Chapter 8
Chapter 8
“ I ’ve spent the last few days inspecting the ranch, making observations, talking to people, and taking an aerial view, and I have some thoughts.”
“Yes?” he prompted. If there was a hint of defensiveness in his tone, it was because he was so incredibly protective of his ranch.
“First of all, I want you to know I think it’s spectacular. I don’t think you can appreciate the beauty of flat nothingness unless you’ve grown up with it. It reminds me so much of home, and I’ve really enjoyed my time there.”
“Thank you, but this sounds a bit like a benediction.”
“Not a benediction, simply a frank assessment. Your ranch is beautiful, Mr. Ridge, and I enjoy it immensely.”
“Thank you,” he said, relaxing a bit. Oh, geez, she’s working me over and doing it well. “Have you ever considered politics, Bailey? I think you’d have a good shot at being president.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’d spend ninety percent of my presidency saying, ‘Yes, I am a woman, what of it?’” They shared a smile and she continued. “You believe you have two problem areas on the ranch—the rustlers in the north and the smugglers in the south. I submit to you they’re the same problem.”
“You think the cartels are stealing my cows?” he asked, eyebrows raised.
“Not exactly, but I think the endgame is the same—drug money. One way or another, and I’m not sure how yet, but I think both things are connected to drugs. One we know for sure is a seller, the smugglers. I find it highly possible that the rustlers are buyers.”
“When you put it together like that, I can see it. We’ve had a raging drug problem here, like everywhere.”
“I have some ideas about increasing patrols, including an air patrol by me, and mixing up your schedule and routine. Vary feeding times, etcetera. I think that might be enough to stem the thieves who are looking for a quick, easy buck. Let’s not make it quick or easy.”
“Sounds good,” he said.
“Now, about the smugglers. Clearly it’s a tense, complex situation that’s going to require a light touch. I don’t want to do anything to start a war, but I do think there are some subtle ways we can make things harder for them.”
“Like what?”
“How would you feel about unflattening that nice, flat road?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean right now it’s like a paradise of flat land and easy walking. Let’s make it not easy.” She huffed a frustrated little sigh. “I really wanted to talk to that Ranger, get his input on the situation, but he’s apparently less than useless.”
“And speak of the devil, here he is,” Cal said as Sully Langford pulled up a chair and joined their table.
“Have you really killed eleven people, or is that something you say to impress people?” he asked Bailey.
“The people who would be impressed by that aren’t people I want in my inner circle,” she said.
“I’m impressed.”
“Then my statement stands,” she said.
“Where’d you find this one, Cal?” Sully asked. “Wait, I bet Cam sent her, didn’t he? That’s funny. Y’all always were for pranks.”
“Why would that be a prank?” Cal asked.
“Because she’s a woman,” Sully said.
“She is?” Cal said, looking at Bailey in dismay. “Son of a gun, you’re right.”
“Now, I know we got off on the wrong foot, Miss Dunbar,” Sully added. Bailey narrowed her eyes at him. “Major Dunbar. But I’m willing and able to have that conversation with you. How’s tonight sound?”
“Do you often work at night, Ranger Langford?” she asked.
“Only when I plan to combine business with pleasure,” he said.
Bailey wasn’t sure what her face looked like, but Cal laughed at her expression. “Careful, Sully, or I just might let her take you outside.”
“Now, Cal, you know I could never hit a woman,” Sully said.
“Lucky for you I feel the same,” Bailey replied. “Excuse me, please.” She pushed back from the table and went to the restroom, and it wasn’t her imagination that all eyes were on her, whether it was because she was new or because she was at a table with Cal and Sully she didn’t know.
“Boy, howdy, she’s a case, isn’t she?” Sully asked after she was safely gone.
“She’s all right,” Cal said mildly and Sully’s eyes strayed from the door of the bathroom to him.
“You really don’t have a type do you, Cal?”
“It’s not like that Sully. She’s an employee. And, you know…” he held up his ring finger for Sully’s inspection.
Sully snorted. “You’re the only one hanging on in that relationship. You know who Isabel is dating now?”
“No, and I don’t want to,” Cal said.
“Well, the new girl is about as far from Isabel as you can get, that’s for certain,” Sully said.
“She’s an employee, Sully. That’s all.”
Sully grinned. “So you won’t mind if I ask her out.”
“I thought you already did,” Cal said.
“Nah, that’s just horseplay. I mean I’d make a real move, kind of show her what I’ve got.”
“It’s a free world, Sully. Best of luck to you,” Cal said. He would have tipped his hat to him, but he wasn’t wearing it.
Bailey returned from the bathroom, saw Sully still at their table, and barely refrained from grimacing.
“What about supper tomorrow?” Sully asked.
“What about it?” Bailey said.
“You and me, I’ll show you the town.”
“I’ve seen the town, twice in fact,” Bailey replied.
“Come on, we’ll talk, compare notes about Cal’s ranch, keep it professional.”
“Hard pass, Ranger Langford. Hard, hard pass,” she said before turning her attention back to Cal. “If it’s all the same to you, I think I’ll wait outside.”
“It’s midday. You’re going to have to learn a thing or two about Texas heat if you’re going to survive,” Sully volunteered.
“This is a fine time to practice. Excuse me.” She pushed back from the table again and walked out of the diner.
“Butter don’t melt in her mouth,” Sully said.
“Know your audience, Sully,” Cal advised.
“What’s that mean?”
“It means you insulted her in every possible way today,” Cal said.
“I was just bein’ friendly, warnin’ her about the Texas sun,” Sully huffed.
“She grew up in Africa. I think she knows a thing or two about shade,” Cal said, shaking his head. He threw some bills on the table. “Better bring the A game next time.”
“That was my A game,” Sully muttered.
“That’s what makes it so sad,” Cal said. He flicked Sully’s hat, gave his shoulder a sympathetic pat, and went to find Bailey.
Cal and Bailey drove for a while in silence before anyone spoke.
“I have to say I’m fairly disillusioned in the Texas Rangers,” she said at last.
“Sully’s all right,” Cal said. “You flummoxed him, is all.”
“Me? What did I do?”
He glanced at her. She wasn’t like anyone Sully had ever encountered. She wasn’t like anyone he had ever encountered. “He’s used to a certain response from women. He’s what you’d call our town’s most desirable male.”
“Him? I thought it would be…” she trailed off and glanced out her window.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Were you going to say you thought it would be me?” he asked.
She shrugged.
“Why, Major Dunbar, I never. I think I may be blushing. Or maybe you are.”
“I don’t blush,” she said.
“Sure you do, pink cheeks.” He poked her leg; she batted his hand away.
“Once a very long time ago that was me. I was a young prince, son of a wealthy rancher, football star, hot-headed, full of myself, certain. And then I went away to college and five years of pro football and sort of lost track of myself. Are you familiar with the story of Esau?”
“From the bible?” she asked. He nodded. “Vaguely, sir.”
“He was supposed to be the child of promise, but Jacob stole his blessing. And then he went off and married a woman from outside his religion, outside his culture. So far outside she became a curse on his family. I find the older I get, the more I identify with Esau. Every year, little by little, more and more of that cocksure boy I used to be withers and dies. That dashing young football player is gone. In his place is a broken down, scarred old cowboy.”
“I guess we both know a thing or two about broken dreams,” she said.
“I guess we do,” he agreed.
“Thirty eight’s not too old to start over, Cal,” she said after a moment of heavy silence.
“Neither is thirty, Bailey,” he added. “Maybe someday we’ll both learn a thing or two about trying again.”
“Maybe so,” she said, and they finished the ride in quiet.