Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
B arry leaned against the corral fence as Andrew talked on the phone. He had his sidearm on again. The fucking snake had been enough of a threat that leaving it off was not going to happen for some time. South Dakota was an open-carry state, and he intended to carry from now on. Andrew was doing a lot of nodding but not much else. “Are you sure?” he asked and looked over at Barry. That look sent a laser chill of dread straight through him. “All right. Thanks again.” Andrew pocketed his phone and moved over to where he was. “Roman said they recovered Fish’s remains about a year after we were ambushed. The DNA is a positive match. All his effects, which were still with him, were sent to his next of kin. His brother.”
“So, I’m just fucking insane.” Barry dropped his head to the railing. “Cap, I can’t … ”
“That’s not all he said.” Andrew drew a deep breath. “Fish’s brother was in the service but was given a bad conduct discharge after a court-martial. Ask me what he was court-martialed for.”
“I’m not in the mood for games, Cap.”
Andrew nodded. “I know, but let me get this out there. Fish’s brother was court-martialed for acts against a fellow Ranger. It seems Fish’s brother has a mental problem. They charged him with conduct unbecoming of an NCO, found him guilty, and kicked him out of the service. But Roman said the court-martial transcripts said Fish’s brother destroyed personal property, and it was alleged he tried to kill the other NCO, but with his mental issues, they didn’t charge him for that. They could kick him with the simple conviction.”
God, he was tired all of a sudden. Fish was dead. His jackass of a brother didn’t matter. “How does that asshole play into this?”
“Roman said there is absolutely no electronic trace of Jackson Gill, Fish’s brother.”
Barry shrugged. “And?”
“And the military fucked up. They held on to Fish’s personal effects for over a year before they sent it to Jackson. Then, three weeks after the guy gets his brother’s stuff, he vacates all his bank accounts, lets his apartment lease lapse, and is nowhere to be found.”
Barry clenched his fists and drew a deep breath. “Cap, I’m trying here. I’m using every coping mechanism Doc Wheeler gave me to use, but if you don’t make a point pretty damn quick, I might have to take a swing at you.”
Andrew snorted. “I’m working up to it. I think the person doing this is Fish’s brother. Jackson.”
Barry turned to look at him. “Why?”
“That I don’t know, but you and I are the only two left. Maybe it isn’t just against you. Maybe the destruction of the stockyard was against me. Hell, maybe all of this is pointed at me, and you somehow got in the middle. Or maybe Jackson Gill is mad as hell that we’re both alive, and he’s on a rampage.”
“That’s a hell of a theory.” Barry sighed and looked down the miles-long drive to the ranch. A plume of dust was kicking up, meaning Ken was heading their way. “Why would he kill the junkie?”
“Why would he do anything he’s been doing? I don’t know. We might never know. Hell, we don’t even know if he’s still in the area.”
“Roman would know if he turns up from his digital trail, right?” Barry looked over at Andrew.
“Yeah, he would.”
“Then he’s still here.” Barry sighed. “The snake is more than enough proof for me.”
“We’re going to put a lock on the bunkhouse. Everyone will be issued a key. After Ken leaves, I’ll go into the hardware store and make the keys myself.” Andrew’s eyes locked on the plume of dust on the road.
“Hate that I’m making it unsafe for the other hands. ”
“Again, we don’t know it’s just you.” Andrew turned his attention from the road to him. “And I’m not taking any risks with you or my family. Sidearms are now required. Whoever’s doing this shit will get the message.”
Barry kicked a rock and watched it trickle to a stop. “I probably shouldn’t be around Kathy, then, should I?”
Andrew shrugged. “As far as we know, the closest he’s been to the town was the knoll outside of town by the stockyard. He hasn’t done anything there.”
“That we know of.” Barry sighed. “I’ll talk to Kathy. Make sure she understands why I won’t be around as much.”
“Whoa, hold your horses for a minute. Let’s talk to Ken, and then maybe let Kathy make that decision for herself.”
Barry shook his head. “No. I have very little power in this situation, Cap. Protecting her is something I can do. I’ll take her back today and keep my distance from her and her family after that. I’ll call Corrie and let her know the why of it, too. If Fish’s brother is out there watching … I just don’t want anything to happen to them.”
Andrew shook his head and propped his straw cowboy hat up on his head a bit. “That doesn’t compute. If Jackson were watching, waiting to fuck us over, he would have already attacked at our weakest defense, which is our families. My dad, wife, and son, and for you, Kathy and your mom. He hasn’t done that.”
“Doesn’t mean he won’t.” Barry sighed and watched as Ken pulled into the massive yard, turning right to come toward the bunkhouse. “Can’t talk me out of this one, Cap. I love that woman, and if not coming around for a while will protect her, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Ken got out of the SUV, opened the back door, and pulled out a long metal pole. “Have you killed it yet?”
“Nope, left everything as it was when I opened the door. The only one to touch the door was me,” Barry said as Ken walked over and extended his hand.
“You just can’t catch a break today, can you?”
Barry grimaced as he shook Ken’s hand. “Today is trying my newly acquired anger management techniques, to be sure.”
Andrew shook Ken’s hand. “Was there something else?” He looked between Ken and Barry.
Barry nodded. “Chester was a royal dick this morning and said some cross-ways words about Kathy since she’s seeing me now.”
“More like Chester was gunning for an argument. Barry did real well, though. Tegan was making sure of it, but Barry didn’t need it. Well, not too much.” Ken winked at Barry and then continued, “I tell you, that old man is getting worse and worse. I called the judge. Nothing I can do if he’s cantankerous. If he becomes a danger to himself or others, then I can start the process. But for now, I’m making some calls to his kids. Seeing if they can come and figure out what’s going on with him.”
“You should do that after we get rid of the snake, though,” Andrew chided him .
“I got the grabber Dean gave me. I tell you, even six feet away, I still hate them.” Ken lifted the bar that had a grip at one end and what looked like pinchers on the other end.
As they walked, Andrew filled him in on his discussion with Roman. Obviously, Ken knew who Roman was because the who of the conversation was never questioned. Before they entered the bunkhouse, Ken stopped and looked at them. “I don’t like either scenario. This guy has military training, and he’d understand the symbolism of that pyramid you found, right?”
“Yeah.” Barry nodded.
“All right. Andrew, I’m going to funnel this up the channel, but I need some kind of official report to be able to dig into Jackson Gill.”
“I’m calling the senator after we finish fishing out that rattlesnake.” Andrew opened the door. “You’ll get your information.”
Barry followed Ken into the bunkhouse, hoping like heck Andrew was right, but his gut told him that the latest act was one of a desperate person. Whoever had snuck in there could have been seen by six different men. Hell, if Honey was in the room, she would have started barking, and everyone would have been awake. None of it made sense. None of it.
Dusty and Gary looked back when they filed in. Dusty pointed his shotgun at the door. “Ain’t nothing came out of that room,” he said. Gary stood up and pointed to his room next door to Barry’s. “Not being a sissy or anything, but now that he’s done watching the door, I need that shotgun so I can make sure nothing slithered into my room.”
“I got this,” Ken said and set the pole on the huge communal table in the kitchen area. He took out his phone. “Pictures.”
“Or it didn’t happen,” Gary said, and he and Dusty chuckled.
Ken shot the guys a questioning look.
Gary shrugged. “Social media saying. Pictures, or it didn’t happen.”
“Yeah, except now, with AI, you can deep fake anything.” Dusty pointed to Gary’s room. “We’ll clear yours, mine, Kent’s, and then Dolan’s room.”
Gary nodded. “Sounds like a plan.” They opened Gary’s door and stepped inside the room.
“Barry, can you get that pole for me?” Ken took a picture of the door and opened it a crack.
“The pillowcase is to the right of the door on the floor,” Barry told him as he returned with the pole. Ken opened the door a bit wider and snapped a picture of the material. He lifted from his squat and took a picture of the rattlesnake still coiled at the foot of his bed.
“Shit, that’s a big one.”
“Yeah. Noisy when the rattle starts going, too.” Barry handed Ken the pole in exchange for the phone. “When I get this guy in the grip, take some pictures of it.” Ken squeezed the handle of the pole, and the pinchers opened up. Ken crept into the room. The snake’s tail started to shake, and its head lifted.
Ken was quick with the grab, and the snake was not happy at all. Barry took a couple of quick pictures and just happened to look down as everyone else looked at the six-foot rattler.
“Ken, don’t move.”
Barry pulled out his sidearm, took aim, and fired. The snake's body, which had been winding its way toward Ken, fractured.
Dusty and Gary’s shouts from the other room were dull noises against the ringing of his ears. He looked up at Ken. The man was ashen white but still holding onto the other snake. Andrew grabbed Ken’s arm and pulled him out of the room.
“What the hell?” Dusty skidded to a stop at the door. “Two of those bastards?”
“Yeah.” Barry nodded.
“Let’s get the other one out of here,” Ken said. “Close that door until we know there isn’t anymore.”
“Damn good idea,” Barry said and closed the door, taking one final look at the snake on the floor.
“You’re pretty good with that pistol,” Gary said, nodding at the weapon in his hand.
“Automatic. Nine mil. I’ve spent a lot of time on the practice range.” Barry put the gun back in the holster.
“Dude, someone wanted you snake bit bad.” Dusty plopped down on the chair and pointed his shotgun at the door. “Ain’t no one sleeping sound tonight.”
“We’ll go through every room. I need to take Kathy home,” Barry said and turned at the sound of running. Kathy slid to a stop at the door. “Are you all right? I saw Ken with the snake.”
“With one of the snakes. Hey, Kathy,” Dusty said, and Gary lifted a hand in greeting, too.
Barry shouldn’t have smiled when Kathy did a little dance and looked around her after squeaking, “One?”
He walked over to her. “Let’s go outside.”
“But … who was shooting?”
“I was. There was a second snake no one saw until it was almost too late. I killed it before it could get close enough to Ken to strike.” He took her arm and helped her out of the bunkhouse. She shouldn’t be in there anyway. Not that anyone was showering, but the rule was no women because clothing was optional when heading to the shower, and towels looped around the waist were the norm.
Kathy jerked around to look at him. “You shot it? A snake? While it was moving?”
He nodded. “Yeah, why?”
“Then you’re a really good shot. My dad tried to hit a moving snake with a rifle. Six shots from about ten feet away, and the thing got away. I didn’t go to the barn for a year.”
“I’m a good shot. When I first got out, Gunny and I would go to the range when I was going crazy with the anger.” He laughed. “Which is pretty counterintuitive if you ask me. An angry man with a loaded gun, but damn it if Gunny didn’t have a way of keeping me at the simmering level.” He pointed to his pickup truck, and they made their way over to it. He opened the tailgate, and they sat down on it. “Gunny used to say I could pick a gnat off a bat’s ass without the bat knowing. I’m not as good with a rifle, but with this, I’d bank myself against anyone.
“So, you know what I was telling you about Fish?”
“Yeah, did you get some information?” She scooted closer to him, and he put his arm over her shoulders.
“He’s dead. DNA proof.”
She turned to look at him. “I’m so sorry. I know you thought it was him.”
“Turns out it could be his brother.”
“What?” She shook her head in obvious confusion. “What do you mean?”
Barry told her what Andrew had speculated. They both looked up at the sound of a single shot quite a distance away. “That would be the other snake. I don’t know where they came from, and I wish no harm to any animal ever, but letting them loose near the ranch is asking for all kinds of trouble.”
“So, this brother is a bad sort?”
“I don’t know. According to his record, he had issues. But I don’t know. That’s why I’m going to take you home, and I’m probably not going to come back to town for a month or longer.”
She narrowed her eyes and asked, “Why?”
“Because I don’t want anyone to put a target on you trying to get to me.”
She stared at him. “And where is Andrew going to put his family?”
“He’s not putting them anywhere.” Barry was confused by the question.
“Yet you think you'll protect me by not coming to my house.”
“A totally different situation. Andrew is here all the time. If he isn’t, there are hands or Senior. You have Mitzi, and no offense, but that dog is not the sharpest crayon in the box. Hell, I don’t think she’s ever been sharpened.”
Kathy fought the smile the comments brought forward, but she lost. “She’s not very smart, but she’s fierce. Just ask the skunks.”
Barry actually laughed. “I did last night, remember?” Kathy had a way of easing the tight knots in his gut.
She leaned into him. “This sucks.”
“I know.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’ll call every night.”
“I’d rather you be in my bed every night.” She sighed.
“Me, too.” He watched Andrew and Ken walking back across the pasture toward them. “Can you keep Honey with you? I think it would be better for her. ”
“Of course.” She lifted off his shoulder and looked up at him. “I love you.”
“And I love you.” He dropped a kiss on her lips, briefly going deep inside her mouth with his tongue. He pulled away before he lost his willpower. “Come on. I’ll take you home, then we’ve got a snake hunt to go on in the bunkhouse.”
He got up and held her hand as she jumped off the tailgate. He slammed it shut and told Andrew and Ken he’d return after he took Kathy home.
When he got into the truck, she turned to him. “You’re coming to the reception on Friday, right? The entire town will be there, and there’s no way anyone would be stupid enough to try anything there. And you could meet me there, so no one would see us together or you at my house. Not that I think it matters because you’ve been pretty regular at my house. Staying away is overkill, in my opinion.”
Barry glanced over at her. He should say no. “It isn’t overkill.”
“Meet me at the reception, Barry.” She crossed her arms over her chest. The little spitfire was getting ready to make a point.
“Okay.”
“What?” She blinked and smiled. “You said okay.”
“I did. Against my better judgment, I’ll meet you there. What time?”
“Seven.” She bounced on her seat. “I have a new dress. I can’t wait for you to see it. Kayla made it for me. It makes me look taller, and it’s so pretty.”
He grabbed her hand. “You’re perfect just the way you are, and no one at the dance will be more beautiful than you.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.
“You’re only saying that because you love me.” Her face flushed a deep red color.
“I love you, and no one will ever be more beautiful than you. You are all I can and want to see.”
A full-body shiver went through her as he held her hand. He glanced over. She’d closed her eyes. “Are you sure you have to go back to the ranch right away?”
God, he wished he didn’t, but he needed to ensure she was safe. He squeezed her hand and nodded, not having the strength to say the words stuck in his throat.