Chapter 6
Two days later, Ryan looked at Kevin and smirked. “Should we stop for groceries? We’re almost to Fool’s Gold.”
“Yeah, I was making a mental list in my head as we drove this last part. I’ll be glad when we’re finally there.”
“Where are you going to be staying?”
“At New Double, but I want to see Caleb first.”
“I know I have no right to say this, but why don’t you get settled into New Double, then have him come over for the weekend? I know he’s been getting new clients. Enough so that Katherine is now working for him full time most days. She’s only at Broken when Naomi really needs her.”
“Oh, okay. Yeah, I don’t want to disturb his job. Because I don’t know exactly what I’ll be doing, how about we get groceries, then stop at Erin’s Way. Can you get a ride to your cabin from there?”
“I can.” He looked at Kevin with a grin. “My truck is there.”
Kevin remembered where the grocery store was from when he had been there before, and as they entered, he saw that Ryan had pulled out his phone. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” he said with a grin. “I sent a text to Pru and told her to take a picture of the grocery list on the refrigerator and text it to me.” He looked at him with a grin. “I then sent a text to Opal for her to do the same, and add anything else we might need.”
“Ah, smart. Does Lois still make the grocery runs?”
“Her or Laurie. It’s warm enough that we’ve been able to plow and disc the area for the garden. It should be planted by the end of the month.”
“Good,” he said with a nod as he grabbed his cart and started in the produce aisle.
Because he didn’t know how busy he would be at his new job, or when he would get a chance to return to town for groceries, he stocked up, knowing he could make a couple of dishes with the fresh items, and freeze them.
“Carter,” a guy said to Ryan as they turned an aisle in the store, and Kevin frowned at him.
“Do I know you?”
“Not really, but you look familiar to me.”
“Kevin Lassiter, I’m Caleb’s father.”
“Ah, the Homicide Detective from Seattle,” the guy said and stuck out his hand. “Jake Cogburn.”
“Brotherhood Protectors.”
“Correct. Are you here visiting? Not that it’s any of my business.”
“No, I’m retired from Seattle, and here to take on the security position at New Double.”
“Here,” Jake said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out several business cards.
“I still work closely with Manchester, and this is my direct line if you need anything. Erin will tell you that she will trust you with your background checks, but she also wants you to send the applicants our way so we can dig deeper.”
“I totally understand,” Kevin said as he slipped them into his own pocket. They made small talk for a few more minutes, then continued on with their shopping.
After they left the store, stopped for gas, then headed toward Erin’s Way.
The closer they got, the more relaxed Kevin felt.
He realized that his shoulders weren’t up around his ears.
He chuckled, and looked at Ryan with a grin.
“Maybe I’ll have to go over to Caleb and get him to adjust me.
I don’t feel as tense as I have been for years. ”
“The ranch will do that to you,” Ryan said with a chuckle. “I remember how I was when I first arrived.” He shook his head and recalled how he had met Pru, the fight in the parking lot, the knife wound, and how he had healed fast.
“Damn, Ryan. You got in a fight before you healed from your ordeal overseas?”
“Yes, it was three days after I stopped at your place to let you know I was alive and well.”
“Damn, and Pru helped you?”
“Yep, she’s a scrappy little thing.”
Kevin wasn’t about to comment from the look on his face.
He did see that he loved his wife, and he was proud that he could find love after what he had gone through.
He had a fleeting thought if he was too old to ever find love again.
After his years with Karen, he wasn’t holding out any hope of it happening.
With a shake of his head, he continued the drive to the ranch.
He slowed down to pull into the driveway to Erin’s Way.
He slowed down further for the sharp turn, then eased into the parking lot.
As soon as he exited the truck, he looked up and smiled when he saw Duane standing there.
“You made it.”
“Yeah, we took two days, but we’re here.
” He shook Duane’s hand, and looked up when a vehicle came toward them, and it didn’t take long for Kevin to see Pru hop out of a truck, and rush to jump into Ryan’s arms. His heart hurt at the sight of the joy on their faces at seeing each other. He turned away when they kissed.
“Erin’s waiting for you in her office,” Duane said as he pointed to the back door of the main house.
“I’ll see you later, Ryan,” Kevin called out, and grinned when the other man only waved his hand in the air, never taking his lips from his wife’s. Instead of taking him into the main house, Duane waved him by, and Kevin started forward.
He entered the back door, wiped his feet, and proceeded into the kitchen where he paused when he saw someone pouring coffee into a cup.
Reid looked up, gave a start, then grinned as he automatically brought down another cup and filled it for him.
Before he told Kevin to grab both cups, and with Reid carrying the pot with him, they went down the hall to Erin’s office.
“You have a visitor,” Reid said as he poured coffee into Erin’s mug, and Julie shook her head, took the pot from him, and left.
Erin looked up with a frown, then grinned as she spotted Kevin. She also jumped to her feet, hurried around the desk and shook his hand. “Welcome, are you here permanently now?”
“Yes.”
“Did the problem that cropped up work in your favor?”
“It did. It happened right away, and arrests were made. Turns out the gang members that came after me all had several felony warrants out on them. They’ll be in jail for a long, long time.
Oh, they still have to wait for their trial, but they will probably go away for life because of the three-strikes rule. ”
“Guess they fucked around and were found out,” Erin said with a shake of her head. “Now, have you seen Caleb yet?”
“Not yet, I’d like to get settled first, because Ryan and I stopped for groceries back in Fool’s Gold.” He looked between Reid and Erin. “Hell, I don’t even know where my trailer of things are.”
“Over at New Double,” Erin said. “That’s where I had them deliver them when they called to ask.” She went to the corner of the office, picked up a long round tube, and nodded to him. “I’ll ride with you, to start explaining things, then Reid can follow.” She looked at Reid with a raised brow.
“Sounds good,” he grinned, and sipped his coffee.
“Do you remember how to get to New Double?” Erin asked as they walked back through the hall toward the back door.
“Vaguely.”
“Okay, I’ll take you over to RRR first, and explain what that will be about. Clark’s been working over there for a month now. It’s going to be muddy and messy.”
“I’m fine.” Kevin waved off her concern, and they went out to his truck. She directed him where to go, and then told him to slow down and pull into a certain driveway. As they drove the winding driveway, Kevin slowed to a crawl at the ruts he had to maneuver.
“Damn,” Erin said as she reached up to grip the handle above her head with her left hand. She shook her head. “It’s times like this that I miss having both hands.”
“Can’t Staci do anything to help you?”
“Yes, but she needs to do the military people first. Something about her contract, but she’s been taking measurements of my left hand, and right wrist and such. No clue what’s going to come of it, but I trust her.”
“Good, she’s a great gal.”
“That’s right, you knew her from her time in Seattle.”
“Some, I knew her more from the times Caleb worked with her.”
“Park up there,” Erin said as she pointed, and as he swung his truck beside another one, he looked out to stare in shock.
“Yeah, that’s where the arena is going to be, this was the only level spot on the entire property.
Clark thought the working arena could be here, then way back will be where the animals will be kept.
Between the animals and the arena, there will eventually be cabins like at Broken, Broken Two, and New Double.
” She saw the fascination on his face and chuckled.
“The horses will be on one side of the ranch, while the cows and bulls will be on the other.”
“What will I be doing?”
“This is my thought process for now. Duane will be the main security guard at Erin’s Way. I’m not saying you have to report to him, but I would like you to coordinate with him at least weekly.”
“I saw Jake Cogburn in town, he told me to reach out if I needed anything.”
“Good. Anyway, I have another security person coming any day now. They are like Duane, retired from the FBI. The two of you will be working side by side over at New Double. In the coming weeks, several people should be arriving, both for the horses there, and for this ranch here. You will have all of their information before they step foot on the property. If not, then they aren’t allowed until we can question them. ”
“Where will I get the information from?”
“Cole, Naomi, myself, Duane, or Clem.”
“What type of people will be coming?”
“Buyers for the horses at New Double, their trainers, and their jockeys. If you haven’t been given a name, and run a background check on them, then they aren’t allowed on the property.
I do the same checks on anyone that wants to bring one of their mares to Erin’s Way in order for them to be bred with one of my stallions.
If I sat down and added it up on paper, between all the ranches, I’m looking at something toward a couple billion dollars of horseflesh.
I won’t let just anyone onto the property. ”
Kevin whistled, and nodded. “I totally understand, and agree. What about here?” He pointed out the window.
“As I said, I’m expecting someone else any day now, and the two of you will work together at New Double.
Once this place is up and running, then one of you will come over here, one of you will stay over there.
You will be like Duane, just at different ranches.
For the people that will eventually be working here, Clem will give you their information.
He’s out at rodeos now getting people to come work for us.
I have a set of twins Kade and Lane Montgomery due soon.
They had a family emergency, so stayed back home to help on the farm until they ironed everything out.
” She looked at him and shook her head. “It’s not my story to tell, but they are great kids.
They will be working at New Double, learning the ropes, then possibly coming over here.
” She grinned as she shook her head and tapped her temple.
Kevin would later learn to just shake his head and agree when he saw her do that in the future.
“Anyway, the guys and gals, I’m not discriminating against anyone, that want to work at RRR, will have to work at New Double until this ranch is up and running.
I’m thinking two years. You and the other security person will be running deep background checks, on them.
Oh, and once this place is operating, that arena will be open to the rodeo people living in the area that want to board their animals, and use the arena.
Again, a background check will be done on them.
I’ll also have applications for them to fill out in order to board their horse.
I’m not running a charity, because there will be a boarding fee to help pay for the hay and feed that we will provide. ”
“I probably know the answer to this, but I want it clarified from the start. What constitutes a no hire, or no one allowed on the property? I’m talking about the owners, trainers, and jockeys.”
“Anything that you would arrest them for if you were still a cop. Or if something in the check makes your gut scream that something isn’t right.
No cruelty to animal charges against them, no DUIs, no drug charges.
I’ll allow speeding tickets, misdemeanor traffic citations are okay.
Nothing that would put any animal or person already working here in jeopardy.
” She gave him a critical look, and a solid nod.
“Use your gut, when in doubt, call Duane.”
“Understood.” He nodded and they left RRR and she gave him the directions to New Double. Before leaving the drive for the new ranch, Kevin paused to look for traffic and pointed to his right. “Broken Two and Caleb is that way.”
“Correct.” Erin nodded.
He followed the directions and in a few minutes they pulled in, but instead of stopping, Erin directed him toward the cabins.
“We can start from here, since you probably have food that needs to go into the refrigerator or freezer.”
“I do, thank you.”