The Rough and Ready Rancher (13 page)

“He's headed for the Circle S line shack.” She started for the stairs. “Jed caught a couple of the rustlers.”

Cooper looked thoughtful a moment before swearing a blue streak. “It's a trap.”

She whirled around to face him. “What do you mean?”

“I just remembered where I've seen Jed.” He grabbed a set of keys from the hooks by the back door and shoved them into her hand. “We've got to stop Flint. He's walking into a trap.”

Jenna stopped short. “Slow down, Cooper. You're not making any sense. Now what's this about a trap?”

He took a deep breath and held his side. “When you mentioned the Circle S, I remembered where I've seen Jed.” He paused for breath, then continued. “A couple of nights before the accident, I was in a honky-tonk in Amarillo. This guy was tanked up and spouting off about finally getting the Circle S back. I didn't know he worked for Flint or that the ranch he talked about was part of the Rocking
M. He just said he'd been pestering the present owner for several months and by the time he got finished with the guy, there wouldn't be enough left to stuff in a paper bag. It was Jed.”

“His family did own the Circle S before the McCrays.” Jenna felt sick inside. “But he's worked for Flint's family for years. Are you sure?”

“Positive.” Cooper motioned toward the door. “Now get your rear end in gear. We've got to stop Flint.”

Jenna threw the keys on the counter. “I'll have to go on horseback. The only road leading up there comes in from the north and it's miles out of the way.”

As she ran for the corral, Cooper hobbled after her. He stopped to retrieve something from Daisy, and by the time he made it to the barn, she had the buckskin saddled.

He shoved a heavy object into her hands. “Here. You might need this.”

She took the hand gun and placed it in one of the saddle bags. “Can you make it back to the house?”

“Hell, yes! Now get up there and stop Flint from walking into a trap.”

Jenna mounted the buckskin. “There's a list of numbers by the wall phone in the kitchen. Call the sheriff, then get hold of Tom on his cellular. Tell him what's going on and have him get up to the cabin as soon as he can.”

“Did Flint take one?”

She tried to think if Flint had one of the units. “No. He was in a hurry and I don't guess he thought of it.”

“Be careful!” she heard Cooper call as she kicked the horse into a run and headed in the direction of the Circle S.

 

Flint rode up to the little cabin and dismounted. He looked around the area but found no sign of Jed or the rustlers. He checked inside the lean-to. Jed's horse stood
tied to a rail, but the man was nowhere to be found. Something wasn't right.

Removing the rifle from the boot on his saddle, Flint went to the front of the cabin and nudged the door open. He cautiously looked inside, but the interior was deserted. As he walked back out into the sunlight, he felt the hair on the back of his neck prickle. The now familiar hate-filled stare was boring a hole into his back.

“It was you all along,” Flint said, turning to face Jed Summers. “I should have known. You were the one who conveniently found the note and the empty kerosene can.”

“That's right, McCray.” Jed stepped from behind a small thicket of mesquite. He pointed his gun at Flint's chest. “Drop your rifle and kick it over here.”

Weighing his options, Flint hesitated.

“Don't even think about it.” When Flint placed the rifle on the ground, Jed nodded. “Smart move. I'd hate to kill you before you sign this quitclaim deed and I get my property back.”

“That piece of paper won't hold up. My lawyers will tear it apart in court.”

“Your lawyers can go to hell.” Jed laughed. “And you won't be around to argue with what I tell 'em.”

“That's murder.”

Shaking his head, Jed slipped on a pair of leather gloves, then bent to pick up Flint's rifle. “Accident.”

“Of course.”

Jed checked to make sure Flint's gun had a cartridge in the chamber, then handed him a paper. “Sign this, so I can kill you.”

“How are you going to set up the accident?” Flint asked, stalling for time.

Jed's eyes flashed. “What do you care?”

Staring at Jed's contorted features, Flint realized he had very few options. The man was insane. But the longer he
kept Jed talking, the bigger the chance Sheriff Bartlow would show up. “Morbid curiosity,” Flint answered tightly.

“Your horse got spooked and when he piled you, your rifle went off,” Jed explained, laughing.

Flint detected movement on the hill behind Jed, and when he realized Jenna was making her way down the side, his heart came up in his throat. He had to keep Jed talking in hopes of distracting the man and keeping her location concealed. Flint refused to consider what might happen if he didn't.

Careful to keep from revealing her position, Flint asked, “How do you intend to explain my signing over the Circle S?”

Jed chuckled. “That's the best part yet. I saved my cut of the profits. Those beeves we got two weeks ago put me over the top. When they find you, you'll have the cash tucked in your pocket.” He laughed out loud. “Money made off your own cattle.”

“Who were you working with?”

“What do you care? You'll be dead.”

“I told you, I'm curious.”

“I got a couple of buddies up in Oklahoma with a semi.” Jed looked pleased with himself. “And another one who used to work at a packing house. He'd dress them brutes out in a refrigerated trailer and take 'em to another guy with a counterfeit stamp.”

Flint made a show of disgust by rolling his eyes in order to let his gaze dart to where Jenna stood. He almost wished he hadn't. She'd managed to slip around to the side of Jed. If the man decided to take a shot at her, there wasn't a damned thing Flint could do to prevent it from happening.

“You won't get away with it,” he warned Jed.

“And just who's gonna stop me?” Jed's grin was filled with confidence. “Dead men cain't tell no tales.”

“I will,” Jenna said, leveling her gun on Jed. She'd never before pointed a firearm at another human being, but she'd do whatever it took to save Flint.

“W
hat the hell are you doing here?” Jed asked.

“Cooper finally remembered why you looked familiar.” She shrugged one shoulder. “When you drink, you get very talkative.”

Jed's curse was crude and guttural. “He shoulda died.”

Jenna narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I saw you two talkin' down by the creek that day he stopped to visit, but you didn't see me. After I spouted off in that bar, I figured I'd better cover my tracks. So I asked around and found out he'd drawn The Shredder for his first ride. The mornin' after the fire, I broke into his truck, stole his vest and messed with his equipment.” Jed shook his head. “If that bull rope had turned loose one jump sooner…”

Jenna had heard enough. The bull Jed mentioned was notorious for trying to hook a rider with his sharp horns, and Jed had already said he'd intended for Cooper to die.

“Drop that rifle or I swear to God I'll shoot you.”

Jed sneered. “That's a mighty big gun you've got there, missy. It takes a lot of guts to pull the trigger and I don't think a little gal like you—”

Jenna took aim at Jed's hat and fired.

When his hat landed in the dust several feet away, Jed cursed. “Dammit to hell! You pull another stunt like that and I'll kill McCray. This is between me and him.”

“Not anymore.” Anger coursed through her. “Not after you made me a target by cutting that cinch. Then you went after my brother. I'd say that makes it my business, too.”

“I figured you'd tuck tail and run.” Jed sneered. “As many times as I set you up, you shoulda got the message.”

“I don't scare easy. And I'm not afraid to fire a gun. I've proven that. Now drop the rifle.”

Jed waved the gun at Flint. “I'll shoot him first!”

“I haven't signed the deed,” Flint reminded him. “Your plan won't work unless I do.”

“Sign it,” Jed demanded.

Flint shook his head. “No.”

Wild-eyed, Jed started to swing the gun toward Jenna. “Sign it or I'll shoot
her.
”

Jenna had already redirected her aim to the rifle in Jed's hand and braced herself for the kickback. She didn't want to take a chance on his reflex action causing the rifle to go off, but the second the barrel cleared Flint's chest, she fired again.

As the bullet grazed his hand, Jed let out a yelp, dropped the gun and sank to his knees. Cradling his hand, he looked up at Jenna. “You ruined everything.”

“Watch him,” Flint said, bending to scoop up the rifles. He placed them well out of Jed's reach, then got his rope from the bay's saddle. When he had Jed tied up, he looked down at the man. “Why, Jed? Why did you do all this?”

His eyes filled with hatred, Jed stared at Flint. “You and
your damned family stole what was rightfully mine. I should be ranchin' the Circle S instead of you.”

“Your father sold this land over twenty-five years ago,” Flint reminded him. “You were listed as a MIA in Vietnam, and he lost heart in trying to hang on when he thought you were dead.”

“And you McCrays were standin' by, just waitin' to take advantage of a broken-down old man.” Jed's face twisted with disgust. “You didn't have enough of your own land. You bastards had to come after mine.”

Flint shook his head. “Your father offered us first chance to buy the Circle S, since it bordered the northern boundary of the Rocking M. We paid fair market value for the property.”

Jed laughed hysterically. “By the time I got back to the States, the old man had killed himself by drinkin' up the money, and I was left with nothin'.”

“If you felt this way, why did you start working for the McCrays?” Jenna asked. “Surely you can't blame them for something your father did.”

Jed's wild gaze turned to Jenna. “I wanted my ranch back.”

“But why now?” Flint asked. “Why wait all this time?”

“Every one of you McCrays have done somethin' to make the Rocking M bigger,” Jed snapped. “When you found that brat of yours, I couldn't stand by and watch him grow up to take over. I'd a never got my land back.”

“Why didn't you try to buy back the land?” Jenna asked.

Flint watched as something inside Jed seemed to snap and he began to babble incoherently. The man had let years of angry resentment fester into vengeful madness.

Flint ushered Jenna away from Jed. “Let's wait over here.”

Her hands shook uncontrollably, and it appeared she might drop the ominous-looking weapon she still held.

“Where did you get this?” He took it from her and put it with the rifles. “It looks like a damned cannon.”

“When I started traveling around by myself, Cooper bought it for me and made sure I knew how to use it.” Her voice sounded shaky, and Flint could see the strain etched in her beautiful face. “He said I'd probably never have to fire it—that the sight alone would discourage anyone from bothering me.”

She shivered and Flint wrapped his arms around her as distant sirens drew closer. Jed had been right. It did take a lot of courage to point a gun at someone and pull the trigger.

“I'm glad you showed up, darlin'.” He kissed the top of her head and held her tight. “I was beginning to think I'd seen my last sunrise.”

 

It was well after dark by the time Flint called Whiskers to tell him it was safe to bring Ryan home.

“You say that little gal saved your bacon?” Whiskers chortled. “Didn't I tell you 'bout her?”

Flint smiled. “Yes.”

“You're gonna lasso her and brand her, ain't ya?” the old man's voice crackled across the long-distance wire.

Flint glanced at the glass dome on the mantel. “I'm thinking about it.”

“You're a damned fool if you don't try.” Whiskers's voice sounded suspiciously choked. “I kinda got used to havin' that little gal around.”

Long after he hung up the phone, Flint sat staring at the necklace. He'd kept the necklace he'd bought for Nicole to remind him of what women were really after from a man. But Jenna wasn't like Nicole, and it was high time he
stopped comparing them. He knew Jenna would never ask him to get rid of the necklace. It just wasn't her style.

He rose from his chair, walked to the fireplace and lifted the glass dome. He stared at the glittering stones in his hand. He would do everything he could to make Jenna happy for the rest of their lives. And tomorrow morning was as good a time as any to start by laying the past to rest. He fully intended to remove the only barrier standing between himself and the woman he loved.

 

Jenna stood at the corral and watched Black Satin run across the pasture. The day she'd been dreading had arrived. She'd completed the stallion's training, and, an accomplished rider in his own right, Flint could show the horse himself.

Besides, it was obvious Flint wanted her to go. He knew she would finish with Satin today and leave the ranch. But he'd left early this morning and still hadn't returned. He probably wanted to avoid an uncomfortable situation when she and Cooper departed.

She took a deep, shuddering breath and walked back to the house. Six years ago it had taken her a long time to pick up the pieces of her shattered dreams and move forward with her life. But this time she knew for certain she'd never recover from the pain of loving Flint and not having that love returned.

Hearing a truck coming up the long drive, Jenna turned to see Whiskers and Ryan pull into the ranch yard. She'd hoped to be gone by the time they got back. Leaving the Rocking M would be one of the hardest things she ever had to do, and the thought of saying goodbye to them only added to her sorrow.

“Jenna!” Ryan ran across the yard to hurl himself into her outstretched arms. “I missed you. Did you miss me?”

“Of course I did,” she answered around the lump rising
in her throat. She picked him up and held him close. “I haven't been able to play Go Fish since you left.”

“I'm home now.” His arms encircling her neck, Ryan hugged her back. “You want me to go get the cards?”

“I, uh…” Jenna couldn't bring herself to tell him she had to leave. When three lively balls of yellow fur came racing around the corner of the house, the dogs' excited yaps put an effective end to Jenna's dilemma of having to tell the little boy goodbye. She hugged him once more, then set him on his feet. “Your puppies missed you, too.”

The dogs licked Ryan's cheeks. “I'm glad to see you guys.”

As Ryan ran across the yard with the puppies in hot pursuit, Whiskers limped up to Jenna, his toothless grin wide. “It's good to see you, gal.”

Jenna smiled. “We all missed you, Whiskers.”

The old man apparently saw through her cheerful demeanor. “What's wrong?”

“Nothing,” she lied.

Frowning, Whiskers shook his head. “I don't see like I used to, but I ain't blind, gal.”

She gazed at the open pasture. “I…I'll be leaving the ranch in a couple of hours.”

“Does Flint know 'bout this?”

“No.” She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “He's not here.”

“Well, where is he?”

“I don't know. He left before I got up this morning.”

“Then you just sit tight and don't go nowhere till he gets back,” the old man commanded.

She smiled sadly. “I can't do that.”

Whiskers jerked off his hat, threw it to the ground and stomped it. “If I live to be three hundred, I don't guess I'll ever see two people as mule-headed as you and Flint. You both been chompin' at the bit for one 'nother ever since
the day you met.” He picked up his hat, slapped it against his leg and started for the house. “The way you two pussy-foot around one 'nother is enough to make a body sick.”

Jenna watched Whiskers slam the door behind him. She realized his anger was fueled by disappointment. He'd made it crystal clear from the minute she came to the Rocking M that he'd like to see her stay.

Tears filled her eyes. There was nothing she wanted more than for the Rocking M to become the home she'd always longed for, to stay on the ranch with the people she loved. But Flint's absence indicated he wanted her gone.

Jenna squared her shoulders. She'd never groveled for anything in her life. And she wasn't going to start now. If Flint decided he could put his distrust and the past behind him, he'd have to come looking for her. She wouldn't embarrass either one of them by being here when he returned. She had more horses to train and a life to put back together.

 

“Have you tried talkin' to her?” Whiskers asked Cooper.

“Until I'm blue.” Cooper stuffed another shirt into his duffel bag. “But once she makes up her mind, bulls will start roosting in trees before she changes it.”

Whiskers scratched his head. “Well, ain't there some way we can keep her here 'til Flint gets back?”

Cooper shook his head. “I don't think so. I've already taken three times as long to pack as I should have.”

“What about your back?” Whiskers asked. “Ain't it startin' to pain you a mite?”

“I've already tried that, too.” Cooper grinned. “She made me take a pain pill.”

 

By the time Jenna got Cooper to leave, it was late afternoon. He had so many excuses for prolonging their departure that she'd finally just thrown his duffel bag in the back and demanded he get in the cab of the truck.

When she pulled away from the ranch yard for the last time, her hands clenched the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned white. Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks, but she impatiently blinked them away. Flint had failed to show up all day, and the significance of his absence was devastating.

“After we get my truck out of the storage yard in Amarillo, are we going to get a motel room and wait until morning to head out for Houston?” Cooper asked.

“We will if you need to. But Daisy doesn't have air-conditioning, and traveling at night would be cooler.”

“It doesn't matter to me,” Cooper said, staring out the window. “Stop the truck!”

She hit the brakes. “Why?”

He frowned and got out of the truck. “I heard a hissing sound. We may have a tire going flat.”

Jenna opened the driver's door and checked each one of Daisy's tires. “I didn't hear anything. Are you sure?”

“Looks like Flint's back,” Cooper said, folding his arms across his chest and leaning against the fender. He looked way too pleased with himself.

She whirled around to watch the truck turn into the long ranch drive. Turning back to Cooper, she blessed him with a string of creative phrases, then accused, “You saw him coming.”

“Somebody had to save you from yourself.” When she jerked open Daisy's door, he touched her shoulder to stop her. “I think you should at least talk to the man.”

Her throat tightened, and unshed tears burned her eyes. “I don't know if I can.”

Cooper shrugged as Flint stopped the truck a few feet from where they stood. “What have you got to lose?”

“Pride, dignity, self-respect—”

Flint walked up to them, planted his feet and folded his
arms across his chest. “Just where do you think you're going?”

Jenna brought her chin up at his imperious tone. “My job here is finished. It's time I move on.”

He shook his head. “We still have a few matters to clear up. I haven't been shown that the work you've done with Satin is to my satisfaction.”

“You know it is. You watched me put him through his paces the other night.”

“Cooper, can you drive her truck up to the house?” Flint asked, taking her by the arm to lead her to his own truck.

Cooper's grin broke through. “No problem.”

“Get in, Jenna,” he ordered.

“No.”

“If that's the way you want it, darlin', that's the way you'll get it.” Flint picked her up and set her on the bench seat, then slid behind the wheel and started toward the house. “We have things to settle. I haven't paid you for the ranch work or the training.”