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Chapter One

Monday, October 8th.

Wild Stallion Ranch. Montana.

The revamped Harrison County Council had come to me after the death of Jeff Bridgeman and begged me to take over the sheriff’s office until the November election. They gave me a meager raise, said they’d pay Billy Johnson as my deputy and I could run things pretty much my own way if I’d only give them a month to get organized.

The new chairman, a man named Orville Potts, seemed like a decent old fella and all he wanted was a nice quiet county without the drug people turning it upside down. He thanked me for cleaning up the drugs and said I deserved a medal for going up against Bridgeman. It seemed all the members of the council were scared shitless of Bridgeman, and for all the years he was chairman, he ran things his own way without much opposition.

After Annie went back to Texas, I wasn’t sure Montana was the place for me. Every day without her in my life told me I need to move back to Texas, and I had made up my mind. I intended to do just that before the winter set in. My goal was to have the ranch sold and be ready to move by November fifteenth.

First, there was a list of things I had to do. Beginning with all the things my Uncle Carson left me to watch over. For most of those things, I needed an accountant, and I was going to see one today.

Billy found her in the Yellow Pages and her name is Julie Redmond. She has an office in Cut Bank, and if the snow ain’t too bad this morning, I’ll be on time for my appointment.

Billy ambled into the kitchen and headed for the coffee maker. He was the first one to comment on how weird and empty the house felt without Annie.

He was drunk and laughing pretty hard when he told me that when I went home to Texas, he was coming with me. I think he might’ve meant it.

At least I was texting Annie every day and that made me feel a little more human. Outlaw would fuckin love it in Texas. Montana was too cold for horses, but the wild ones at the back of my spread didn’t seem to mind. They were born in Montana so what did they know about better weather?

“Accountant this morning?” Billy asked.

“Yeah. I’ve got all the stuff from my uncle’s will gathered up. I should’ve had somebody looking at it long before now, but shit happens.”

“A lot of shit happened to you, Travis. Bridgeman’s guys kept trying to kill you and that slowed down you getting your life organized.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, it did. Don’t mean there ain’t other guys out there trying to do the same.”

Billy raised an eyebrow. “Are there?”

“Oh, yeah. Lots of them.”

“Want to tell me why?”

“Nope. Better if you don’t know.”

Billy checked the time on his cell. “I’d better make breakfast or you’ll be late for your date. Better allow extra time to get to Cut Bank with all that ugly snow that fell overnight.”

“Yeah, I was looking out the door at it when the dogs went out.”

“Max is doing well. He’s not much behind Sarge anymore.”

“I’m thankful for that,” I said. “He had a rough go. No more bears for Max. He’ll be happy to get back to Texas.”

“I’ll plow the lane while you’re gone to Cut Bank,” said Billy.

“Might have to do it twice if you do it too soon.”

He popped down four slices of bread and slid four fried eggs onto a plate for me along with half a dozen sausages. “Eat this. You need your strength for the accountant.”

“I might. Never met her but I heard she’s mean.”

Billy chuckled.

I took a bite of the eggs and savored their salty taste. Billy's cooking skills had always been unmatched, and this breakfast was no exception. I washed it down with a sip of coffee and said, “I don't doubt it. Mean accountants are the best ones, though. They don't let anyone get away with anything.”

Billy nodded his head in agreement. “That's true. You want me to come with you, just in case?”