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“Molly will set you up tomorrow and you can have your first meeting.”

“I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, Sheriff. I’m sure I don’t deserve it.”

“Everyone has rights, Suzie.”

Wild Stallion Ranch.

When Tammy and I got back to the ranch, Billy hadn’t returned from the campaign trail. I hoped he and Wyatt were getting all the votes Billy needed.

Tammy got busy starting supper and I grabbed a beer from the fridge and went into my room to make a call to Cutter in Texas.

“How’s it going, Dale?”

“Soon be time to leave and I’m looking forward to it, big time. How are things at your end?”

“I got us a couple of potential places in the city. Not bad, but I think I can do better. As soon as you get here we can decide.”

“Big parking area is a must, and not anywhere there’s going to be a big objection to the noise factor.”

“Yeah, you gave me the criteria already. I didn’t forget. Just hard to find the perfect spot, you know. And I was a little concerned about turf too.”

“Don’t be. We’ll take it all eventually. Don’t be concerned about that at all.”

“Okay, now you’re making me smile.”

I ended the call to Cutter and got one minutes later from Lukas in California. “Hey, Dale. You left yet?”

“Not for a week. How about you?”

“I gave my notice to the part-time place I’m working and I’m leaving on the thirty-first. Two day trip on my bike, and I’ll be in San Angelo on the second.”

“Call Cutter and get directions to our place. Look it over and see what we’re gonna need for furniture and basic essentials. I want a clean stall for my horse when I get there too. I don’t know what kind of shape the barn is in.”

“I can get a stall ready. No problem. Can’t believe you are up walking and talking again. When Annie took me out of the hospital in Fairbanks, you were still unconscious.”

“Thanks to Annie, we’re alive. She saved both our asses.”

“Yeah, and I haven’t thanked her the way I should. I feel bad about that.”

“You can make up for it when you get back to Texas.”

“Once we start our new life, we gonna be able to contact any people from before? I’m worrying about Tommy.”

“You can talk to Tommy. He’s your brother.”

“Okay, good. He’s always worrying about me and calling me and I don’t know what the fuck to tell him.”

“Once we’re all set up, you can ride your bike down to Sonora and meet him halfway. It will all work out.”

“Yeah, you’re the only person I trust, Dale.”

Feeling bad for Lukas, I bundled up in my Montana winter coat and stomped out to the garage to see how my bike was standing up to the freezing cold conditions.

My baby was well-protected in the garage with the door closed, but still I worried about the fluid levels and whether she would start when I got to Texas.

Tammy came into the garage and made me jump. “What are you doing in the garage, Travis?”

“Checking on my bike.”