No one ever expected him to come back to town. The icy reception he continued to receive from the old timers sometimes made him wonder why the hell he stayed. But he was tired of running from the past. He needed to face his demons and learn to live with what had happened years ago because whatever distance he put between himself and his sleepy hometown hadn’t helped.
Sarah put the last dish away and closed the cabinet just above her head. “Looks like you’ve made some progress here.” She slid into the seat next to him.
He straightened and passed the papers to her. “It’s just a start, but I think getting a look at the other side of the river will bring it all together.”
A small smile crossed her face as she studied his work. “I like it.”
“That’s it?” he asked. “No questions?”
“Nope. I think I can tell what’s what from what you’ve done.”
“Good.” Dodge stood and stretched his back, moved toward the stairs that led to the garage and picked up his hat and jacket. “Thanks for dinner. I’ll call you when I’m on my way out Thursday, probably late afternoon.”
“You brought dinner and cooked it yourself so I’d hardly say you owe me thanks. I appreciate all your help with this, Dodge, I really do.”
With a nod, he placed his old Stetson on his head and started down the stairs.
His cell rang as he climbed into his truck. He flipped it open when he saw Tommy’s name on the display.
“Where the hell have you been?”
“Have you missed me?” Dodge maneuvered the rutted road and gunned the engine when he finally hit pavement.
“In case you can’t tell, I’m not really in the mood for games.”
“You’re not in the mood? I’m the one who should be complaining.” But he couldn’t muster much energy with his stomach full.
“That’s why I’ve been trying to reach you. Burwick wants you away from Mrs. Woodward.”
“What do you mean?” Dodge pulled the truck off road that led to the Rifle Range. “He’s the only reason I’m out here in the first place.”
“You’re there now?”
“I’m just leaving. The place is a mess. I told her I’d help rearrange the pastures a bit.”
“Well, you’ve got to stop and I mean stop now. I don’t know what you did to Burwick, but when he found out you were the one looking after Mrs. Woodward he ordered me to get you away from her. I swear Dodge, you’ve got more enemies than I’ve got friends. And I’ve got plenty of friends. Burwick isn’t someone I’d want as an enemy.”
Dodge thought about the Machiavellian Senator and the tract of Wyoming pasture land he’d bought before Burwick could get his hands on it for development. It had been nearly a decade since he’d put the tract under easement to protect it from development and Dodge wasn’t surprised the Senator hadn’t forgotten.
“Why the hell did you tell him I was helping Sarah?”
“Who’s Sarah?” Tommy let out a breath so loud it sounded like a hiss. “Don’t tell me you’re interested in Mrs. Woodward. That’s the last thing you or I need right now.”
Dodge tightened his grip on the wheel. “Why would you assume I’m interested? Because I used her first name? She’s a widow, for God’s sake.”
“She’s also a woman. Look, I don’t care if you’re interested or not, I just need you to leave her alone. I can probably get her up and running myself.”
Dodge could feel anger boiling away in his gut that only moments before had been pleasantly full. He didn’t have any intention of walking away from her just because Burwick demanded. If helping Sarah out made him mad, well, that was just an added bonus. “You don’t know any more about the business than she does. You can tell Benji to mind his own damn business. I’ve already made promises to Mrs. Woodward that I don’t intend to break just because he’s got his hackles up.”
“Damn it Dodge. You’re putting me in a bad spot.”
“I’m sorry you’re in the middle, Tommy, but you’re the one who asked me to help her in the first place. I won’t go back on my word.”
“You’re asking for a shit-load of trouble, you know that, don’t you?”
“What the hell else is new? I’m not talking about forever here. Once she gets her fences up and I can find a good man to run the day to day, she won’t need me at all.”
Chapter 7
Sarah sat on the couch reviewing the photos of her property Dodge had divided into pastures. It made sense. Rotating the cows through pastures, letting each section recover before turning them lose to graze again. Unfortunately, the more she thought about all the things Dodge had said, the more she realized she didn’t have a clue what to do next. She reached for the phone.
“Paula, hi, it’s Sarah Woodward.” Sarah felt relieved to reach the agent who’d helped her and Todd close the deal on their ranch five years ago.
“Sarah, I’d heard through the grapevine you’d moved to Hailey. How’s it going?” Paula Hamilton spoke with the same Midwestern lilt that had patiently guided her and Todd years ago. Her knowledge of the area and pragmatic advice had been an invaluable asset to the Woodward’s when they’d started looking for property in the valley.
“It’s coming along, but I have to admit my inattention over the last few years has caught up with the place. The ranch is almost as run down as when we bought it.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. You know I think that property of yours is a diamond in the rough. I’m sure with a little TLC you’ll have it up and running in no time.” Sarah could hear the fax machine buzzing in the background and visualized Paula in her cramped office working on a dozen things at once.
“That’s sort of why I’m calling. I’ve gotten someone to help me with the initial plans, but I need to find someone who’ll be willing to work for me and teach me the business of ranching. Dodge seems to think that’s impossible, but I thought if there was someone around here to fit that bill, you’d be the one who’d know.”
“Dodge? You mean A.J. Dodge?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“How did you hook up with Dodge?”
The hesitation she heard in Paula’s voice sent a chill up her spine. “Well, I don’t really understand it much, myself. Apparently his friend Tommy Thornton asked him to check up on me at the request of Senator Burwick. Todd had met the senator a few times and he’s inquired about buying the land. I’m not sure why he’d ask anyone to help.”
When Paula didn’t respond, Sarah asked, “Is there something I should know about Dodge? I have to say he’s been extremely kind, although he’s a little rough around the edges.”
“I…I don’t like to pass along rumors, but…” She hesitated.
Sarah felt goose bumps rise along her limbs and suddenly wished she’d made the call earlier. “Paula, if you think there’s something I need to know, please don’t hold back. The kids are coming on Saturday and I don’t want them around anyone who may put them in danger.”
Paula cleared her throat. “There’s really no danger, Sarah. I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just that, well, he doesn’t have the best reputation around town. Something to do with him and some girl when he was younger. I personally don’t know him very well. He mostly stays to himself, but his sisters and dad are well known and liked in the valley. I guess I shouldn’t have said anything, but most people don’t seem to…trust him.”
Sarah tried to let Paula’s words jibe with her own impression of Dodge and couldn’t quite make a match.
“Just forget I said anything,” Paula filled the silence. “I don’t know of anyone offhand who’d be good to work with you, but I’ll give it some thought and ask around.”
“I’d really appreciate that Paula, thank you.”
She hung up the phone and fell back against the couch. Could she have misjudged Dodge so completely? He was boorish and blunt, but she’d never, not once, gotten the sense he was someone she couldn’t trust. If anything, he seemed overly concerned for her safety. Her
instincts about people were usually right on target, with a few memorable exceptions. She picked up the photos he’d altered the night before. Whatever made people gossip had happened a long time ago. She couldn’t turn away from the only offer of help she’d received just because of some rumors. Her gut told her she could trust him and she had to trust her gut.
###
By mid-day Thursday Dodge’s head throbbed and his patience was shot. His hired man had gone on a binger the night before and hadn’t shown up at the feed lot. And his hay delivery had been delayed because of ‘transportation issues.’ He should have known the price he’d been quoted was too good to be true. He intended to talk to Sarah about leasing her circle for hay next year in order to avoid future ‘transportation issues.’
He looked at his watch. He’d promised her he’d bring his horses and look over the other side of the river that afternoon, but his stomach was grumbling and he had enough work to do before sundown that he might not even be able to grab a quick snack at the convenience store, much less trailer some horses and take a look at her land. He reached for his cell phone to call her and set a time to do it in the next few days.
When Sarah answered, Dodge imagined her standing in the kitchen, wearing the same tank top as the night they’d had dinner, but this time she didn’t have a shirt on over it and she’d forgotten to wear a bra. She was fingering that medallion that hung around her neck. He shook his head and reminded himself to get some food in his stomach and maybe find some time to get laid before seeing or speaking to her again.
“Sarah, its Dodge. Listen, I’m not going to be able to come out this afternoon with the horses. I’ve had some things go to hell in a hand basket today, and--” He stopped speaking when he heard her giggling.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I haven’t heard anyone use that expression since my grandfather. You were saying?”
He’d lost all concentration after hearing her breathy laugh. Damn, he needed to get laid. “I was just going to suggest I bring the horses over sometime on Saturday.”
“I’m afraid Saturday won’t work. I’m going to Denver to pick up my sister and the boys at the airport. Maybe Sunday, if you’re free? I’m sure the boys would like to meet you. And Jenny’s going to love you.”
“What am I, a side show?” He wasn’t offended. In fact this was the first time all day he’d felt anything other than pissed.
“The boys think I’m crazy for moving us here to ranch. Maybe meeting a successful rancher might inspire them. And my sister’s a sucker for a good-looking cowboy.”
He was momentarily distracted by the good-looking comment when it suddenly hit him she intended to drive another eight hours in that old sorry excuse for a truck. “Are you renting a car to drive to Denver?”
“Why would I rent car when I have a perfectly good truck?”
She was damned attached to that old clunker. “How do you expect to fit four people and their luggage in that thing?”
“I admit it’ll be tight, but we’re all related and the luggage can go in the back.”
“Sarah, I was almost six feet tall when I was your son’s age. And I can’t see your truck making it on an eight hour round trip drive.”
“I’m getting pretty tired of defending my truck. Trust me, we’ll be fine.”
Dodge sighed. Damn woman was stubborn to the core. “Listen, I have an idea. Why don’t you borrow my truck to get them from the airport? I’ve got a king cab in the back and room enough for the luggage.” When he heard her about to object, he added, “I’m afraid I won’t take no for an answer.”
“My truck can make the trip, but if you’re going to get your hackles up, I suppose we would be more comfortable in your truck.”
“Good. Tell me when you plan to leave and I’ll make sure it’s there. You’ll just have to put up with the smell,” he said, just to get her goat. Irritating her was turning out to be the most fun he’d had in a long time.
###
When Sarah saw Jenny, Kevin and Lyle come down the escalator toward baggage claim she felt a lump form in her throat. She’d been anxious for them to arrive. Seeing them here, in Colorado, walking toward her felt like starting act one, scene one of the play she’d written, the play she’d cast with her family as reluctant stars. Kevin had a scowl on his face, as usual. Lyle’s smile lit up when he saw her. Jenny stumbled behind them, weighted down by the items she imagined the boys insisted they needed on the plane and then refused to carry. For such a tough woman, Jenny could be a real sissy with her kids.
“Mom!” Lyle shouted as he made his way through the crowd to greet her with a hug that almost knocked her over.
Sarah held him at arms length. “Let me look at you. I feel like it’s been a year since I’ve seen your handsome face.” Lyle had Todd’s thick dark hair and warm brown eyes. He kept it close cut like his dad. When he smiled, dimples appeared that were destined to make the ladies swoon as soon as he set his mind to catching their attention.
Kevin ambled over and raised his brows in greeting. He didn’t even take the earphones out of his ears. Sarah moved to hug him awkwardly and he tried his best to move away, embarrassed by the attention. Sarah’s eyes moved to Jenny, who’d witnessed their attempted embrace. Jenny shrugged.
Kevin seemed taller, a fact she would have pointed out to him if he’d taken the damn earphones out, and his light brown hair was shaggier than usual. Longer hair on boys had been around awhile, but Kevin had mostly ignored the trend, until now apparently. Maybe the girlfriend liked it longer. While Kevin had Sarah’s lighter hair and green eyes, he was the spitting image of his father with his broad shoulders, straight, almost aristocratic nose and fair skin.
Jenny dropped the carry on luggage at Sarah’s feet. “Hope you’ve got room for the luggage.” She gave her sister a firm hug and a glad-to-see-you smile.
“You look like you’re ready to get back on the plane for the return ride.”
“I’m not, but I’m ready to be just an aunt again. This mothering stuff is not for wimps.” She rubbed her aching shoulder. “Or those with bad backs.”
“Put those things in here.” Sarah pulled the luggage cart forward. “We may need another cart, but we can load this one up first.”
With two luggage carts filled to overflowing, they padded through the parking lot. Sarah tried not to let the weight of the cart drag her into one of the hundreds of cars squeezed into impossibly tight parking spaces. She’d had a hard time finding a spot for Dodge’s large truck that would allow her to open the side door more than just a crack.
As they walked, Lyle happily relayed their last days in Georgia. She heard sadness in his voice as he told her about leaving his friends and with wicked glee he told of Kevin’s tearful goodbye to his new girlfriend. Sarah had to roll her eyes as he over exaggerated the drama of their parting.
She felt a part of her settle with her kids back within arms reach. When she’d led them to the spot where she’d parked Dodge’s truck, she had to call Kevin as he’d passed it in search of her old clunker. “We’re right here, Kev.” She lowered the back and began heaving the luggage into the truck bed.
“Whoa, don’t tell me you finally upgraded the old truck.” Kevin stood gaping at Dodge’s nearly new Ford F250.
“Get rid of my truck? No way.” Nobody appreciated a classic.
“Whose truck is this?” Jenny asked.
“A guy whose been helping me make some plans for the ranch. His name’s Dodge and he insisted I take it.” Sarah knew Jenny would read more into Dodge’s offer than she should.
“Oh really,” Jenny said with a smirk. “You haven’t mentioned him before.”
Sarah ignored her sister. It was a good thing Dodge insisted she bring his truck because they never would have fit themselves and the luggage into hers. They filed into the truck, the kids in the back and she and Jenny in the front. Before long they were heading along Denver’s highway system back south toward Hailey. The kids settled in for the long haul after
giving half-hearted answers to Sarah’s questions. They were soon plugged into their iPods. Normally she would have insisted they turn off the gadgets, but this gave her and Jenny a chance to catch up without the boys listening in.
“So, tell me about this Dodge character.”
“Not much to tell,” Sarah hedged. “He came out to the cabin the weekend I arrived as a request of some friend of his and he’s been helping me out ever since.”
“That’s not what I’m asking and you know it. Is he young? Old? Hot? Married? Missing a limb? What?”
Since her divorce almost five years ago, Jenny couldn’t have a conversation about a man without asking about his physical description, marital status and possible average yearly salary. “He looks to be around my age and he’s not married, or at least he doesn’t wear a ring and never speaks of a wife.”
“Is he hot?”
“He’s attractive, I guess, if you like tall, dark and chauvinistic.”
Jenny looked at Sarah between narrowed eyes. “I’m sensing some hostility. Is there something you’re not telling?”
“He’s just old-fashioned in his views about women. He worries about me being at the ranch alone and questions most of the decisions I’ve made. He has a lot of sisters and I think he views women as helpless.” Sarah shrugged. “It’s just a guess because he doesn’t like to talk about himself.”
“Will I get to meet him before I go home?”
Sarah watched tumbleweed cross the highway. “I’m pretty sure he hasn’t grown so enamored with my truck today that he won’t be interested in switching back.” Sarah could feel Jenny’s eyes on her. “What?”
“God, you’re being sarcastic again. Being out here has helped you already.”
Dodge the Bullet Page 5
