Duane’s Determination (Broken Wheel Ranch #9)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Duane Manchester sighed in relief as he slowed his truck down and pulled into the parking lot of Gunny’s Bed and Breakfast. After shutting the truck down, he sat there for several minutes to look out at the surrounding area. He heaved a heavier sigh as he felt some of the tension in his neck and upper back begin to leave him. He opened the door and slowly exited. He didn’t take a step until his tired legs were solidly beneath him.

He walked forward and when he entered the bed and breakfast, the man he came to see was right there, waiting for him. Jake Cogburn looked up when the door opened, he wore a smile, that quickly turned into a scowl.

“Manchester?”

“Yeah,” Duane said tiredly.

“No offense, man, but you look like shit.”

“Thank you, I feel like it too.”

“I won’t waste your time here, Manchester, but I need to know.”

“What’s that?”

“Do you have any place to go once you leave here?”

“Yeah, I’m heading out to Broken to stop in and see Scott.”

“That’s right, Gould is your brother-in-law, isn’t he?”

“He is. I’m hoping Erin won’t mind if I stick around for a couple of days.”

“I can’t speak for her, but I don’t see how she would have a problem with it. If she does, we have a room available here. If need be, you can sleep on the couch in the office.”

“I don’t think it’ll come to that, but thanks for the offer.”

“Grab a cup of coffee and we’ll go down to that office,” Jake said as he pulled a mug from the cupboard, then stepped to the side as he waited for Duane to fill it. He liked that the other man took his coffee black.

Duane followed Jake and it took about five minutes for the other man to get the other men in the room to leave so it was just the two of them. He also liked the fact that Jake didn’t mince his words when he looked at him.

“What’s up? I was shocked when I got your call. I didn’t realize Erin, or the others were having any trouble.”

“They’re not, or at least I don’t think they are. I reached out to you for personal reasons.”

“Oh?” Jake looked at him with the coffee cup halfway to his mouth and raised brows. “How personal?”

“I’ve been with the Bureau for twenty-five years, now. I don’t know if you know this, but the FBI kicks you out, well, technically, they strongly suggest you retire at the age of fifty-seven, I still have nine years left before that happens.”

“Okay, I’m not being a hard-ass here, but what does that have to do with me?”

“I’m tired, Jake. I mean like fucking tired. Exhausted. I’m seriously thinking of getting out soon. I feel like I’ve been working twenty-four seven for the last twenty years. Since my divorce, I haven’t dated, I took whatever undercover job that was available, and I’ve worked my way up the ladder. However, after my last review, they are, again, trying to strongly suggest that I take a desk job. The person I’m referring to is a man who took over as the new director of my division. Hell, I haven’t even met the guy in person yet, and he’s saying that the Bureau doesn’t have many agents in their mid- to upper forties in the field, and like I said, it has been strongly suggested I take a desk job. Again, I don’t know if it’s the new guy, or the Bureau talking. Director Grayson, the new guy, only transferred into the LA office from San Diego just this week.”

“Ouch.” Jake scowled and shook his head. “I can’t see you doing that. It makes me wonder why the new director is such a hard-ass on getting you to ride a desk. Something doesn’t seem to add up here.”

“I can’t ride a desk, that’s why I’m here. I also don’t know if it is the new guy that I don’t like, or the fact that I’m so fucking tired I can’t even see straight. Anyway, I don’t know exactly what you do here at Brotherhood Protectors, but I was wondering what you do, and if you have any positions available.” Duane settled back with his cup of coffee and studied the man across from him, waiting for him to get his thoughts together.

“First, we protect. The only way I can describe it is this way, when I started this branch of Brotherhood Protectors, I was here to look at this office that Hank Patterson, the founder of Brotherhood Protectors, wanted us to rent. During that initial weekend, we found a dead body, and someone tried to kill RJ. I protected her, and later, we fell in love and married. Each guy that joined us after I opened this branch all protected someone. Right now, we don’t have a lot of open cases.”

“What aren’t you saying?” Duane asked bluntly. “I feel like there is something you’re not saying.”

“It’s not a requirement, but all of us are former military.”

“I understand,” Duane nodded and sighed heavily.

“However,” Jake said as he settled back in his own chair and studied the man across from him. “ I might not need you, but I think there is someone who might.”

“Who?”

“Erin Riceman.”

“Huh?”

“When Erin gets new people to come work for her, she contacts us with the pertinent information, you know, name, address, birth date, social security number. We run as deep a background check as we can. Sometimes, we can’t go deep enough. What if you worked for Erin, and we can still do what we do, only because I’m nosy and want to know who’s living in my area, but you could do an even deeper check with your FBI connections.” Jake stared at the other man and nodded. “If she agrees, then you could probably live there, and instead of just waiting for the time to run background checks, I’m sure you could work for her, and maybe, I don’t know, start a security company there.”

“For horses?” Duane asked in shock.

“You’d be surprised. You were in on the Royal take down. All that shit started because of horses. I’m also thinking she might need a security company because of Broken Two.”

“What the hell is that?”

“It’s the second half of Broken, and it will have doctor offices, something Erin calls a Bunktel, and other things. If you’re going out to see Scott, and possibly spend a couple of days, talk to Erin. But not now.”

“What’s that mean?”

“Catch up on some sleep for at least twenty-four hours before you approach her. No offense, man, but the way you look right now, I don’t think your brain would compute what she would say or offer you.”

“You got me there,” Duane said with a sigh as he finished his coffee and set the cup on the edge of the desk. He looked at the other man with a frown. “Do you think she’d hire me?”

“I don’t know, I do know that I won’t call ahead for you. I like to think I know Erin enough that if she gets an idea in her head, she’s like a dog with a bone in ironing out all the pros and cons. I don’t want to give her any heads up because one, it’s not my place. Two, you need rest first, and three, I don’t even know if you would be interested in something like I’m thinking. Oh, and four, it would all be Erin’s decision. I do know that she has a lot of irons in the fire and might need your services in the future.” At Duane’s skeptical look, Jake sat forward and shook his head.

“Think of it like being the lawman like in days of old. Erin has almost five thousand acres, covering three counties, and has Erin’s Way, Broken, Broken Two, and now New Double. Not to mention an on-line business on top of all that physical stuff.”

“New Double, is that’s Naomi’s ranch from Wyoming.”

“Correct.” Jake laid his hand on a stack of folders sitting on the front corner of his desk. “These are applications for hired hands to work New Double. As far as I know, Erin’s Way, Riceman Stallions, and The Broken Wheel are set with employees. It’s New Double, and what everyone is calling Broken Two that will need employees.” He waved his hand around his desk and shook his head. “Don’t get me wrong, I love doing the background checks for Erin, but I still have my own work to do.”

“Wow, okay.” Duane nodded and sat up straighter as he felt a renewed feeling of hope course through his veins. “I haven’t told anyone this yet, but I have three months to decide whether I want to ride a desk or retire. I’m only here for at least seventy-two hours, then I have to get back. I only reached out to you to see if I had any options if I decided to retire.”

“May I ask why this area?”

“Scott’s here,” Duane said with finality. “He might be my ex-wife’s brother, but he’s the only family I have. I have seen how much he has improved since moving here, I was kind of hoping I could have the same renewed vigor and not feel like I’m ninety years old.” He paused, then snorted a laugh. “Take Ducky for example, he’s in his upper eighties and he’s spry. I’m wondering if it’s something in the water.”

Jake laughed and nodded. “I totally understand. Personally, and this is just my opinion, but I believe it’s Erin and her approach to life. She is upfront, honest, and won’t take any shit from anyone, let alone dish it out. The only requirement would be that you might have to learn how to ride a horse.”

Duane couldn’t help himself, he started out with a snorted laugh, then ended up bent over with his arms cradling his stomach. He wiped his tears of mirth and shook his head as he got himself under control.

“Sorry, but I pictured the only horse I have ever ridden in my life. I think I was three, and it was one of those horses outside the grocery store that took a quarter to operate. I was so excited when it started, I jerked, fell off, and broke my arm. I haven’t been up on one since.”

Jake looked at him in shock, then burst out laughing. “I’m sorry, I know it was probably tragic at the time, but I can picture it.” They shared a laugh, then Jake scowled when Duane turned serious. “What?”

“If I decide to retire and move here, with you doing what you do, I need to tell you. Once you know this, I want to know if Erin would hire me.” He took the next thirty minutes to explain his predicament and waited for Jake’s response.

“Holy fucking hell, Manchester,” Jake said in shock. “Damn, I’m sorry you had to go through all that. The only thing I can think is to tell this to Erin if the position of employment is discussed. If Erin knew the truth from the beginning, she would be better equipped rather than being blindsided in the future. One other thing you might want to take into consideration.”

“What’s that?”

“The Broken Wheel is locked within.”

“What’s that mean?”

“It means the only way to reach that ranch is through Erin’s Way. They are still in the process of building Broken Two, and there will be a small road from the Bunktel’s to the ranch barn, but the general public wouldn’t have access to it. Also, other than the way you and your FBI buddies breached Erin’s Way when you took Royal down, there’s no access from New Double.”

“I would be safe?”

“Yes, and I’m sure Scott and his former SEAL teammates would have your back if what you just told me came to anything. I’m also thinking that you might be able to hire and train a couple more security people by the timeline you told me about.”

“Yeah, I like that idea. Both of being locked within, and hiring more. I just have to talk to Erin about everything.”

“I agree, but not before you get at least twelve solid hours of sleep.”

“Understood,” Duane said firmly as he stood and put his hand out. “Thank you Jake, I was wondering what the hell I was going to do with what I just told you, and you’ve given me many options. I’ll head out to Erin’s Way and see if I can’t stay for a couple of days. Once I’m rested, I’ll talk with Erin.”

Jake stood and shook the other man’s hand. “I wish you well, and know this. Whatever happens and you need help, Brotherhood Protectors will have your back.”

“Thanks, Jake,” Duane said, and picked up his coffee cup. He went up the stairs, placed the cup where Jake told him to, and slowly exited the bed and breakfast. Once outside, he drew in a deep, calming breath and felt more of the tightness in his neck and shoulders leave his body. The ten-ton rock that felt like it was pressing in his chest also felt as if it had shifted. With renewed determination, he headed to his truck. He only stopped to fill the tank with gas, then settled in for the drive out to Erin’s Way.