Page 7

Removing Sutton’s trailer had been delayed a couple of days, but Sonny finally received a text this morning that they were on the way and had gone down to the site to wait for their arrival. He was still thinking about his dinner with Maggie, and the three freckles he’d seen across her nose. He’d never noticed them before.

He smiled, remembering how she waved her fork in the air when she was making a point, and how easily she laughed, and how quickly the tears had come when she was down in the vault talking about Emmit. She was not afraid of emotion. Unlike Sonny, who kept everything inside.

Growing up, he’d had to fight his way through life, because people assumed, like father, like son. Walker Bluejacket was a con man, a ladies’ man, and a liar. Neither Sonny nor his brother were any of those things—by choice.

The only times he’d been able to let true feelings go was when he would climb on the back of a kicking, snorting bull trying to bust out of the chute. And it was his fierce determination to go the full eight seconds of the ride every time, even when it didn’t happen, just to prove to himself that there was something he could conquer.

He rarely let himself go there anymore, but as he looked out into the land that was now his, he was remembering the bull from his last ride, and knowing as he climbed into the chute and onto the back of that bull and began wrapping, then rewrapping, and tightening the rope around his gloved hand, that the bull’s single intent was to destroy him.

He knew the crowd was screaming when he and the bull came out of the chute, but he didn’t hear them. All he heard was his own heartbeat hammering in his ears, and the bone-shattering jolts as the bull bucked and twisted, the sound of its angry snorts, and the squeak of glove leather from the grip he had on the rope wrapped around the palm of his hand.

On the back of a bull, a second was a lifetime, and he was daring fate to waste eight of them. A ride was one bone-jarring jump after another, followed by the massive bull twisting in mid-air, then coming down headfirst trying to slide the rider over its head. A massive jerk from a huge horn-tipped head. Another bone-jarring leap and kick, and then suddenly Sonny was in the air.

He remembered coming down, hitting the dirt, seeing three bullfighters in the periphery of his vision coming to distract the bull to give him time to get up, then an explosion in the middle of his chest and not being able to breathe before everything went black.

The next thing he remembered was regaining consciousness in ICU and learning later that he’d died twice on the operating table, and had been unconscious in ICU for three days.

A horn honked. Sonny looked up, then shelved the memory for another time. The hauler had arrived. He and the driver traded greetings, then Sonny got back in his truck to watch the process. A short while later, the crew had it hooked up and tied down, and the driver pulled back onto the blacktop and headed toward the nearest junkyard with the old trailer wobbling along behind.

Sonny eyed their exit, doubting the trailer would hold together long enough to make it to its destination, then glanced at the mess that had been under the trailer and sighed. He was about to start cleanup when his phone rang.

When he realized it was the sheriff calling, he took a breath, preparing himself for the worst.

“This is Sonny.”

“Sonny, this is Matt. We found your horses. Is Emmit’s horse trailer roadworthy?”

His heart kicked. “Ah, man, that’s great news, and yes, it appears to be. I hauled it from Sutton’s place back to here with no issues, and the tires are all good,” he said.

“Awesome. I left two deputies on guard at the ranch where the horses were found. I’m sending you the address to go pick them up. They are in stalls, so bring some tack to lead them out. The ranch is nine miles west of Crossroads, just off the highway. The address is on the mailbox, and you can see the ranch house from the road. It’s a long, white, single-story brick with wooden porch posts running the length of an equally long porch. Just drive straight up to the barn where the deputies are parked. They’ll help.”

“Thank you! You’re the best,” Sonny said.

“We can thank Vonnie Sutton for being honest with us, and you for giving me the photos and info I needed. All I did was wave my badge and arrest a thief,” Matt said.

“Never belittle being able to wave that badge. I’m going to go hook up and head that way. I’ll let you know when I have them back on the property,” Sonny said.

“Sure thing, and FYI, looks like you have two mares who are going to foal. You’re gonna be a horse daddy.”

“Music to my ears,” Sonny said, and disconnected. Even as he was heading to the house to get the truck keys, he heard his phone ding a text. That would be directions to the location.

***

Pearl and Maggie were in the dining area of the Yellow Rose. The last customer had driven away moments earlier, and they were between customers and sitting at one of the front windows with their drinks of choice—Pearl with coffee black as coal, and Maggie with a Pepsi.

“Umm…hits the spot,” Maggie said, as she took a sip.

Pearl nodded, then pointed out the window as two cars from the sheriff’s office flew past with their lights flashing.

“Somebody’s either in trouble, or about to be,” Pearl said.

Maggie’s eyes widened. “I wonder what’s going on?”

Pearl shrugged. “No tellin’, but I’ll bet a double scoop of rocky road ice cream that we’ll find out before sundown.”

Maggie grinned. “I’m not betting against that, but I’ll eat ice cream with you anytime.”

“Deal,” Pearl said, and took another sip of her coffee.

About an hour later, Maggie had just served customers at a table near the window when she looked out and saw a car from the sheriff’s department driving back east with lights flashing.

A few minutes later, she saw Sonny in his truck, pulling the horse trailer. As soon as the traffic cleared, he turned west on the highway and drove away. At that point, she pivoted and made tracks to the kitchen.

“Pearl! I just saw the sheriff’s car going back east, and then Sonny go westbound onto the highway pulling Emmit’s big horse trailer. What if the sheriff found his stolen horses? What if Sonny’s going after them?”

Pearl’s eyes widened. “You might be right, girl. I sure hope it’s so, and I pray those animals weren’t harmed.”

***

The moment Heather got back inside the house, she put the baby in her playpen and then dropped onto the floor beside it, sobbing as she reached for the phone in her pocket. She was shaking so hard she couldn’t get a grip, and dropped it twice before she was able to make a call. But it wasn’t to the lawyer. It was to her father-in-law. The phone rang and rang, and she was still sobbing and afraid it would go to voicemail when she finally heard a voice.

“Hello?”

“Pop, it’s me, Heather. Sheriff Reddick just arrested Del for buying stolen property. He told me to call the lawyer, but I can’t deal with all this and the baby, too. Will you help me?”

“Well hell, darlin’. Sit tight. I’m comin’ to you,” Delroy said, then dropped the phone back in his pocket and turned to his foreman. “Manley, take over here for me. The vet will be out soon. Get the chutes ready. I have to leave for a bit. If you have any questions, you know how to reach me.”

Manley nodded. “Yes sir, boss.”

***

Delroy Kincaid was nearing sixty, still the same good-looking man he’d always been, just a little older, and grayer. His stride was long and hurried as he crossed the barn lot to get to his truck. The moment he was inside, he started the engine and took off up the driveway.

And, as always, when he was bothered about anything, he started talking to his deceased wife, as if she was still riding in the seat beside him.

“Well, Arlene, he’s done it again. You spoiled him and then went and died, leaving me to deal with his messes. You should have turned him over your knee and paddled his butt instead of ‘making it all better’ with hugs and kisses. He’s made a big mess this time, and I’m telling you now… I’m not buying him out of it.”

The minute he got to the highway, he stomped the accelerator, drove like a bat out of hell all the way to his son’s place, and pulled up in the front yard in a skid and a cloud of dust. He saw a patrol car from the sheriff’s office out at the stables as he got out and was coming up the steps on the run when Heather opened the door. He took one look at her red and swollen eyes and the tears rolling down her face, and opened his arms.

“Come here, little girl. Don’t cry, honey. Don’t cry. I’ve got you.”

Heather fell against his chest, sobbing. “You and Del have been at odds for so long I didn’t think you would come.”

Delroy sighed. “I was ordered off his property. I didn’t quit any of you. All I needed was an invitation back. Now go wash your face, then we’ll talk.”

She nodded. “Okay, and thank you, Pop. You’re the best father-in-law ever.”

“It appears I could have done better in the parenting department,” he muttered, as he went into the living room to sit down, then saw baby Carlie asleep in the playpen and paused, thinking… my blood runs through her veins and I barely know her. He tiptoed silently out of the living room and into the kitchen, so he and Heather could talk. When she returned, he pulled out a chair for her at the kitchen table.

“Sit, darlin’, and tell me what you know,” and so she did. When she finished, he was in shock. “From what you’ve said, I can tell you now that Del will likely do time, unless a judge decides a stiff probation would serve the same purpose, but that will be up to what his lawyer can do and what a judge decides. I can’t tell him what to do, but there’s no way he’s going to get out of this. Not with eyewitness testimony, and the fact that four missing horses belonging to a dead man are in his stables.”

Heather swiped a fresh set of tears from her cheeks. “Oh lord, Pop. I’ll never be able to hold my head up in Crossroads again.”

“Yes, you will. Nobody living in Crossroads was ever part of the social set. They’re either running from something, or waiting for the last shoe to fall, so chin up. Today, life drop-kicked you and left you at your own crossroad. You have a lot to live for and a solid home that’s paid for. I’ll help you oversee running the ranch. Do you trust your foreman?”

She shrugged. “Del did, but I don’t even trust him anymore, so I don’t know what to think.”

Delroy reached across the table and took her hand. “You just focus on yourself and Carlie. I’ll handle the rest. I’ll send my lawyer to talk to Del, and I’ll talk to the hands. When family sticks together, they can weather just about anything.”

“The sheriff said someone will be coming today to haul the horses back to the owner,” Heather said.

Delroy frowned. “Owner? Did someone buy Emmit’s place already?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so. The sheriff said something about an heir,” she said.

Delroy shrugged. “Okay then. So that explains the deputies I saw parked at the stables. No problem. We’ll leave them alone to do their job, and be happy when the stolen horses are off the property, okay?”

“Yes, Pop, and thank you. Thank you forever.”

He got up from the table and hugged her. “Give baby girl a hug from me. I’ve sure missed being around you two, but we’re about to rectify that. I’m going to step out onto the porch to call the lawyer and then go talk to the crew and see what kind of workers Del has on the payroll.”

Heather ran a shaky hand through her hair as she watched her father-in-law go out a side door. Del would be furious that she’d called him, but right now, she was so angry with Del, she didn’t much care what he thought.

***

The relief of knowing the missing horses had been found and unharmed was the best news Sonny could have had today, and every mile he passed brought him closer and closer to reclaiming them. He was coming up on the nine-mile location he’d been given, when he saw a mailbox on the side of the road. One glance at the house at the far end of the drive, and he knew he’d reached his destination. A quick check of the address confirmed it, so he turned off the highway onto the graveled drive.

Within moments, he spotted a car from the sheriff’s office near what he assumed were stables, and drove all the way to the south end of the building and parked so that he could load up.

He got out carrying halters and lead ropes, and was met by the deputies.

“I’m Sonny Bluejacket. Sheriff Reddick called me to come pick up my horses,” he said.

“Yes sir, right this way,” they said, and walked him to the four stalls at the north end.

He paused at each stall, greeting each horse, and letting them smell him, but he could tell they’d caught familiar scents from the tack he was carrying.

“What do you want us to do?” the deputies asked.

Sonny eyed them with caution. “Either of you been around horses much?”

“We both grew up on cattle ranches,” one of them said. “I’d say we’ve ridden our fair share.”

“Good, then I want to lead them out two at a time, because this trailer loads from the side and the back. I’ll get the halters and lead ropes on them, then I’ll lead one while one of you brings the other one out with me. Okay?”

“Yes sir,” they said, then watched as Sonny stepped into the stall with the black mare with stocking feet. He slipped a halter over her head, clipped a rope onto it to lead her out, then did the same for the other mare.

Sonny started up the aisle with the deputy beside him, both leading the horses walking at their sides. He didn’t know he was being watched from the front windows of the house as they emerged.

***

Heather was in the house when she heard the approaching vehicle and the rumble of the horse trailer being pulled behind it. Delroy had already left the property, so she was hoping no one would come knocking on the door.

She quickly ran to the window, but when she saw the driver get out of the truck, then saw the long black hair tied back at the nape of his neck, she nearly fainted. Sonny Bluejacket! She knew him, and like every other buckle bunny on the rodeo circuit, had chased after him back in the day, wanting to be the girl who stole his heart. But then she met Del, and he was interested, and so she went about making sure he didn’t lose interest. Six months later, they were married. She’d heard through the grapevine about Sonny’s near-fatal last ride, and then put him out of her mind for good.

Until now.

She watched as he came out leading one of the horses, with a deputy leading a second, and as he did, she got a clear look at his face. Age had refined the cut of his jaw. His shoulders were wider, but he still had that grace about him. He was a man well known in the cowboy world, and her own husband had stolen property belonging to him.

Her humiliation was complete.

She watched as they loaded the horses, before going back into the stables, and the thought crossed her mind that he walked like a man who made no sound. Like he was moving, but not quite in contact with the ground, and decided it had something to do with his height and stride.

Moments later, they came back out with two bays. When one of the geldings started dancing sideways, unwilling to load, she watched Sonny take hold of the halter, pull the horse’s face toward him until they were looking eye to eye. She could see Sonny’s lips moving, so she knew he was talking, and he kept talking and stroking the horse’s head and neck until the big bay calmed down. At that point, Sonny led him into the trailer and then stepped back to get the last horse and led it inside.

A few moments later he came out, secured the door, then shook hands with both deputies, never once glancing toward the house. She watched him drive away, then turned away and checked her phone. She had a text from Delroy.

Lawyer is on the way to the jail. Your foreman will do. He knows I’m running the show and to call me if there are problems. You are also to call me if you have questions, or something comes up that you need help with. Keep me in the loop. Love, Pop.

Heather sent him a quick thank you, telling him that the horses were gone, then dropped her phone in her pocket. She could hear Carlie fussing in her playpen. Time to get back to the cold, hard reality of her life, and the phone call she was going to have to make to her parents. But that would happen later. She didn’t want to be crying in front of the baby.

***

Sonny’s trip home was purposefully slower. His relief at being able to bring the horses back to the ranch was weighed down by the responsibility of first getting them there. They hadn’t been gone long enough to come to harm, and since Delroy Kincaid had probably been planning to sell them, he would have made sure to protect the merchandise.

As he was driving, the patrol car with the deputies passed him heading east. He wondered if they were responding to a new call, or on their way back to headquarters, and was thinking about how easy he’d sleep tonight, knowing Wade Sutton’s trailer house was gone, and the horses were back.

Then his phone signaled a text. He glanced down at the screen, and smiled.

Maggie.

But instead of reading the text while he was driving, he just hit Call, and waited for her to pick up.

***

Maggie was second-guessing her decision to meddle into Sonny’s business by asking him if they’d found the horses, when her phone rang. She bolted for the kitchen to take the call, but she didn’t answer with hello. She just blurted out what she was thinking.

“Are you mad at me?”

Sonny laughed, and that sound made her shiver with a sudden longing.

“No, Magnolia. Why would I be mad at you?”

“Because I butted into your business.”

“Did you? I haven’t read the text. I just saw it was from you and wanted to hear your voice.”

She sighed. “We saw the cars from the sheriff’s office go west past the Yellow Rose. Then later, we saw you at the highway with the horse trailer, waiting to turn. You also went west. We’re just hoping your horses were found.”

She could still hear laughter in his voice.

“So, the small-town grapevine is a real thing. I’ve always wondered,” he said. “Yes, we found the horses, and I’m on my way home with them right now.”

She could hear the delight in his voice. “Oh Sonny, that’s wonderful. You must be so relieved.”

“I am,” Sonny said. “Can’t wait to see what they do when I let them back out into the pasture with the herd. I expect a happy reunion.”

“Are we allowed to know who had them?” she asked.

“It’s not a secret. A man named Delroy Kincaid bought them off Wade Sutton, and yes, he knew they weren’t Wade’s to sell, but he bought them anyway for thousands less than what they were worth.”

“Oh my God! We know the families, but are you talking about the son or the father? They’re both named Delroy.”

“I didn’t know there were two, but it was nine miles west. Big white ranch house,” Sonny said.

“That’s the son. He goes by Del. Poor Heather. They have a little girl who’s not quite two. At least Heather has her father-in-law to help her deal with all the mess.”

Sonny was listening and thinking that once again, her empathy for others was uppermost. It was an admirable personality trait, and yet another thing that increased his admiration of her.

“I don’t want to gossip, but is it okay to tell Pearl you got the horses back? She’s almost as invested in you making a success of what you inherited as I am,” she asked.

“I appreciate that, more than you know. I don’t suppose you’d be up to coming out this evening after work to watch the sunset with me. If you’re up for it, I will pick you up and I will feed you. It won’t be as good as Pearl’s cooking, but it would be my pleasure.”

Maggie’s heart skipped. “I would love to come watch the sunset with you, and eat your food, and celebrate the return of the horses. I’ll call you when I get home. I need to change first. I always smell like french fries at the end of the day.”

Sonny realized he’d just asked her out…like a date. It was a good feeling and a scary feeling. He knew what it felt like to take chances. It was like riding a bull and trying to hang on while hoping for the best outcome, and he was ready to take another chance.

“I like french fries, Magnolia. I’ll be waiting for your call.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” she said.

The call ended, but his anticipation did not. He was feeling good by the time he reached Crossroads, and began slowing down to turn off the highway. As he did, he glanced up just in time to see Maggie come running out onto the porch of the Yellow Rose with two thumbs up.

He waved back and headed home, smiling all the way. As he passed the empty spot where the trailer house had been and saw the garbage, it was a reminder to get that picked up before it blew all the way to town.

When he drove through the gate, a horse nickered from the back of the trailer.

“You know you are home, don’t you,” he said, and drove straight to the barn, past the corral, then out into the pasture. He could see the other horses a distance away, but they were already moving toward him, and he didn’t have time to waste. He began unloading horses, removing the halters one by one, and giving them a pat on the rump. All four were now out in the pasture with their heads up. The biggest gelding let out a whinny that brought the herd thundering toward them.

Sonny drove out of the pasture, leaving the horses to settle. As soon as he got back to the barn, he unhooked the horse trailer to clean it, then drove up to the house and got out, pausing a few moments to watch their reunion. They were at the water tank, drinking their fill.

“Look at that, Emmit. Your babies are back,” Sonny said, and then went inside.

If he was going to feed Maggie tonight, he needed to get meat out of the freezer. After making sure he had spaghetti pasta and a jar of sauce, he chose hamburger meat, and set it out to thaw while he went back to the trailer site to pick up garbage.

***

Vonnie Sutton was sitting out on the front porch of her childhood home, watching Randy playing catch in the front yard with his Grandpa Mike when she received a text from the company who’d removed her trailer from Sonny Bluejacket’s property. The trailer had already been sold and delivered to a metal scrap yard for five hundred dollars, and now that it had arrived, they were sending the money to her Dad’s Venmo account today. She would add that to the balance of what Sonny had given her, and tomorrow, she was enrolling Randy in school. One more step to making a new life.

She’d didn’t know what was going on with Wade, or the man who bought the horses, and didn’t want to know. That part of her life was over. She was job-hunting and her parents kept telling her over and over how glad they were she’d come home, and they had her back, whatever she chose to do. The marks Wade had left on her face and body were fading, but Wade Sutton had scarred her soul. It was going to take longer to lose the bitterness than the bruises.

Randy made a flying leap to catch the baseball her dad, Mike, had just thrown, then fell backward with the ball firmly caught in his glove. He jumped up, grinning.

“Look, Mama! I caught it.”

Vonnie smiled and clapped. “Way to go, son! Way to go!”