by Hebby Roman
Owning Montana had been his goal. As in the entire state! At the time, she’d laughed and he’d left, red faced and angry, vowing she’d rue the day. Rue the day? She’d forgotten those exact words had actually come out of the man’s mouth.
Perhaps stealing her stock was nothing in this grand scheme of things. Maybe he was up to more. She refused to let him do this to another rancher. There must be something she could do? After several minutes of brainstorming, the only thing she could come up with was relying on the support of the community to help black ball the rustler.
She started making a list of all the cattle ranches nearby to inform them of what Ramsey was up to. Perhaps she could follow-up with a flyer to post at the local mercantile, exposing the man for the lying thief he was.
Own Montana? Hell, after she was finished with him he’d be lucky to still have a prospering ranch. Maybe she didn’t have his money, but she’d prove to be resourceful in other ways. Even if it was the last thing she ever did.
Chapter Six
An early riser, even by ranch standards, Sawyer quietly slipped out of the bunkhouse. Once outside, he breathed a heady lungful of chilly air and headed to the field to check on the new mom and her baby.
He kept his distance, but ventured close enough to see both were doing well. He then cast his keen stare over the other cows. All seemed in order. Sawyer glanced in the direction of Addison’s ranch. Maybe it was time to meet the neighbors after all.
Trudging through the snow-covered field, he followed the trail she’d left behind and shortly found the fencing separating the properties. He noticed the spool of wire sitting by the fence post, then tested the tautness of the line. Not as rigid as it could be, but not needing replaced, he wondered why she’d mentioned it.
Shaking his head, he slipped through the barrier and onto her property, then continued the trek until he saw the silhouette of an old farmhouse looming in the distance. He paused for a moment, questioning his motives. He shouldn’t get involved. If he were smart, he’d turn around this instant and go back to Ramsey’s ranch. But Addison’s words repeated themselves, twisting at his gut.
I’m not a thief. Your boss is.
What if she spoke the truth? No. Not possible. Stealing cattle wasn’t something to take lightly. Rustlers got shot for taking another’s property. An image of Addison with a smoking rifle in her hand came to life. He wouldn’t put something like that past the girl.
Sawyer ventured closer, stepping onto the wraparound porch. He spared a quick glance around. Though the house was in need of a coat of paint, the rest of the ranch was in good shape and set up nicely, with the calving pen adjacent to the barn. Somebody had taken a great deal of time and effort to map out the separate pastures to get the most use out of the land.
He admired the property for a few more minutes, then rapped on the front door. A bark announced him, followed by the scuffling of feet and a moment later the entry was opened. Addison stood before him with a scowl on her face. The dog growled, then proceeded to sniff his boot.
“What do you want, Sawyer?” she questioned.
Obviously irritated, her features showed little shock. Other than the furrow of a finely arched brow, it almost seemed as if he were expected.
“Answers,” he drawled casually. “Hi Scout.” He bent down so the dog could smell his hand. A few sniffs and the animal wagged his tail letting him know he’d passed the test. Sawyer patted the pup on the head, then rose. “Cup of coffee would be good too.”
Addison pursed her lips, studying him with a thorough gaze before stepping back and granting him entrance. He followed her through a tight hallway and to the kitchen. She pointed at the table and he sat down. The pup settled down by his feet.
She glanced at the dog and mumbled, “Traitor,” before walking over to a cupboard and grabbing two mugs. She filled them both with coffee and placed the cups on the table, then retrieved a small container of cream, and a bowl of sugar. Once settled in a chair, she peered at him over the top of her cup, then took a sip.
Under the scrutiny of her intense gaze, he shifted nervously in his seat. Not normally intimidated, the reaction caught him off guard. “I…ah…I wanted to talk to you about yesterday.”
“Why? Because you figured out I’m right?” She slammed her mug down. Hot, brown liquid sloshed over the sides and onto the wood. Scout scrambled from beneath the table and relocated to the corner by the door. “Damn it,” she cursed, then stood and took two steps toward the sink.
Grabbing a dishrag off the counter, she returned and mopped up the spilled coffee, then tossed the rag in the sink before returning her attention back to him. Thrusting both hands on her hips, she locked him in the intoxicating hold of her gaze again.
Her expression changed suddenly and a flitter of concern marred her stare. “Oh no. Is the heifer okay? Or is it the baby?”
“Both are fine. The calf has been up and walking around. Following on the heels of his mother.” Sawyer eased her concerns. “I’m here because I wanted to thank you for showing up when you did. Don’t get me wrong. I could’ve handled the birth without you, but it’s always nice to have help. Plus, I have my suspicions you might be onto something. You mentioned the brand. I thought maybe we could discuss it.”
“Discuss what? You can go out into my pasture and see the same mark on any of my stock. All circle R. Ramsey’s a liar and a thief. And…and,” she paused as her voice cracked. “Jacobs is too. The two crooks belong together.”
“Maybe I can help?” he offered. Nothing riled him up more than a thief. If what she was saying were true, they needed to do something about it. Knowing her cattle had been rustled simply didn’t set well.
A hard glint darkened the tawny shade of her eyes to a deep golden umber. “Not much you can do.”
Damn the girl was stubborn. “Having someone on your side might be to your advantage. Especially if that person is employed by the enemy.”
“Why would you stick your neck out for me? What’s in it for you?” she questioned his motives, distrust evident in her stare.
“I have no loyalty to Ramsey. This is just a paycheck for me. Hell, it’s only my second day on the job.” Sawyer shrugged nonchalantly. He purposely left out his personal concerns of not finding it easy to trust the man. “And for some reason, you intrigue me.” He took a drink from his cup and awaited her response.
“You don’t even know me,” she countered, pursing her lips tightly.
“Like I said, I’m intrigued,” he stated without hesitancy. When she didn’t reply, he continued, “I met Jacobs the day I caught you spying. And I saw him in the bar the night you kiss…,” he paused and cleared his throat. “The night we met. I’m assuming he works for you?”
“Worked. He’s gone now.” The rigid line of her mouth quivered and she slipped into the chair. “He was my foreman. My right-hand man for five years. And my father’s before me.”
“So, why would he stab you in the back? What’s in it for him?”
“Money, I guess.” She ran a fingertip along the rim of her cup. “Even though my ranch is holding its own, I can’t afford to pay my workers much. I provide a roof over their heads, plus three square meals a day. Until now, Jacobs had no complaints. At least I didn’t think he did. Boy, was I wrong.”
Sawyer considered her words. In a matter of a few sentences, she’d summed up each and every one of the many jobs he’d left behind. Though some had paid better than other, none were bad gigs. If he’d had something to hold his interest, he may have stayed at one or two of them.
Room and board plus three meals didn’t leave much need to spend a lot of money. In fact, a cowboy could do all right for himself if he saved his wages. He had a big chunk of money in the bank proving the theory. Monotony had always been his demise.
Apparently boredom didn’t factor in when it came to Addison’s former foreman. And judging by her emotions when she mentioned his name, the man’s departure had damaged more than her trust. His betrayal h
ad caused mortal wounds.
“What about calling in the law?”
A sneer curled her top lip. “Already tried. Sheriff Gatlin’s a joke. ‘Sides, I think he may be either in on this or getting some kind of kickback from Ramsey.”
Sawyer continued studying her face as he silently analyzed the situation. She had no respect for the sheriff, but without the law on her side, the girl was in over her head. This was not his problem. He should walk away. In fact, he should run. He had no business being here. He repeated the thought in hopes the concept would stick.
It didn’t.
“How about if I swing by later and give you an update on the momma and baby? Maybe try to figure this out?”
She sighed, then scooted her chair back and stood. “Listen, I appreciate you stopping by and all, but I already have everything I need figured out. I just want what’s mine. Once I get my cattle back on my land, there won’t be a damn thing anyone can say or do about it. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get started on my chores. Between this little chat and warning the neighbors about your boss, I’m now behind schedule.”
Sawyer nodded at the dismissal. He’d overstepped his bounds. Gotten too close. However, he couldn’t disregard the few moments when she’d let her guard down, granting him entrance into her world. And now, as he held her gaze, he couldn’t overlook the determined gleam in her eye. She was up to something.
If the girl was going to make a move, he’d be ready.
* * *
Addison watched Sawyer go. His visit had inspired conflicting emotions. Angrily, she considered marching over to Ramsey’s ranch, guns blazing, and just take what was hers. Of course, she’d be outgunned and lose the fight. No, she had to be sneaky…lower her standards like Ramsey.
And what about the handsome cowboy who’d just left? Though he’d seemed sincere, could she trust him? Didn’t matter much at this point. She’d laid her plans out for him. Hopefully she hadn’t shot herself in the foot.
She glanced down at her pup. The animal had accepted the man without trepidation. Unusual behavior for the cautious cattle dog. Scout didn’t care for strangers, especially men, but apparently he had no issue with Sawyer.
Maybe there was something about him which put the dog at ease. Like his scent. An enticing masculine mix of leather and musk. Or perhaps it was the way he carried himself, confident and self-assured.
The man had the opposite effect on her. And it damn sure wasn’t calming. Even though he’d been gone for several minutes, her body still hummed with the undercurrent of nervous energy he’d incited.
What the hell was wrong with her? He wasn’t the first good looking cowboy to cross her path. Nor, she doubted, the last. And at the moment, thoughts of him were sidetracking her. Though needing to start on chores, Addison made sure she was prepared for tonight first.
She walked over to the large gun case bolted to the floor in the back corner of the spare room, then swiftly punched in the code, and swung open the heavy door. She freed one of the three shotguns and contemplated whether to carry a sidearm too. Deciding on just the shotgun, she grabbed a box of shells and locked the case back up.
Ramsey may be intent to own Montana, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to get there by taking what was hers.
Chapter Seven
“Are you questioning me?” Sawyer growled at the gangly cowboy. For the third time today, the skinny ranch hand, known as Slim, had challenged his authority. “Ramsey put me in charge. Not you. If I say to cut this herd, then do it. Starting with the large black angus over there.” He pointed at a cow he knew to have Addison’s brand marking its hide.
The goal had been to separate the cows so he could get a proper head count of how many cows were actually Addison’s, then isolate those from Ramsey’s in case she were planning anything stupid in the near future.
However, doing this without his boss finding out was going to be trickier than he’d thought. Especially with a ranch hand bucking every order.
The man opened his mouth in objection, but Sawyer thrust his finger in the air again putting a quick end to the discussion. No doubt, he’d hear from Ramsey about this, but Sawyer would worry about coming up with excuses for his actions when the time came.
What the hell was wrong with him? Why on earth was he risking a good job to help some damsel in distress? He didn’t know her. Nor did he owe her a damn thing. Yet, here he was gambling with his future.
A little late now. For starters, he was already in too deep. He’d spent most of the day segregating the cows. What would his next move be? Helping Addison steal the cattle?
He urged Sadie forward with a light jab from the heel of his boot and walked the fence line of the new field. Satisfied with the pasture, he turned his attention to the corral holding the pregnant cows and heifers. After checking on them, he could call it a day.
His first stop was the lean-to housing the new mom and baby. After spending a few moments making sure both were okay, he spurred his horse toward the fence line. Halting at the spot he’d walked through yesterday, he dismounted. The spool of barbed wire caught his eye again and suddenly her plans dawned on him.
She was going to muster the stock through this section and then replace the fencing when done. He spun around and gazed at the herd in the newly stocked pasture. He was helping her steal cattle.
For a moment he stood there contemplating what he should do. He’d known she was up to something, but stealing the cattle back like this had never entered his mind. The girl was likely going to get herself shot.
Intent on finding another way, he mounted the gray mare and headed back to the barn to stable Sadie for the night. As he was brushing her down, he glanced up to see Slim, the cowboy he’d had words with previously, stroll in. A smirk lined his weasel like face.
“Ramsey wants to see you.”
“Let me guess. This has something to do with our little chat earlier?” Sawyer sneered. He’d known the man was going to cause trouble. Expected it even. Just not this soon.
“I don’t know what you are talking about it,” the man denied before scampering away like the four legged creature he favored.
“Yeah, I bet,” Sawyer countered, shaking his head. He finished the grooming then exited the barn. He found his boss at the new corral.
“I see you been making a lot of changes,” the man drawled, keeping his stare centered on the pasture.
Sawyer leaned his weight on the fence. He placed the toe of his boot on the bottom rung before answering. “A few. The cows and heifers closest to calving are in the field over there like you wanted.” He pointed to his right. “And these guys will be going to auction.” He nodded to the field in front of them.
Ramsey said nothing and Sawyer wondered if the man was counting the cattle or figuring out a way to fire him. After a long moment, he spoke. “You wonder why I hired you in the bar that night?” he paused, before continuing. “I had a feeling about you. I knew you could get the job done.”
Not knowing how to respond, Sawyer remained quiet.
“You remind me of myself when I was younger. I had the same get ‘er done attitude. Ran over anyone who got in my way or tried to stop me.”
Sawyer clenched his jaw. He was nothing like Ramsey. However, he had his doubts this conversation was about comparing character flaws.
“Hope you’re going to stick around, son. If you do, just a word of caution. Be careful of who you intend to run over.”
A hard palm slapped his back and he faced the man. Holding his steely gaze, Sawyer considered the grave warning.
If he were smart, he’d leave now.
Chapter Eight
Addison waited until dusk, then saddled Chesney. After stuffing a hammer, pliers, and various other things she’d need to repair the fencing into the saddle bags, she was ready to go.
On the ride, doubts started to settle in. Slowing her pace, she second-guessed the rash decision. If all went without a hitch, then she had nothing to worry about. The hi
tch was what concerned her. Anything could happen. Maybe she should’ve demanded the aid of one of her ranch hands, but that meant risking their lives. And she couldn’t live with putting any of her crew in jeopardy.
Perhaps charging in with guns blazing wasn’t such a bad idea after all. This sneaking around didn’t sit well. Who stole their own cattle? At least Sawyer had done her a favor by isolating the expecting mothers. But how would she manage gathering the others? Especially in the dark and by herself? And what happens tomorrow when Ramsey realizes his new stock is missing?
Maybe this wasn’t such a well thought out plan after all. Then again, what other choice did she have? She neared the fence line and dismounted, then tied the horse to a post.
Scout released a low growl, alerting her to the presence of another. She squinted, peering into the dark. A shadow moved on the other side of the fencing. Slowly, Addison trailed her fingertips along the horse’s side until she made contact with the hard butt of the shotgun, then unfastened the weapon from its holster. “Who’s there?”
Pulling the 12-gauge free, she braced it on the back of the saddle and placed her finger on the trigger. The cold steel welcomed her touch like an old friend. “Don’t move or I’ll blow a hole clean through you,” she warned through clenched teeth.
Movement stirred the air as the silhouette came closer. “Whoa. It’s me. Sawyer. So, you are really going through with this?”
“You’re lucky you answered.” She relaxed her hold and tucked the shotgun back into its holder. Circling her horse, Addison neared the fence. “What the hell are you doing here?”
The grass rustled, and his dark outline became clearer. “I came to stop you from doing something stupid. Or help you. I haven’t decided which yet.”
“You won’t be able to stop me,” she said sternly.
The pressure of his hand clamped onto her arm. “Let’s step away from the opening. I don’t trust Ramsey. For all I know, he could have Slim watching my every move.”