Chapter 31
It all had to go according to plan. Clayton knew if one thing got messed up, then Baxter could get away with cattle rustling. Clayton wanted to catch him instead of putting Brice in the position of testifying—though it would likely come down to having the teen’s cooperation anyway.
The fourteen of them reached the edge of East land. There were still miles of property to cover, however. Luckily, they could do that atop the horses.
Thanks to the deputy with him, who was there in case any homeowners got ornery, they were able to eat up the miles. Clayton kept them hidden as much as possible, but sometimes, they didn’t have that option.
The closer he got to Baxter’s ranch, the more focused Clayton became. It had always been that way during a mission. Though the men with him weren’t SEALs, he trusted each of them to do their parts.
Most of the men from the East Ranch were there simply to keep the cattle from being driven off by Baxter’s men, but that didn’t mean the East men wouldn’t step in if needed.
“Danny and Pete are in place,” Roger, the sheriff deputy with them, said as he put away his cell phone.
Clayton nodded. His group was just a few miles from 4B land. He grew antsy. He was ready for this showdown with Ronnie. The only thing Clayton was concerned about was whether Baxter would be there.
“What the fuck, Gus!”
Gus ignored Terry as he stared at Berny. “You should get to a doctor.”
“I’ll be fine,” Berny stated, his skin a sickly green shade.
“You look like shit. You’re drunk, and your arm is broken. Hell, for all we know, your ribs are, too.”
Berny shook his head of red hair. “My ribs are only bruised. I’ve had a broken rib before so I know the pain.”
Gus fought to keep his cool. “Whatever. The point is, you’ll be of no use to me.”
“You mean us,” said a deep voice behind him.
Gus turned to see Ronnie walk up. His old friend wore his favorite black Stetson hat and the large belt buckle pronouncing him as Steer Wrestling Champion from the previous year.
“You don’t look happy to see me,” Ronnie said.
The problem Gus always had was figuring out when Ronnie was joking. And when he wasn’t. Because thinking Ronnie was teasing when he was really angry resulted in pain for whoever was that stupid.
“You know I am,” Gus answered neutrally, just to be safe.
Ronnie flashed a wide smile and slapped him on the arm. “I’m just fucking with you. Damn, Gus. You’d think after knowing me for over twenty years, you’d recognize the difference.”
“I’m on edge.”
“I can see that.” Ronnie looked over his shoulder to Terry and Berny. “Why didn’t you take care of the dead weight?”
Gus didn’t need to ask what Ronnie was referring to. Though Gus might be many things, he wasn’t a killer. Nor would he turn into one. “He’s hurt, but Berny swears he can do the job.”
“You’d better hope he can,” Ronnie threatened in a low voice. “Because you just vouched for him. If Berny slips up, it’s your ass on the line.”
Gus looked into Ronnie’s blue orbs. “No.”
“Excuse me?” Ronnie said, surprise flickering briefly in his eyes before they narrowed on Gus.
“You chose these two. I told you my reservations about them, but you ignored me. If anyone’s ass is on the line, it’s yours.”
Ronnie stared at him a long time before he gave a snort, his lips curling into a grin that didn’t show an ounce of humor. “One of the reasons we remained friends this long was because you were a spineless follower. Don’t go find courage now, Gus. You won’t like the outcome.”
“You’re right,” Gus said. “I’ve always followed you, but I’ve saved your ass several times as well. Perhaps you need to remember that. Because right now, you need friends.”
Ronnie looked away and drew in a deep breath. “Fuck. I always hate when you’re right.” He swiveled his gaze back to Gus. “Keep your courage then.”
He walked to his horse and mounted, leaving Gus to draw in a shaky breath.
After a few seconds, he, too, climbed atop his horse.
Gus looked over at Berny, who still looked a bit green, whether it was from the hangover or the pain, Gus didn’t care, as long as Berny stayed in the saddle and did his job.
“Let’s get the cattle moved,” Ronnie said and spurred his horse into a gallop.
Terry quickly followed and then Berny. Gus hesitated. Apparently, he was the only one worried about Clayton. Terry had thought the SEAL would show up last night, and when he hadn’t, Terry believed they were free and clear. But Terry didn’t know Clayton. Gus did.
Gus recalled how single-minded Clayton could be back in high school. That had more than likely been magnified ten times over after Clayton joined the military. There was no doubt in Gus’s mind that the Easts knew who had their cattle.
If Brice hadn’t ratted them out, then that meant Clayton had put things together on his own. Which meant that they were royally fucked.
Gus nudged his horse forward and caught up with the others. He looked back over his shoulder as the hairs on the back of his neck rose.
“Easy,” Clayton told the others. “They can’t see us. He’s just checking to see if anyone is following.”
Shane adjusted his seat in the saddle. “We can’t follow them.”
“No, but I know where they’re headed,” Clayton said as he waited for the four men, including Baxter, to disappear over the hill before he turned his horse. “Single file.”
The others fell in behind him as they moved like ghosts over the land.
“Aren’t they the most beautiful things you’ve ever seen?” Ronnie asked.
Gus looked out over the seventy head of cattle, his gaze going to the E brand. “They’re fine stock. It’s why the Easts do so well.”
“It’s time for some competition.”
But was it really competition if Ronnie stole the very animals he intended to go up against the Easts with? Gus kept his thoughts to himself, though. It would do no good to share them with Ronnie.
“You’re worrying me, Gus.”
He turned his head to look at Ronnie. “You shouldn’t be.”
“I’m not so sure. Before the shooting with Abby, your head was on straight. Now, your mind seems everywhere but with me.”
“If that were true, I wouldn’t be here now.”
Ronnie’s blue eyes narrowed. “You’re scared.”
“You’re damn right I am. It’s not a matter of if Clayton East comes. It’s a matter of when.”
Ronnie laughed while shaking his head. He turned his gaze back to the cattle. “Clayton is just a man. He’s nothing more, and I’ve got a bullet with his name on it to prove it.”
“Since when do you talk so easily about taking someone’s life?”
“Since I set my sights on becoming the biggest ranch in a hundred-mile radius.” Ronnie’s head swiveled to him. “I told you I was prepared to do whatever was needed to get what I want.”
Gus was so taken aback that it took him a moment to find words.
“Stealing cattle, yes. Helping Gilroy get out of town with the Easts’ money after he told you the easiest place to find the cattle, of course.
Using Gloria and her CPA firm to help you, definitely.
You never said anything about killing anyone. ”
“Things change,” Ronnie said with a shrug. “If you’re going to ride with me, you have to be ready for anything. And that means taking someone’s life if I order it.”
During his years as Ronnie’s friend, Gus had done a lot of illegal things. He’d become a master thief, as well. They’d partied hard, gone up against drug dealers, and evaded police on numerous occasions. Gus had been prepared to go to jail for any of it.
But he drew the line at murder. Even if it was Ronnie telling him to do it.
“You’re with me, right, Gus?” Ronnie asked in a low, deadly tone.
Gus gave a single nod. “Always.”
After several tense minutes where Ronnie stared at him, Gus was already planning on how he would sneak away when the time was right. He wasn’t stupid enough to go to the cops, but he would get as far from Texas—and Ronnie—as he could.
“I knew I could count on you,” Ronnie said finally.
Gus looked behind him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. Was it his fear of Clayton East that manifested this false sensation?
Or was the SEAL out there even now?
“They’re about to move them,” Shane whispered.
Clayton nodded, his lips flattening. “It’s time to end this.”
Shane turned and signaled a group of three of their men who quickly did the same to the other standing with the horses.
Clayton counted out the two minutes until he was sure everyone in their group was ready to move.
He assumed everyone was in position. If they weren’t, then everything could go to Hell in a handbasket pretty damn quickly.
“We’ll be ready,” Shane said.
Clayton gave a nod and stood before walking from the brush he’d been hiding behind to stand on a small hill. Just as he expected, Baxter’s gaze found him seconds later.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Ronnie said with a cocky smile. “If it isn’t Clayton East in the flesh. I’d heard rumors you were back in town. Real sad about your dad, by the way.”
Clayton didn’t respond. He’d dealt with men like Baxter numerous times, and he knew Ronnie wanted a discussion. He wanted to show Clayton that he wasn’t scared—that he was smarter.
But Clayton wasn’t going to engage the bastard. Instead, he planned to piss Ronnie off. And if he were really lucky, Baxter might feel a fraction of the rage that was boiling within Clayton.
Gus hastily looked around before he told Ronnie, “I think he’s alone.”
“Of course he’s alone,” Ronnie stated with a laugh. “What’s brought you out here, East?”
Clayton focused on his breathing. It was either that or attack Ronnie.
“Clayton?” Gus called.
He glanced at Gus before returning his attention to Ronnie. Already, Clayton could see how his silence was getting underneath Ronnie’s skin.
It helped to calm some of the primal need for revenge that churned through Clayton. But it was a temporary fix. Baxter hadn’t just stolen part of the ranch’s livelihood, he’d knowingly colluded with a minor, putting Brice in danger. And he’d ordered Abby shot.
Ronnie leaned forward in his saddle and propped his left forearm on the saddle horn. “You better run along home, Clayton. You’re out of your depth here. And SEAL or not, you’re outgunned.”
As soon as Baxter said the words, two other men pulled guns on Clayton. He kept his gaze on Ronnie, though he noticed that Gus didn’t reach for his weapon—and neither did Ronnie.
“I’m not going anywhere without my cattle,” Clayton stated.
As one, Brice, Shane, the ten ranch hands, Danny, and the two other sheriff’s deputies all stepped from their hiding places, guns trained on the four rustlers.