When The Runway Went South

by Lois Kasznia

  "I think we need to contact TSCRA to report this," commented Jeb. "Maybe those kids didn't poison the cattle like we thought they did."

  "I think those kids were just a diversion because they wouldn't be smart enough to pull something like this off," offered Caleb.

  "Something like how did that snake get in Ally's pool?"

  "We need to talk to the sheriff." Caleb pulled out his cell phone and reported the missing cattle.

  "What's up Caleb?" asked the sheriff.

  "I think there's something more serious going on," explained Caleb.

  "I trust your judgment, Caleb. I'll contact the TSCRA and we will get right on it."

  "I need to call Ally," said Caleb as he looked for her number.

  "Why?" asked Jeb.

  "You know how crazy she is and could wind up shooting one of the rangers."

  Jeb laughed. "Good point. Trouble just seems to follow her." Jeb watched as Caleb made the call.

  "Ally, its Caleb here."

  "Caleb? What's wrong?" asked Ally.

  "We got a bunch of cattle thieves on the loose."

  "Again?" Kat prepared to leave for the night, but she saw Ally's shocked expression and sat down at the table with her.

  "Knowing you're not familiar with Texas, let me explain how it works. Stealing cattle is easy because the thieves can take the cattle to market on the same day and get good money for it without being detected. We have Texas rangers who police herds which have been targeted and these rangers work with the police. "

  "I guess this is a dumb question, but how do they steal them?"

  "No, it's not a dumb question. You've never been around cattle. When you have lots of acres, it's hard to police them twenty-four seven. Thieves can cut the fences and just haul them away. When we notice some of the herd missing, we report it to the police and to the TSCRA."

  "You're right, Caleb. I didn't know."

  "What's going to happen is the TSCRA will send out some rangers to look over and police the ranch, so if y'all see someone strange, don't go shooting your gun or else y'all get arrested."

  "I wouldn't shoot at anyone unless they were shooting at me," said Ally quickly. "Remember, I fired it in the air the other day, not at someone."

  "I know, but I'm just telling you. Now, if you see someone driving a truck other than mine, call me el pronto."

  "I will, Caleb. I feel so badly for you. Here someone has poisoned your cattle, those teens and now someone is stealing them from you. I'll do anything to help you since you've been so good to me."

  "That's what we do here in Texas. We help each other out." Caleb had to smile at Ally's sincerity. "Remember, no shooting."

  "Caleb," warned Ally.

  "Ma'am." Caleb ended the call with a chuckle. He just loved to tease her.

  "So, now someone is stealing his cattle? Ally, that's terrible." Kat looked at her little sister with concern. "It's got to be rough to be a ranch owner these days with more people being vegans and now stealing? I don't envy him at all."

  "You're right. He sounded really down." Ally shook her head. It had been a day.

  Chapter Eleven

  The next morning, Ally let Tank out and looked out onto the ranch. She didn't see any animals or unusual behavior, but since she planned to be home all day, she would keep her eyes peeled. She sat at the kitchen table and organized the list of recipes Kat had given her, the prices they discussed and tried to put together a brochure. Ally had looked at the Chamber of Commerce's website and jotted down a company who specialized in brochures. When she got her car back, then she would go visit this company. You wouldn't find her driving around in that monster of a loaner.

  At ten o'clock, the plumber came to inspect the house's plumbing for free. Ally showed him where the toilets, the hot water heaters and the outside hoses were located. Within a half hour, the other workman came to inspect her furnace and air conditioning unit The weatherman on the news predicted a cool day with a chance of severe storms and Ally shivered as the wind whipped around the house. After an hour, the plumber came to speak to her about suggestions he would make based upon his inspection.

  "The plumbing is good," he assured Ally. "But all four of your toilets are in need of major repair. Because you have a contract with us, I can fix all four of them today for eight hundred dollars. Would you like me to start?"

  "What?" asked Ally. "The house is only two years old, how can the toilets be bad?"

  "They are, ma'am. Look at this one." He walked over to the small powder room and flipped up the toilet lid. "See how stained they are?"

  "That's just the lid," replied Ally.

  "Not only that," he replied as he took off the top of the tank. "See how rusted it is inside?"

  Speechless, Ally just stared at the repairman. Obviously, he knew she had money and tried to squeeze it out of her. If anything, her dad would look at the toilets. Lord knew how many times she and Kat had jammed up the sinks and toilets with their hair. "No, I won't be having this done today," she replied coolly

  "Are you sure? Ma'am, those toilets are in really bad shape."

  "Nope." Ally held her ground.

  "Okay." He sighed as if she had made the biggest mistake ever. He had her sign the invoice only after he noted that 'customer refused repairs' and gave her a copy.

  "Thanks, ma'am." As he left, the other repairman came in the front door. He had been in and out, running up and down the stairs going into her attic examining the equipment.

  "I'm done with my test and would like to share the results with you."

  "We can sit at the kitchen table," suggested Ally, not liking the long list he had prepared on his legal-sized pad of paper.

  "Let's start here," he began as he covered one side of the page. "Your Trane is new and the start up time is very good. You just need to make sure you change your filters at least once a month."

  "Okay, and the other?" asked Ally dubiously.

  "It's in pretty bad shape," he began seriously. "There is an oil leak and it needs a new motor. So, what I've done is prepared a list for you." He removed the paper hiding two columns of a list of items, which needed repair. "Here is what it would cost to have these items repaired and this list is what a brand new Trane would cost to be installed."

  Ally gasped as she looked at the first list where the price listed at ten thousand dollars to have the unit fixed. She almost fainted as the cost of a new unit for twelve thousand dollars. "You've got be kidding me," she exclaimed. This house is only two years old."

  "Sorry, ma'am, it's been sorely neglected."

  "I'll get back to you on this," said Ally, barely breathing. They both stopped short as the wind howled throughout the house and the skies turned a menacing black. Lightning strikes shattered through the skies. Rain came pelting down at a horizontal angle.

  "Looks like a real Texas-style storm," commented the repairman. "Look, you have at least twenty-four hours to make your decision, but you do need to do something." He stopped talking as he watched part of Ally's fence blow down. One of the outside plants Kat had bought for Ally rolled precariously and landed smack into the pool, darkening the water.

  "What is going on?" screeched Ally as she jumped up in a panic.

  "Ma'am, I can fix your fence quickly for now, but I don't know what to tell you about your pool. You're going to have to get that out of there."

  "Why me?" Ally supported herself against the kitchen counter while the man repaired her fence in the pouring rain. "It's not going to make any difference," muttered Ally under her breath. I can't believe I need an entire new unit." The repairman didn't even bother to come back into the house and left in his truck. The phone rang and Ally grabbed it quickly hoping to hear Kat on the other end.

  "Hello?"

  "Yes, this is Dean calling from the dealership about your car?" He paused dramatically. "It needs new brakes and the piston heads need to be replaced, so we're looking at about five thousand dollars."

  "What? I checked with the dealer be
fore I moved here. That car has a warranty until next August," said Ally firmly.

  "It does? Let me check." Ally could hear him tapping away at the computer. "Yes, the piston heads are covered, but the brakes aren't. The warranty brings it down to twenty-five hundred dollars."

  "Then do it," said Ally in a small voice.

  "It should be ready by Monday."

  Ally disconnected the phone and simmered angrily. How could this be happening to her? Drawing on her resolve, Ally called the home warranty and made a claim for the A/C. This, too, should have been caught during the inspection. They set up an appointment for their company to come later this afternoon. The kitchen clock showed the time as only three in the afternoon, but Ally needed a drink. She morosely went through all the paperwork over and over. Eight hundred dollars for toilets, twelve thousand dollars for a new A/C unit and twenty five hundred dollars for her car? She buried her head in her arms.

  She picked up the phone to call Kat. "When are you coming over today? I've had a day from hell."

  "Oh, Ally, now what went wrong?"

  "You wouldn't believe it. This house is a money pit."

  "Look, I'll be there around dinner. Do I need to bring some alcohol?"

  "Make sure you bring the whole store." Ally hung up with Kat and wondered if she should call her dad. No, he'd go see it when he got here.

  She did pour herself a glass of wine and stared out at the pool, which had turned murky green instead of its usual azure blue color. Ally sighed and jotted down to ask Caleb who he used to service his pool. A knock sounded at the door and Ally answered it thinking it might be the man from the home warranty.

  "What's wrong?" asked Caleb as he entered the house. Ally's entire body shook with anger.

  "Oh, Caleb," cried Ally. She really tried to stop the tears, but she couldn't.

  "Ally, you know I don't like it when you cry." He gathered her into his arms and Ally molded into the familiar all too perfect fit. She held him so tightly, he almost couldn't breathe. Caleb loosened her grip, walked her back to the kitchen table and sat her down in the chair. That's when he noticed the papers on the table. "What's all this?" he asked.

  "Remember the place I used to fix the gas leaks? They came out to give me a free estimate on my plumbing, heating and cooling. Look." Ally had lost her voice and began to pantomime while she tried to explain it to Caleb.

  "He's charging you this to fix the toilets?" Caleb picked up the next estimate."The same company is suggesting an entire new unit?" He looked at Ally in shock and then anger. "I'm calling Dottie. This should've been caught in the inspection. This is highway robbery." Caleb started to punch in Dottie's number, but Ally stopped him.

  "I called the home warranty company and they are sending out another service man for a second opinion." Ally's voice had come back. "That's not all. While they were here, the fence blew down, a plant landed in my pool and my car is going to cost twenty-five hundred dollars to pass inspection."

  "Honey, you could use a drink stronger than what you're drinking." Caleb went to her liquor cabinet and pulled out some whiskey. He found a shot glass and poured Ally a small shot. "Here, drink up."

  At first, Ally made a face as the liquid burned a hole down her throat. "Come here." Caleb stood Ally up and began to kiss her, slowly at first and the kiss turned hot and searing Ally wrapped her arms around Caleb's neck and pulled him closer. The kiss deepened even further and both lost all track of time as they craved the taste of each other..

  "Caleb," Ally protested weakly as she pulled away. "We're not supposed to be doing this."

  "Says who?" This time, he buried his head in her neck and slowly kissed underneath her chin and Ally sighed with pleasure. Caleb's hands ran down the length of her body and stopped at Ally's slightly curved buttocks.

  "Caleb." Ally had pulled away from him and looked deeply in his eyes. The tenderness made her legs weak. This happened all too fast. She had prayed not to be in this situation, but she felt such a connection with Caleb.

  "You're a temptress," murmured Caleb as he held her head between his hands. "Look at what you had me do?" He found her lips again, his tongue thrusting hers, as if claiming her. The doorbell rang and Ally pulled away slowly, looking in wonderment at Caleb.

  "It's the door." Ally did not break eye contact.

  "I know." Caleb stared back at her. "Aren't you going to get it?"

  "Right." Ally shook her head to clear her dazed mind and headed for the door. The serviceman appeared and Ally let him in and explained the situation. She handed him the estimate the other company had given her and the man shook his head.

  "How old is this house?" he asked

  "Two years," answered Caleb.

  "Let me take a look and I'll get back to you." With this knowledge, the serviceman left to inspect the units.

  "Now, where were we?" Caleb grabbed Ally, but Ally successfully sidestepped him.

  "Caleb. There's a man in the house," protested Ally, but pleased all the same. "We've only know each other a week." She faced him head on. "I need to know you don't have any other girlfriends."

  Caleb grinned wickedly. "You mean like your friend, Greg?"

  "Well, yes." Ally decided not to back down.

  "Shoot, how did he do that? I should give him a call for some pointers."

  "You are incorrigible," muttered Ally and she stepped away.

  "Ally, I'm teasing." Caleb took her in his arms and gave her a big bear hug. "Now, I'm going to check up on what's going on." He gave Ally a soft kiss on her cheek and went on his way.

  "Wow. I can't believe this is happening. " Ally sat down because her legs were shaking so badly. How could Caleb affect her this way?

  "Hey, Ally? What's going on?" Kat had let herself in the door and saw Ally's remnants of the shot Caleb had given her. "It must be bad."

  "You don't know the half of it," murmured Ally. "Look." She handed Kat the papers of the estimates.

  "Holy moly," gasped Kat as she looked at the papers. "You've got to be kidding me. This isn't from the same place as the van parked in your driveway?"

  "No, he's from the home warranty company. If he finds out what the first place said is true, than this is covered under the policy. Caleb is with him right now."

  "Caleb came here again?" Kat narrowed her eyes at Ally.

  "He showed up because he saw all of these vans in my driveway." Ally remained noncommittal.

  "Sis, I know you better. Are you falling for him?"

  "I don't know, Kat." Ally got up and paced around the kitchen. "He's very attractive and he's been so good to me, but I'm scared. I don't want to get hurt again. I gave Greg three good years of my life."

  "Did you really love Greg?" asked Kat quietly.

  "I thought I did, but when I found out about the other women, my pride took a beating. I don't miss him at all."

  "What about Caleb? How do you feel about him?"

  "Even though I've barely known him a week, I'm closer to him than Greg."

  "Ally, please be careful."

  "Kat, don't you think I know when men say they want me it's a two-fold question; do they want Ally Duncan or the super model? I've really had to put a hold around my heart. I can't tell you how many times this has happened." Ally put her fingers to her lips as she heard the men come down the stairs.

  "Hi, Kat." Caleb greeted her with a smile. "Ally, good news. There's nothing wrong that an oil change and cleaning won't fix. That place obviously tried to rip you off."

  "Miracles do happen." Ally breathed a sigh of relief.

  "I've got to go," said Caleb as he smiled at Ally. "Next time your fence comes down, call me and either Jeb or I will fix it for you. I'm really good at it since I do it all the time. Now, for your pool, I'll call my person and he'll take care of it for you."

  "What about your cattle?" asked Kat.

  "It's why I have to go." He started to leave, stopped and turned around to look at Ally. "Parents are coming tomorrow? Don't forget I need to speak wi
th your dad."

  "Come for dinner," suggested Kat. "I'll be doing the cooking."

  "I'll be there." Caleb tipped his hat and left.

  "Are we ready for Mom and Dad coming tomorrow?" Kat looked at Ally for help.