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“It would be more merciful if they came right out and told him. At least then he could come home.”

We sat down for breakfast and the boys dug into their ham, eggs, and pancakes. Annie was used to making big breakfasts at her own ranch, feeding half a dozen cowboys at every meal.

“I love these biscuits,” said Harlan.

“Peach jam,” said Jackson. “Put peach jam on them. That’s the best.”

Davey nodded in agreement.

“Harlan wants to check the cameras this morning,” I said. “Annie-girl can ride with him while I run down to the station and feed the prisoners. Jacks and Davey can go with me. We’ll meet back here and get ready to go to Marilyn’s.”

“Yep,” said Harlan. “I want to see if any more of Hannah’s lying fuckers came over onto our ranch.”

Annie winked at Harlan, and he colored slightly.

Right after breakfast, I left with Jacks and Davey while Annie and Harlan cleaned up the kitchen before going on their ride to the back of the ranch.

Harlan was quiet and a bit nervous while he and Annie were alone together in the barn saddling up the horses. From the next stall Annie started talking to him and startled him a little.

“I grew up in the foster system in Toronto. No parents. I never knew my mother until a couple of years ago. I got married too young because I felt so alone, and it was a big mistake.”

“Why are you telling me this stuff?”

“Because I want you to know you can be anything you want to be. You have Travis in your life now and he’s one of the good guys. He’s tough and hard as nails, but he’s got your back.”

“Travis is the best thing that ever happened to me. I lucked out the day I got paroled into his custody.”

Annie tightened the strap on her saddle. “Yeah, you got lucky. You ready to go?”

“Yep.”

“You and Windrider getting along okay?”

“I love him. He’s a great horse. Did you raise him from a colt?”

“Uh huh. He was born in my barn, fathered by Desert Wind, my best stud.” Annie led Outlaw out of the barn and jumped up on him as smooth as silk.

They galloped to the back of the ranch and one by one, Harlan checked the cameras. “Two mustangs went through and lots of elk, but no bears and no rustlers.”

“We’ll check again tomorrow,” said Annie. “We’ll start shooting tomorrow too.”

“I’m keen for the shooting lessons,” said Harlan, “because if I could carry, I could protect Travis better. Right now, all I’ve got are my fists. Sometimes he tells me to bring the taser, but that’s not the same as a gun.”

“You guys have stuff going on at the station?”

“Yeah, we do. Drugs and murders along with the assholes who are trying to rope and steal the wild horses.”

“Not sure if Travis mentioned it or not, but my son, Blaine and I operate a violent crime squad in Austin.” She giggled. “We’re the state cops.”

Harlan raised an eyebrow. “He never said nothing about that.”

Annie shrugged. “We’ll check the cameras every day. I’d love to catch them red-handed.”

“Yeah, we did once already and that’s when Travis shot one of them in the leg. There’s more of them than just two, and me and Travis want all of them.”

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

I made the run down to the station and picked up food for the lockup across the street. While we were at the diner, I bought Jacks and Davey Cokes. It was getting hot and by afternoon, when the girls were racing, it would be a scorcher.