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“We got the tag in the bunkhouse,” said Ted. “No sweat there.”

“Great. Billy can tune in some good conversations.”

“Make up for no TV reception,” said Harlan.

“Funny guy. Oh, yeah, I said I’d get a satellite and I forgot. Remind me.”

I turned the squad around and we left. No goodbye wave from Hannah.

One more thing off my list.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

After dropping Ted off at the station, Harlan and I came home and told Billy the good news about the tag in Hannah’s bunkhouse.

His face lit up with the prospect of having work he could do at home. Billy got set up in the living room eager to see if the cowboys were sharing any good secrets.

Savanna was keeping Billy company, and she had a roast in the oven that filled the whole house with the smell of juicy meat and onions. Made my stomach growl I was so hungry.

“I’m going to check the cameras while there’s enough daylight to see,” said Harlan. “Won’t be too long. I’m not missing Savanna’s good cooking.”

“I’ll get the chores done before dinner.” I followed Harlan to the barn and after he saddled Windrider and left for the back of the ranch, I sat down on a bale of straw and called Tammy. Should’ve done it before now and got it off my list, but I was a coward.

I figured it was late enough the girls would be out of the training ring and putting their horses away for the day. I called and she answered on the first ring.

“Travis, are you okay?”

“I’m okay, Tam. I wanted to say I’m sorry about last weekend. I messed it up getting mad at Annie-girl for one little remark she made, and it definitely wasn’t worth making everybody sad and miserable. I’m sorry.”

“Me and Lucy cried for a couple of days because you made Mama and Jacks and Davey go home so soon, but we’re okay now. By Friday everything will be okay, won’t it?”

“I guarantee that it will, and I have a surprise for you.”

“What?”

“Billy is home. I picked him up from his parents’ house and he’s home to stay.”

“I’m so happy he’s home. I missed him so much.”

“I’ll tell him. Tell Lucy I’m sorry and I hope this weekend turns out better.”

“Can we go out for dinner at the fancy Inn again? That would make up for you being a butt to Mama.”

I laughed. “Sure. I’ll take y’all to Olivia’s Inn on Saturday night. How’s that?”

“Great. I’ll tell Lucy. See you Friday night.”

The air was warm in the late afternoon sun and Windrider galloped so fast he created his own breeze. Harlan was lost in the joy of the ride. He loved his horse and his new life with Travis. A dream life with everyday full of exciting stuff happening at the station, and Travis made sure he was part of everything.

Soon be his birthday and he’d be sixteen and get his drivers’ license. Then he could drive into town and date girls if he wanted to. No rules here at the ranch. Not like at Juvie. Travis let him do most everything he wanted unless there was a safety issue involved.

Lost in his thoughts, he came to the first camera, pulled up on the reins and jumped off Windrider’s back. He was checking to see what the camera had recorded when Windrider nickered a warning and reared up, but it was too late. In the hazy twilight, he hadn’t seen them or heard them coming on foot.

All he got was one quick glance. Two cowboys, and he thought he recognized them as Hannah’s boys. A prick in theside of his neck and that was all she wrote.

Billy had an old chair outside the woodshed door where he sat in the sun to smoke and watch the horses in the corral. I’d finished up the chores and leaned up against the back door to have a smoke with Billy.

“Harlan should’ve been back by now. Wonder if he’s having trouble with the cameras.”