Emma pulled on Dani’s sleeve, making her bend close. “Ask him for dinner. Nellie, too. Been a long time since I entertained.”
“No,” Dani stage whispered.
“Yes. It’s my house. My food. Do it.”
Dani’s eyes flashed daggers at the older woman. “It’s my time and trouble.”
“I’m the boss.”
“You’re a dictator.”
“It’s okay, Dani. I can hear both of you.” He stood to leave. “You ladies have a nice day. He put his Stetson on, ran a hand down Dani’s cheek. “I love you, baby.”
Chapter Eight
Beau was walking out of Carter’s Grocers, his list complete, his cart piled high, when he ran into Dani again.
“Emma convinced me to cook,” she said, startling him. “If you and Nellie could come Sunday at six, it would be great.”
“Are you sure, honey? You don’t have to do this.”
Dani snorted. “It’s what Emma wants.”
“But if you don’t…”
“It’s fine, Dad. Just show up and make Emma happy, okay?”
On the way back to the ranch, Beau’s mind whirled. Much to his surprise, Dani was holding her own with a woman who, from what he saw and heard today, wasn’t that easy to get along with. And Dani could cook? Why didn’t he know? They’d lived under the same roof for twenty-three years, and he didn’t have a clue. It showed what kind of father he was. The thought didn’t set well.
A sense of pride in his daughter slipped in between the bashing he was giving himself. She was amazing. Spoiled, yes. His fault. But she had skills he hadn’t been aware of. He looked forward to dining with her and Ms. Emma tomorrow night and wondered if he could get Nell to go with him. She’d acted so skittish at Molly’s he didn’t hold out much hope.
He looked at his watch. It had taken most of the day to get everything they needed. He’d run into a couple of ranchers Donovan had introduced him to a few weeks ago and was talked into going to the auction for a while. He’d wanted to bid on some of the heifers, but after the fiasco with the bull, thought he’d wait until Donovan could come with him.
The Callahan spread was just ahead. He wheeled into the drive. Might as well take the bull by the horns. If I don’t ask Nell now, I’ll never know.
Beau was as nervous as a teen when he pulled up the drive and stopped.
Mark and Donovan were pitching ball. They stopped when they saw him. Now he’d have to explain why he was here. He wasn’t enthused.
“Hi, Mr. Beau,” Mark called out.
“Hi, yourself,” he said, shaking the boy’s hand. Donovan had taught the boy well. Beau turned to Donovan, who had a welcome smile on his face. Beau wondered how long that smile would last once he asked Nell to dinner.
“Passing by, thought I’d drop in for a minute.” Liar.
“Always good to see you,” Donovan said. “Got time for a cup of coffee or a glass of tea?”
“Not really. It’s taken me all day to re-stock Lela’s kitchen, and get the things on Gordon’s list.” They started for the kitchen. How would he ever get Nell alone? “I ran into Hudson and Bellows while I was in town. We took a look at the auction and saw some heifers that looked interesting. Maybe you and I can take a look-see next week.”
“We’ll plan on it,” Donovan said.
“Me, too,” Mark added.
Donovan gave his son a noogie. “Mark loves the auction.”
“I can see that.”
They were at the kitchen door. This was a bad idea. A phone call would have been better.
Donovan handed Mark his baseball glove. “It’s time I checked on that heifer. When you put these up, come out to the barn.” He apologized to Beau. “I won’t be long. But I have another cow giving birth. I have to check on her every few minutes. It could be a bad one.”
“Take your time. I’ll come out and have a word after I say hello to your mother.”
“Do that.”
Mark opened the screen door. “Mr. Beau is here, Gran.”
Then he was gone, the door slamming in his wake.
“That boy,” Nellie said with a smile.
“He’s one to be proud of.”
“Yes, he is.”
“Guess you’re wondering why I’m here, since I just saw you a while ago.”
“Could it be about Dani’s Sunday dinner invitation?”
“She told you?”
****
Nellie chuckled. “I ran into her after I finished shopping. She told me all about it. I think she was fretting over what in the world to cook.”
“I know this sounds terrible, but I didn’t have a clue she even knew how to boil water. What does that say for me?”
“It sounds as if your life was terribly busy.”
“Not an excuse.”
Nellie’s heart went out to Beau. His eyes were filled with longing for what should have been. “It’s never too late, you know.”
He looked at her, and her wayward heart beat a little too fast. She wanted desperately to decline Dani’s invitation. But she couldn’t bear that look in Beau’s eyes, nor did she want to disappoint Dani.
“I can pick you up around five-thirty. That’ll give us plenty of time.”
“No need.” Thank goodness, she’d had time to plan her excuse. “I haven’t seen my grandson Devlon for several days. Grace, his other grandmother, and I are going to visit with him tomorrow afternoon. I’ll meet you at Emma’s.” Not the exact truth. She’d called Grace as soon as she got home, found out she was baby-sitting for a couple of hours tomorrow, and invited herself over.
“That’s too bad. I was looking forward to a nice visit.”
Nellie forced a laugh. “We can visit once we get to Emma’s. Now, can I get you something to drink?”
“No. I need to get back to the house. Tell Donovan I’ll talk to him next week.”
Trying not to let his disappointment show, Beau got out of Nell’s kitchen as fast as he could. At least she was going to be there. She hadn’t copped out as he’d expected.
Perhaps he’d built up that kiss in the pond, put too much meaning into it. He and Nell were just neighbors, after all. Good neighbors. Beau didn’t want anything to change that.
There was a strange car in his drive when he pulled in. He squinted at the bright blue Toyota Camry. Did he know anyone who owned one? He thought for a minute and decided he didn’t.
The house was quiet. Lela must be resting. She did more and more of that lately. Monday, first thing, he would try to find someone to help her; at least someone to keep the house. If Lela insisted on cooking, there was nothing he could do but let her. But she didn’t have to keep this big house. It was too much.
Decision made, he went to the fridge, pulled out a can of beer, and popped the top. He’d meander down to the bunkhouse and see if the boys knew who the Camry belonged to.
But the bunkhouse was empty.
Going back to the truck, he started unloading. It took six trips to get everything into the kitchen. Now he’d have to put the groceries away. They definitely needed more help.
Lela came in and saw what he was doing. “I can do that, Mr. Beau. You go on about your business.”
“Why don’t you rest? I’ll find a place for this stuff.”
“No you won’t. Some of it’s for here, some for the bunkhouse. You don’t know which is which. Now scat.”
He started to leave, turned back. “Who belongs to the Camry?”
“Some of Rey’s friends.”
“Connecticut friends?”
Her brow wrinkled. “Don’t think so. I think he met them in San Antonio.”
Rey made friends easily. Had he met a girl he was interested in? It was disheartening how little he knew about his children.
“Let me help with that,” he said when Lela lifted a ten-pound bag of sugar. “Why don’t you just sit there and tell me where you want me to put everything?”
“Why don’t you go on now and let me tend to my k
itchen?”
“It makes me feel bad when you work and I loaf. Let’s work together. Okay?”
“You win, Mr. Beau.”
“Did Rey and his friends go into town?” He’d be surprised if they had. Rey’s car was still here.
“Don’t think so. I saw them riding out several hours ago.”
Beau’s hands stilled over a five-pound bag of pinto beans. They’d better not get into trouble. All he needed was a lawsuit because a city slicker got hurt riding one of his horses. “Maybe I’ll check on them.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t.”
“If they don’t know how to handle a horse, they could get hurt.” He looked out the window. “It’s late. It will be dark soon.”
Lela chuckled. “You’re about to talk yourself into making a fool of yourself, Mr. Beau. Rey’s a grown man. He can take care of himself.”
Beau had to admit Rey would be embarrassed if his dad showed up to check on him.
He couldn’t treat his son like a kid. But the urge was there and wouldn’t go away.
“The pizzas go to the bunkhouse, Mr. Beau. Stack them over here.”
“I’ll take them when we’re finished.” It was a ritual. Sunday night no one cooked. Beau provided pizzas for the hired help; the same for the big house. Only tomorrow he’d be eating a meal provided by his daughter. Whether the food was edible or not, he intended to praise her effort. The thought warmed him.
Once they were finished, Beau went to the room he’d turned into an office and buried himself in paperwork. He didn’t realize when he bought the ranch how much paper it took to keep the place going. Raising his head, he looked out the window. It was later than he thought. He stretched and called it a day.
He walked over to the window, looked outside. Under the barn’s outdoor light, he saw the Camry still sitting in the drive.
Wouldn’t hurt to see if the boys were back. But when he walked outside there were no lights in the bunkhouse.
Where were they?
Rey didn’t know you shouldn’t ride horses at night except in an emergency. There were too many gopher and armadillo holes. Riding full out was dangerous.
Beau went back to the house, pulled a chair outside to the back porch. He’d sit here and wait until they came in. Once they were back safe and sound, he’d be able to sleep.
Chapter Nine
Beau woke with a start. “What the…?”
He was still on the porch. Still sitting in that same uncomfortable chair. He rubbed his eyes. It was early morning, and though the sun was barely a promise in the eastern sky, it was hot already. Had the kids returned while he slept? Surely, he would have heard them.
Standing, he stretched, tried to get the kinks out of his back. Maybe giving Rey a job hadn’t been a good idea. Though it had been a month now, and Rey hadn’t come to him to complain, he had to be out of his element. Now this.
Rey’s car and the Camry were still parked in the same spot. He walked to the barn. Four horses were missing.
Beau double-checked the bunkhouse. Joe was there, asleep. Gordon was missing, probably spending the night in San Antonio, the closest place to kick up your heels. There was no getting around it now, he had to find them and see what they were up to. He went to the barn, saddled Taro, and swung into the saddle, ignoring the stiffness that went with the action, and spurred his steed forward. If it weren’t for Rey, he’d have slept in his comfortable bed last night, not in a hard chair in the open. Plus, he wouldn’t have ended up with mosquito bites all over his neck and arms.
He shaded his eyes at the sudden arrival of a bright orange sun and wondered which direction to look. They could be anywhere.
With each passing minute, apprehension ratcheted up a notch. There was no sign of them. He kept up a steady gait, scanning the landscape. In the distance, he saw something. Horses. Kicking Taro into full gallop, he raced toward them. The missing horses! Where was Rey? He took the reins of Ty, the horse Rey had been riding since he arrived. Then rode over to the next. It took a few minutes, but he had three of them in hand. Where was the fourth? More important, where were the boys? His nerves grew taut. Were they injured? Lying hurt somewhere?
He should have ignored Lela’s warning and gone after them last night.
He tethered the three horses to an old oak tree and went to search. Something drew him to the pond. Riding over a small rise he saw the fourth horse. His heart was going ten times faster than it should when he pulled Taro to a halt and looked out over the pond.
Then he saw them.
Concern turned into anger. There they were, four guys in their shorts, asleep. Next to them were a couple dozen empty beer cans.
Drunk!
He slid from Taro’s back, went to Rey, and shook his shoulder. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Rey shot up. Unsteady on his feet, he looked at his dad through glassy eyes. “What? What’s wrong?”
“If you consider boozing it up all night and sleeping out in the open practically in the nude normal, the answer is nothing.”
Rey steadied himself, looked his dad in the eye. “Maybe we do.”
“Fine.” Beau turned and stalked off. When he swung into the saddle, he gave the boys a disdainful glance. “Get dressed. You look ridiculous. And make sure you clean up this mess before you come in.”
“Don’t worry, Dad. We wouldn’t think of messing up your pretty little ranch.”
Rey’s friends looked at Beau as if he had horns. Maybe he did. Maybe this was the way other rancher’s sons behaved. How the hell would he know?
But he’d been worried, dammit. It was a wonder the horses hadn’t wandered off during the night. He guided Taro to the one standing away from the others. When he got to her, he saw blood running down her left foreleg. Jumping from the saddle, he checked her over. Anger rose again.
“Get your sorry asses over here. All of you!”
Four boys in various stages of undress staggered toward him. “What the hell does this mean?”
“What?” Rey asked, the only one brave enough to come close enough and look.
“Marley is bleeding. Look at the wound on her leg. Who rode her?” He glared at each boy, holding on to his temper by sheer willpower.
The boys shrugged. “I don’t know which one I rode,” one of them said. “Maybe that one.”
“Which one of you can tell me what happened?”
They looked blank.
“Someone has to know,” Beau roared. “She didn’t get hurt by herself.”
“Maybe she did,” Rey said.
Beau whirled on him. “Don’t even try to excuse your behavior. This horse is hurt. You boys are to blame.”
“We rode around last night, threw back a few beers. It got dark. We came to the pond, took a quick swim, and drank a few more. Next thing I know you’re waking me up. How did she get hurt? We don’t know.”
Beau turned on his heel. He couldn’t listen another second. “I have to get her back and call the vet. Pick up this mess. I guarantee if I find one beer can anywhere on this spread, I’m going to dock your pay.”
“Of course you are,” Rey mumbled.
Beau swung into the saddle, picked up the reins of the four horses, and headed toward the barn. He was too angry to say another word. Talk about irresponsible. He might expect such behavior from boys who had never been on a ranch, but Rey had been here a month. Surely, he’d learned something.
“Hey! How are we supposed to get back?” one of the boys yelled.
“Figure it out,” Beau shouted.
The vet came right out. It took several stitches, an antibiotic shot, and lots of ointment to tend to the wound. It would have to be looked at every day.
Beau was still seething when the vet finished.
Rey and his guests staggered in. The three boys didn’t offer to unsaddle or brush down their mounts; instead, they got in the Camry and left without a word of apology.
Rey took care of the three horses in silence, then cam
e over to look at Marley’s injury. “I’m sorry she got hurt, but I swear I don’t know how she did it. Is it bad?”
“Bad enough.”
“I’ll take care of her if you’ll tell me what to do.” He paused. “I won’t let anyone bring beer on the place again.”
Beau’s anger subsided somewhat. He’d been young once upon a time. The urge to go along with friends, especially ones who provided free beer, was hard to refuse.
“I hope you’ve learned your lesson,” he said, his voice stiff.
Rey nodded, rubbed the mare’s head as if in apology.
Beau turned away. Rey had said he was sorry, but couldn’t he show some sense?
Beau’s cell phone rang.
It was Donovan. “Get to the fence line between our properties, Beau. Close to your third pond. We have trouble.”
Beau ran to Taro.
“What’s wrong?” Rey asked.
“Trouble.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“You’ve done enough for today.” Beau wanted to say the kid had done enough damage for a month of Sundays, but refrained.
Ignoring him, Rey saddled Ty and in less than three minutes they were racing away from the barn.
It didn’t take long to find Donovan and his son Mark at the problem spot.
“I called the house,” Donovan said. “Phyl and Jimmy, our ranch hand, are coming to help.”
“What happened?” Beau asked, realizing they weren’t far from where he’d found the four intoxicated young men a couple of hours ago.
“The fence is down. Now your herd is mixed with mine. We’ll have to separate them and drive them back to their rightful places.”
Rey slid from his saddle. Though his legs were slightly unsteady, he walked over to check the fence. Donovan came up beside him. “I think I know what happened.”
“What?” Beau asked behind him.
“Marley must have run off last night after we went to sleep. You can see hair and blood on the wire.” He held up a strand that clearly showed a horse had run into barbed wire. “I guess this explains how the mare got hurt.”
“Sonofabitch!” Beau exclaimed.
“Wanna clue me in?” Donovan asked.
“Some buddies and I were out riding last night.” Rey looked over at his dad. “Drinking. I didn’t know one of the horses ran off and did this. If I had, I would have done something about it.”
Promise Them (The Callahan Series Book 6) Page 7
