Familiar Texas. Caroline Burnes
get your cows. Mr. McElhanney has no bill of sale, then he has no legal right to the cows.”
“You can’t do this! I’ll have you in prison.”
“You can recoup your losses from Nate Peebles,” Hank said as he pushed McElhanney into the wall hard enough to knock the breath out of him. “You weren’t going to report the income on the cows, were you? A nice little tax dodge.” He nodded as he talked. “I may just give a call to the IRS and see if they’ve audited you lately.”
McElhanney caught his breath. “You are a downright bastard, Hank Dalton.”
“You’re a crook and a scoundrel. Now I wouldn’t go any further with this name calling or I’m going to call you an empty colostomy bag and it’s going to be true because I’m going to stomp the hell out of you.”
McElhanney backed against the wall. Familiar leapt onto the filing cabinet next to him and hissed.
Hank turned to Stephanie, who was smiling. “Keep an eye on him. If he tries to use the phone, jerk it out of the wall. I’m going out to get the cows ready. We’ll just drive them back home.”
“Saddle a horse for me, if you get time,” she said. “And where is Banjo?”
Hank turned to McElhanney. When he didn’t speak, Hank reached out and grabbed his shirt again. “I can’t tell you how long I’ve wanted to thump you into next Sunday. Please, please give me a reason.”
“The dog is locked in a cage in the barn. He kept trying to go home.”
Hank pushed McElhanney back against the wall, knocking the breath out of him again. “One word of disrespect to Ms. Chisholm, and I’ll make you regret it the rest of your life. Got it?”
Familiar arched his back, fur puffed out and growled.
McElhanney cowered against the wall and nodded.
CIMARRON TROTTED up to the rear of the herd as Stephanie caught up with Hank. From behind, she couldn’t help but admire his seat in the saddle. And his shoulders. And the way he used his body to control his horse.
He heard her horse and turned over his shoulder, a smile breaking out on his face. “How does it feel to be a cattle rustler?” he asked. He leaned back so he could address Familiar, who was reluctantly seated behind Stephanie on Cimarron’s back. “Now I’ve seen a lot of things, but I’ve never seen a cat ride a horse.”
“It feels wonderful to be back in the saddle, at least to me. Familiar isn’t thrilled, but riding back was preferable to staying with Avis McElhanney, that creep.”
“You look good in the saddle,” Hank said, his gaze taking in her legs and posture.
“Cimarron is still as good a ride as she was two summers ago.” Her smile faltered. “Uncle Albert bought her for my birthday. She’s six now.”
“I know she’ll be glad to get home.”
They both turned at the yipping of a dog. Banjo broke out of the ditch, herding a stray heifer. The dog sent the cow back to the herd, then changed directions and went after a calf that had strayed into someone’s front yard.
“He’s the best cow dog I’ve ever seen,” Hank said.
“Uncle Albert adored him. He slept on the bed with them.” Stephanie held on to her smile. She had to get to the place where every good memory didn’t bring pain. Uncle Albert and Aunt Em wouldn’t want her to suffer for them. They’d want her to be happy, and she knew they’d be happy if they could see her moving cattle down County Road 17 and back to McCammon Ranch.
“Used to be every rancher in the county drove his herd to market like this,” Hank said. “Now the roads are too busy. City folk don’t like the inconvenience of traveling behind cows.”
“City folk like me?” Stephanie asked. She felt his cool gaze assess her again.
“You don’t look too refined this minute,” he said. “You’d better check a mirror. You’ve got a streak of dirt down your right cheek and what looks to be, naw, couldn’t be what I think it is, right by your right ear.”
Stephanie put a hand up and felt the dirt and something else. Something that could be sweat or worse. She brushed it away. “Thanks, Hank. You’re compliments are about as sweet as your disposition.”
He was still laughing when she closed her legs on Cimarron and leapt forward to check on the front of the herd. They only had about two miles to go, and so far she hadn’t heard any sirens coming after her. McElhanney must have been thoroughly cowed, no pun intended, not to call the police. She smiled. She’d won the first battle, but the war was far from over. Hank had told her about the dozer. As soon as she got back to the ranch, she was calling a towing company to move it. The owner could pay for the towing and the impound. That was what happened when someone trespassed on ranch property.
She saw the white fence post that marked the edge of the McCammon property. They’d made it. She looked behind her at the cows as they meandered on home. There wasn’t any point to make them hurry. They were just happy to be away from the place where they smelled death.
She leaned forward in the saddle and asked Cimarron to gallop. The little quarter horse mare responded with a blaze of speed. Stephanie let out a whoop, and then remembered Familiar was right behind her. She reached back to steady him. “Sorry, fella,” she said. “I just got carried away. This is my first cattle drive, and I just had a brainstorm. I could set up greenhorn drives. That way I’d never have to sell a single cow again.”
Greenhorn cattle drive. Sounds like hell. Who in his right mind would want to sit on top of a horse for hours on end, pushing cattle from one place to the next. I can just imagine how it was in the glory days of the west. A bunch of old men, riding horses for days, no baths or showers unless they hit a creek or it rained, bad food, sleeping on the ground. Right. A dream come true. Not for this kitty. As soon as we get to the house, I’m going to get something to eat and recline on a soft bed. I think I’m getting saddle sore!
But I learned some interesting things today. Whoever is behind all of Stephanie’s troubles is someone who can move fast and get things done. Nate Peebles. I think it’s time we paid this lawyer a visit. If I can get a ride into town, I can do a bit of sleuthing on my own. Hank, it seems, will have his hands busy with Stephanie.
I’ve been watching the two of them. He’s attracted to her, but just when it seems he’s going to make a move, he backs away. Then he gets this stern look on his face. And when he mentioned her being a city girl, he wasn’t teasing. There’s something there, but I don’t know what.
As to Stephanie, I think she’s beginning to find joy in the life she once disdained. I know she was engaged to marry Johnny Benton before she left for New York City. She told me that her folks liked Johnny and sort of pushed him on her. She went along with it as long as she could. A few weeks before the wedding, she returned his ring and left for the city. She did her best to fulfill her aunt and uncle’s dreams for her, but she had to have her own dream. Now, though, the pressure is off, and she’s beginning to enjoy the ranch. And Hank.
Now, I wonder what kind of menu Stephanie is going to offer for my dinner tonight. I gave her my brochure, which lists all of my kitty needs: heavy cream, fresh salmon, something crunchy, any type of grilled seafood or chicken, catnip treats for when I need some herbal help, scratching post, clean litter on those days when I have to stay in and think. She’s a great hostess—I’m looking forward to dinner.
HANK SAT BACK at the table and gazed at the faces of his cowhands and Rodney. They were replete and satisfied. Four of the men got up to go outside and smoke cigarettes, and the others followed. Finally he was alone with Stephanie. He stood up and began to help clear the table. Stephanie had surprised them all by putting out a spread that was as delicious as it was colorful.
“Where’d you learn to cook like that?” he asked as he helped her load the dishwasher.
“Aunt