The Cattle Drive [The Armstrong Brothers of Cedar Creek] (Siren Publishing Classic) Read online

  Rachael had met some ballsy men in her life. Hell, she even married one, but for a complete and total stranger to kiss her like that was inexcusable. What pissed her off even more was the way she reacted.

  Shit, girl! You damn near jumped him right there with his teenage son only fifteen feet from you, she thought to herself.

  Yes, it has been a very long time since you had a man’s hands on you, let alone his lips, but damn, you’re married. You can’t go around kissing every male thing on the planet like that, even if it did taste good. It isn’t right, let alone decent.

  Then it hit her.

  Like a force known only to God, the air was ripped out of her. She wasn’t married anymore.

  She was widowed.

  She was alone.

  There was no husband waiting for her at home. There was no one.

  For the last two years she had held out for the hope that the accident was a bad dream, some nightmare that she would soon wake up from. She waited for the day that she would walk into her bedroom and there would be Robert, waiting for her. But he was never going to be there. He was gone. The rush of emotions flooded her like a tsunami slamming into her heart. As the realization hit her, a door closed within her, signaling the end of a chapter in her life. She was single once again, and there was nothing that she could do about it.

  Her head was throbbing, the pressure pounding against her temples. Realizing the finality of her husband’s death and listening to the bickering men was too much. She needed to get away. She quickly looked for an escape. She wanted to be alone. Besides, she just wasn’t in any mood to deal with Kenny or Justin, her ranch hands that had worked with her from the very beginning.

  The day was one complication after the other. Adding to her frustrations, Kenny had just informed her that Justin left the corral open.

  Lowering her head, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she listened to the men.

  “I think I know how to lock a corral,” Justin firmly said.

  “Yeah, just like you know how to saddle a horse,” Kenny replied.

  “That was only one time, ’cause I was too hungover to even walk.”

  “And what about sorting the herd?”

  “How was I supposed to know I needed glasses? Besides, I wasn’t the one who drove the truck into northeast fence.”

  “It was dark, and the lights weren’t working!”

  Rachael shouted, “Enough! You two are driving me nuts.”

  “Sorry, boss lady,” they both said in unison.

  “Stop calling me that!”

  Together they looked at each other and smiled. “Yes, boss lady.”

  Rachael ran her hand down her face out of annoyance, when she heard a truck approaching. Sitting on the saddle, she turned and saw Henry slowly driving across the range. Instantly looking to the sky above, she whispered, “thank God,” and turned Mystic and rode out to meet him.

  “Hey, Henry, what brings you out here?” she said as she came to a stop near the truck.

  “I’m looking for a summer job. I heard that you are looking for some summer hands to help you here on the farm?” he asked, getting out of his old beat-up ’57 Chevy.

  “Well first, this isn’t a farm, it’s a ranch. I raise cattle for breeding and for beef. Have you ever worked a cattle ranch before?” she asked, amused at the shock on his face.

  “This is a cattle ranch? I have been here almost two months, and I have never seen one cow.”

  “Longhorn, Henry. They are called Texas Longhorns.” She laughed.

  “Well, I still want the job if you are still looking,” he said.

  “Well, I don’t know. Since you have never worked a ranch, you would have to be taught everything, and if I remember correctly, you don’t even know how to ride.”

  “You are correct.” He laughed.

  “Well how about this. School isn’t out for another two months. In that time, you come out here after school and learn the ropes. At the end of two months, we’ll have this discussion again, deal?”

  “I can do that,” Henry said, starting his truck. “Thanks, Rachael.”

  “Oh, Henry,” Rachael said, getting the kid’s attention. “Next time you come out here to talk to me, make sure your butt is sitting on a horse,” she said, turning Mystic and laughing.

  * * * *

  The town of Cedar Creek was just a little thing. Compared to most rural towns in the south, this had to be the smallest town in Texas. Mostly ranches and a few farms, Cedar Creek consisted of one main road, a post office that doubled as the local feed store, a simple courthouse, and a small grocery store. The town’s sheriff’s office also housed the local volunteer fire department, mainly three men and one of those men was the sheriff.

  The town of Cedar Creek took care of its own.

  They had fought many times to keep their small town as simple as possible. Even when the big Walmart chain wanted to build in Cedar Creek, the whole town of over five hundred voted jointly to object to the move. It has been that way for years, and the townsfolk preferred it that way.

  Michael liked the feel of the closeness of the tight-knit town. Never once living in Illinois did he ever feel welcome and appreciated for living somewhere, but the town had opened their arms and welcomed him and his son. The feeling of belonging was new to him.

  Always the outsider, Michael liked looking at everything from the outside. He preferred it that way. The quietness was what really appealed to him the most. The hustle and bustle of the big city was gone. Now a slow pace eased the tension within him, and soon he found himself relaxing and taking his time. If nothing, the town helped him to realize that there was nothing that important that it couldn’t wait until tomorrow, and he liked that.

  Enjoying the ride into town, Michael looked over the passing farms as the day’s hot sun shone through the window. It was going to be another scorcher. He had heard of hot days before, but living in south Texas, this was hot. After living in Illinois, he thought he would never again complain of what he believed to be hot summers. He would give anything for a cool breeze off of the lakes right about now.

  He pulled into the parking lot of the feed store when he saw Chris walk in.

  Getting out of his truck, Michael walked into one of the only gossip holes in town. The store was a typical feed store, but what he liked was that most of the people there were just there to gab.

  It didn’t take long for Chris to walk over to say hi. “Hey, Michael, how’s the organic farm going?”

  “Slow, very slow.”

  “Well I thought you should know that you have the whole town talking. Not many of them think you are going to get it up and running. This Texas ground isn’t right for what you are planning. They all think your land would be better suited for ranching,” Chris said with a smile.

  “Well, sheriff, there is a first for everything, isn’t there?” Michael replied.

  “I guess so. Hey by the way, I heard your boy was headed out to ask Rachael for a summer job out on her ranch. I thought he didn’t know how to ride?”

  “He doesn’t. What do you mean, summer job out on her ranch?” Michael asked. He knew damn well what Rachael was planning, but he was worried why Henry would want to be out there. He didn’t mind the fact that Henry wanted to work for her, but the boy was seventeen. He just couldn’t figure out what irked him so much about that fact. He knew if he stopped and thought about it for a minute, he could probably figure it out, but it was something that he wasn’t ready to acknowledge yet.

  “Well, it’s not so much as a summer job, but she is having an old-fashioned cattle drive. She’s going to hire a bunch of boys from town at the beginning of summer to get them ready for the fall drive. They have to get the cattle to market before winter hits, and those she doesn’t take she leaves behind to roam free. She needs the extra hands to tend the farm while she is away,” Chris explained.

  “Ah…I see.” Michael nodded.

  “Have you given any thought to the spring f
estival coming up in a couple of months?”

  “Haven’t thought about it. I will ask Henry and see what he wants to do.”

  “Well, just thought I would let you know. I have to get going. I will stop by later this week to see how the farm is going,” Chris said, tipping his hat to the ladies as he left the store.

  Michael paid for his supplies and headed out of town. It didn’t take long once he hit the main road back to his house before he realized why he didn’t want Henry working for Rachael. It wasn’t that he had issues with his son working hard. It was the fact that the work was on a ranch. There was no way in hell his son was ever going to become a rancher.

  Before he knew it, he passed his house and was heading straight for Rachael’s. He stopped in front of the house and got out to find Henry driving across the field toward him. He stood there with his hand on his hips when Henry stopped.

  “Hey, Dad, what brings you out to Rachael’s?”

  “Henry, what are you doing here?”

  “I was asking Rachael for a summer job. Hey, Dad, did you know this is a cattle ranch?”

  “Yeah, I know. Where is she?” Michael asked, getting angrier by the minute.

  “She is about three miles that way,” Henry said, pointing in the general vicinity.

  “That’s east, Henry,” Michael said, getting in his truck and starting the engine.

  But before he could put it in drive, Henry yelled, “Dad, if you’re going out there, she said my butt better be on a horse. I don’t think she likes vehicles out on her land. I think she doesn’t want any engine fluid getting on the ground.”

  “You go home and wait for me.”

  “You all right, Dad? You look mad.”

  “Now, Henry!” Michael yelled as he got out of his truck once again. He watched his son drive away. The thought of Henry working on a cattle ranch was still bothering him. He knew that Henry was raised a city boy. Hell, the boy had never been on a horse, but working on a cattle drive was a far reach even for Henry.

  Looking over her property, he saw the cattlemen going about their business, working hard. Exhausted to the bone, they all looked older than they were supposed to be. Their faces were tanned and looked of old leather, hands callused over, the grunts of too much exertion taking its toll on their bodies. Watching everything, Michael remembered his life on Crossfire Ranch.

  Too many nights he would come home with bleeding blisters, sore backs, and aches no man should ever have to endure. He remembered the hard days and tough nights standing watch—the rustling, the branding, and the yelling.

  The anger came out of nowhere.

  Michael was furious.

  Over his dead body would his son ever work a cattle ranch. He quickly turned to find a very bulky ranch hand galloping up on a beautiful speckled Appaloosa. Michael walked over to him.

  “I need to borrow your horse.”

  “Excuse me,” the man said in a low tone.

  “I need to see Rachael Mason, now!”

  “Well, sir, I can’t give you my horse, but if you follow me, I will saddle up a filly for you.”

  “I know how to saddle a horse. Where is it?”

  “In the barn. Over there,” the man said, pointing to the barn off behind the house.

  Michael quickly found a horse and had it saddled in no time, and before the ranch hand could say anything, Michael was on top of the horse, riding fast out into the open field.

  * * * *

  The ranch hand quickly grabbed his walkie-talkie. “Hey, boss lady, you there?”

  “Brutus, what did I say about you calling me that?”

  “Sorry, boss lady, but I thought I would let you know that some man was here, and he saddled up Jasper. He is headed your way, and he is madder than hell.”

  “You let someone what?” Rachael screamed into the walkie-talkie, letting it drop to the ground below. Grabbing the reins quickly, she kicked Mystic into a full run.

  She saw him riding fast toward her in the distance. They were almost to each other when she quickly stopped her horse and dismounted in a furry.

  “Who the hell do you think you are? What gives you the right to take a ride on any of my horses?” she said, walking up to him and screaming at him. She watched as he stopped the horse and just sat there looking down at her. Infuriated, her hair had come loose and was now flying all around her. Even though she was so angry she could have been spitting nails, his stark ruggedness took her breath away. She watched as he dismounted the horse and walked toward her and stood toe to toe with her.

  “My son is not going to be working for you this summer. I want you to tell him no,” he said firmly, looking her directly into her eyes.

  “Who are you to tell me who I hire and who I can’t? If Henry is willing to learn, then I will hire him. Besides, he is almost eighteen, and you want to tell me why he doesn’t even know how to ride?” she asked, looking up at him and placing her hands on her hips.

  “That is none of your business. I don’t want my son working on a cattle ranch. Is that clear?” he said, stepping closer to her.

  “If he can do the job, I will hire him. Is that clear?” she said, inching toward him.

  “Damn it, woman, I don’t want him riding or working on a cattle ranch. He is going to college and getting a decent job. Henry is too good for manual labor.”

  “So ranch work is beneath him. Only poor, stupid, ignorant people are allowed to work a cattle ranch.”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “Oh yes you did,” she yelled. They were both standing so close to each other that she could both feel the heat from his body. Rachael watched as he took a deep breath, raking his hands down his face.

  “You want to tell me why?” Rachael said, trying to curb her frustration at the whole situation.

  “I know what it’s like working on a cattle ranch. It’s hard work, and one can get immersed in it. I want something better for my son.”

  “You’re from Illinois. What do you know about ranching?” she asked.

  “Henry is from Illinois. I was born and raised in Montana. My father owned a cattle ranch. So I know what working one entails,” he replied, smiling.

  “If your son can do the work and he is willing to learn, I’m sorry, Michael, but I will not turn him away. I will hire him.”

  “Damn it, Rachael, I don’t want him working a ranch,” Michael said, grabbing her arms and pulling her into his body. He held her firmly there, looking down into her eyes.

  “Fine!” She smiled. “If you won’t let Henry work the ranch, then that leaves you. Come this fall, you will help me drive the cattle to market,” she said firmly.

  “The hell I will!” he lied.

  “You just cost me an employee, therefore you will stand in his place. I won’t argue about this anymore. I expect to see you come summer,” she said, wiggling out of his grip and walking back over to her horse. She was on her horse so quick, she felt like laughing, because he just stood there openmouthed. She turned around in her saddle and smiled. “And Michael, don’t be late. If you really know cattle…you should know they get feisty if they aren’t fed on time,” she said, laughing as she trotted off.

  As she rode off, reality hit. “Shit, I just hired him for the cattle drive.”

  * * * *

  Sitting atop their horses, two men looked down into the valley at the vast ranch before them. The land was a cover of golden honey. A stream ran through the north end of the property. The treelined feeding ground was overrun with cattle as they grazed. Off toward the south stood a large farmhouse with barns and corrals.

  The two men watched as ranch hands maneuvered the cattle. The R & R Ranch was a working cattle ranch, and a very profitable one at that. With over three thousand heads, fifteen ranch hands, and a very determined owner, the ranch was money.

  He sat there grinning as the other man handed him a folder.

  “What?”

  “That’s your family down there. Wouldn’t it just be easier to talk
and settle this like a gentleman before things go too far? I am sure they would understand.”

  “What you need to learn is that I do what I want, when I want. I suggest you keep your thoughts and opinions to yourself.”

  “Yes, sir,” the other man softly replied.

  Sitting there thinking of how events had accumulated over the years sent a vicious stream of bile through him. He wanted what was rightfully his, and he was going to get it…all of it!

  He thought to himself, “Stupid, simple people.”

  Soon it would be his turn. He would show them all what he was capable of. He would make all those involved pay, and one in particular would pay dearly.

  “Try your best. I will be waiting for you at the finish line,” he said, turning his horse and slowly riding off.

  * * * *

  Henry was sitting at the kitchen table on the phone with his gram when his father came in. Michael walked into his kitchen and grabbed a beer. He placed his hat down on the kitchen table and walked over to the fridge and grabbed his keys.

  He was still irked at the fact that she never asked. She just assumed. Who the hell was she anyways? Michael didn’t take well to being ordered around, let alone having some little woman tell him what he was going to do.

  He stood there…stewing.

  “Fuck it, I’m going for a drive,” he mumbled to himself before heading out the door.

  Finishing the last of his beer, he threw the bottle to the ground and watched it shatter into several pieces. He walked into the barn and quickly drew back the silver tarp, uncovering his most prized possession, his ’67 Shelby GT. He opened the door and slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

  Henry heard the engine right before it peeled out of the barn. He quickly ran over to the kitchen window just in time to see his father speed out of the drive way, kicking up dust and dirt behind him.

  “He’s in the Shelby,” he said, looking out the window.

  “I really hate that car,” she muttered to herself.

  “Did you say something, Gram?” Henry said, returning to the conversation.