Protecting What's Mine: A Western Romance

by BL Craven

  “Hi, I’m agent Kline, FBI, this is Agent Black,” the tall thin one introduced them both.

  “Cameron,” I held out my hand, noticing how weak I was, but happy that I could move.

  “Gentlemen, Cameron has just awoken from a medically induced coma, after he’s had surgery to remove a slug from his shoulder and a bad concussion from a bullet skipping across his skull.”

  “Thank you, counselor, we’re aware of his injuries. We do have to ask these questions,” agent Black sounded dismissive.

  “Make sure you don’t cross the line agents, or I’ll have your asses,” Sheila growled to agent Black.

  “Do you know this woman?” Agent Kline held up Karen’s photo. I nodded.

  “We used to date years ago. She’s the one who shot me, shot James, too.”

  “Are you sure it was her?” Agent Black asked.

  “Yes. Very sure,” both agents just nodded and pulled up another picture, a picture of Dade.

  “How about this gentleman?” Kline asked me.

  “Sure, that’s Dade, Carl’s foreman. He was there, but I don’t know if he did anything more than fire off warning shots,” I didn’t know why, but suddenly I was feeling defensive of the vet.

  “Are you sure of that?”

  “No, not when I was struggling to get out of there alive,” I admitted.

  “What can you tell us about Sheriff Tyler Bart?”

  “That he’s useless as a law man. He wouldn’t arrest his nephew when the evidence was so stacked up against him. I hear there have been other issues as well. He did seem to be a caring uncle.”

  “Tim is in this hospital, isn’t he?” Kline asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “How much involvement do you think he had with things?” Black asked me.

  “I honestly don’t know. I still don’t understand exactly what happened with Karen, Dade, and James. Sheila asked me about casinos, but I just got back from overseas a week ago. Ooops, maybe longer than that,” I amended, remembering that I’d been out.

  “Okay, so let’s go over some things again.”

  I repeated everything that had happened over the course of the past few days, holding nothing back. Apparently, when my text message finally went through, while I was on my trip to the hospital, Bill had recognized and put some of the pieces together, calling the state police who kicked the information up to the local FBI branch.

  He had no idea at that point what had happened, and it was half a day later when I was stabilized that Jackson and Alison had gotten hold of them. They literally had half a day’s worth of things to wrap up and to get on the airplane. It was still almost two days of flying to get home.

  Tyler refusing to take his wife into custody before she could skip town with Dade had all but gotten him arrested. He was done as the sheriff. As an elected official, there was enough pressure from the state and local authorities to have him step down and leave the city. Carl was crushed. Of everyone in this tragedy, he was only guilty of being an ass, and not getting Tim help sooner. He explained away his son’s increasing instability as too many hormones and being a young man. Still, I secretly hoped that Tim had made it.

  Overall, the plot had been too simple. There was already enough bad blood between the two ranches that when the water was diverted, which was timed during some development on Carl’s ranch, Bill had naturally blamed his longtime enemy. Knowing that a legal battle would take a year or more, the plan would have been safe if I hadn’t stumbled upon the reservation property.

  There was no way that the casino could be built without a parking lot. The only problem was that there was a river in the way. Once the course of the river had changed, the plan could go forward. This was a huge oversimplification, but with Bill and Carl going at each other over water rights and the blame being put on Carl’s development, they might have gotten away with it.

  The had plan almost worked. James had been riding through the ranch land, keeping an eye on the progress. At least one of the cuts in the fence had been him, from what he’d admitted. If our ranch had gotten water further downstream, they were in the clear no matter how long we battled things out in the courts. To throw gas on the fire, Dade and James had been the ones messing with the cattle. It kept all eyes on the Bart ranch.

  “Are you two almost done?” Sheila interrupted after our back and forth for a while. I was filling in as many holes for them as they were filling them in for me.

  “Yeah, just a few more questions,” Kline said, holding up a hand.

  “Sure,” I said, sipping water out of a Styrofoam cup and feeling a growing pressure on my bladder.

  “Can you tell me about Karen’s family?” Black asked me, and out of left field, a missing piece of the puzzle clicked into place.

  “Yeah, big contractors. One of the largest builders in the state actually. You could probably get more from Tyler; I only dated her for a year in high school, forever ago.”

  “The former sheriff isn’t cooperating at this point,” Kline said.

  “Are they involved with this?” I asked, either of them.

  “Yes, though not the way you may think. Karen and Dade…” Kline looked at Black, who just nodded. “Well, their names were tracked back to a corporation that hired Karen’s family to start building the casino.”

  “How does that work? They have money like that?”

  “No, no they didn’t. But they had a deal with the council on the reservation… a percentage of ownership and the corporation would foot the bill for the initial investment, getting the construction and permits off the ground. Once the reservation saw some sort of progress and incentive to keep it going, they were going to finance the rest. It was the first part they could never get approval on, and Dade and Karen figured out a way to move the course of water and keep everyone’s eyes off what they were doing.”

  “Was the Council of Elders and the construction firm in on this?” Sheila asked, re-asserting herself into the situation.

  “We’re looking into Karen’s family. So far, it looks like she took on the risks, and just signed her daddy onto what looked like a sweetheart deal. The only thing he’s out of is some time with a dozer. How they dammed the river is still something we’re investigating, but we think she used her family’s contacts to order equipment and supplies.”

  “So you don’t know much.”

  “No, not at this point.”

  “What about the Council of Elders?”

  “They had no clue. They were delighted to have someone come and solve a troublesome issue they had no clue how to deal with. They should have looked into how Karen and Dade’s company planned on fixing the water issue, but they figured that Karen’s family connections and husband could…”

  “Sweeten up the process? Pay off inspectors?” I asked them.

  “We may never know. It does appear that Karen was the one behind the dealings. Dade is signed on as a partner in the corporation they have together. Who knows? The rumor is they were lovers,” Kline told me.

  “Yeah, I figured as much as well. So, what happens now?” I asked everyone present, and I could see somebody pushing at the hospital room door, peeking in with small eyes.

  “Nothing with you. You’ve cooperated with these agents. If they find Karen and Dade, you’ll need to testify against them for the attempted murder.”

  “So they are really gone?” I asked, and both agents nodded.

  “Dade was working for Carl to stir the fire between the ranches behind the scenes. Looks like Karen did what she was always accused of doing, being a nasty gold digger, but now we can add attempted murder to it, right boys?”Sheila’s raspy voice cut through the tension in the air.

  “Yes, if we find them both.”

  “Any chance that will happen?”

  “Border Patrol has them pegged in Mexico now. They passed through before we knew what was going on. We’re working on extradition, but we’re pretty sure they’ve moved on from here.”

  “Shit.”
<
br />   “Yup,” Sheila agreed. “Okay boys, I’m going to give Cam a break. He’s been more than helpful and unless you have the others in custody, leave us alone for a while, okay?”

  “Just don’t leave town. We might have a few questions later on down the road,” agent Black told me, before standing and following Kline out the door.

  “Like they could make me,” I muttered.

  “Good, I’m glad that’s over,” Sheila said, with a big breath.

  “You thought it’d go worse?”

  “I had no time to talk to you, and James has lawyered up. You’re the closest thing to a prosecutorial witness they have. Right now, they have jack and shit, and jack left town.” She smiled at me. “Besides, they just needed to close the book on this. I’m surprised they didn’t ask you about trespassing on reservation land with weapons of mass destruction?” The last more of a question than the statement it sounded like.

  “I had a pistol and a rifle.”

  “At first, they thought you were the one who shot James.”

  “That’s just crazy.”

  “Yes, it was. That’s why the sheriff’s department has your guns.”

  “So you’ll help me get them back?”

  “Something like that.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sheila had left, but the visitor who had been pushing at the door had also never come in. I was truly alone for the moment and sat up with shaky muscles. I pulled the blanket free with my right hand and was careful to not move my left arm. It had been put into a sling, and there was more gauze and bandages on it than I’d thought.

  A .22 in the shoulder? Either it was a minor flesh wound, or the pain medicine was working wonders. I made it to my feet without pulling out the IV lines and wheeled my IV to the bathroom. I took one look at myself in the mirror and considered the shower, but knew I couldn’t with everything hooked up to me.

  I took care of business and used a washcloth, bar of soap and a disposable razor that had been left in a neat pile to clean myself up. Doing it one handed was challenging, but I was finding that the more I moved, the easier it got, no matter how shaky and weak my muscles were.

  My stomach grumbled when I finished brushing my teeth. Maybe I could grab some lunch and get out of here soon. There was one thing I couldn’t do one handed, and that was tie the back of my gown closed. I’d have Jackson or Ali help me, cursing my sling and wondering how hard it would hurt if I were…

  I’d pushed open the door to the room, the gown flowing behind me as I almost got scared out of my skin.

  “Surprise,” Mom, Dad, Ali, Jackson, Sandy, and Charlie shouted. I fell on my ass.

  “Shit,” I said, after making sure I hadn’t pulled my IV out. Jackson and Bill helped me up, putting the IV machine back on its wheels, and the girls gave me some privacy as my gown was retied.

  I laughed, laughed hard, and soon everyone else was as well. The doctor and nurses were pissed, I could tell, but I didn’t have a problem with my heart and I hadn’t hit my head so… lighten up guys? Once I was sitting on the bed, my ass covered, I saw Mom kneel and pick something up. Her movements were covered by Alison, who was smiling big enough to make the Cheshire cat jealous, and I knew some sort of mischief was coming.

  “What’s the surprise about?” I asked them.

  “Well, it is your birthday,” Mom reminded me.

  “What?”

  “Well, you know. It’s that one day a year I celebrate when you came from my stomach.”

  “I keep forgetting how long I was out.”

  It was the truth, plus I hadn’t celebrated my birthday since I’d left the ranch. It was a part of my life I was running away from back then.

  “We’d always planned to be home for your birthday, Son,” Bill said.

  “And surprise!” Mom said, putting a baby in my arms.

  I stood there, looking at the pink bows in her sparse hair and got a smile from her. Her chubby hands were clenched and I would have done more, but I was one handed. I blew her hair out of her eyes and watched her blink. Mom smiled and pulled her back.

  “One more surprise,” Alison said, before walking up to the bed with a little boy holding her hand.

  “Hello,” I told him, but he was half hiding behind Alison’s leg. It had been his eye peeking in while the FBI was questioning me.

  “Hi,” he said softly, with a thick accent.

  “I’m Cameron. Are you my little brother?” I asked him. He just nodded and tried to hide behind Ali.

  “He wants to be a cowboy when he grows up,” Mom said, coaxing him from Ali and sitting him on the edge of the bed.

  “That’s a good job, an important one.”

  “I want to be sheriff cowboy,” he said, his accent thick but understandable.

  “Good. What’s your name, little man?”

  He said something unintelligible to me, and I had to wonder how old he was. No older than three or four by his size if I had to guess. Mom just smiled, but Bill came to the bed, holding the baby.

  “This is Lilly and that is Kyle.”

  I grinned like a fool.

  “The doc says you can go home day after tomorrow if you don’t overdo it today.”

  A nurse came in to give me a new cup of water and check my vitals.

  “Good.”

  “So rest. These folks can come back later.”

  “Okay, okay.” I grumpily said my goodbyes. I tried to ask Alison to stay for a moment, but she just shook her head and left with my parents.

  “So can you unhook me from this yet?”

  “Yes, and let’s get the sling off a moment so the doc can check your bandages when he comes in.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I sat there in the dark, a headache keeping me awake. I’d texted Alison a couple of times when I’d found my wallet and phone, which were on the bedside table. She hadn’t answered and my guts were twisting. She’d barely acknowledged me with our parents in the room. Mom and Dad knew; but they hadn’t even commented on it when I saw them. Was Alison having second thoughts now? I was chasing my tail in the dark, not getting any sleep, when the door opened and closed, only briefly letting in a sliver of light. I couldn’t see who it was, but when I smelled strawberries and vanilla I calmed. The side of my bed was lowered, and Alison scooted in on my good side, making me hold her tight with my good arm.

  “You aren’t getting out of this easy cowboy,” she whispered to me.

  “I thought you changed your mind,” I told her, wanting to wipe my eyes, but my arm was stuck keeping her from falling off the edge of the hospital bed.

  “No, I love you. I always have.”

  “I love you, too,” I admitted, and something broke open in my chest and all the pain and self-doubt floated away with my worries.

  “I just didn’t know what Mom and Dad had told the kids.”

  “Is that why I was getting the cold shoulder?”

  “I’m sorry if it felt that way, I just didn’t want to hog the attention from you. Everyone was there to see you and it’s all little Kyle could talk about… you waking up.”

  “I was so scared that you’d changed your mind…”

  “No, never. I just wanted to give Mom and Dad a day or so until I sprung the news on them.”

  “News?”

  “That we’re getting married, silly,” she laughed at me when my jaw dropped open in shock. “Kidding, really.” Score: Ali – 1, Me — 0

  “What news?” I asked her, finally finding my voice.

  “That you broke out of the hospital early and took me home to our cabin,” she whispered, her hand rubbing the smooth skin on the side of my jaw line.

  “Why would I want to do that? The doctor said…”

  “The doctor is also keeping about three dozen reporters away. You think the incident with Tim was big?”

  “Yeah, folks from town knew about it right away.”

  “Well, you got shot in the head and survived, and busted up some kind of illegal casino opera
tion. You’re the biggest news to have ever happened in this town. The story got picked up by The Associated Press. With the corruption charges being leveled at the sheriff’s department, let’s just say this is really big news around here.”

  “Corruption?” I asked, but I could feel her nodding.

  “So if we leave in the dead of the night… we can avoid the circus that’ll be here in the morning.”

  “Did you think of this all on your own?” I asked her, appreciating the heads up. I didn’t want to walk through that circus or be wheeled out through it now that I thought about it.

  “No, I had help from my getaway driver. Now, get dressed.”

  “Getaway driver?”

  “You’ll see.”

  I got dressed as fast as I could, but Ali had to help me. I’d eaten, but was still weak from being laid up for a week. Ali looked out into the hallway and then motioned for me to follow. We were able to get to the elevators without anybody noticing and when we got to the bottom floor, Ali put her arm through mine and we strolled out of the Emergency Room doors like a couple. I wasn’t surprised to see my Jeep idling at the curb, the windows dark. Alison opened the passenger door and climbed in the back seat and pulled the seat back so I could get in.

  “Hi, Sandy.”

  “Surprise!” She grinned.

  It had been one of those weeks.

  I waited a few days, just gathering my strength, dodging phone calls and reporters who would drive out to the ranch. Alison and I were inseparable, and it was time for me to make my official statement to the Sheriff’s Office and get my guns back. My shoulder wasn’t as bad off as I’d feared once I’d gotten the stiffness out of it, but I still had it in a sling for another week to make sure I didn’t tear things open.

  The reporters were waiting at the Sheriff’s Office.

  “Shit. You know about this?”

  “I suspected,” Jackson had said, volunteering to drive me out there. “They’ve been hanging around town, waiting for you to come out.”

  “Let’s get this over with,” I said, and opened the door of the Jeep and stepped out.