I’m so lucky to have you, Darla.

  I had a bit of free time before my first event so I hiked to the arena to find the boys and see if they found their seats. When I found them, all sitting in a row, Mr. Watts was there with Taylor and he was all smiles handing out cans of Coke to each of the boys.

  “These are great seats, Logan,” said Will. “Thanks for the tickets.”

  “No problem. It’s gonna be hot today, so keep your hats on.”

  “We’re okay,” said Glen. “Good luck, Logan. I hope you win.”

  “Thanks.”

  “We’re cheering for you, Logan.” Lenny gave me a thumbs up.

  “Rowdy’s here and he’s tough competition, boys. That’s one thing you have to learn. Respect your competitors. They’re working just as hard as you are and they want to win just as badly.”

  I gave the boys a wave as I left and went down below. Rowdy was leaning on the fence chatting to all the guys like he always did before his events.

  He turned to me and gave me the big grin. “Hey, Logan. I heard you started up a little rodeo school on your ranch. How’s that going?”

  “Great. Better than I expected. It’s fun. The boys are eager to learn and we have a great time. Also, good practice for me every day. Keeps me in shape.”

  “Something to think about. We’re getting older every day.” Rowdy chuckled.

  “My boys are all here today.” I checked my watch and we still had some time. “Come on. They’ll be so excited to meet you.”

  “Think so?” Rowdy flashed me the famous smile that made girls fall at his feet.

  “Only take a minute. They’re all in their seats.” I led Rowdy to the section the boys were in and said, “Somebody came to say hi to y’all. These are my boys, Rowdy. This is Taylor, Glen, Will, Lenny, Rob and Frankie.”

  “Hey, guys, hope y’all have a great day at the rodeo. Y’all had the best teacher a man could hope for.” He shook all their hands and they stared in a reverent silence.

  We walked back down to get ready for our event. “Thanks, Rowdy. That was nice. Appreciate it and I know the boys did too. They’ll be talking about it for a year.” I chuckled.

  We mounted up and Rowdy was ahead of me in the draw in the first round. The sun was beating down and I was hot and sweating before I even started. My shirt clung to me like a second skin.

  Rowdy galloped into the ring and did his usual stellar job. He and his horse, Zeke, set a good time to beat.

  Then it was my turn and I counted on Bowie more than I counted on myself. I gave it my best shot and waited for the announcement.

  “Looks like we got ourselves a tie, folks. I guess we know how the steer roping final is going to go down.”

  After both my events, I was in the top three going into the final at the night show.

  Jack, Lauren, Clay and Bonnie Sue found me as I was cooling Bowie out and putting him in the corral for a rest.

  “Hey, Logy, you did fantastic,” said Jack. “You’re in great shape for tonight.”

  “Thanks. Should be a good round tonight.”

  “We should go help Darla,” said Bonnie Sue. “She’s been alone at the merch table all afternoon.”

  “Let’s do that,” I said. “I could use a beer too.”

  Clay’s face lit up. “Exactly what I was thinking, Logy. Beer tent is next.”

  We made our way through the crowd and found Darla looking hot and tired. “Do you want a break, sweetheart?”

  “I wouldn’t mind a bathroom break and a burger,” she said. “How did you do in the ring?”

  I chuckled. “Tied with Rowdy.”

  “Wow, that will be a great final,” said Darla.

  “Clay and I will watch the booth while you and Logan get food,” said Bonnie Sue. “We’ll take turns.”

  Darla smiled her thanks. “I sold a lot of stuff. We’ll have to order more for next weekend.”

  “We will?”

  “You’re popular, sugar. The kids love you and so do the adults.” Darla took my hand and we went to find food.

  JACK stood in front of the merchandise table looking at all the stuff and said, “We should be wearing Logan’s t-shirts, Lauren. It’s only right.”

  Lauren giggled. “I guess it is. We’re his biggest fans.” She picked up one of the shirts. “Let me see the sizes.”

  Bonnie Sue picked up a tank top with Logan’s picture on it. “These are cute, Lauren. I’m getting one of these.”

  Jack picked up a black one, took off his own shirt and pulled the new t-shirt over his head. “How do I look?”

  DARLA and I came back from our break and there was a crowd around the merchandise table. Jack and Lauren had taken over the booth wearing matching t-shirts and they were selling stuff like crazy.

  I watched them for a few minutes and couldn’t help laughing. Jack had a way with the fans, that was for sure. “I’ve got to go get ready for the next round. You guys better get some food.”

  THANKFULLY the night competition was cooler by a few degrees. Bowie probably appreciated it even more than I did. I was ahead of Rowdy in steer roping and I realized I’d have to lay down a stellar time or he would whip my ass.

  As we waited in the chute ready to go, I whispered to Bowie. “Make it a good one, boy. Rowdy is right behind us.”

  Bowie must have listened because he flew into the arena, I threw the rope and we were done, just that fast.

  “That’s a record, folks. A new fastest time for the Pleasantville Rodeo. Let’s hear it for Logan McKenna.”

  The crowd roared and I gave a wave as I left the arena.

  Rowdy was up next and when he had something to shoot for it made him all the tougher. He was something else. I stood by the fence under the grandstand and watched him.

  “Wow, he’s fast,” I mumbled to myself.

  “There you have it, folks. Another tie for Logan McKenna and Rowdy Butler.”

  I chuckled to myself. It made for a great show for the fans and I couldn’t have been happier. Rowdy came riding in with a big grin on his face.

  “Way to go, Logy. We showed ‘em, didn’t we?”

  “Yep. They loved it.” I shook his hand and headed for Bowie’s trailer.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Sunday, October 11th.

  McKenna Ranch.

  WE had a surprise waiting for us at the barn when we arrived for chores. “Hey, over here,” hollered Clay. “We got us a new baby bull, and the mama did it all by herself.”

  I rushed through the stalls to have a look and he was a cutie all right. “He looks sturdy. We need a dandy name for him, Clay. We’ll think about it at breakfast.”

  “A good start to the day, Logan. Our bull business is taking off.”

  “It sure is. Things are finally going in the right direction.”

  Darla had coffee ready and breakfast on the stove when chores were done.

  “New baby bull this morning.” I gave her a hug.

  “Ooh, does that mean we get to pick out another name?”

  “Sure does. I’ve been putting their names on their neck tags so we know who’s who and don’t get the bloodlines mixed up.”

  “How about Lightning Bolt?” asked Darla.

  “Pick a couple more and we’ll vote when Jack’s here.”

  “I’ll run out and see the new guy right after breakfast.” Darla poured coffee for Clay and I and sat down at the table with us. “Where is Jack?”

  “I think they stayed at Lauren’s place in Preston. He thought I booked rooms like I usually do, but Pleasantville wasn’t far and I didn’t bother. They’ll be home soon.”

  “I can’t believe he picked that fantastic ring out all by himself,” said Clay. “Never pictured him doing something like that on his own.”

  I chuckled. “Lots of things about Jack lately that we never pictured. He’s a lawman. He’s a rancher. He’s getting married. And he knows how to pick out a ring.”

  Clay snorted. “We underestimated our little brother and we never really knew him at all.”

  Doctor Hillier’s Townhouse. Preston.

  JACK woke up and glanced around the room wondering where he was. He’d woken up in lots of different beds over his wild oat-sowing period, but that was over now. He’d found the woman of his dreams and he wasn’t messing it up.

  He left Lauren sleeping and slipped into the bathroom. After a quick shower, he got dressed and headed for his ranch to feed the horses.

  Spinner Ranch.

  EARLY in the morning the ranch was so quiet and peaceful, Jack loved to sit on the steps and just listen to the horses. Exactly what he planned to do as soon as he took care of the herd.

  He parked his truck, thinking he could use an oil change, and went straight to the barn to get the feed.

  The forty-one hungry equines nickered in the corral when they heard him or smelled him—he didn’t know which. “I’m coming. Be there in a minute.”

  The barn was dark and empty, but Jack had no intentions of leaving it that way. As soon as he had it cleaned out, he’d make good use of every inch of space.

  The granary to the left, just inside the door was the only part Old Jessup had been using. It was clean and full of hay and oats for the horses.

  Jack stepped into the granary, reached for the bucket hanging on the hook and… a pain ripped through his head…everything went dark.

  JACK came around a few minutes later and his headache was back with a vengeance. At first he couldn’t figure out why he was lying on the granary floor.

  A loud groan escaped his mouth as he tried to sit up and he wanted to hurl. He rubbed his hand over his head and felt a gooey mess in his matted hair. “Aw, shit. Don’t tell me the stitches have opened up again.”

  His brain was trying to tell him who was hiding in the barn. He felt like he knew who it was. The name of the person was close to the surface, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

  Jack grunted as he sat up and leaned his back on the feed bin. He tried to think. Who was it? If it was Bobby Paisley he’d be dead meat, so it wasn’t him.

  Who’s your next choice?

  Buster’s name came up next but Buster Tate was in the Preston hospital chained to a bed.

  Feeling more than a little queasy, Jack slowly got to his feet. He leaned on the granary bin for balance and with shaky hands, he filled two large buckets with oats. Wondering if he had the strength to lift them, he gave it his best shot and headed for the door.

  Jack stepped outside and the intensity of the sunlight nearly finished him. He squinted his eyes half shut against the rising sun as he trudged along. The pain in his head was blossoming into something ugly and something else besides the pain was bothering him. As he shuffled towards the corral, a thought flickered through his head that he couldn’t quite grasp.

  What else is wrong? What am I not seeing?

  Jack stopped on the laneway, set the heavy buckets down and glanced around. What the hell was it?

  “Aw, Jeeze. My truck is gone.”

  Dakota.

  Jack whipped his cell out of his pocket and called Clay.

  “What’s up, Jack? Where are you?”

  “At my ranch.”

  “Why do you sound funny? Are you hurt?”

  “A bit. Dakota was hiding in my barn waiting for me and she clocked me with something. She knocked me out and stole my truck.”

  “Why would she do that? And why would she be in your barn before daylight?”

  “I haven’t figured that out. But she is pissed at me.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Umm… medium terrible. My head is bleeding a bit and I have a headache. That’s nothing new. I need you to pick me up. I’m feeding the horses first and then I’m going to Preston to arrest her ass.”

  “You’d better get Lauren to look at your head, Jacky. You don’t want those stitches coming apart again.”

  They are apart.

  “Come get me, Clay.”

  “I’ll be there in a couple of minutes. I’m finishing breakfast with Logy and Darla. Almost done.”

  “Bring me something I can eat in the truck, Clay. I’m starving.”

  “Yep. Can do.”

  Five minutes later, Clay was there with Logan.

  Preston Target Range.

  JACK ate the egg sandwich Logan made for him while Clay drove. Logan sat in the back seat asking questions.

  “Why would she do something so crazy, Jacky? I don’t get it.”

  “Oh, I get it,” said Jack. “She’s pissed because I saw her kissing Rowdy Butler at the Grover County Rodeo and I dumped her. I left her there and she was furious. That’s why she stole my truck and left me stranded. Payback—pure and simple.”

  “Did she have to hit you and knock you out?” asked Logan. “You’re not over your head injury yet.”

  “That’s assault with intent or something,” said Jack. “Sheriff Tucker will know what to charge her with, or Bonnie Sue will. I’m not familiar with the manual.”

  Clay pulled into a parking spot in front of the building. “Maybe we should have picked Bonnie Sue up before we came here.”

  “Surely the three of us can cuff Dakota and bring her in,” said Jack. “She’s only one small girl.”

  Clay pointed and said, “There’s your truck parked down there at the end.”

  “Yep. I knew it had to be her.” He pulled out his cell and called Sheriff Tucker.”

  “Hey, Jacky, it’s Sunday. Did you forget?”

  “Nope. Did not, Sheriff. I was having a peaceful Sunday myself when Dakota Peale surprised me at my ranch. She knocked me out and stole my truck. I’m at the Range here in Preston and I’m gonna bring her in, Sheriff.”

  “You’d better wait for me, son. Be better all-around if I was there. Wait. I’ll be along shortly.”

  “Thanks, Sheriff. I’ll wait for you.”

  “He’s coming?” asked Logan.

  “On his way.”

  Five minutes later Wade Tucker stepped out of his Jimmy and joined the boys in front of the Range entrance. Jack rubbed his head and felt a lot like puking.

  “Your head bleeding again, Jack?”

  “Yep. Don’t know what Dakota hit me with, but I’ve got to get Lauren to fix me up again.”

  “Shit, Jack. I don’t understand. Why would a girl do this?”

  “No clue,” said Jack. “Maybe she’s nuts.”

  The sheriff pointed. “Your truck is right there.”

  “Yep, it is, but where are my keys, Sheriff?”

  “Let’s go get the keys from her and bring the girl in for questioning,” said Sheriff Tucker. He opened the door and led the way inside.

  Dakota was at the end of the run wearing noise mufflers. She was concentrating hard on her target and didn’t hear them coming.

  Sheriff Tucker walked right up behind her and grabbed her arm. He jerked the sound mufflers off her head and pulled his cuffs off his belt. “You’re under arrest, Dakota, for assault and grand theft auto.”

  She turned to face him and smiled a crooked little smile. “You can’t arrest me, Wade. I’ll tell the whole world about you and me in the storeroom. What’s your wife gonna think about that?”

  Jack felt his stomach turn over at the mention of the storeroom.

  “You just try that, girl,” said the sheriff. “I’m adding blackmail to the charges. Hold your hands in front of you.”

  Dakota spun around with a wild look in her eye and hollered, “I’m not going to jail, Wade. Nobody is taking me in. Especially not Jack McKenna. I should have finished him when I had the chance.”

  Sheriff Tucker grabbed Dakota by the arm. “Put the gun down, Dakota. You’re coming with me.”

  “No way. I’m not giving up my gun.”

  The sheriff grabbed for the gun, got his big hand on it and tried to wrestle it out of Dakota’s smaller hand. She twisted and squirmed, the whole time screaming curses at him.

  “Let me go, you old fucker. I was good to you. Too good and look what it got me.” She grunted, kicked at him then gave him a huge shove. The gun came free.

  Bang.

  The gun went off and Sheriff Tucker fell to the concrete. Dakota ran with her gun in her hand and Jack ran after her. “Call an ambulance,” Jack hollered over his shoulder.

  Jack chased Dakota through the target area and followed her through a door he didn’t know existed. She slammed the door in his face and it only slowed him down for a second. He was right on her heels as he burst out into the bright sunlight.

  For a couple of seconds, he lost sight of her, then he blinked two or three times and saw her running down the side of the building heading for her truck.

  “Stop or I’ll shoot.” Jack called the warning.

  She turned and fired and Jack hit the dirt as the bullet zinged over his head, so close he heard it cut through the air. Dakota was the best shot in Preston County and it was no secret. Every body knew it was true.

  Lying on his belly in the dirt, Jack fired two quick shots in her direction.

  Bang. Bang.

  Dakota stumbled and fell into a patch of high weeds close to the chain link fence.

  Breathing hard, Logan caught up and stood over Jack. “You okay, Jack?”

  “Get down, Logan,” Jack shouted. “Go back inside. She’s down but she’s armed and she’s a damned good shot.”

  Logan crouched down close to the wall of the building next to a big blue dumpster. “Clay is waiting with the sheriff and he called Bonnie Sue to come and help you. She should be here soon.”

  Bang.

  Logan ducked lower and a bullet ricocheted off the dumpster with a loud ping. “Jesus Murphy, that was close.”

  Bang.

  Jack fired at the flashpoint and heard Dakota moan. “I think I hit her. Throw out your gun, Dakota. I have the ambulance coming. You need help. Don’t be a fool, girl. Give it up.”

  “Shut up Jack. I hate you.”

  Bang.

  Jack was watching like a hawk and fired as soon as he saw the flash.

  Bang.

  Dakota jumped up out of the weeds, dragging one leg and screaming like a wild woman. She headed towards him and Logan firing her gun as she ran.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18