be a part of him. He believed in it completely. If she couldn't accept that, he needed to know now, before his love for her grew any deeper.

  Bo called his friend, Clint Armstrong, right after breakfast the next morning, and explained his situation. Clint offered to come over and talk to him and his friends that made up his alibi that evening, so Bo invited him for supper. He went to talk to Maria, to okay a guest for supper. She'd been upset when she heard about the second incident, and was glad Clint was coming to help.

  Wyatt called Kayla to see if she would eat with them, as well. They all assumed it would be easier if everyone was together when Clint talked to them. She agreed, anxious to hear about the latest incident.

  Alicia found herself thinking about Bo throughout the day again. She thought about what he'd said last night, and she felt better. He hadn't told her he loved her before. She hadn't answered him, but she was pretty sure that though she tried not to, she'd fallen in love with him, as well. Hearing him say spanking her was one way he showed his love for her had seemed odd at first, but the more she thought about it, the more she was actually starting to not only believe it, but understand it.

  She called Kayla, and was glad to hear she had a little free time. She was anxious to talk to her about the thoughts she'd been having. She went to meet her and they talked at Kayla's house, where they had privacy. Alicia took her to the ranch then, and they went to the barn to see the new colt. That was where Bo and Wyatt found the two of them.

  Wyatt gave Kayla a kiss, which was returned. “Hey, I thought I was going to pick you up this evening.”

  “That was my fault,” Alicia said after kissing Bo. “I wanted to talk to her some, so I went over there. We talked, then I brought her back with me.”

  “I'm glad you're here, however you got here,” Wyatt said, giving her another kiss on her cheek.

  “I thought I might find you here,” Bo said to Alicia. “How's the newest resident of the ranch doing?”

  “He's so cute, and his mama doesn't seem to mind me petting him so much.”

  “Daisy's gotten to know you since you've been coming out to the barn. She trusts you.”

  “I'm glad, because her little boy is adorable.”

  “While you two are looking at the adorable little guy, Wyatt and I are going to go get cleaned up for supper. Clint's going to be here in about half an hour.”

  Once Clint got there, Bo made the introductions, and they sat down for supper. Bo asked Maria to join them so she could hear what Clint had to say and add whatever she could to the conversation. Bo explained what they knew, and Clint asked a lot of questions. When he left that night, he had a lot of information to sort through and things to check out.

  The next night, Bo gave Alicia another riding lesson. He'd been patient with her all week, not pushing her to talk, or asking for more than she was willing to give. Tonight was no exception. She enjoyed the time she spent with him. She still wasn't sure she could live with spanking, knowing that threat would be hanging over her 24/7, but she knew she had to decide shortly. She was already questioning whether she could walk away from him. She was becoming quite fond of life at the ranch, and that included him.

  Friday night Wyatt and Bo took the girls
into Lindale for dinner. While they were there Wyatt ran into some old friends of his, and introduced everyone. They sat down and joined them for a drink before they went back home.

  Once they were back at the ranch Alicia talked to Kayla and decided she was ready to plan a date for them to cook for their men. They told the guys they had a few new utensils and recipes to try, and wanted to spend an afternoon cooking together. They had no trouble talking their men into the idea, and agreed that Thursday would be the day. The girls made plans to get together again to go over recipes and make their final decisions on Monday, and would shop on Wednesday.

  Saturday evening when Bo and Wyatt came in from the field for supper, Sheriff Culler was pulling in. Bo looked at Wyatt and held up his hands. “Not again!”

  Wyatt shook his head. “Now what?”

  They walked over and greeted the sheriff. “Sorry, but I need to talk to you again, Bo.”

  Wyatt was shaking his head again. “Another break in?”

  “I need to talk to Bo privately this time, Wyatt, I'm sorry. After I talk to him I'll need to talk to you, too, so if you don't mind sticking around—”

  “I'll be here, Sheriff. Bo, why don't you take him to the office again.”

  Alicia was standing at the door as the three men approached. “Sheriff, what now?”

  Bo leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on her cheek, and picked her up, moved her out of the doorway, walked inside the kitchen and set her back down. “He's doing his job, Alicia.” He turned to Wyatt. “Could you take him into the office, please? I want to wash my hands up anyway, and I'll be right in.”

  Wyatt nodded and led the sheriff toward the office. Bo leaned down close to Alicia's ear. “Behave yourself.” He washed his hands quickly and went to the office.

  He thanked Wyatt, closed the door, and sat down across from Sheriff Culler. “Okay, Sheriff, what's happened now?”

  “Do you recognize this?” The sheriff pulled a key chain out of his pocket and handed it to Bo. It was in a clear plastic bag.