His cousins remained silent.
Likewise, Franny had little to say when the trio was ready to go. She offered nothing more than a brief call of thanks.
Gertie would have elbowed someone and said they were too much in their own heads.
Shane wasn’t lost in thought. His heart had scaled his throat at the thought of Franny riding one of those bulls.
“Are we giving up on the photo trail?” Bo asked when they were in Shane’s Hummer navigating the switchbacks that led to the highway.
Shane shook his head. “No. First off, we need someone to show us where the road on federal land is.” That wasn’t true. First off, they needed to help Franny prepare the bulls for the stockman.
“I’d say that’s it.” Jonah shifted in the back seat.
“You’re quitting?” Shane slowed, turning to glare at Jonah. “You’re done?”
“No.” Jonah pointed out the window. “That gate there. It says No Trespassing and there’s some legalese that only a government agency would put on a No Trespassing sign.”
“There’s a lock.” Bo put his window down for a better look. “I saw bolt cutters at the general store.”
Shane had never noticed bolt cutters. But then again, he’d never ventured very far into the hardware section.
“Might I suggest...” Jonah waited until Shane and Bo turned to look at him. “If Franny has a right of way from the government, she probably has a key.”
“She’ll never give it to us.” Shane let up on the brake and the SUV continued down the hill. And if he and his cousins went up there without Franny’s permission, he’d never have the chance to hold her in his arms again.
Jaded Shane thought that was for the best.
Sentimental Shane wasn’t so sure.
“If we come back tomorrow to help, we might see the key somewhere.” Jonah’s voice took on a master-criminal quality as he formulated his plan. “And if that key happens to go missing for a day or two, who’s to know?”
Bo and Shane exchanged a quick glance.
“Was Jonah always this evil-minded?” Shane asked. “And we just didn’t notice?”
“Yeah.” Bo nodded. “It’s all that pent-up frustration from writing sugary sweet teenage scripts. It’s like a virus that keeps making him worse. Speaking of worse, shouldn’t you ask me if I’m willing to ride a bull before offering me up as a sacrificial lamb?”
“Technically,” Shane said, “I didn’t promise you’d be the one to ride.”
“Well, I’m not riding,” Jonah said staunchly.
“What are you worried about, Bo?” Shane slowed as they approached the narrow highway. “You grew up in Texas. That practically makes you a professional.”
“Hardy-har.” Bo wasn’t amused. “I was twelve and I rode sheep. When I turned thirteen, I rode bulls three, maybe four times one summer before I decided I preferred working on engines to being worked over by six hundred pounds or so of beef.”
“But you know how to do it,” Shane insisted.
“Baaaaah.” Jonah chortled from the back seat.
Bo twisted around and glared at him. “Knowing what to do and being stupid enough to do it are two separate things.”
“Okay, if you truly believe Grandpa Harlan would have stood aside and let a woman be in danger when he knew how to do something...”
That silenced his cousins.
“You better hope I don’t get myself killed,” Bo grumbled.
Shane grinned. “It’ll take more than a bull-in-training to take you out.”
“Famous last words.” Bo grumbled some more.
“I love Second Chance.” Jonah clapped his hands. “It’s inspirational gold for a writer. I wish I would’ve come here sooner.”
“Me, too,” Shane said.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
FRANNY WAS LATE picking up the boys from their teacher at the Bent Nickel.
She’d waited for Shane and his cousins to leave the ranch before telling Gertie how well the city slickers had fared. Her grandmother-in-law would be ecstatic to learn Shane was determined to trace his grandfather’s history, which she suspected was tied to Merciless Mike’s gold.
Shane didn’t realize how risky it was to follow those photographs. They could lead nowhere or straight to a large, feral bull.
When she pulled up to the diner, Adam and Charlie tumbled out the door, shouldering backpacks and carrying their sweatshirts with the sleeves dragging on the ground.
“Where’s Davey?” Franny asked as they climbed into their seats in the back.
“He’s in trouble,” Adam said, as if this was an everyday occurrence.
It was not.
“He shoved Jamie and had to write sentences about how bad it is to hit people.” Charlie snapped on his seat belt. “But I think Jamie deserved it. Maybe tomorrow when we come back, I’ll hit him, too.”
“You’ll do no such thing.” Franny rammed the truck into Park and shut off the engine. “Stay here.”
Inside the diner, Davey pressed his face against the glass, looking near tears.
His teacher, Eli Garland, held open the diner door for Franny. Eli ran the independent-study school for the county. He was attractive, of a certain age, but for whatever reason, he hadn’t caught Emily’s eye. “Thanks for coming in, Franny.”
Davey rammed Franny’s side, sticking to her like glue.
Eli cleared his throat. “Davey, do you have something to tell your mother?”
“I lost my temper,” Davey said in a small voice.
Franny stroked his soft brown hair, tears filling her eyes. There was only one reason Davey ever lost his temper—when someone touched a nerve about his missing hand.
“Jamie made a remark Davey took exception to.” Thankfully, Eli didn’t repeat it. “Davey, why don’t you get in the truck while your mom and I finish up?”
Davey didn’t need the offer of escape repeated. He darted out the door.
There were still some children at the back table of the diner. Jamie wasn’t among them.
Their presence made Franny keep her voice down. “I hope Jamie’s okay.” That was a lie. She hoped Davey had given the kid something to think about the next time he wanted to bully someone.
Franny guiltily shoved aside the thought. Good moms shouldn’t condone retribution.
“Jamie’s fine.” Eli’s whisper was designed for privacy. “He got what he deserved. You know how kids can be. They push, looking for a weak spot. I just want Davey to know he shouldn’t rise to the bait. Since this won’t be the last time someone makes fun of his disability.”
“He’s not disabled.” The words tumbled from her stiff lips like ice cubes from the refrigerator dispenser.
“He’s not.” Eli placed a hand on her shoulder, attempting to soothe. “You’re right. But a physical difference will always make him stand out.”
Franny jerked her shoulder free, even as she thought, Don’t upset Eli. It wasn’t his fault. And it was a privilege for her boys to be allowed to be with him and the other local kids every morning. He was only required to give each student one hour a week.
It was just nothing was going her way lately. Disappointments added up like unpaid bills.
But I have Shane.
She didn’t have Shane. He had an agenda, one that didn’t match her own. He was looking for Merciless Mike’s gold, trying to walk in his grandfather’s footsteps. A fool’s errand.
The cell phone in her jacket pocket began to ring. It was her father-in-law.
She thanked Eli and left the diner to stand outside in the brisk spring air. “Hey, Will. Is everything okay?”
“I was going to ask you the same question.” Will Clark’s voice was deep and deliberate. “I hate to bring this up, but it’s approaching the fifteenth of the month and we haven’t received your
check.”
“Right.” Bile rose at the back of her throat. “We’ve had some weather delays that have kept potential stock buyers away.” Not a complete lie. “I hope to send you a check soon. How’s Tabitha?”
They exchanged pleasantries as Franny climbed into the truck on shaky legs. The boys called out greetings to their grandfather—even Davey, who was still looking as if there was a black cloud over his head.
“I’ll be looking for that check,” Will said before signing off.
“I’ll be looking for it, too,” Franny murmured. She started the truck and headed for home.
“Is Davey grounded?” Adam asked from the back seat in a woeful voice.
“If he is, I get to use his video-game time.” Charlie sounded thrilled. “Maybe he shouldn’t go to camp this summer.”
“Charlie,” Franny warned. “This has nothing to do with Davey’s camp.”
“Mom.” Charlie wasn’t giving up on this opportunity to torture his older brother. “You always say we have to watch every dollar.”
Davey choked back a sob.
“Charlie, this is your last warning.”
Franny wasn’t going to take away camp. Davey loved being with kids like himself. And he’d been told there were donor angels that helped regular attendees with the cost of prosthetics.
Huffing while his brothers argued, Davey crossed his arms over his chest.
“What would Dad say?” Adam asked.
It was so hard to keep Kyle’s memory alive that Franny had devised a method to keep his presence felt among her sons. “Your dad would say that fighting is a last resort.”
Davey huffed again.
“But your dad would also say that you have to defend yourself because bullies won’t respect you if you don’t.”
Davey’s scowl slowly morphed into a smile. His arms loosened. He blew out a breath.
“You mean Davey’s not getting punished?” Charlie was beside himself. “I should’ve punched Jamie, too!”
“Not so fast, young man. You know what your dad would say to that.” Franny left the statement open ended.
“‘Clarks fight their own battles,’” the boys chorused.
There were several Clark-isms in the family arsenal.
Clarks don’t quit.
Clarks hang tough.
And Franny’s personal favorite: Clarks know how to survive.
The only trouble was, Franny was only a Clark by marriage. She wasn’t sure she knew how to get them through this rough patch.
Except she did know.
She needed to stop procrastinating and train some bulls.
* * *
DAVEY CLARK WAS tired of being the oldest.
His baby brother, Adam, got away with everything.
And Charlie... He had a mouth on him, but never seemed to get in trouble.
No. It was Davey who always got caught, who always got told to stop playing and act like a man.
Sitting in Yoda’s stall after school, Davey ground his stubby left wrist into his leg. His arm ached where it ended because he’d slugged Jamie with it.
Not that he hit people often. In fact, hardly ever.
Dad would’ve been angry. Angrier than Mom.
Davey had been angry, too. If he just had a hand, Jamie wouldn’t make fun of him. That strange lady wouldn’t have come up to him in front of his friends in the diner a few days ago.
Granny Gertie was always talking about Merciless Mike and his gold. If Davey had Merciless Mike’s gold, he could buy a new hand. He could pay for camp with the other missing kids every year. Maybe even buy Mom a new deep freezer, since theirs was always conking out.
Charlie should never have suggested Davey miss out on camp. Charlie had two hands. He didn’t understand how important it was for Davey to go to camp with other kids like him.
* * *
“UNCLE SHANE, I DON’T want to hike no more.” Alex leaned against Shane’s leg.
The Monroe men had only just returned to town and collected the twins to relieve Laurel. Intent upon finding more clues about Grandpa Harlan, he and his cousins had taken to the trees behind the trading post, but hadn’t found any photographs in the lengthy five minutes they’d been searching.
Shane ruffled Alex’s hair. “Is this because your aunt Laurel said she was going to get a milkshake at the diner?”
“No-o-o,” Alex said unconvincingly.
“Yes.” Andy wasn’t interested in playing games.
“We just started hiking.” Bo leaned against a tree and frowned at the twins. “Toughen up.”
“Have you forgotten what it’s like to be a kid?” Jonah still walked stiffly from their ride. “Their four basic food groups are milkshakes, French fries, pizza and cake.”
“I’d expect you to remember all that kid stuff,” Bo quipped, rolling his eyes. “Seeing as how you wrote all those kiddie shows.”
“It sounds like someone other than the twins needs a milkshake.” Shane glanced downhill toward the trading post. And, eureka! “Hey, there’s one right there.”
Bo perked up. “Where?” He hurried down the hill. “If it is a picture, I’m buying milkshakes.”
The twins didn’t wait to seek permission. They followed Bo.
“Look. It’s Grandpa Harlan and Grandma Ruth.” His first wife. Shane rose up on his toes for a closer look. “He’s older there than in that other picture we found on the Bucking Bull.”
The twins bemoaned being unable to see the photograph.
Shane picked up Alex and pointed out the discovery.
“And there’s more of him in the picture.” Jonah squinted at it. “Which means it was put here later since the bark hasn’t grown over the photograph near as much. What’s that behind him?”
“The church.” Bo picked up Andy and held him so he could see. “There’s the steeple behind Harlan’s ear.”
“Do you know what we need to do before milkshakes?” Shane asked the twins. “We need a side trip to the church.”
The twins groaned.
“Come on, cowpokes.” Bo swung Andy around to his back. “It’s time for a piggyback ride.”
“Piggyback rides,” Jonah scoffed, and lifted Alex from Shane’s arms onto his shoulders. “Shoulder rides are better. Watch out for tree branches, kid.”
It became a race. Jonah versus Bo with the twins giggling and Shane bringing up the rear.
They crossed the highway and hurried farther up the slope behind the church.
“I don’t recall Grandpa Harlan being religious,” Bo said.
“Maybe he got married here.” Shane turned, taking in the view of the valley before continuing uphill. “Like Sophie.”
“I am definitely writing a screenplay about this,” Jonah muttered. “Only the characters will search for clues during a still, moonlit night.”
“If you don’t include that bear trap, I’m going to be disappointed.” Bo swung Andy to the ground.
“Look. Right here.” Shane stopped in front of a tree on the edge of a narrow rise. “Is that a picture of Grandpa Harlan?”
“Wearing a preacher’s suit?” Bo shook his head. “No way was our grandfather ever a preacher.”
“What’s a pitcher’s suit?” Alex asked from atop Jonah’s shoulders. “Like in baseball?”
“Prea-cher,” Jonah said, enunciating. “Like the man who married your mother and Zeke.”
“Oh.” Andy craned his neck toward the picture. And then he patted Jonah’s head. “I’m ready for my milkshake now. Chocolate, please.”
“I need to go see Gertie.” Shane rubbed grime from the plastic and peered at the woman Harlan was with. He didn’t recognize her. “If I had to guess, I think this is Irene. And the minister is Hobart.”
“Who is Irene?” Jonah gaped at him, swinging Andy to the grou
nd. “And why are you holding out on us?”
“I’m just recalling odd bits of information locals have mentioned to me since I arrived. According to Roy, Irene wasn’t married to Harlan.” Shane blew out a breath. “In a backward twist of logic, it makes sense.”
“This is like a game of Clue.” Jonah sighed heavily. “I stopped liking that game when Ashley beat me to the library and accused Professor Plum of doing the deed with the rope.”
“I’m confused.” Bo set Alex on his feet and headed down the path. “And that means only one thing. I need a milkshake.”
The twins trailed after Bo, echoing their confusion and thirst.
Shane took a picture of the photograph in the tree. “I’m going to uncover the truth. And I bet the path to the truth begins at the Bucking Bull.”
“What do we do now?” Jonah lingered with Shane.
“We’re going back to the ranch.” He headed after Bo and the twins. “After we treat ourselves to milkshakes.”
* * *
“THERE WILL BE no homework this afternoon,” Franny announced after the boys finished eating their afternoon snacks.
The boys whooped. Granny Gertie lifted her white eyebrows.
Charlie raised his face to the ceiling. “Video-game da-a-a-ay!”
“First dibs!” Davey shouted over his brother.
“No—no.” Franny was quick to squelch that idea. “Saddle up. I need you to help me move some stock into the chutes for training.”
Everyone looked at her as if she’d lost her mind.
“That’s Zeke’s job. And Emily’s.” Charlie scratched his unruly brown locks.
“Before it was their job, it was my job.” Mine and Kyle’s. “It’s time you boys began learning how to run the ranch.” If the Bucking Bull went under, she wanted her children to experience ranch life while they could.
“Sweet!” Davey ran to the foyer to put on his boots.
Charlie ran after him.
Adam tugged Franny’s hand. “Even me?”
It nearly broke Franny’s heart as she nodded and said, “Even you.” She needed every body, every horseman.
Lassoed by the Would-Be Rancher--A Clean Romance Page 14