Ground training, p.3
Ground Training, page 3
part #1 of Immortal Outcasts® Series
“Oh, I’m beyond riled up,” spat Ace. “If you’re not going to be serious and you’re just going to invent stories, then I don’t have time to—”
“Invent stories?” she echoed, shaking her head. “But I’m not making it up. It’s real. The animals told me so.”
“Charley.”
“Barnes,” she returned, stamping her foot for emphasis. “I’m not making it up.”
“Uh-huh, okay, sure. Whatever.”
She calmed some. “The animals don’t like them people in white. They’re bad people, Barnes.” Charley glanced downward. “Daddy wasn’t happy when he heard about them being back again. Said he’d deal with it himself. Then he left for the day. He made me promise to stay up here, not to wander. Don’t know when he’ll be back. It’s okay though, I got my best friend here to play with.”
Ace gave her a stern look. “I’m not your friend. Go make up stories somewhere else.”
“No,” she returned, completely unfazed by his outburst. “And you are my best friend.”
“Am not,” he protested. “You’re like three years old or something. We can’t be best friends. I’m way too old, and you’re way too young.”
“I’m four, almost five,” she shot back.
He groaned. He was never, ever having children of his own. Not if dealing with kids was always this hard.
She laughed.
“Where is Mrs. Bowker?” asked Ace, worried about what Charley might have done to the poor woman, especially since the woman hadn’t shown up once looking for the child.
Charley got shifty-eyed quickly.
“Charley?” Ace pulled off one of his work gloves and rubbed his temple. “Is she tied up in the house like you did to Mrs. Spokes?”
Charley clutched her heart with her empty hand, smearing ice cream on her shirt as she feigned shock right before she took a bite of her ice cream sandwich. “I didn’t do that,” she said, her mouth full.
Ace nearly laughed. She most certainly had tied up one of her nannies. Thankfully, she’d not ratted out Ace, who had been the one to show her how to tie knots properly with rope the day before the incident. He’d simply wanted to give her a task that would keep her busy and out of his way. He had no idea the little hellion would use that knowledge to bind her nanny.
Charley lifted her hands in the air and shrugged. “I got no idea how she got tied up. Wasn’t me. Maybe there were little gremlins that came and did it. Never trust a gremlin, Barnes.”
“Didn’t I hear your father scolding Benat about letting you watch a movie with gremlins in it the other day?” asked Ace.
Charley attempted to look innocent. “Maybe? Maybe not. Uncle Benat says I gotta learn to appreciate the classics. I don’t know what that means. Do you?”
“I’d be happy if you learned to appreciate playing somewhere else,” muttered Ace as he removed his other glove. “So, where is your new nanny?”
“That old goat is sleeping—again,” said Charley with a growl that would make any shifter proud.
Ace’s eyes widened. “You didn’t give her anything to make her sleep, did you?”
“Give her something? What do you mean? Like poison?” she asked, wonder showing on her face.
Ace realized he’d just given her a new idea. Not that the kid needed anything in the way of encouragement. She was quite capable of creating mayhem all by herself. He strongly suspected she had a future filled with crime ahead of her.
Not that he was one to judge. He wasn’t exactly what anyone would call law-abiding anymore. Still, Charley didn’t need his help on her road to criminal masterminding.
“Do not, under any circumstance, poison her,” Ace said, trying hard to drive home his point. He didn’t want to hear about her poisoning anyone.
“What if she’s a wicked witch or an evil queen or something?” asked Charley, taking another bite of her ice cream sandwich, which was now all over her mouth and left cheek. “We should probably poison her then, right?”
“Charley, no,” he said, folding his arms across his chest.
She rattled off three additional hypothetical scenarios that could potentially result in green-lighting the use of poison.
Ace wasn’t sure if he should be impressed or worried for mankind. “No. I’m serious.”
She rolled her eyes dramatically and waved her free hand at him dismissively. “Relax, Barnes. I promise not to poison her.”
“How about you promise not to poison anyone?”
She let out a long, drama-laced sigh. “Fine. But that’s a really big promise to make. The kind you only make to your best friend.”
He tipped his head, staring down at her, wondering how Samuel made it through an entire day without pulling out his hair in frustration. Then again, Charley was a lot like her father—a handful—so maybe the man saw enough of himself in her that it didn’t register.
Ace had never asked where Charley’s mother was, and Samuel never offered the information. Ace wasn’t sure why the woman wasn’t in the picture, but it was very clear Charley was being raised by a single-father ranch owner. She was a tomboy through and through.
“Where is Mrs. Bowker really at? You didn’t lock her in the cellar like you did that one lady, did you?” demanded Ace. He mentally ran down the list of things Charley had done to chase off nannies to date. It was extensive, and he hadn’t been working at the ranch all that long.
Charley’s smile widened a second before her expression grew serious. It was evident she was working hard to keep from laughing. “I never locked nobody in the cellar. Can I help if the door shut behind and locked on its own? Bet it was gremlins then too.”
“You make me very happy that I never had kids,” said Ace.
She giggled. “You’ll have some one day, Barnes.”
Ace shook his head, stepped around her, and headed to the trailer again. He grabbed two hay bales and turned, nearly tripping over Charley again. He lifted the hay bales high, worried he’d hit her with them. “Charley.”
She stared up at him. “Barnes.”
“Go bother someone else,” he said.
“I bother you?” she questioned.
“Yes,” he snapped.
Her bottom lip jutted out as she averted her gaze. “Okay. I’ll go.”
Sighing, he lowered the bales carefully. He liked to think of himself as a man hardened by time and circumstance, but Charley’s tears had a way of getting him to fold quickly. “Fine. You can stay, but stop following me around so closely. I could have hurt you just then. I’m big. You’re little.”
Excitement lit up her face. “I’ll stay out of your way.”
He waited for her to move.
She didn’t.
“Charley.”
“Barnes?” she replied.
“Move.”
“Oh, right,” she said, stepping to the side.
With a chuckle, he carried the bales into the barn and tossed them onto the stack. He turned around slowly, fully expecting to find Charley standing right behind him.
She wasn’t there. She was standing on her tiptoes on a stool just outside of Earl’s stall door, peering over the top of it at the old horse.
He’d have worried, but she was rather well known for being a climber.
“I know,” she said as her shoulders slumped. “I told him you don’t want to be here no more. That you hurt. He’s like all grown-ups. He don’t listen so great.”
Ace nearly took offense.
She nodded. “Yeah, he’s my best friend, but you’re right. He is as stubborn as a mule, but you got his name wrong. It ain’t that, it’s Barnes.”
Ace huffed.
A mule? Really?
Her brows drew together. “But you want to go so bad. You don’t gots to be here to keep me safe.”
Ace drew in a quick breath. He had to force himself to remain calm. Charley was a little kid with a big imagination. She wasn’t actually in danger of doing anything more than annoying the living hell out of him.
She smiled. “Cinnamon, I got Barnes here to keep me safe. You don’t gotta worry none. He’s big. He won’t let them take me.”
While Ace more than understood she was young and that she lived in a world of make-believe, he couldn’t stop the worry that crept into his gut.
You’re being ridiculous. She’s fine.
Charley continued chatting with the horse, and Ace returned to work, moving hay from the trailer to the stack. He was at the trailer, grabbing more bales, when he heard a rifle discharging. Concern for Charley raced through him.
Dropping the hay bales, Ace rushed into the barn to find Earl stomping his hoof and snorting as Charley leaned far over the top of the stall door, reaching for him. He knew she was agile, but the idea of her falling in with the horse and getting hurt didn’t sit well with him.
“It’s okay, Cinnamon,” she said, nearly tumbling into the stall.
Ace was to her before she’d have fallen. He swept her up and into his arms before heading toward the back exit of the barn.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and held tight.
He didn’t bother scolding her. The kid wouldn’t have listened anyway. No. She’d find the biggest, tallest tree on the property and climb it if he pushed too hard. There was no point risking it. Plus, he was relieved she was safe, but he wasn’t about to admit that to her. She’d take it as a sign they really were the best of friends.
Ace saw Benat, the ranch foreman, on horseback, approaching the barn. The man had a rifle in a rear flank long gun scabbard. “What happened? Who fired a rifle? You?”
Benat nodded as he drew the horse to a stop, inclining his head. “Warning shot.”
“For?” questioned Ace, still holding Charley as if something might leap out and get her. “This have something to do with people in white?”
Benat’s face paled slightly, and Ace found himself holding Charley to him tighter. “Were they here? This close to the main house?”
“No, who are they?” asked Ace.
“If you ever see them, get Samuel or me right away, okay?” From the look on Benat’s face, he didn’t want to discuss the topic further.
Ace nodded but fully intended to question the man more about it all later. “What was the warning shot for?”
“Samuel and I noticed a pack of coyotes that have been getting a little comfortable coming near the ranch,” said Benat. The smell of the lie hung in the air between them. Ace let the man have it, more because he strongly suspected the lie had been for Charley’s benefit, not Ace’s. But later, he’d get answers from Benat.
“And?” asked Ace.
“We found their den,” the man said.
“Were they in it?” asked Ace.
Benat shook his head. “But they’ve been preying on whatever they can get their paws on. Found a bunch of pet collars in there.”
Charley touched Ace’s cheek. “Did the coyotes want collars to wear? Like pets? We should find them and let them know they’re loved too. They can be our pets. We can teach them tricks, Barnes. I always wanted a dog, but Daddy says no to getting one.”
Ace opened his mouth to tell Charley why the collars were really in the den but stopped. He didn’t want to be the person who burst her bubble. He’d let her be ignorant to the truth. “Uh, I’ll check on them later to see if they’re interested in being pets. But I’m guessing they’re not. Okay?”
She nodded. “Thanks, Barnes. You’re a great best friend.”
Benat lifted a brow and then cleared his throat. “We found something else. Something bigger than the den.”
“What?” asked Charley, her eyes widening. “Did you find Tank? I miss Tank. He was really big.”
“Tank?” questioned Ace.
Benat rubbed the back of his neck, grinning as he did. “Bull that was a permanent fixture around here for a while.”
Charley frowned. “I miss him. When is he coming back, Uncle Benat?”
Benat glanced briefly at Ace and then plastered a smile on his face. “Don’t know, sweetie. I know he was your buddy.”
Charley nodded proudly and then leveled a serious look at Ace. “But you’re my best friend, Barnes.”
“Hey, I thought I was your best friend,” said Benat.
Charley groaned. “That was last year, Uncle Benat.”
“How quickly I’ve been replaced,” added Benat, his expression going serious as he focused on Ace. “Samuel noticed mountain lion tracks near the den. There is blood there as well. The tracks were off.”
“Off how?” questioned Ace.
“Big,” said Benat. “Really big. Same for the coyotes. And it looks like at least one of the coyotes is hurt. Same goes for the mountain lion.”
Charley wiggled to get down. “Barnes, we gotta go help the kitty and the coyotes!”
He held her where she was. “Absolutely not!”
Her bottom lip began to quiver.
“Sorry,” Ace said with a grunt. “I didn’t mean to shout.”
Charley nodded and then tipped her head to the side, looking toward Benat. “Did you shoot the coyotes?” asked Charley, her eyes widening in horror. “Uncle Benat?”
“No, hon, I didn’t,” stated Benat quickly. “I fired a warning shot. I didn’t aim at any. Promise.”
She breathed out a sigh of relief. “Good. Because it’s not nice to shoot something for doing what it does naturally. Right?”
Benat pressed a smile to his face. “I really wish I could see the world through your eyes, Charley.”
She gasped. “You want to take my eyes?”
Benat laughed. “No. Never mind. Your eyes are safe.”
“Oh good,” said Charley, still clinging to Ace’s neck. “I thought I was gonna have to have Barnes be mean to you.”
Benat snorted. “Got him wrapped around your little finger, I see.”
Confusion covered Charley’s face. She lifted one of her hands and stared at her fingers. She shook her head. “Uncle Benat, I don’t got him on my little finger at all. And he’s very big. I don’t think he’d fit.”
Ace chuckled. “It’s a saying, Charley.”
“Oh.” She nodded but didn’t look to be following. “Before you did the warning shot, did you ask the coyotes why they were coming so close to the ranch?”
“No. I was a little too worried they might try to eat you to stop and converse with them,” said Benat.
“Don’t be silly, Uncle Benat. They won’t eat me,” she returned.
“Because you’ll have Barnes be mean to them?” asked Benat, clearly amused with the situation.
Ace grunted.
Charley touched Ace’s cheek. “You won’t be mean to them, will you, Barnes? You know they won’t eat me, right?”
“They’re dangerous, Charley. Don’t get any ideas in your head about looking for them. While you may think they’re pretty and just like a dog, they could kill you. Same goes for that mountain lion Benat mentioned.”
She patted his cheek. “Silly goose. It won’t do that. I’ll ask them what they want. I can do that. I can talk to them.”
Benat stiffened. “Charley, where is Mrs. Bowker? You should be with her.”
Charley eyed Ace.
He fought to keep from laughing. “You’re in trouble now, aren’t you?”
“Only if the old goat wakes up,” she said before clamping her mouth shut.
Benat shook his head. “You age me rapidly, kiddo.”
She smiled and then canted her head. “What does that mean?”
“Nothing.” Benat dismounted and tossed the reins of his horse over the nearest fence rail. He headed right for Ace and Charley. “How about I take her up to the house?”
“Is she going to stay there, or will she give her nanny the slip again and go off and search for coyotes and the mountain lion?” questioned Ace.
“That one,” said Charley, earning a chuckle from Benat and a growl from Ace.
“Least she’s honest.” Benat took her from Ace and carried her over to the horse. He set her upon it and stayed close, spotting her. “I won’t let her run off.”
“Uncle Benat,” said Charley, wiping a tear away from her cheek. “We gotta go help the coyotes and the kitty. It’s not nice to let an animal be hurt or sick alone. We should help them. That’s the nice thing to do.”
Ace did his best to keep from yelling. “Charley, they’re dangerous enough as is. Hurt, they’re downright deadly.”
“I can talk to them,” she stressed quickly. “I can tell them that we just want to help them and they won’t be dangerous then. Huh, Uncle Benat?”
Benat patted her lower leg gently. “Barnes is right. They’re dangerous enough as is, Charlotte-Jane. Hurt, they’re even more unpredictable.”
“But I can talk to them,” said Charley, clearly not understanding the severity of the situation and that injured wild animals were deadly. “They won’t be un-pre-dic-tables then.”
Benat sighed softly. “Your daddy is looking for them all right now.”
“To help them?” asked Charley with all the innocence of a child.
“Yes,” said Ace quickly. “To take any who are hurt to the doctor.”
“The vet?” she questioned.
Ace nodded. “Yep. The vet.”
“Good,” she replied, wiping her cheeks once more. “I’m gonna be a vet when I’m big. I’m going to make all the animals better. I won’t let any be sick or hurt alone.”
Benat glanced at Ace, looking tired. “I’ll take her up to the house and stay there until Samuel gets back.”
Ace waited until Benat had led the horse and Charley toward the main house before returning to unloading hay. While he’d been full of energy earlier, he was waning. He strongly suspected that had something to do with dealing with an almost five-year-old.
Kids were downright draining.
Chapter Three
Ace strummed his guitar as he sat on a cut log that was upright, acting as a seat around the bonfire that Samuel had started after everyone had gathered for dinner in the bunkhouse. The cook had made beef stew, a crowd favorite. Ace and the other ranch hands had gathered out behind the bunkhouse where multiple picnic tables were and had eaten outside. Samuel and Benat had joined, with Charley following close behind. Of course, Charley insisted on sitting next to Ace to eat her stew.
