On Deadly Ground (Dan & Chloe Book 2)

by Flamank, Nathan L.

  Lawson let go of the young woman’s hand and glanced from Dan to Chloe and back again. He figured the husband was at least a decade her senior but he didn’t hold it against Dan.

  Hell, look at her, Lawson said to himself: she’s a pure forest fire, damn; I never knew women could be that beautiful.

  ‘Sheriff?’

  Lawson snapped his head around to his deputy who had squatted next to the unconscious youth, ‘I think I better call for the medics.’

  Lawson nodded his head.

  ‘Sure thing deputy, use my car to call it in.’

  Right then the young mother that had been knocked over came up to them, she offered her thanks to Dan, and then she started to talk rapidly at Sheriff Lawson.

  ‘See Pete, I told you this would happen sooner or later, you and your department are too soft on these damn tourists...’

  Dan and Chloe stepped back from the confrontation, putting several metres between them. Dan turned to Chloe and cocked his head to one side and asked in a whisper what she was thinking asking the cop out to the ranch.

  ‘Have you forgotten that there are men buried on our property, hell Chloe, we’re not exactly your average Mr and Mrs?’

  Chloe chuckled softly, she knew Dan wasn’t angry at her; he was just playing it safe.

  ‘I know all that baby, but I figured it’s time we got to know who it is that keeps the peace in these parts. You never know when we may need them and if we’re on good terms with the local Sheriff’s department then that can’t be a bad thing can it?’

  Dan frowned at Chloe as realisation dawned on his face.

  ‘Baby, we’re safe, I told you that, and we’ll ride out tomorrow and check out our precautions but...’

  Chloe pushed up on to her tiptoes and she kissed Dan’s bottom lip, she squeezed his arms.

  ‘I know sexy,’ she said softly so as not to be overheard. ‘But better safe than sorry, you never know.’

  ‘Okay, but hell Chloe, we’re armed. I just want to get out of here.’

  Lawson touched Dan’s shoulder and Dan spun around. The look in Dan’s eyes made Lawson take a step backwards and he almost dropped his hand to his holstered revolver but he quickly composed himself.

  Dan and Chloe both offered up smiles and the Sheriff relaxed some more.

  ‘Sorry Sheriff, you made me jump, I guess this whole thing has shaken me up a little.’

  ‘I need you to come down to the station.’

  Dan tensed up but he quickly realised what Lawson was on about. He’d need Dan and Chloe to give official statements of what had just happened.

  ‘Of course.’

  Chloe stepped forward with her most endearing smile and once again asked if he would care to join them later that day.

  Lawson scratched his stubbled cheek.

  ‘Hitch a lift with Harry,’ Chloe said. She could see that the Sheriff was giving it the serious once over.

  ‘Dan makes a mean burger,’ Chloe added with a warm smile.

  Sheriff Lawson smiled and nodded his head.

  ‘Thank you ma’am. That’s mighty neighbourly of you.’

  ‘No problem and please, call me Chloe.’

  ‘Well, thank you Chloe.’

  ‘Is it okay if we drive down to the station Sheriff?’ Dan asked, ‘I know where it is.’

  Lawson nodded his head.

  ‘That’s fine Mister Constantine.’

  ‘Please, its Dan or Daniel.’

  Dan was relieved that the Sheriff had no problem with them coming down to the station in their own vehicle. He wanted to secure their weapons before stepping in to the Sheriff’s offices. Dan didn’t want a security system alerting the law to the fact that both he and Chloe were armed.

  ‘I’ll probably be tied up here for the next fifteen or twenty minutes, why don’t we all meet in an hour?’

  Dan nodded his head. ‘That’ll work; it’ll give us the chance to get some lunch.’

  ‘Well okay then, see you in an hour, nice meeting you both.’ Lawson smiled at Chloe before tipping the brim of his Stetson.

  Chloe took Dan’s right hand when he held it out to her and they headed away from the small gathered crowd.

  Sheriff Lawson watched them go, he took off his hat and wiped a forearm across his sweat soaked brow. Lawson watched the couple moving down the sidewalk and he decided that he needed to find out more about Dan and Chloe Constantine. For one moment back there, when he had startled Dan, the look in the Englishman’s eyes had almost made him pull his weapon.

  Lawson continued to watch them as they reached the parked up Volvo. Before they split up at the back of the vehicle to get in to their respective doors Lawson saw Dan slap Chloe’s ass playfully and the younger woman laughed and slapped her husband’s hand away.

  Perhaps you’re just over-reacting you old fart, Lawson thought, I mean look at them: they’re just regular ole folk.

  Lawson nodded his head and put his hat back on. He adjusted the brim to keep the powerful sun out of his eyes, he turned to look to the west when he heard an approaching siren.

  Soon he was caught up in the details of getting everyone moving along, but even when the young man had been stretchered in to the back of the ambulance, Lawson couldn’t fully shake the notion that there was a lot more to Dan and Chloe Constantine than met the eye.

  *****

  CHAPTER FIVE.

  9pm and Sheriff Lawson joined Dan by the fence over near the stables.

  ‘Sheriff,’ Dan said as he continued to feed Weiser an apple. The magnificent animal crunched and chewed as Dan stroked the horse’s head.

  Lawson put his left booted foot up on to the lowest railing of the fence, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with the front of his plaid shirt.

  ‘Beautiful place you have out here Dan, and please when I’m not in the uniform, y’all can call me Pete.’

  Dan stroked Weiser’s powerful neck and then clicked his tongue. Weiser nodded his head, shook his mane and trotted off to join the other horses grazing on the lush green grasses.

  ‘You’ve got that horse well trained.’

  Dan turned to Lawson and rested back against the fence, he propped his elbows on the top rail. Dan could see Chloe chatting with Suzanne (the owner of the boutique that Chloe frequented) and Harry. Dan could see the three of them laughing at something that Chloe had just told them.

  ‘Weiser and I have an understanding,’ Dan said.

  Lawson cocked his head to one side waiting.

  Dan offered up a crooked smile, ‘I feed him and he promises not to buck me off.’

  Lawson chuckled politely, he tilted his bottle of beer and drained the last couple of inches.

  ‘Get you another?’

  ‘Sure, in a minute, first I’d like to ask you some questions.’

  Dan frowned at the Sheriff and Pete waved his hands dismissively, he visibly reddened and shook his head.

  ‘I’m sorry Dan, I’ve only been in the job a year or so and I’m still getting to know people.’

  Pete pulled a pack of Camels from his shirt pocket, he offered them to Dan.

  Dan shook his head, ‘I haven’t smoked in years.’

  ‘You mind if I do?’

  ‘They’re your lungs Pete,’ Dan said with a playful smile. He was feeling uncomfortable spending so much time with the local law but he had to admit that he liked the Sheriff.

  Doesn’t mean I have to like him being out here.

  Dan waited for Lawson to light up. Pete inhaled deeply and blew the used smoke out through his nostrils.

  ‘How long have you and your wife lived out here?’

  Dan looked up at the weather vane on top of the “lighthouse”, the extension to the main ranch had been Dan’s gift to Chloe when they had moved in, and Dan nodded his head.

  ‘I guess going on four years.’

  ‘How da you like it, must get lonely out here so far from town and all.’

  ‘We like it just fine Sheriff.’

  Lawson
picked up on Dan’s use of his office, he figured that he was making Dan uncomfortable. Pete had been a lawman for enough years to know when someone had something to hide. He made the decision to back off, he didn’t want to push it, not now and not here.

  ‘Sorry Dan, I’m just naturally inquisitive I guess. I meant no offense.’

  Dan smiled.

  ‘None taken Pete, how about that other beer?’

  ‘Sure Dan, thanks,’ Lawson dropped his cigarette butt and ground it out beneath the heel of his boot. He crouched down and picked the used butt up and slipped it in to the left front pocket of his jeans, he felt like it was the right thing to do.

  Lawson followed Dan back to the picnic tables set up at the front of the porch and he took a seat on the bench next to Bryson.

  ‘It’s a beautiful spot ain’t it Pete,’ Bryson said.

  Pete Lawson nodded his head. He’d met Bryson a couple of times at town council meetings, Bryson owned the largest car dealership in these parts and he also sat on various town committees. Pete liked the way Bryson conducted his affairs.

  ‘It sure is, and this used to be owned by the Madison family right?’

  Bryson began to tell Lawson the history of the Madison family. Dan walked behind Lawson and climbed up on to the porch.

  Chloe caught his attention, ‘Dan honey, if you’re getting beers can you fetch me one?’

  Dan glanced back at her and nodded his head. Chloe saw Dan’s eyes flick to the wide vee of her t-shirt. She pushed her chest out slightly and Dan flashed her a brief smile of appreciation before opening the screen door and heading in to the house.

  Chloe turned on her bench-seat and asked Barnie if his steak had been okay.

  Barnie patted his stomach in appreciation. Barnie’s wife Ruth patted his stomach too and she laughed, ‘Bar baby, you need to eat healthier; you’re piling on the pounds.’

  Barnie laughed at his wife’s assessment of his weight and he pulled her in for a playful hug.

  ‘I’m not starting that rabbit food diet you keep trying to force me on to.’

  Chloe laughed along with them. Everyone that she wanted here was here, except for her parents who had returned to England for the foreseeable future to care for a sick elderly aunt.

  Chloe finished her beer and glanced at each of her guests in turn. She really liked this bunch of people and although she was a lot younger than most of them they never once made her feel uncomfortable in their company. Over the last couple of years these people had really opened out their arms to Dan and Chloe.

  ‘That was a wonderful dinner Chloe,’ Harry said from across the next table.

  ‘Hey y’all can thank Dan, he’s the chef. I can barely make an omelette.’

  The gathered friends laughed and Dan came back with a fresh crate of ice-cold beers. He put the crate down in the middle of the picnic table and sat down on the bench next to Chloe. Everyone helped themselves to another cold one.

  Chloe lifted her ass off the bench and she sat between Dan’s legs and reclined back in to him. Dan’s height gave him the perfect view down the front of her loose t-shirt.

  Dan stroked Chloe’s left thigh, the short denim shorts that she was wearing were tight, but it didn’t prevent him from sneaking his fingers inside the frayed cuffs. He stroked her clit through the thin lacy thong that she was wearing and Chloe slapped his hand away. She glanced along the tables but no one was looking in their direction, they were all engrossed in a joke that Bryson was telling.

  Dan’s hands roamed up beneath the t-shirt and he cupped her breasts through her lacy bra. Chloe elbowed him in the ribs and Dan laughed as he let her go.

  ‘What’s got in to you?’ Chloe asked in a whisper.

  Dan put his mouth next to her left ear and said, ‘I am so going to abuse you later tonight.’

  Chloe groaned and playfully elbowed Dan’s ribs again. She slapped his wandering hands away before she lost the will-power to do so, Chloe knew where it would lead if she didn’t. She very much doubted that any of their guests would appreciate Chloe bending over the picnic table before demanding that Dan fuck her.

  *****

  The old and battered pick-up bounced along the dirt track heading for the highway. Harry changed up a gear and Lawson held on to the dashboard to steady himself.

  Harry saw the road just ahead and moments later the truck settled on to the smooth surface of the highway. The truck’s suspension settled and Pete breathed a sigh of relief.

  ‘Holy Mary and Joseph, how many have you had to drink Harry?’

  Harry flicked the headlights to full beam and the dark country highway was ahead of them. He looked out of his side window as the Constantine ranch receded in to the distance.

  Harry drove in silence, he knew the Sheriff well enough to know that something was on the lawman’s mind and he had an inkling as to what that might be. The silence dragged out for a mile and then a second.

  ‘Spit it out Pete, I can hear the cogs in your head spinning, what is it?’

  Lawson scratched at his chin, noting as he did, that he needed a shave.

  ‘I guess I’m wondering what you make of the Constantines?’

  ‘You want to know what I think of them. Is that it Sheriff?’

  ‘Yeah I guess it is, I can’t quite get a read on them, now don’t-cha go thinking I don’t like them, I do, they needn’t have invited me out to their home, and they seem like a real nice couple.’

  ‘But?’

  ‘Well, the husband, Dan, he seems, hell I don’t know, dangerous might be the word.’

  Harry guffawed loudly and slapped the steering wheel with the palms of his hands.

  ‘Christ Pete, anyone around town could’a told ya that.’

  Lawson looked at Harry, in the darkened cab Harry’s profile had a Roman quality to it and Lawson waited for the older man to elaborate. Several long seconds passed and then Harry nodded his head at Lawson.

  ‘I forgot; you’ve only been in the job a year or so.’ Harry spent the next two miles telling Lawson all about an incident at “Tull’s Place”. Lawson listened and when Harry had finally finished he rubbed at the bridge of his nose.

  ‘He kicked their asses?’ Lawson asked referring to the fight that Dan had not started but had most assuredly finished.

  ‘Damn straight Pete, he went through those four bad men like they weren’t even there.’

  Harry slowed to let a passing herd of deer cross the highway, he glanced at Pete and nodded his head.

  ‘Barnie was there, saw the whole damn thing, you should talk to him.’

  The deer had moved on and Harry grinded gears and the pick-up slowly began to accelerate once more.

  ‘And no one in town has seen these men since?’

  ‘Chuck and his buddies?’ Harry shook his head, ‘I saw one of the fellas the very next day. Looked like he’d gone fifteen rounds with Tyson, he was packing his car and leaving town just like Dan told him to. I figure the others did the same.’

  ‘These men, they were locals?’

  ‘Yar, but they were assholes, bad to the core, each and every one of them, and Chuck was the worst, rapist or so I was told, no one was sad to see them go.’

  ‘But still, for local men to leave behind everything and everyone that they had ever known...’

  Harry had had enough of Lawson’s attitude.

  ‘Look Sher-Iff. Dan and Chloe are good friends of mine and a lot of other folks in town like them too. Sure they keep to themselves but that’s there God given right. You asking me all these questions, it just don’t sit right with me, you hear me?’

  The venom in Harry’s voice shocked Pete, he sat back in his seat and raised his hands in a placating gesture.

  ‘Damn Harry I was only jawing.’

  ‘Uh-huh,’ Harry went silent then.

  He continued along the open road for another mile and just when Lawson figured that any further talk was out the window Harry cleared his throat.

  ‘You know Bill and Sandy
, they run the diner at the corner of Main and East?’

  ‘Sure Harry, I know Bill and Sandy, best damn coffee in town.’

  Harry laughed, ‘I’m not so sure of that but you know ‘em right, well, they have a daughter, a sweet little thing named Rosie.’

  Lawson nodded his head, ‘I’ve seen her around a couple of times, isn’t she off at college somewhere?’

  ‘Yar, that she is, well see, Rosie is really gifted around horses. She helped out at Dan and Chloe’s when they first moved out here, helped them settle in and whatnot. Well anyways, she’d always wanted to go to veterinary school, down there in Wyoming, but there was no way she could afford it, and despite all the hours Bill and Sandy put in at the diner they wouldn’t be able to afford veterinary school for Rosie if they worked ‘til they were a hundred.’

  Harry asked Lawson for a Camel and the Sheriff obliged. He waited for Harry to crank the driver’s side window down. Harry took a long drag on the filtered cigarette.

  ‘Well see, Dan and Chloe got to like Rosie, and guess who paid for Rosie to go to that veterinary school down there in Wyoming?’

  ‘They paid?’ Lawson asked with something akin to awe in his voice. ‘How much something like that run to?’

  ‘I asked around, I was intrigued myself, best I can hazard, six years at that school, to get fully trained and qualified, no grant or scholarship, no loans? About two hundred thousand dollars and change.’

  Lawson coughed on his cigarette.

  ‘The hell you say!’

  ‘I tell ya straight Pete, Rosie wants to specialise in equine medicine. The costs soon mount up, think about it, attending college hundreds of miles away, tuition fees, books, boarding.’

  ‘And Dan and Chloe just up and paid for Rosie to go?’

  Harry nodded his head.

  ‘Yes sir, when Rosie comes home for the holidays she works out at the ranch for free but whatever way you look at it, it would take her decades to work that debt off. Dan and Chloe offered it as a gift and no hidden agenda.’

  ‘Damn, that’s something else,’ Lawson said.

  Harry flicked the stub of his cigarette out of the window, red sparks blowing in the wind.

  ‘Exactly Pete, Dan and Chloe did that for Rosie, they’re good people. They’re my very dear friends so you leave them the fuck alone.’