The Cowboy’s Justice (Naked Cowboys of Smoky Hill #4)

Chapter Twenty-Five

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Portia had been in the tack room cleaning the bridles and saddles when Devlin poked his head in and asked her to join him.

“I want you to watch this lesson,” he declared as he marched through the barn. “Debbie is an excellent rider, and her horse is push-button perfect. She thinks it, he does it. I want you to see how effortless it can be.”

Delighted that he’d pulled her away from the tedious task, she climbed up to the viewing platform and sat down. Though she didn’t understand many of his instructions, the more she watched, the more she wanted to learn. By the time the lesson came to an end, all she could think about was sitting on Marge again.

“So, what did you think?” he asked as she climbed down from the stand and joined him in the ring.

“It was fantastic, and that girl was amazing. I didn’t see her actually do anything, but the horse was changing gaits flawlessly.”

“Exactly. We’ll talk about it more later. I have to give another lesson now and you should go back to what you were doin’.”

“I will, but I just need to run up to the house for a minute. I forgot to bring my phone and I should have it with me just in case.”

“Okay. I’ll see you later.”

As he walked back into the barn and she started to jog to the house, Jethro and Jezebel ran up and trotted along beside her.

“I bet you’re coming with me so I’ll get you a milk bone,” she exclaimed with a laugh. As if understanding her, Jezebel barked. “I knew it, and you’ll get one, don’t worry,” she promised as they trotted up the steps. Entering the kitchen, she stopped at the cabinet and gave them both a bone, then stood for a moment and looked around for her phone. “Let’s see, where did I leave it…?” she muttered, then suddenly remembering it was on the nightstand, she hurried down the hall and into the bedroom. But as she strode across and picked it up, she paused.

She’d left her hobo bag on the chair by the window, but it wasn’t there, and the window was wide open.

Her heart skipping she darted across the room and stared outside just in time to see William running towards the trees.

“Stop!” she screamed, but before she could climb through and give chase, Jethro and Jezebel leapt up on the chair and jumped out the window after him.

While she urgently texted Devlin, she could hear the two dogs snarling and barking as they ran. Moments later, as she watched William’s lanky body disappear into the trees, she suddenly saw her handbag flying through the air towards them, then a shot rang out. Horrified, she clambered out and called their names. To her great relief they stopped just short of the forest.

“Portia! Jezzie! Jethro!”

As Devlin’s voice rang through the air she spun around and saw him sprinting towards her.

“Thank God,” she exclaimed, running up to him and collapsing into his arms.

“What the hell’s goin’ on? I heard a shot.”

“William was here. He stole my bag. When the dogs started chasing him into the woods he threw it at them. I was already out the window by then, and that’s when the gun went off,” she explained breathlessly.

“You went after him?”

“My bag has my life in it. I can’t believe he was here!”

“Take it easy,” he said, lowering his voice and hugging her as the dogs ran up. “Are you two okay?” he asked, staring down at them.

As Jethro barked, Jezebel ran back towards the trees, picked up the bag and proudly carried it back.

“Come on, we’re goin’ inside. You said he came from the woods?”

“He must have. All I saw was the back of him when he ran off.”

“Come inside. I’m callin’ the sheriff then I’ll close the ranch for the day. I can’t have my people here with that maniac on the loose.”

“Thank goodness he didn’t hurt the dogs, and look, my wallet’s still in here. I wonder why he didn’t take it.”

“When Jezzie and Jethro gave chase he probably panicked,” Devlin remarked as they made their way back to the house. “But why would he want your bag? What’s in it that’s so important?”

“I have no clue, unless he wanted my credit cards, but he would have known I’d freeze everything. Unless…” she muttered as they walked around to the front porch. “Maybe he was planning to use my ID to transfer money from my account to his. He knows my life is in this bag.”

“That sounds more likely,” he replied as they walked in and made their way to the kitchen. “You sit down and catch your breath while I call Sheriff Cooper.”

* * *

Panting heavily and hobbling down the trail to Portia’s house, William was still cursing under his breath and trying to control his panic. When he’d seen the hobo bag sitting on the chair by the window he couldn’t believe his luck, but as he’d been sneaking away the dogs had suddenly come after him…and they’d been snarling.

He’d still been lifting his gun from his pocket when they were nearing the edge of the trees. Hurling the bag was the only thing he could think of to stop them. It had slowed them down, but in his panic the gun went off, scaring him half to death. Knowing it would bring Devlin and the other cowboys running he’d made a hasty retreat, but with his sore ankle it hadn’t been easy.

The entire episode had been an unmitigated disaster.

Reaching the back gate, he limped across the terrace, entered the living area and collapsed on the couch.

“Back to Plan A,” he muttered, leaning his head back and closing his eyes, “and if I have to fucking kill them both, I will.”