Life at the Ranch

by Malone, Misty

  “You probably only know him as Wade.”

  “Wade,” Bo repeated. After a minute he said, “The only Wade I can think of is your old foreman.”

  Wyatt nodded. “Wade Culbertson. And Trey Janson was a hand that used to work here, but he was lazy and a couple of the guys had things come up missing and they thought he had something to do with it, so I fired him. I didn't know of any particular friendship between them. Wade didn't seem to have a problem with it when I fired Trey. That was before you came here, though, so Trey wouldn't know you.”

  “What does Wade have against me?” Bo looked to the sheriff for an explanation.

  “Apparently he doesn't have anything against you, Bo, but he's upset with Wyatt.”

  Wyatt stood up, obviously upset. “Me? What did I do? He quit here. I didn't fire him.”

  “Sit down, Wyatt, and I'll explain what he told us. Once we caught them in the act of the robbery, they didn't hold much back. We told them things would go easier for them if they were upfront with us, and they answered any questions we asked. I tend to believe them. It all makes sense.”

  “So what did I do to him, and how is setting Bo up getting back at me?”

  The sheriff waited until Wyatt sat down to begin his explanation. “According to Wade, he was the foreman of The Winding Waters for your grandfather, and it was a thriving ranch. Then you inherited it and thought you knew all there was to know about ranching, even though according to him you didn't know, and these are his words, your ass from a hole in the ground. He says the ranch started going downhill, and several of the hands saw the writing on the wall and got hired on at other ranches in the area. So he decided to do the same. Only when he went out looking for another job, ranchers in the area knew he was the foreman here and that it was not prospering like it had been. Therefore, no one wanted to hire him as a foreman. They'd hire him as a hand, but not a foreman.”

  Wyatt was running his hand through his hair. “Bo, I'm sorry. This whole mess is my fault.”

  “No, it's not,” Bo argued. “You're not responsible for what Wade does.”

  “Everything he's saying is true, though. I was about to run the ranch into the ground. I didn't see it until he quit, though. Then once I realized it, I gave you control to run it.”

  The sheriff nodded. “That's what Wade said. I think that's what really upset him; the fact that you gave Bo authority to run the ranch as he saw fit, so now when people see the ranch improving, they give Bo the credit.”

  “Which they should,” Wyatt insisted. “I made a mess of it, and it's doing good now, thanks to Bo. I see what he's saying, though. That probably does make it look like it started doing better once I hired a new foreman, so it must be the old foreman's fault it was doing bad.” He shook his head. “But I still don't understand. He was upset with Bo, when he should have been upset with me. He should have been making it look like I did it. Why make Bo pay for something I did?”

  “I think this was his way of getting both of you. He resents Bo because he can step in and run the ranch how he wants, and if it goes well he'll look good. But what he said was that if the ranch is doing well now, if Bo gets arrested and goes to jail, you'll take over again. Then when the ranch starts going downhill again, maybe people will be able to see that you're the one pulling it down.”

  Both men were shaking their head. “So this whole thing was Wade's idea; his plan?” Wyatt asked.

  “Yes, it seems it was,” the sheriff confirmed.

  Wyatt frowned. “And he used Trey to get to us?”

  “He did. He knew Trey and Brooks got along while they were both working here, so he took advantage of that. He told Trey he'd give him a job at the ranch he got hired at, and told him he'd pay him extra if he'd help him put you two in your place. Of course, Trey wasn't happy about being fired, so he was willing, especially when he found out it would involve some extra pay.”

  “So did he in fact pay him extra?” Wyatt asked.

  “He let him have anything they stole from the houses they broke into. Wade wasn't interested in anything they stole; he was merely doing it to plant the things to make it look like Bo did it.”

  “And that explains how my things came up missing,” Bo said. “He invited me to stay with him in the foreman's house while he was training me. I thought that was generous of him, but as it turns out, it was just so he could steal some of my things.”

  “You guessed it,” Clint said. “By the way, he says that's all he has of yours. He was getting worried since you hadn't been arrested yet. That's why he was having Trey ask Brooks what you were doing. He figured he had to hit a house or two on a night when you were going to be alone, with no alibi.”

  Bo pulled Alicia closer to him and kissed her forehead. “It sure is a good thing you figured this out. Otherwise he probably would have succeeded, if I hadn't had a good alibi.”

  Clint agreed. “He's right, Alicia.”

  “I'm glad I overheard the two conversations I did. Otherwise I never would have had anything to figure out.” She giggled. “In a way, we have Patsy to thank. If you wouldn't have been teaching me to ride her I never would have been out there brushing her down and heard those phone calls.”

  “I'll give her some extra oats tomorrow morning,” Bo said with a grin.

  The sheriff answered a few more questions they had and filled them in on what would happen next. When he left, Bo was smiling ear to ear. “I feel like a new man, or like a weight's been lifted from my shoulders” he said.

  “I'm okay with the weight lifted from your shoulders, but please don't become a new man. I kind of like the old one,” Alicia said.

  He picked her up and swung her around. “You've still got me,” he assured her, “but I feel free now. I guess I didn't realize how much that's been dragging me down.”

  “I can understand why,” Wyatt said. “That would be enough to drag anyone down. I still feel bad about it.”

  “Don't worry about it,” Bo said. “It kind of put things in perspective for me, but that's good. Maybe everyone should have something like that happen to them once. It sure makes you appreciate things more.”

  “Like freedom?” Clint asked.

  “Like freedom, and the love of a good woman,” he said as he leaned down to kiss the top of Alicia's head, “and good friends that believe in you and stick by you. I want to thank all of you.”

  Kayla was the first to speak up. “It's easy to stick by someone when you know they're innocent, Bo.”

  Their emotional time was interrupted by a knock on the door. Wyatt went to answer it and came back with Brooks. “Hi, everyone,” he said. “Bo, Wyatt, I came to apologize. I just heard what happened. I'm sorry. I came to say if you want me to move on, I understand. I won't give you any trouble.”

  Bo spoke up with no hesitation. “What are you sorry for, Brooks? You didn't do one thing wrong. Trey used you, the same as he used us. I can see you’re upset with him, and I have to say he's not my favorite person at the moment, but I can't see anything you did wrong. It would be a tragedy for me to lose one of the best ranch hands I've ever worked with over something like this. That would upset me.”

  Brooks looked from Bo to Wyatt, who was nodding his head. “I agree with my foreman. I don't know any reason we'd want you to work anywhere other than here.”

  “So you two aren't upset with me? I mean, I fed them all the information they wanted. They used it to try to hurt you.”

  “But they didn't succeed. They tried to use all three of us, but it didn't work. They're the ones sitting in jail, while we're out here, free to do as we please.”

  They all heard a little giggle, and turned to Alicia. “What's so funny about that?” Bo asked.

  “Nothing. I just had a kind of silly thought.”

  Bo saw the mischievous look in her eye and had to ask. “What silly thought did you have?”

  “If Brooks is free to do as he pleases, does that mean he doesn't have to muck out stalls any more?”

 
They all laughed, which was exactly what they all needed right then. It broke the last of the tension.

  Bo recovered enough to have a silly thought of his own. “You know, that does remind me of something. You know how I told you learning to ride a horse means you learn how to take care of it, also?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You've been doing a real good job feeding Patsy and brushing her out. That's the other thing I have to teach you yet, is how to muck out her stall.”

  The instant look of horror on Alicia's face was priceless, and had all of them laughing again.

  * * *

  Things finally seemed to get back to more of a normal routine after Bo was officially cleared. When the story came out in the newspaper, the sheriff's reputation was rejuvenated. Now instead of people questioning his ability and why he hadn't arrested someone yet, they were praising him for having the patience to see the case through, rather than arrest an innocent man.

  Delicious Dishes slowly but continually picked up business. Alicia acquired several repeat customers who were spreading the word and bringing in more new customers daily. One lady placed a standing order for all five days a week. She was thrilled, explaining that they generally ate out after they both got home from work, tired. Now she stopped to get dinner up on her way home, and they could relax and enjoy dinner at home, without having to go out. They had more time in the evenings, and they loved the dinners they had been getting, for the same price or less than eating out. Saving on gas is a plus.

  Hearing stories like that was encouraging, as were the compliments she kept getting on her cooking. The only problem she was encountering involved time. She was still getting out shortly after 6:00, thanks to Kayla coming and helping her. However, she was going in earlier and earlier in the morning to get the deliveries put up, make menus for the following week, and order her supplies. She was also cooking larger quantities than she had been.

  It was making for longer days, and the part that Bo wasn't pleased about, a shorter fuse to her temper. He'd talked to her about it a couple times, and she assured him she'd get it under control. The next time her temper made an appearance he decided it was time for a talk.

  “Alicia, I think we need to talk about hiring someone to help you out.”

  “I can't hire anyone yet, it's too soon. What if some of this business is because I just opened, and people are trying it out. If I hire someone and business falls off, I won't have enough to pay her.”

  “Business has been steadily growing since you've opened. I don't think it's going to drop. You need someone to help you so you can continue to give people the kind of service you've been giving them. I think if you do that, the only way your business will move is up.”

  “I think it's too early. I think in a month or two if it's still going this good, then I think I'd be safe hiring someone.”

  “Honey, you're working yourself too much. It's affecting your mood, and if you keep it up it's going to be affecting your health. Then what will you do? If you get sick, no one will be there to help you out.”

  She looked like a doe caught in the headlights. “I hadn't thought of that. What will I do if I get sick?”

  “That's why I think you need to hire someone now. Not only will it ease your workload, making it less likely you'll get sick, but you'll also have someone familiar with what you do that can step in and help you out.”

  “I'll give it some thought. I admit you have a good point.”

  “Okay, I'll give you a day or two to think about what I've said, but I'm not letting up on this. I think it's important. Your temper is proof to me that you're working too much and need some help.”

  “I'll give it some serious thought. I promise.”

  She did think about it the next day, and she talked to Bo and Wyatt about it the next evening over supper. “I admit it would be nice to have some help,” she told Bo, “but I'm concerned about how much it would cost. I'd want to get someone who can cook, and they have to be reliable, and I have to like them. I mean, it would be hard to work with someone if we didn't get along. How do I find someone like that? And what if I can't afford her once I do find someone?”

  Wyatt offered a suggestion. “I'll give you the number of my accountant. Call him and tell him you're my niece and I said to call him. Ask him how much it would cost, with taxes and workers' compensation and everything added in. You can also talk to him about new businesses, and your concern that business will drop. He may have some information he can offer, or suggestions.”

  “Thanks, Wyatt. I'll try to call him tomorrow and talk to him.”

  Bo had a suggestion, as well. “As far as where to find someone, I would put an ad in the paper, post a notice on your window, and check with the local employment agency.”

  “But if I get a ton of applications it'll take me forever to go through them.”

  “I don't think so. I think one question about their cooking experience will weed out a lot of them. Once you do that you can look at their resumes and pick out ones you want to talk to. You can call quite a few of them in on a Saturday when you're not open. I think you'll be able to tell fairly quickly if you think you could work with them easily. If you're still not sure, you may be able to hire them for a day to see how you get along. I'd talk to Wyatt's accountant before you do that, though, to see what would be involved.”

  That gave her more to think about, but she was busy the next several days and didn't follow up with it. Bo asked her about it a few days later, and she admitted she hadn't taken the time to talk to the accountant yet, but promised she would.

  A week later Kayla asked her if she'd decided what she was going to do yet. “To be honest, I haven't called the accountant yet.”

  “Why not? Bo's not going to be very happy when he finds that out.”

  “I know. I do need to call. I'm just afraid he's going to want me to hire someone right away, but it's going to be more than I'm comfortable committing to this soon.”

  “Business has been growing, though, Alicia. You really can't do it all yourself.”

  “I know,” she admitted, “but hiring someone is a big commitment. What if I can't cover it?”

  “What if you start losing customers because you can't keep up with demands? Or you get sick and can't come in and cook for a day? In a way it's almost like it's a big risk to not hire someone.”

  “So you're on Bo's side in this?”

  “It's not his side or your side. You're my best friend and I'm glad this business is going so well. I want it to stay that way. I think you at least need to call and talk to the accountant.”

  Alicia sighed. “You might be right. I'll think about it.”

  “You better hurry up and think about it, Alicia. I don't know how patient Bo is, but Wyatt would be getting upset by now.”

  She nodded, and changed the subject while they finished up for the day. They counted the money and were ready to leave. They went to their cars, and Alicia remembered something. “You go on, Kayla. I forgot to take the ground chuck out of the freezer and put it in the refrigerator to thaw. I'll go do that quick and I'll be ready.”

  “I'll wait for you.”

  “No, you don't have to do that. All I'm going to do is put that in the refrigerator and I'll be ready to go, too.”

  “Well, at least let me drop the money off at the bank drop box. I'm not leaving you here alone with the money.”

  “It'll only take a minute, Kayla. I'll be fine.”

  “Either I'm waiting or I'm taking the money.”

  “Okay, okay, here, you can drop the money off for me. Thank you.”

  “Not a problem. You won't be long; right?”

  “Five minutes.”

  “Okay. It's still light out and your car's right here along the street. See you tomorrow.”

  “Thanks for taking the money.”

  Alicia ran back in and went to the walk-in freezer to grab the ground chuck. She pulled enough out for the next day and took it to the refrigerator. She pulled t
he door open, but the spot she was going to put it was full. She forgot, when she got a delivery today she was busy, so she just put it in the first free spot she found in the refrigerator. Now she had to move it all around and put each thing in its spot so she'd have enough room to put the ground chuck.

  It took her twenty minutes to make a spot, but she finally had it ready. She put the meat in the refrigerator so it would be thawed when she was ready to use it the next day. As she put it up it occurred to her that since she'd been busy at the time the delivery arrived, she didn't check to be sure everything on the list had arrived, like she normally did.

  She went to her office to get the order, and returned to the refrigerator and started checking off each item. She was quickly finding each item and checking it off, until she came to the onions. She looked in the refrigerator, but no onions. She looked around the kitchen, but still didn't see them. There was a phone right there in the kitchen that she used when people called with an order when she was cooking, so she quickly called the company, hoping someone would still be there.

  To her surprise, the phone was answered. She told them who she was and why she was calling. The man she was talking to said the delivery person got back in and had a bag of onions left, but wasn't sure who he failed to deliver them to. He apologized and asked if she wanted a refund or if they should drop them off in two days when they were in the area again. She told him to deliver them in two days.

  After hanging up, she realized she'd need to get some onions for the next day. She could leave a little early in the morning and stop at the grocery story, but if they didn't have enough of the kind she needed for her recipes tomorrow, she'd be in trouble.

  She decided she didn't really have any option but to go by the grocery store on her way home. If they didn't have what she needed, she could go to a nearby town and get the onions there, either yet tonight or in the morning. Having made her decision, she drove to the grocery store on the other side of town.

  Chapter 15

  Wyatt and Bo were ready for supper, but Alicia hadn't made it home yet. Bo called her to see how close she was to home. He frowned when she didn't answer. “I'll call Kayla,” Wyatt offered. “Maybe they got out a few minutes late.”