Hot Target Cowboy

by June Faver

  He watched as Colt saddled the Appaloosa stallion he had bought at auction. It was a big horse and should be a good ride for a big man. As Colton swung himself up into the saddle, the horse danced a little to the side. Not his usual rider.

  Colton rode him around the corral, keeping to an easy gait.

  Ears back, the horse maneuvered close to the railing, scraping Colton’s leg against the wood.

  Colton yelled and pulled the reins to the left, forcing the horse’s head in the other direction. But when Colt eased up on the reins, the horse tried to disgorge him again.

  “That horse sure doesn’t want a stranger on his back,” Big Jim called.

  Colt grinned. “Apparently not. It’s going to take a while for Sam to get used to me.”

  Big Jim saddled his favorite horse and led him out of the stables. “Hold up, Colt. Do you want to go for a ride? We can go take a look at the cattle I have in quarantine.”

  “Sure, Dad.” Colton maneuvered Sam out of the corral through the stables and joined Big Jim.

  They headed to a pasture where the newest acquisitions were quarantined until the veterinarian could get by to take a look at them. Big Jim had to be sure they were healthy before he allowed them to mingle with the rest of his herd.

  “So, what are your plans for the Dalton place?” Big Jim tried to keep his tone easy. He didn’t want to get Colt’s back up.

  “I talked to the foreman. I think we’re going to plant a crop of feed for the cattle. That’s the first thing.”

  “There’s time,” Big Jim agreed. “You could put in some winter rye and let the herd graze on that.”

  Colton gave him a sideways glance and then nodded. “Good idea. I had thought a grain crop.”

  Big Jim shrugged. “You can do both. Harvest a grain crop and leave the rye for forage. That should get you through the winter just fine.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I really hadn’t had a chance to think this through.”

  Big Jim was amazed that Colt admitted that to him. He bit his tongue to keep from roaring that he’d been a danged fool to make that kind of investment without thinking it through. He sucked in a deep breath, filled his lungs, and let it out slowly. He didn’t want to have the kind of breach with Colt that he’d had with his middle son, Tyler.

  It was a miracle that they had resolved their issues over Ty’s music aspirations. It wouldn’t have happened at all if Ty hadn’t gotten involved with Leah and her daughter. Yeah, better keep my opinions to myself.

  “Heck, Dad. The Dalton ranch is good land…and it’s a decent-size spread. I thought that I’d made a pretty good deal just paying the loan up to date. Besides, Misty and her little brother haven’t got the knowledge or ability to make a go of the place on their own.” Colton turned to grin at him impudently. “I don’t see how this can be a losing proposition.”

  “You could be right. At least I hope so.”

  Colt heaved a deep sigh. “And I suppose you know I couldn’t stand by while Misty and Mark lost their home.”

  Another surprise. Big Jim congratulated himself on not going off on a rant. Maybe this slow and easy approach was paying off. “I know, Son. You’ve got a good heart. At least you made sure to get a legal agreement, all drawn up and signed. Good thinking.”

  Colton’s expression grew grim. They rode along in silence for a moment. “The main reason I got Breck involved was because I was getting the runaround from Fred Hamilton at the bank. It was like he didn’t want me to pay up the loan. He told me the ranch was already in foreclosure, but it wasn’t. I told him I would be back in the afternoon to take care of the loan, but he skipped out on me. Next thing I know, I’m staring at him, speared through the gut in the Dalton hayloft.”

  Big Jim drew up on the reins, staring hard at his son. “So, you’re telling me you might have been one of the last people to see Fred Hamilton alive?”

  Colton reined in the big Appaloosa. “I guess so. I hadn’t thought about it that way. I thought he was just trying to dodge me.” He frowned. “But, at the time, I did think he was acting strange…evasive…shifty. I thought he had some ulterior motive concerning the Dalton place, like maybe he wanted to snap it up for himself.”

  Big Jim swallowed hard. “Do you think his death has anything to do with the Daltons or their property?”

  “I can’t say, Dad. It was just a feeling. Like there was something going on beneath the surface… Hey!” Colton lurched to one side as his mount scraped him against a mesquite tree. The rough bark and thorns dug into his calf, tearing the dense fabric of his Wranglers. He let out a mild curse. “This damned horse hates me.”

  Big Jim chuckled. “Looks like it. Maybe you ought to pay a little attention to where you’re going. You’re the rider. He’s the horse. You’re supposed to be giving him directions. Remember?”

  Colton glanced at the torn denim and blood oozing out of his wound. “Yeah, thanks, Dad. I didn’t think of that.”

  Big Jim huffed out a breath. “Was that sarcasm I just heard?”

  Colton grinned. “You have the hearing of a bat, Dad.”

  The return ride to the Garrett ranch house was silent for the most part. It seemed each man had a lot to consider.

  Big Jim was thinking about Fred Hamilton, wondering if his death was tied to the Daltons. It seemed unlikely that their barn had been a random choice for a murder scene, but what was the connection?

  He reminded himself that Misty’s brother had been murdered. Shot in the head. Was Joe’s death in any way tied to that of Fred Hamilton?

  When they rode up to the stables, young Mark was there. He greeted them with a wave of his hand and a grin. A really good kid.

  Big Jim watched Colton interact with the boy. Both men dismounted and handed the reins over to Mark, who promised to give the horses a good rubdown.

  “Did you know your horse hates me?” Colton asked. “He really hates me. He tried to kill me a few times.”

  Mark’s face reflected concern. “Oh no. He must have been having a bad day. He’s not like that. Sam is a good horse.”

  Colt broke out in a grin. “It’s okay. He just has to get used to me. He doesn’t want anyone on his back except you. It will take a little time.” He ruffled Mark’s hair and headed out of the stable.

  Throwing an arm around Colton’s neck, Big Jim trudged toward the house, his oldest son in tow.

  Big Jim didn’t want to mention it, but he thought his son would make a great father someday. He just wanted Colt to wait for the right girl.

  * * *

  “It’s really beautiful here.” Misty stretched out her arms and turned around.

  Leah had invited Misty to join her to inspect the home being constructed for her family. The site was beautiful, a modest rise overlooking a lush valley.

  “You are so lucky.” Misty gulped in deep breaths and blew them out through her pursed lips.

  Leah chortled. “You bet I am. My Tyler is the best man on the planet.”

  Gracie ran to Misty and grabbed her hand. “C’mon with me, Misty. I want to show you my room.”

  Leah and her grandmother followed into the shell of a house. The roof was covered with yellow Tyvek in preparation to have an outer layer applied. There was no electricity, but the windowpanes were in place, allowing sunshine to brighten the interior.

  “Oh, this is quite spacious.” Misty stopped to look around the front room.

  “The kitchen and den are back there, and the bedrooms are off to this side.” Leah gestured to a doorway opening off to the left.

  “Except for my room,” Gran said. “They gave me a nice-sized room and my own special bathroom on the other side of the house.”

  Leah laughed. “We thought you might like some privacy.”

  Gran’s expression was amused. “I think that you might like some privacy too.”

  Leah s
ucked in a deep breath and released it with a grin. “Yeah, that too.”

  Gracie pulled Misty down the hallway to show her a room she was claiming as her own. “Mommy said I could pick whatever color I want. I want purple.”

  Misty visualized a gloomy purple shrouding the space. “That sounds—nice. Very nice.”

  “This is the color we’re going for,” Leah supplied, pointing to a paint swatch taped to the wall. It was a pale lilac. Much better.

  “Even nicer,” she said. “How many bedrooms do you have here?”

  “Um, we have one master suite, Gracie’s room, Gran’s room, and two more guest rooms.”

  Misty grinned. “Planning on having a few guests?”

  “Maybe.” Leah glanced at Gracie, who was dancing around her future room. “We hope to make some more little Garretts some day.”

  “That’s a good plan. I wish you the very best.” Misty was happy for Leah and her family, but she felt a twinge of envy. She hoped that, someday, she might have a plan for the future that included Colton as well as Mark.

  Just to be able to live every day with the people she loved and not be afraid of what the next day would bring was her idea of heaven on earth.

  Chapter 13

  Colton snagged a couple of apples out of a bowl on the kitchen table. He had a sneaking suspicion his talented sister-in-law had polished them to a high gleam and arranged them in this pyramid of perfection. They looked ripe and delicious, but he had another purpose for them…seduction was on his mind.

  He headed for the stables where Sam, the big Appaloosa, was king. Mark was still at school, so Colt thought he would take another solo run at breaking down the stallion’s prejudice against him. At best, he hoped to be able to win the horse’s acceptance and trust. At worst, it would be an opening overture in a courtship of man and horse.

  Colt tromped out the door, intent upon his path to the outbuildings. He knew Sam was important to Mark and Mark was important to Misty…so it made sense for him to try to bond with the horse they had in common.

  Entering the stables, he heard the sound of horses’ hooves moving around in their stalls. They must know that he intended to confront Sam. The Appaloosa must be antsy, dancing in anticipation of the next time he got to put Colton, his foe, in his place.

  Colton turned the corner, gazing down the line of stalls. Two of the horses were peering at him, leaning as far as they could out of their stalls. But not Sam. He was playing hard to get.

  “Hey, big fellow.” Colt approached him slowly, speaking in a low voice. “You’re such a big, strong fellow.”

  The horse’s ears went back, and he moved to the far side of the stall. His hooves moved rhythmically on the floor, tromping the hay underneath.

  “That’s okay, Sam. You can stay over there. I’m just going to hang out here and eat this apple.” He displayed one of the apples and took a big bite out of it. He made a show of crunching it open-mouthed. He leaned against the door to the stall, holding the apple in one hand.

  The horse nickered, his ears flicking from front to back. He stared at the apple in Colton’s hand.

  Horses have a keen sense of smell, and Colton counted on the fact that the tantalizing aroma of fresh apple would entice his prey. “C’mon over here, Sam. I’ll share with you.” He waggled the apple enticingly.

  Sam snorted and took a couple of steps closer.

  “That’s a good boy. Come on over.” He extended the apple to the horse.

  Two more steps and Sam stretched his neck out to accept the treat. His big horse teeth crunched the fruit, much as Colton had.

  “Pretty good, huh?”

  Sam shook his head, sending his mane flying in all directions, and took a couple of steps to the back of the stall.

  “I see. You just want me for my apple…well, I have another one.” He displayed the second apple and waggled it for Sam to notice.

  Sam tossed his head and neighed, then closed the distance between them. He reached for the apple, but Colton drew it out of reach.

  “Be patient, big boy. There is a price to pay.”

  Sam stared at him, intelligent horse eyes regarding him.

  Colton stretched out his other hand and stroked it over Sam’s neck. “That’s a good boy. Yes, good boy.” He continued to stroke the horse’s neck with one hand and offered the apple with the other. “There we go. See, we can be friends. I’m not Mark, but I am the guy who paid top dollar to give you a home where you can be with Mark every day.”

  Sam gobbled the apple but didn’t move away.

  Colton stayed in the stable a while, just rubbing the horse’s neck and talking softly to him.

  Small victories.

  * * *

  When Misty got to the Garrett ranch that evening, she wasn’t sure what to do about the photos Joe had hidden away. She was certain they were something her big brother hadn’t wanted her or anyone else to find, but for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why. They were just snapshots of Joe and his four best friends from high school. They had remained friends up until Joe’s death…at least the four of them had. Not Nate Blair, since he had gone missing all those years ago.

  She frowned. Two gone out of five. Those weren’t very good odds. But maybe the Blair boy was alive and well somewhere else. He could easily be living a normal life in an alternate universe…one that didn’t include crops and cattle and small-town life. One that didn’t include his father, Levi Blair, the man who had directed that his will be revised to name his nephew, Eddie Simmons, as his sole heir.

  Did that mean Levi Blair had given up on his son, Nate? Did he know for certain that Nate wasn’t going to return to Langston, or worse yet, that Nate was dead?

  An involuntary shiver spiraled down her spine. Misty stared at the packet of pictures she’d found. She opened a drawer in the guestroom bureau and stuffed in both the packet of photos and the gun wrapped in the old T-shirt.

  Misty heaved a sigh. Just getting those two items out of sight made her feel better. A lot better.

  She headed for the kitchen to see what she could do to help Leah with dinner. She found Gracie at the table, diligently doing her homework, and Leah chopping vegetables.

  “What can I do to help?” she asked.

  Leah greeted her with a grin. “Not a thing. Sit down and have a glass of iced tea. You’re the one who has been working all day.” She nudged a pitcher of tea toward her.

  Misty claimed a stool on the opposite side of the granite counter. “That sounds great.” She reached for a tall glass and filled it with the cold liquid. She glanced at the little girl at the table, her head bent over her textbook and tablet. “Gracie sure is hard at work.”

  Leah heaved a sigh. “Intro to some kind of new math. It’s nothing like the math when I was in school. Not a fun place to be.”

  “That’s okay, Mommy,” Gracie called out. “Mark said he would help me when he gets done with his chores.”

  Leah rolled her eyes. “I’m so very thankful for your little brother.”

  Misty grinned. “Yeah, me too. He comes in handy sometimes.” She leaned forward on her elbows. “Listen, Leah, I want to thank you for helping me clean out my dad’s room and Joe’s. It would have been so much harder for me to face the work alone.”

  Leah flapped her hand. “Think nothing of it. I dropped the boxes off at the church today, and the secretary said to thank you for your donation. The ladies auxiliary will see that the clothing and other items are distributed to needy people in the area.”

  Misty felt a pricking sensation behind her eyes and blinked rapidly to keep from tearing up. “I’m just glad someone could use them.”

  Leah leaned across to squeeze her hand and then went back to chopping vegetables for a salad.

  Colton and Big Jim came into the house together. She heard their voices first, and they sounded like they
were in a good mood. When they entered the kitchen, Colton came right to where she was sitting and planted a kiss on her lips. Suddenly, all her earlier worries melted away. It seemed that everything got better by the mere fact of Colton’s presence.

  He stood beside her, his arm around her shoulder. “How did it go at work?”

  “Great,” she said.

  He cocked an eyebrow. “Great?”

  She shrugged. “Well, not great, exactly. It was boring, but I can handle it. Just a stack of paperwork Breck left for me.”

  Colton frowned. “So you’re alone all day?”

  “Usually. Breck is off doing other things. He leaves me notes of things to do and calls in occasionally.”

  “I hope you’re safe there. Anyone could just walk right in.”

  She gave him a smile. “Well, that’s what they’re supposed to do. Walk right in. It’s a law office, not a bank vault. People can walk in when they need to see Breck…and then I tell them he’s not in and make an appointment for them.” She shrugged. “Not that it happens very often. Mostly, people call ahead when they want to make an appointment.”

  Colton nodded, but he looked worried.

  Misty felt a chill of apprehension as she wondered if his concerns were well-founded.

  * * *

  It was at dinner that Misty announced her intentions of moving back to the Dalton ranch.

  Colton could not have been more surprised if she had smacked him in the face.

  Gracie and Mark were sitting at the breakfast bar for their meal, having finished their respective homework, and were too far from the table to overhear.

  There was a chorus of disappointment, but Misty seemed to have made up her mind.

  Colton was angry. He tried not to show it, but he speared his food and shoveled it into his mouth in silence.

  “Do you think it’s safe?” Leah asked, giving voice to his concerns.

  Misty shrugged. “I don’t know why it wouldn’t be. Mark and I don’t know anything about the banker’s death or why he wound up there.”