Dodge the Bullet

by Christy Hayes

  He parked in front of the dingy cinderblock building and took a quick survey of the cars and trucks in the lot early on a Friday evening. He recognized a few of the trucks, but none of the cars as they typically belonged to women. He raised an eyebrow at a sporty little convertible tucked between two Chevys that could have competed in the world’s dirtiest pick-up contest.

  The sun had just settled between the mountains when he slipped inside the gloomy bar and stood to give his eyes time to adjust. The place looked exactly as he remembered, dark and cheap, smelling of stale beer and cigarette smoke. Old Stan Trippington still worked behind the bar, after all this time. He’d just stepped to the bar to say a quick hello to Stan when a gorgeous blonde walked out of the restroom. Every person in the bar, man and woman, watched her amble with a feline grace straight for Tommy. He almost fell over when he recognized his cousin, aged like a fine wine to perfection.

  “Uh…Kimberly?”

  “Tommy, thanks for coming.”

  Her voice sounded even sexier in person; her breathy whisper spilled from the upturned lips of her porn star mouth. Hell. His cousin was a knock out. He needed to remember she they were cousins, blood relatives. He did recall a 20/20 special on married cousins with normal kids… He shook his head to clear his thoughts and followed her to a booth near the back, the most secluded spot in the bar.

  Candace Downing sauntered over to take their order, curiosity written all over her sun scorched face. Kimberly ordered a white wine, a risky choice for The Stand, while Tommy went for the safe bet--bottled beer. Kimberly watched Candace walk away before speaking. Her clandestine moves had Tommy’s interest peaked almost as much as the rest of the bar, most of whom stared from a distance.

  “It’s been awhile,” Kimberly said and nervously chewed her bottom lip. Tommy nodded and wondered how they’d come from the same gene pool. Candace came back in a flash with their drinks, hoping to overhear their conversation. She drifted toward the closest table with a rag in hand and failed miserably at trying not to appear to listen. Kimberly, on the QT for eavesdroppers, lowered her voice.

  “You probably don’t realize we’ve spoken rather recently.” Her large eyes, the color of the sea, blinked at an unusually fast rate.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m Senator Burwick’s personal assistant,” she whispered. “I’m the one who asks you to hold for him on the phone.”

  While Tommy was surprised to hear she worked for Burwick, he didn’t see the need for the whispering and secrecy.

  “Really?” he whispered back. Kimberly sat up, her mouth crimped with annoyance. She could tell he was mocking her.

  “Look, Tommy…if you’re not going to be serious then…”

  “Hold on now, Kimberly. I just don’t understand what all the mystery’s about. Are you going to ask me to be a government witness? A spy maybe?”

  “I’m putting myself on the line, coming here like this and talking to you. Do you know what Senator Burwick would do if he knew I was here?”

  “I don’t have the foggiest idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Sarah Woodward. Senator Burwick promised her water rights to a land developer named Fred Saxton for a project he’s building in Cooper. I’m sure you’ve heard of this--the locals have been fighting him tooth and nail.”

  “Yes.” The acid in his stomach lurched up his into chest. She had his full attention now.

  “Saxton’s getting impatient. He’s given Senator Burwick a few weeks to get the Woodward ranch under contract before he cuts Benji out of the deal. Burwick’s frantic.” She looked around, checked for eavesdroppers. “He’s made several offers on Mrs. Woodward’s land, but she’s not interested. He needs her land and he’s making plans to force her to sell.”

  “What plans?”

  “He’s already tried cutting the fence at her place. Apparently that didn’t do much good.”

  Tommy sat up in his seat and thought about what Dodge had told him about the cut wire at Sarah’s. Dodge had been so sure it was because of his past coming back to haunt him, as usual. But this explanation was worse, and his gut churned with the possibility of what Kimberly would say next.

  “I overheard him on the phone a few days ago. He’s trying something again with the Woodward place. He was vague on the phone, and I could only hear one side of the conversation, but from what I gathered he’s meeting someone at a bar in Ft. Marland to finalize the plans.”

  “You’re sure this is about the Woodward place?”

  “I’m positive.” She looked around again, tucked her hair behind her ear and leaned closer. “He asked me, last week in his office, if I knew anyone…shady…desperate…who’d be willing to do anything for money. He called it pranks, simple vandalism, but…” She shrugged. “He needs her ranch. And the Senator’s not the smartest guy on the block, but he knows enough not to make promises to Saxton he can’t deliver.”

  “Jesus.” Tommy slid back in his seat. “When is he meeting this person in Ft. Marland?”

  “Tomorrow night at nine,” she said. “I won’t be tagging along. But I thought someone should know. Mrs. Woodward has kids and her husband died and it just seems like something bad could happen. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if it did.”

  “You did the right thing, Kimberly, telling me about this.” Tommy took the first sip of his beer, thought about what to do. “Have you considered going to the police? Seems like that might be a good idea.”

  “I thought about it, but who would believe me?” She crouched down, her hands gripping her untouched wine glass. “I don’t have any proof of his involvement in the first incident and nothing but bits and pieces of an overheard conversation with whatever’s coming next. He’s a United States Senator. I figure the cops would just laugh at me.” She watched him as she took a sip. “What are you going to do?”

  Tommy took a deep breath, let it out slowly. “Well, first thing I’ve got to do is talk to Dodge.”

  “Burwick can’t stand him,” Kimberly said, her eyes huge. “Every time he tries to get to Mrs. Woodward, Dodge is there getting in the way. Or at least that’s how he sees it.”

  Dodge stood in the way, all right. He’d set up his whole cattle operation at the Woodward place and despite his insistence nothing was going on between the two of them, Tommy could tell Dodge had feelings for the beautiful widow and her sons. The man was going to flip when he told him about Burwick.

  ###

  “Damn it, Miguel,” Dodge muttered to himself. Miguel hadn’t put the gas welder back where it belonged in the barn. Sometimes Dodge felt like he spent more time looking for things in the dusty space than he did actually doing things. He’d nearly knocked the hitch off the trailer the last time he used it and he needed the gas welder to rig it back together, but damn if he could find it. He kicked the dirt floor in frustration.

  “I see I’ve caught you in a good mood.” Tommy stood in the doorway of the old cinderblock building.

  Dodge frowned. “I can’t find the damn welding machine. How does everything keep disappearing around here?”

  Tommy moved inside, glanced around. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Your dad said you haven’t been home in a few nights. I guess your non-involvement with the widow didn’t work.”

  “I’m staying with Miguel.” Dodge poked through a storage locker. “It’s not what you think.” Ever since Sarah discovered Burwick’s involvement with Fred Saxton and the Cooper development, he’d decided to bunk on Miguel’s couch to keep an eye on the ranch and do the nightly security rounds himself. If Burwick was desperate enough to cut the wire on her fence and to keep calling her to sell, he wasn’t done by a long shot. Dodge wouldn’t let anything happen to Sarah and the boys. Whether she liked it or not, he was there to protect her.

  “I’ve got some information about the fence incident.”

  “What do you mean?” Dodge stopped rummaging through the locker. He knew Tommy wouldn’t dangle bits and pieces of informati
on in front of him without having real truth to back it up. “Do you know who cut the fence?”

  Tommy slipped his hands in his front pockets. “I know who’s responsible for the act, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “Just tell me, Tommy.”

  “It’s not about your past. It’s bigger than anything you thought.”

  Dodge moved to stand in front of Tommy, all but abandoning his search for the welder. “You’re talking about Burwick, aren’t you?”

  Tommy’s brows rose in surprise. “You know?”

  “Sarah found out Burwick’s been working with Saxton on the Cooper development. Gotta figure he needs this place for the water. He’s trying to scare her into selling.” Dodge rubbed the back of his neck when he felt it prickle. “He’s probably not done.”

  “I’d say not. And you’re right about the water. He’s promised this place to Saxton. It’s time to pay the piper.”

  “How’d you know?”

  “Turns out my cousin is Burwick’s personal assistant. She called me this afternoon.” He rocked back and forth on the heels of his work shoes. “Burwick’s getting desperate. He’s meeting someone in Ft. Marland tomorrow night to make additional plans.”

  Damn. Damn, damn. He’d been sitting around waiting for someone to make a move. He’d thought maybe Benji had chickened out since he hadn’t seen or heard anything for a few nights. “Do you know where they’re meeting and when?”

  “Some dive bar on the outskirts. She gave me the address. They’re supposed to meet at nine.”

  “Where’s Ft. Marland?” Sarah asked from the doorway.

  Dodge whipped around at the sound of her voice. “What are you doing here?”

  “What kind of arrangements?” she asked Tommy.

  Tommy glanced at Dodge, raised his brows and looked back at Sarah without answering.

  “Somebody answer me,” she said and stomped her foot. “This is my ranch and if Burwick is making threats, I want to know.”

  Dodge and Tommy stood where they were, Tommy’s stare fixed on the floor. Dodge tried fruitlessly to scare her away with a withering glare.

  “You don’t need to be involved in this,” Dodge said. “You don’t even know what we’re talking about.”

  “I heard every word Tommy said. Burwick’s meeting someone in Ft. Marland tomorrow night to make plans to do something to the ranch, or to me and the boys. He’s trying to get me to sell.” Her voice rose to a squeal. “I hate to disappoint you, but I am involved.”

  Dodge hung his head, let out a sarcastic snort and sauntered to the doorway where she stood with her hands on her hips. “What you are is in the way. I think you proved the other night you can’t handle trouble.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me, slugger.” Dodge carelessly lifted a shoulder. “This could be dangerous and I won’t stand for you being in harm’s way.”

  “You won’t stand for it?” When Dodge stood his ground and said nothing, Sarah turned her attention to Tommy, who watched them with amusement flashing in his eyes. “Tell me where Burwick is meeting his henchman tomorrow.”

  Tommy sobered. “I…uh, Dodge?”

  “No,” Sarah demanded. “Answer me or I swear I’ll call your cousin at Burwick’s office and find out for myself.”

  Tommy looked at Dodge. “Is she serious?”

  “Unfortunately, yes.” Dodge grabbed her arm, pulled her outside the barn door, and squinted against the setting sun. “Are you trying to get yourself killed? Burwick’s made promises to Saxton he intends to keep.”

  “That means my family’s in danger. I won’t stand by while he takes pot shots at us. You can’t ask me to.”

  “I won’t play Russian roulette with your life. Damn it.” He kicked the dirt with his boot. “He’s through with scare tactics, Sarah. Why can’t you trust me to take care of this?”

  “It’s not your job to protect us, Dodge. There’s nothing about guard duty in the lease.” Sarah covered her face with her hands, pulled them back in frustration. “Why don’t I just call him and tell him he can forget about my land, that no matter what he does I won’t ever sell. We don’t have to play this cat and mouse game. I’ll end it with a phone call.”

  Dodge grabbed her shoulders. “You don’t get it. It’s too late for him to back down. Tommy’s cousin was warning us for a reason. He’s in too deep to renege.” He saw the resignation in her eyes and loosened his grip and softened his voice. “Let me handle this, Sarah. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

  She pushed his hands off her shoulders. “Do you seriously expect me to sit around and wait for you to rescue me? I’m not a helpless moron.”

  “You’re pig-headed!”

  “And you’re a chauvinist!”

  Tommy peeked his head around the corner. “Are you children done squabbling?”

  “No!” they both shouted.

  Tommy put a hand on Dodge’s shoulder. “The name of the bar is Coasters, off Highway 128, just north of Ft. Marland. I’d offer to go myself, but I promised Kimberly I wouldn’t show my face.”

  “I’m going with you,” Sarah said to Dodge.

  “No way. The man knows you. You don’t think he’ll get suspicious when you stroll in a dive bar nearly fifty miles from home?”

  “I’ve never met him. I’ve only talked to him on the phone.”

  “He wants your land, Sarah. He probably knows what you ate for breakfast. He’s trying to figure out where you’re vulnerable.”

  “You pissed him off in Wyoming. Do you think he doesn’t remember what you look like?”

  “I think I can blend into a crowd a hell of a lot better than you can.”

  “Maybe, if you take that enormous chip off your shoulder.”

  Dodge’s temper hung on by a thread. He stepped toward her, ducked his head so they were nose to nose. “You want to come with me, fine. But my ‘I told you so’ may come with a very big price.”

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “You should let me handle this. Alone.”

  ###

  Dodge and Tommy pulled up to the cabin to get Sarah. Tommy had agreed to stay with Lyle in case anything happened while they were gone as Kevin had finally wrangled a date with Shiloh. Dodge had borrowed his dad’s truck for their mission. That’s how he thought of their outing: a duty, a responsibility to keep Sarah and the kids out of trouble. He also needed to keep his livelihood safe, but that was secondary to everything else. Sarah was too naïve to understand the danger of the situation, to fear what desperate men did when ran out of options. Burwick was no less dangerous than a wild animal backed into a corner.

  As they stood on her doorstep he wished for the hundredth time that day that he’d followed his gut and left for Ft. Marland without her. Stubborn as she was, he knew she’d just come right along on her own.

  When she opened the door, his jaw dropped in surprise. Sarah stood before him in a thin, tight blouse, form fitting jeans and heeled sandals that played peek-a-boo with her red painted toes. Her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders and she had on more makeup than he’d ever seen her wear. After a cursory once over, her knowing smile made him wish she’d stay home for a whole new set of reasons. The woman had all but dared him not to touch her.

  Tommy broke the silence with a whistle. “Sarah, you sure clean up nice.”

  “Thank you, Tommy.”

  “What the hell are you wearing?” Dodge said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “We’re supposed to blend in with the crowd.”

  “What do you suggest I wear to a bar? My bath robe?”

  The image of her in that short little nothing she called a robe didn’t help his wandering thoughts. Damn it, this was not a good idea.

  “Never mind. Are you ready?”

  “Just let me get my jacket.”

  ###

  As they headed through downtown Hailey toward Ft. Marland, the tension in the truck seemed palpable. Dodge drove in
silence with a scowl that mirrored Sarah’s. She watched families enter restaurants, trucks pull into driveways after a long day’s work and brooded in the bouncy cab of Dodge’s borrowed truck. And he’d criticized her truck. All the bouncing managed to draw out the faint smell of his aftershave, cause it to drift over and mingle with the perfume she’d dabbed under her earlobes. She’d actually looked forward to spending time with him tonight. What a fool she was. He’d practically called her a slut when she opened the door to him earlier and now he sat stone-faced and silent.

  She thought about Kevin, on his first official date with Shiloh. She’d walked him over to the Winslow’s house, much to his embarrassment, and left him for Mrs. Winslow to escort to a movie. She had to hand it to Kevin; Shiloh was a pretty girl. And from the look on her face she was definitely smitten with Kevin. Sarah had lectured him on the walk over about using manners, opening her door, and treating the Winslow’s with respect. He’d naturally rolled his eyes.

  Her reminders were unnecessary, but she’d needed to fill the time talking about something other than her worries about the date. She’d wanted to remind him that girls were gross, like he’d said back in third grade when Mandy Holloway tried to kiss him at recess. She’d wanted to tell him to stop growing up so fast. “Look at me,” she’d wanted to say. “Do I look like I’m having so much fun as an adult?” Male-female relationships were wrought with pot holes and curves in the road. Dating was a long and torturous highway to drive when you were never sure of the destination.

  Sarah wanted to remind him to respect Shiloh’s right to say no to a kiss, and, please, God, no more than a kiss. She’d even felt the slightest nudge of anger at Todd for leaving her to deal with teenaged boys and their urges alone. She needed to have a talk with Kevin about responsible sexual behavior.