Dodge the Bullet

by Christy Hayes

  Sarah shoved at her half-eaten plate of food and sighed. Kevin had made friends and acted like he wasn’t and Lyle was miserable at school and pretending not to be. Her world had truly tilted on its axis. She looked up to see the same man staring at her again. Just when she was about to introduce herself so she’d know who was studying her so closely, she heard the deep resonance of Dodge’s voice. It broke her train of thought and quickened her pulse. He sauntered past her booth and came to rest in front of the man who’d been staring at her.

  “Tommy.” Dodge slid into the booth. “How’s the brisket?”

  “Good as always.” The man wiped his mouth with the small paper napkin and placed it back on his lap.

  Sarah was tempted to sit and listen to the conversation between them. Maybe she’d find out a little bit about Dodge in the process. Kevin emerged from the rear hallway and headed back towards Sarah’s table. Dodge stuck out his hand. “Kevin.” Kevin took his hand and shook tentatively.

  “Is your mom here?” Dodge asked twisting around in his seat to look.

  “If she were a bee she’d have stung you.” Kevin’s voice dripped with sarcasm. He pointed over his shoulder to Sarah. Dodge turned in his seat and smiled when he saw her. She hoped she didn’t blush.

  “Hello, Dodge.” She slid from the booth and walked to stand at the end of the table where he sat. Dodge gave her a look, a head to toe appraisal that made her look down at her faded jeans, work boots and t-shirt and wish she’d done more with herself before coming into town.

  “Tommy Thornton,” Dodge said motioning with his head toward Tommy, “Sarah Woodward.”

  “You’re Tommy Thornton?” She watched as the man’s blue eyes sharpened and his face formed a sly smile.

  “Yes, I am. And you’re Sarah Woodward.” He directed his attention back to Dodge. “It’s all making sense to me now.”

  “I wish I could say the same, Mr. Thornton. What exactly is your connection to Senator Burwick, if you don’t mind my asking?”

  “No different than anyone’s, I suppose.”

  “So your arranging for Dodge to help me at Burwick’s request was nothing out of the ordinary?”

  Tommy sat his fork down and wiped his mouth again. “Ma’am, Ben Burwick is a United States Senator. When he calls and asks for a favor, I try to comply.”

  “Why did he ask for a favor on my behalf, Mr. Thornton? I’d hardly call Burwick a friend. Other than his occasional calls to buy the ranch, we’ve barely spoken.”

  “I have no idea, Mrs. Woodward. But he called and asked me to arrange for someone to help you. I called Dodge.”

  “Burwick’s offered to buy your ranch?” Dodge asked.

  “Yes, several times in fact. I’ve never understood why. Speaking of offers, do either of you know a Carl Coffee? He’s an attorney from Denver.” She watched as both men shook their heads no. “He called me earlier inquiring about my ranch. Said he’d be willing to pay top dollar and then threw out a ridiculous offer. I don’t even know how he found out about me or the ranch, much less how he got my cell number.”

  Tommy picked up his fork again and moved the brisket around on his plate. “I’d bet you dollars to donuts, seeing as how he’s an attorney, he’s gotten wind of the augmentation bill that’s coming down the pike. He’s probably trying to get his hands on prime water property before prices go sky high.”

  Lyle came out from the restroom and said hi to Dodge before joining Kevin in the booth where they’d eaten. The boys picked up a pack of sugar from the plastic holder on the table and began playing a game of tabletop football Todd had taught them when they were little.

  “What augmentation bill? What does that even mean?” Sarah asked. She nudged Dodge with her hip and he complied by sliding over in the seat.

  “The whole valley’s about to start charging farmers who suck the aquifer dry and don’t have surface water,” Dodge said.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Your property has very senior water rights. You haven’t even been using the water you’re allowed to take in the last few years. Denton simply flooded the fields for his cattle and didn’t use a fraction of the water you have the right to take. All the farmers who don’t put any water back into the aquifer are going to have to pay for the water rights for those who do. If you never tried to earn a penny by working your land you could cover your note and then some on the water rights you could charge when this bill goes through.” He fiddled with the salt and pepper shakers and then pushed them back by the wall. “I’m sure Mr. Coffee or Burwick would love to get their hands on your cash cow.”

  Tommy cleared his throat. “Coffee could be connected with the Cooper development, Dodge. Saxton’s desperate for water property to supplement that place. He’s been scoping around the valley for nearly two years now.”

  Dodge nodded and turned to face Sarah. “If that’s the case, you’re in for the full court press. His development won’t go through without water.”

  Sarah looked between the two men confused. “What’s the Cooper development? I’ve seen those ‘Say No To Cooper’ signs all over town.”

  “Fred Saxton is what they’re really saying no to,” Tommy explained. “He’s a land developer who creates luxury ranches for the rich. He pretty much steals the land from five and six generation farmers. Problem is, the part-time residents he sells to aren’t around enough to sustain a town. He’s been responsible for ghost-towning more than one municipality in the last few years.”

  Sarah sat up in her seat. “That’s awful. How does he get away with it?”

  “Money talks,” Dodge said. “If you won’t sell to Burwick, maybe he’s hoping you’ll fail miserably or kill yourself trying and then take him up on his offer.”

  “If Burwick wanted me to fail, it doesn’t say much about your ability as a rancher.”

  “How do you figure that?”

  “If you’re such a great cattle rancher, why would he approach you if his intention was for me to quit?”

  “He didn’t approach me, remember. He approached Tommy.” Dodge swept his hand across the table to Tommy. By appearance alone Sarah could tell he wasn’t a rancher. Not only were his shirt and tie a dead give away, but the softness of his hands when they’d been introduced served as further proof.

  Tommy put the last of the brisket in his mouth and washed it down with a big gulp of coke. “And when Burwick found out Dodge was the one I’d asked to help you, he went ballistic. Told me to get him out of there, pronto. Course, big stuff here wouldn’t budge.”

  Sarah turned sideways to look at Dodge. “This just keeps getting more interesting. And your connection to Burwick is…?”

  “We had a run in a few years ago over some land I own in Wyoming. Guy’s a dick head,” Dodge said. “Guess he doesn’t forgive and forget.”

  “Senator Burwick’s loaded,” Sarah said. “Why would he be interested in my ranch, even with the augmentation rights? It’d still be peanuts compared to his family fortune.”

  “That’s a very good question.” Tommy motioned for Becky to bring him another coke. “If you two will excuse me, I’ve got to use the restroom. It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Woodward.” Tommy extended his hand after working his way free of the booth seat.

  “Call me Sarah. It was nice to meet you, too.”

  Tommy gave Dodge a sly look, then turned toward the restrooms.

  Sarah watched Dodge turn toward her, saw his tawny gaze move across her hair to her face. She suddenly realized how close they were sitting and could feel her pulse quicken. She’d never been attracted to anyone other than her husband. Why did her body have to pick now to wake up from hibernation? She could hear the boys arguing over their game and knew she needed to make an exit.

  “The lease should be ready in the morning. Can you come by sometime tomorrow and make it official?”

  “I’ll try to come by around eleven. I have something I’d like to talk to you about anyway, when there aren’t so many ears around to li
sten.”

  She stood up from the booth as Becky arrived with a menu for Dodge and a coke for Tommy. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.” She got her purse and the boys from the adjoining booth and ignored her insatiable need to insist he tell her now.

  ###

  Tommy returned to the table, a gummy grin etched on his round face. “Well, now I understand your reluctance to leave the widow. She’s nice to look at from the front…and the back,” he said leaning to watch Sarah walk through the front door. Tommy shook his head and reached for his drink. “She’s a feisty little thing too. How long’s it been since her husband died? Two, two and a half years? Bet she’s ripe for the picking.”

  Dodge grabbed Tommy’s tie and brought his face across the table, almost nose to nose with Dodge. “It’s going to be hard to pay attention to anything with my fist crammed down your throat.” He let go with a push.

  “Damn, Dodge, settle down.” Tommy adjusted his shirt and tie. “Didn’t realize she was spoken for.”

  “She’s not spoken for, but she’s a mother, for Christ’s sake. Can’t you show a little respect?” It sounded hollow even to his ears but it was the best he could come up with.

  “That never stopped you from yapping it up about Missy Callahan after she popped out her third. I seem to remember you joking about taking a turn at her breast.”

  “Missy Callahan purposely flaunted her tits to anyone who’d look. Sarah’s not flaunting a thing and I’d appreciate you keeping your eyes on her face.”

  “No problem there,” Tommy said, then raised his hands in defense when Dodge reared up again. “I’ve never seen you like this before.” He sipped his drink and pulled the fat leather wallet from his back pocket. “She know about your past?”

  Dodge scowled at Tommy. He was damn tired of thinking about what’d happened all those years ago.

  “I’m not sure what she knows, but I’ve got to tell her tomorrow before I sign the lease. She’s got a right to know who she’s dealing with.”

  “You say that like someone who’s guilty of something.”

  “I’ve got fresh apple pie for dessert,” Becky said smiled at Tommy.

  “He’s just leaving,” Dodge said. “I’ll have the special Becky, thanks for asking.”

  When she turned to leave in a huff, Tommy stood up and folded his suit coat over his arm. “You don’t want to make any friends around here, do you?”

  “Why?” Dodge said with a grin. “I’ve got you.”

  ###

  The place had taken shape, Dodge thought as his truck hiccupped over the rim of the blacktop and onto the gravel entrance of the Woodward ranch. The new fences looked good and set the foundation for a fine cattle ranch. Miguel had already started fixing the caretakers house. He hadn’t been on a binger since the last time Dodge chewed his ass for not showing up at work. Dodge felt sure with living quarters nicer than the beaten down trailer he’d recently shared with God only knew how many relatives, Miguel would be just grateful enough to toe the line for awhile.

  Besides replacing the broken window and patching the leaky roof, he’d let a few cows loose to eat away the overgrown grass around the house and barns. The place finally looked occupied, thank goodness. He’d never been comfortable with Sarah and the boys living at the back of the ranch when the front was so unkempt it looked abandoned.

  His truck edged past a few scraps of old metal and crept down the long path to the house. It wasn’t even half past ten, but Dodge couldn’t wait any longer to purge himself of the sordid details of his past. He felt like an old piece of furniture waiting to be refinished; telling Sarah the truth would be like pealing away the old layers of stain and paint. He just hoped he didn’t end up feeling naked and exposed when the truth came out.

  The garage was open. The sky that perched above him blazed its glory through the whipped butter clouds of early summer. He paused on the concrete drive and listened to the sounds of the river before heading inside. He entered the garage and took a deep breath. He didn’t want to tell her because what she thought of him mattered. He’d let it matter, and that really pissed him off.

  Dodge took the stairs slowly after she’d called for him to come in. He grasped hold of the nearest barstool as he mounted the top step. The smell hit him first, the clean citrus of her damp hair and the mint of her toothpaste. What little blood was left in his head fell firmly south as she stepped into the light. With her back to the window, her robe was no better than a transparent film illuminating every delicate curve of her body: the slender hourglass of her torso, the tapered hips and long, long legs. Thank God, he almost said aloud, that her crossed arms concealed her breasts. A man could only take so much.

  ###

  Sarah heard the banging on the door and glanced at the clock. It was too early to be Dodge and she hadn’t expected anyone else. She ran her fingers through her damp hair and cinched the tie on her short cotton robe tighter as she walked apprehensively to the landing, wishing she’d gotten dressed after her shower instead of stripping all the beds of their sheets.

  She felt relieved when Dodge opened the door. She asked him to come upstairs and wondered why his eyes had widened with alarm as he ascended, but then remembered her appearance. “I wasn’t expecting you quite so soon.” She felt exposed under the glare of his roaming eyes and as naked as she was under the thin robe. Standing inches apart wearing practically nothing, she felt gripped with an excited panic. Part of her wanted to rip off her robe and see what he’d do while the other, more practical part had her clasping her hands at the collar to hold the robe tightly together.

  When he reached the top, he gripped the back of the closest barstool and just stared.

  “I’ll go put some clothes on.” She scooted past him to her bedroom. “There’s coffee in the pot,” she said before shutting her door.

  Sarah leaned against the heavy wood, her hand still gripping the handle, and closed her eyes. Think. Jenny always told her she wore every emotion on her face. Could Dodge see the desire she felt, the tumult of emotions that had caused her heart to race as fast as her legs in retreat? The way he’d looked at her, his tawny eyes burrowing into every corner of her body, every place she suddenly wished to be touched by his calloused hands. Get a grip, she told herself. And clothes. Get some clothes on.

  Dodge sat at the bar, his hat removed and a mug of coffee cradled in his hands when she emerged from the back, dressed in jeans and a shirt. “Sorry to be so early,” he said.

  She shrugged and tried to ward off the weird tension in the air. She topped off her own cup of coffee and pulled the lease agreement from a stack of papers on the counter. Regina had been cool to her when she stopped by Garrity’s office for the lease. She’d simply handed over the file with a quick nod. “I picked this up from Garrity this morning. It looks good, although I’m no expert.” She flipped the cover of the file open and closed again, finally passing it to Dodge and started her questions while his attention was on the lease. “His receptionist, Regina Winslow, and even Garrity himself seemed…concerned, I guess you’d call it, about us doing business together.”

  Dodge looked up quickly, glanced back down at the papers. He closed the file before looking up at her again. “You’re wondering what I did to make all these people warn you about me? Maybe thinking you shouldn’t lease the land to me. Is that it?”

  “No.” She could hear the defensiveness in her voice. “I just…well, I keep telling people to mind their own business. But it seems to be on everyone’s mind as soon as they hear your name.” She moved around the bar and took a seat on the stool next to him. “I’ve no idea what you did in the past, but I know I trust you. If you don’t want to explain about the rest I’ll understand.” He tilted his head slightly and the look in his eyes softened. “I do trust you, Dodge. Maybe I shouldn’t, but I do, and that means more to me than whatever happened long before we ever met.”

  He rubbed his neck and ran his fingers through his hair. “I appreciate your trust, Sarah. And I�
�m sorry I didn’t say anything sooner. I should have known—I did know that you’d be faced with the rumors.” He looked down into his coffee, ran his finger over the lip of the mug, sighed deeply. “I was eighteen. There was this girl, Wendy Hawkins. She was nineteen, a friend of my sister, Isabel. She was always hanging around the house. She was real pretty. Short blond hair, curly, like that little girl on TV.” He twisted his finger in the air around his ear. “Shirley Temple hair. Anyway, I was young, as I mentioned, and like all eighteen-year-old boys, I was…well, interested in her, I guess you’d say.”

  Sarah watched him, his eyes flickered between his hands and the mug of coffee on the counter. He didn’t look at her while he spoke, didn’t look at anything really. Her heart was pounding in her chest, anticipation kneading away at her like the coffee that burned in her gut.

  “Hell, everybody in town knew I had the hots for her. She was real innocent-like, but she’d flirt with me too, when she thought nobody was looking. Anyway, one night I saw her at a bar and was going to make my big move when she up and left with a stranger. I followed them out, saw her drive away with the guy. She saw me too, even laughed at what must have been the stunned look on my face. She thought I was the only one there who knew her, but Tommy was there too. She didn’t see him.”

  His voice was toneless like he was reciting a story he’d heard on the news. He looked up at her, seemed to register her face and frowned. Sarah wondered what expression she showed—panic, dread, fear--she hoped not fear.

  “Seeing her with that guy kinda cured me of wanting her. Besides, there were more fish in the sea. One night she comes over during Sunday dinner and announces she’s pregnant. Says I’m the daddy and acts like she’d already told me and I’d refused to take responsibility. Pretty smart when you think about it,” he offered with a lift of his shoulder. “Nobody ever accused her of being stupid. Anyway, everybody thought I’d finally nailed her and then lost interest. At least that’s what she was counting on. It worked. My whole family thought she was telling the truth.”