by D C Young
Loving this food eating ring… had I mentioned that?
In addition to the giant tray, he also carried a folding stand to set the tray on beside the table. The poor man was also trying to balance the bottle of Modelo Especial I had decided to get with my food at the same time. To his credit, he made it without incident, got everything placed on the table correctly and even poured my beer before leaving.
I should remember to leave his tip. Big meanie over here never adds more than ten percent to the bill and the fellow would have to jump through fiery hoops to even get that much.
The beef was rare, as I still preferred it but kissed tenderly by the open flames and seasoned with all the wonderful Mexican spices the chef could conjure for the meal. The tortillas were warm and soft and the avocados crisp with flavor. It was entirely delicious. I even made a small taco of the food for Kingsley to taste and of course, he agreed it was very good. His steak was medium but I cut a piece off and tasted it at his insistence. The superior cut of grass-fed Angus was remarkable and so were the garlic and herb mashed potatoes, baked mac and cheese and skillet cornbread he’d ordered to go with it.
Wonderful, delicious food! That is all!
The plates were cleaned and I was relaxing, sipping on what was left of my beer before Kingsley spoke again.
“So all you have to do is find the missing cows?”
“I wouldn’t say that. The guy advanced me ten grand, I think I should at least find one culprit who can be arrested for the crime.”
Kingsley nodded. “Indeed, at least one.”
“Now what’s that supposed to mean, Mister?” I asked.
“Nothing. It’s just I’ve never seen you go into an investigation with the thought to do the bare minimum. I just had a vision of the entire administrative structure of this little cooperative ranching outfit being shaken until something falls loose.”
I laughed. “You just might know me too well, friend.”
We talked well up until closing time and even after the other tables had been cleared and patrons had left the restaurant, our waiter stayed close and very attentive. I left an extra fifty under my beer bottle for him that night… he deserved it.
***
The next day, I was on my way to Modesto. I wasn’t certain why I was looking forward to the drive and the open road so much but the anticipation was real. At Kingsley’s suggestion, I rented a Chevy Tahoe for the trip expecting the terrain to get a little rougher once I hit Highway 132 and started heading east towards Coulterville and the Foothills at the edge of the Yosemite National Park. The Silver Creek, Blue Corn and Hermosa ranches covered quite a bit of the ground in a place called Granite Springs and that would also be the scene of the crime.
I’d never been that far into the Central Valley before, despite all my years living in South California. I’d been to Sacramento once, San Francisco a couple of times, but that was about it. I did know that it was a very diverse place and fruitful… very fruitful. There were farms, vineyards and ranches everywhere and most of the economy in the area was based around some form of agricultural enterprise.
The drive across L.A. was daunting for a Sunday afternoon but it was only a week and a half until Christmas… people were scurrying everywhere trying to get all the gifts their bank accounts could afford and their little hands could carry. I shook my head in dismay. I was glad of the three gifts rule Danny, my very dead ex-husband, and I had developed as a Christmas tradition in our household. Mary Lou and Rick have the same rule too. I can still hear Danny trying to explain to a whining Anthony why he would only get three gifts while Tammy… always trying to act older than she actually was… rolled her eyes dramatically.
Baby Jesus got three gifts; if three were good enough for Him then three are good enough for you!
Damn right! Our kids got a gift from each of us and one from Santa Claus… or the Christmas Spirit as he became known once they stopped believing in Santa, anything else they got from relatives was extra and they were free to ply their aunt and uncle for whatever extras they wanted; whether they actually got it or not was besides the point. Actually, for the past few years, Rick and Mary Lou had given up on trying to shop for their aging niece and nephew and had resolved to buy them gift cards which the kids enjoyed immensely.
These young’uns of today!
As my mind came back to Interstate 5 stretching out in front of me, I realized how much I was enjoying the ride in the SUV and laughed at how un-Californian it was to admit that. It was giving me great gas mileage and handling like a dream so I was happy I’d taken Kingsley’s advice.
It took me just over two hours to get to the interchange with Highway 99 and another three before I arrived in Modesto. I stopped to grab a bite to eat and pondered spending the night there but there was a double room in an old boarding house in Blanchard with my name on it and it seemed best to get to my destination and be settled in before my meeting with Earnest early the next morning.
Chapter Seven
“Let’s go ahead and bring that last sixty head in for handling tomorrow morning,” Juanita Esperanza announced as she stepped into the office of her ranch manager, Bill Kellerman.
Bill looked up from the computer screen and acknowledged Juanita’s presence. She was a little overdressed for a dairy farm, especially for being out in the barn. He tried not to take in the shapely curves of the forty-something woman who strolled through the doorway and stood looking out the large window, which overlooked the milking barn below.
“Same processing as the last bunch?” he asked. In spite of himself, he couldn’t help where his eyes wandered, especially when she leaned on the sill of the window, which highlighted the fullness of one of her best features.
Juanita looked back over her left shoulder, noticed him staring at her and smiled. Turning his eyes away quickly had been useless, he’d been caught and there was no need denying it. She straightened herself and turned around, still grinning.
She pushed the smile from her face. “Preg test, vaccinate and then send them into the quarantine shed.” They were the same directions she’d given him for each of the last two bunches of sixty head they’d brought in. Before that, she’d been acquiring much smaller bunches. “Do we have space for them?”
“I’ll move everything out of the milking and maternity shed and into the main herd in the morning,” he responded, keeping his tone businesslike and hoping that she would forget that she’d caught him leering at her. It wasn’t easy to keep his eyes off of his boss. She looked good in a pair of jeans, a flannel shirt, boots and her hair tied up, but the curve hugging number that she had on that evening was particularly enticing. It showed off a long pair of smooth caramel legs and revealed an ample amount of what rounded her out up above. If that hadn’t been enough to keep him staring, her waist-length, glistening black hair, large dark eyes and full lips probably would have.
Bill watched her consider sitting in one of the chairs in front of his desk, change her mind, snatch a Weekly Dairy Bulletin from his desk, spread it out over the seat of the chair and then perch herself on it. “Let’s go over a few numbers while I’m here,” she smiled.
It wasn’t out of the ordinary, so Bill knew which numbers she was talking about. He opened the spreadsheet file on his computer and then started to give her a report on numbers and cattle, which ones were due to have their calves and would be coming fresh, how many cattle were being milked, how many gallons they were producing and some bottom line figures of gross profit verses net profit for the month-to-date.
“Those numbers aren’t quite up to where I wanted them to be,” Juanita frowned.
“We haven’t really hit that place where we’re singing yet,” Bill replied.
“I know,” she replied. “I’ve just got to be patient and keep growing my herd. The ones coming in tomorrow will help.”
She pushed her lower lip out into a seductive pout and then focused her eyes on her hands in her lap. Bill wasn’t sure if it was for show or if somethin
g was really bothering her, so he waited. When she didn’t look up or speak after a few moments, he decided to ask.
“Is everything okay?”
Juanita smiled inside, but kept the troubled look on her face. That, and Bill’s more than obvious desire for her, were two of her best tools for keeping him under complete control. Paying him double what most ranch managers made didn’t hurt either. Whoever said loyalty couldn’t be bought was a fool. “I don’t know.” She drew out her hesitation. “I guess I’m worried.”
“A hundred and eighty head is going to make quite a bit of difference,” Bill pointed out.
“It’s not that,” she sighed. She kept her eyes focused on the floor, counting out several beats before looking up at Bill. “What if someone finds out?”
“Nobody is going to find out,” Bill replied. “At least not from me.”
“At some point, people are going to wonder where Caldera Ranch came from as it suddenly rises up and becomes one the biggest and most prosperous dairy operations in the area.” Juanita wasn’t worried at all, she had those possibilities covered and she hadn’t left many tracks, but by seeming vulnerable, she drew Bill in and strengthened his loyalty.
“We’re covering those bases, boss,” Bill replied. “If anyone starts asking questions, we’ll have all the right answers for them.”
“You’re sure?” She allowed an expression of perplexity to linger.
“I’m sure,” Bill replied, watching her and wishing that he could hold her; well, do a lot more than that, but holding her would be a good start.
“You’re so good to me, Bill,” Juanita beamed, seizing the moment to leap up from the chair and make her way around the desk. She leaned into him, wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her ample breasts into him firmly. “I probably don’t deserve anyone like you.”
“You take good care of me,” he muttered into her neck as he became intoxicated by the scent of her high-end Parisian perfume mixed with the scent of her hair, which smelled as if it had been washed in rose petals.
“I do, don’t I?” she responded as she released him and stood. She patted his cheek with a little more force than a tender touch. Her eyes changed from troubled to threatening. She backed away from him moved toward the door and pushed it open. Before she stepped through, she paused and faced him. Her eyes glistened with a warning. “Try to keep that in mind.”
She allowed her words to sink in by fixing her eyes directly upon Bill’s and holding them there for several long beats and then she smiled her brightest smile and in a musical tone said, “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Juanita had no doubts that Bill was fully on-board with her, but it was always good to drop some reminders. Being dressed the way she was for an evening out had provided a perfect opportunity for her to provide a reminder for Bill. She knew the man often had to fight off a hard on when she was dressed in her regular ranch clothes and so would be deemed entirely helpless when she was dressed in a form-fitting dress and matching stilettos. She laughed softly as she picked her way through the gravel between the barn and cobblestone drive that separated her from the Hollywood style ranch house. There was one more person to check in on before she left for a special 90th birthday celebration of the Stockton Symphony Orchestra.
As she crossed the cobblestone lane and made her way up the walk to the house, she thought about how little interest she really had in the banal, little orchestra. She only went to it in order to keep up appearances, especially when she knew that people like Greg Collins of the Blue Corn Ranch and several others from around the area were certain to be there. They, no doubt, were keeping up appearances as well. It was part of the game and a part that she enjoyed, especially since her intelligence was far superior to that of her opponents.
She laughed as she thought of how she had lured Bill away from the Blue Corn Ranch as she opened the door and called out. “Analisa, I’m about ready to go!”
She heard the scrambling of small feet on the floor above her head and soon saw the large, dark eyes and small round face peeping around the banister of the upstairs landing. “Have… OMG… Tia Juanita, you look beautiful!” the child gasped and then slowly started down the stairs, holding tightly to the oak rail as she made her way to the bottom.
Juanita wasn’t really Analisa’s aunt. She was no relation to her, but she kept up the ruse to keep Analisa content and from asking too many questions. In spite of her typically abrupt manner with children, Analisa was special to her and Juanita tended to dote over her as if she was her own. “Is Katie up there?”
“Yes,” Katie responded coming around the corner on the landing and descending the stairs, overtaking Analisa before she got to the bottom.
“Look at Tia Juanita,” Analisa said, turning to Katie. “Doesn’t she look beautiful?”
“She does,” Katie beamed. She looked up at Juanita. “You do look very beautiful Miss Esperanza.”
“Thank you,” Juanita responded before rushing into her instructions. They weren’t much different than the usual instructions that she left for Katie, who was a regular babysitter for her. “I’m not sure when I’ll be in, so go ahead and just settle into the room next to Analisa’s after she goes to bed. Have you let your parents know that you’ll be staying over?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Katie replied. “I told them that you’ll bring me home in the morning.”
“I might not be able to do that,” she winced. “We’ve got things going on at the ranch in the morning. I hate to impose, but could you let your parents know that one of them might have to come get you?”
“Or I could just drive Bertha home.” Katie issued a sly smile as she mentioned the rusted out Chevy Scottsdale that was parked in the tractor shed. She was 14 and country kids that age had several years of driving experience by that age.
Juanita frowned as she considered the request, but decided to consent. “Only if you promise to be very careful.”
“I promise,” Katie giggled.
“Martha will be here to make breakfast and she can take over with Analisa after that, okay?”
“Gotcha.”
“Come here and give me a kiss.” Juanita squatted and extended her arms to Analisa.
She rushed to Juanita and planted a wet kiss on her cheek as she wrapped her arms around her neck and squeezed.
“You be good and do what Katie says, okay?”
“Katie says that I should ask you if we can play dress up,” Analisa blurted.
“That’s fine,” Juanita said, rising up and looking at Katie. “Just don’t let her get into my stuff. She’s got lots of her own play clothes, makeup and other things in the playroom closet at the top of the stairs. And make sure you clean it all up so I don’t break my neck when I come in, okay?”
“Not a problem. Have fun.”
“Have fun, Tia!” Analisa called out. She had already scrambled away and was starting back up the stairs. “Come on, Katie!”
Katie hesitated a moment, looking to Juanita for any further instructions.
“Go ahead,” Juanita laughed. She turned to the closet to retrieve her long, fur coat, put it on and then stepped through the opening beneath the stairs that led into the dining room and kitchen beyond. As she passed through the kitchen to the garage, Juanita scooped up the red bag that perfectly matched the rest of her ensemble.
Waiting inside the garage was a Black Edition, Porsche 911/Carrera S. She pressed the garage door button and admired the car as she moved toward the driver’s side door. “Not exactly a ranch car,” she chuckled softly, pulling open the door. A moment later, sitting in the driver’s seat of the luxury sports car, she turned the key in the ignition and listened to the powerful motor come to life. “Mmmmm,” she sighed as she let a wicked grin creep over her lips. “There really is no substitute.”
Chapter Eight
There was no doubt in my mind that the ranchers and their cowboys had their doubts as to whether a soccer mom from the city was going to be up before dawn an
d able to keep up with them on a long day of cow herding but they were going to be in for a surprise.
Up before dawn is my middle name!
What did take me by surprise was how cold it was in the Valley before the sun came up. Not that the low temperature really bothered me, but I took extra care to layer on some clothes to make sure I didn’t draw any unnecessary attention from them. I put on a tank top and a t-shirt under my long sleeved flannel shirt then pulled on a fleece lined jacket for good measure. I didn’t bother putting on anything under my blue jeans though; no one would be the wiser. Neither did I have to worry about heating up by the time the sun was high enough. My cold blooded nature still saw to that.
Gravel crunched under the SUV’s tires as I made my way up the long winding road. It was a hill and at the top sat the main buildings of the sprawling Silver Creek Ranch. Earnest was waiting for me on the front step of the ranch house when I pulled around the circular driveway and parked the car. He was shining brightly in the morning darkness; his aura a clear beautiful blue. I searched for the streak of darkness I had seen at our first appointment but it was gone.
Poor fella must have been aggravated beyond belief about those missing cattle.
“Good morning, Miss Sam!” he said, practically flying down the steps towards the car. He was successful in his mission, opening the door for me before I could stow away my seat-belt and reach for the handle myself.
I smiled uncomfortably. It was obvious I wasn’t used to such behavior, especially from a client.
“Thank you, Earnie,” I finally managed.
“I hope you didn’t have any trouble finding the place with it still being dark out and all.”
