Marrying the Rancher

by Roz Denny Fox

  She hesitated several moments, then took Scotty’s hand. “Will you tell the men everything that happened after you followed bunny tracks into the woods?”

  He pressed his back against Wyatt’s chest and leaned his head to one side, looking up as if awaiting his okay, too.

  The man telegraphed his approval with a smile, after which Scotty began to haltingly speak in a raspy voice. He fidgeted throughout the telling of his escapade. “I shouldn’t’ve gone off by myself and I won’t ever do it again.”

  As he’d done earlier, the sheriff scribbled notes. Finally, he asked, “What was the man you followed wearing?”

  The boy leaned forward. “A green jacket with lots of pockets. His hat looked old, but it wasn’t a cowboy hat,” Scotty said, sinking against Wyatt again. He fell silent, plainly finished with his story, and a moment later, he was up and petting Mr. Bones.

  Wes Rowe had listened throughout, sitting with elbows propped on his knees.

  Anderson closed his notebook. “He has excellent recall for his age, Ms. Graham. However, never once did he refer to Preston Hicks by name. Calling him ‘the bad man’ could describe anyone.”

  “But that’s how Scotty tagged Hicks starting the evening he attacked me verbally at the association meeting.”

  “Doug.” Wes rose from his position. “What if they ride with me to Hicks’s ranch? You get him to come out. I’ll record comments or discussion in the car.” He inclined his head to indicate Scotty, who was distracted with the dog.

  “That’d work. Ms. Graham? Even with photographs Pres could dispute them as staged. If, as you admit, diverting your creek could’ve been caused by one of our recent storms, it’s vital I document information not dismissible as she said, he said.” Anderson shoved his ballpoint into a pocket.

  Tandy glanced around the room. “Wyatt’s aware that I was reluctant to report my neighbor. I’ll admit I feared greater retribution from other ranchers. But listening to all of Preston’s misdeeds, he has to be stopped. So, I’m on board.” She got to her feet.

  The others followed her lead.

  “There’s probably no need for me to tag along,” Manny said. “But if there’s room in your vehicle, Rowe, I’d like to see Preston get his comeuppance.”

  “Fine by me. Everybody got a jacket? I hear wind kicking up.”

  Tandy gathered her and Scotty’s wet jeans, then scooped up Mr. Bones, who had hopped off Manny’s lap. “I’ll run across to my house, dump these clothes and feed Mr. Bones. Wyatt, will you help Scotty with his boots and jacket?”

  “Be glad to.” He set about doing it.

  “Where are we going?” Scotty asked after the sheriff walked out. “Wherever it is, can we stop for pizza?”

  Wyatt laughed. “Depends first on if your mom agrees. Then we’ll have to petition Wes,” he said, assisting Scotty with his jacket before shrugging into his own.

  “What does pe-petition mean?” The boy skipped to the door.

  “Yeah, Hunt, quit using big words.” Wes helped Manny navigate the porch steps.

  “We’re going in Wes’s SUV. Stopping to eat is always driver’s choice, sport. Except your mom has say-so over when and what you eat ’cause you’re a kid.”

  Tandy arrived back in time to hear that. “Leave it up to a bunch of guys to talk about eating again before lunch is digested.”

  “You three sit in back.” Wes opened the door and gestured to Tandy. “The front passenger seat has more legroom for Manny’s wrapped knee. How did you get hurt?” he asked.

  “Stepped in a gopher hole the day we discovered somebody let out Tandy’s new bull.”

  “Yay, I don’t gotta use my booster seat,” Scotty exclaimed after Wyatt buckled him up between himself and Tandy.

  “Oh, I should get his car seat?” Wyatt started to climb back out.

  “Wait. After I packed him down the mountain I’m not sure he doesn’t weigh eighty pounds.”

  “Feed me more pizza and I’ll get bigger,” the boy said cheekily.

  All the adults in the SUV groaned even as Wes buckled up and punched the starter. “Sheriff Doug’s revving his engine. Hang on to your hats. I followed him here and for being John Law, he’s got a lead foot.”

  “I thought you said his name is Sheriff Anderson,” Scotty said. “And I don’t got a hat. Mama, can I have a cool cowboy hat like Wyatt’s and Manny’s?”

  “What about like mine?”

  “Yours doesn’t have a snake or silver things like theirs.”

  She took a moment to inspect the men’s hats. “You’re right. Next time we go to town for supplies we’ll look for a fancy one your size.”

  Wyatt smiled and laid his arm along the seat back above Scotty’s head. Tandy wasn’t wearing a hat so he wound one of her dark curls around his forefinger.

  She sneaked her hand up and entwined their fingers.

  “I guess we’re nearly there,” Wes announced a while later as he left the paved road for a graveled one and closed the gap with the sheriff.

  “See where grass in all this fenced grazing area is dead? I’d say Preston’s creek’s been dry since last fall,” Manny observed.

  “Oh, no!” Scotty shrank into Wyatt’s side. “We came to the bad man’s house.”

  Stopping, Wes hurriedly switched on a video recorder he’d set on the console. “Why do you say that, Scotty?” He peered between the front bucket seats.

  “That’s his funny car thing. Right there in the barn. ’Cept the box he had is gone. Wyatt and Mama took it to our barn.” The boy’s voice was muffled because he’d buried his head under Wyatt’s arm.

  Tandy pointed to a refurbished old golf cart parked inside the barn but tightened her death grip on Wyatt’s hand as the sheriff approached her window and motioned for her to roll it down.

  Wes spoke from the front seat first. “Scotty identified the golf cart, Doug. Should I come with you as backup?”

  “Yes, and I want Ms. Graham along. Mostly to see if Preston refutes her charges to her face.”

  Wyatt reached for his door handle as Tandy untangled their fingers.

  “No. You, Manny and Scotty stay put. Is the recorder still on?” Anderson asked Wes, who’d climbed out.

  He nodded and the three left.

  Scotty peeked up past Wyatt. “Look.” He pointed a shaky finger. “It’s the bad man. He’s wearing the same jacket and hat like I said.”

  Noting the hat was a battered old-style khaki rain hat, Wyatt spoke to Manny. “I wish whatever’s gonna happen would be over and done with. I hate sitting here while Tandy faces unpleasantness,” he added. Then feeling Scotty shiver, he wrapped the boy closer. “Don’t worry, sport. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  “I know. Why did Mama hafta go?”

  “She’s fierce. She’ll be fine.” In his mind Wyatt knew she would be. Still, his heart galloped in his chest like a runaway stallion.

  “Can we hear ’em? Mama’s showing the sheriff cows in that corral.”

  Wyatt ran his window down in time to catch Tandy saying, “Sheriff, add cattle rustling to his offences. Those four heifers are mine. See the brands.”

  Preston Hicks stalked up looking thunderous. “If you’re here about those damned cows, I only just found them mixed in with my herd. I had a cowhand cut them out. He’ll drive ’em back to Spiritridge tomorrow.”

  In the SUV, Wyatt watched three dogs emerge from the barn. Two were hybrids. “Manny,” he hissed, blowing out an angry breath. “Do you see those wolf dogs?”

  “Yep. Dang, what’s the sheriff saying? He’s pointing to the dogs.”

  Manny rolled down the driver’s-side window so he could hear, too. And Hicks had a booming voice that carried.

  “You’re damn straight I aim to rid our range of killer wolves. I bough
t these two half wolves from a Sonora breeder. He said they’ll lead me to Hunt’s resettled pack.”

  “Did one of your hybrids kill Rollie Jefferies’s heifer?” Anderson took out his phone and forced Hicks to look at pictures of the tracks.

  “That was an accident. Rollie’s gonna get paid double by the state thanks to that stupid wildlife guy who used to rent from you.” He sneered at Tandy. “And who are you?” He turned to Wes. “A new deputy?”

  The sheriff didn’t bother to introduce them. Grabbing Hicks’s arms, he clamped on handcuffs, totally ignoring the rancher’s swearing. “You and your box trap endangered Ms. Graham’s son. He crawled in and got caught. Kid could’ve died there. And who gave you permission to graze your herd on Lonnie Wright’s land?”

  “I paid his second cousin. His lawyer’s sure they’ll win his case. I knew it was a matter of time before Ms. Nosy Britches found where I’d diverted her stream. When Curt died, I should have had his ranch and his lease.”

  “Why didn’t you explain your water problems? You could have asked to share Cedar Creek,” Tandy snapped. “No matter how you treated me, I’d never let your cattle die of thirst.”

  “I’ve ranched here fifty years, little lady, without your help. The state let the mining company block my stream. Between them and you wolf lovers, it’s killin’ cattle ranching. That’s not right.”

  “Nevertheless, you can’t break the law,” the sheriff said. “You have the right to call an attorney and remain silent. I’m booking you on several charges. I assume you have hands who’ll see to your cows. Have one return Ms. Graham’s heifers, too.”

  As if on cue a cowboy rode in. He swung down off his horse and Hicks barked orders, including to feed and cage the dogs. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

  Anderson nudged him forward. “Don’t be so sure. Where’s Violet? Can she make do until you post bail? I assume that’s your plan.”

  “She’s in a nursing home ’til her back mends. Association ranchers aren’t gonna stand for this, Doug. Next election we’ll have your badge. Did she tell you she pointed a gun at me this morning?” He glared at Tandy. “What are you gonna do about that?”

  “Sheriff, I did.” Tandy reached in her jacket pocket. “This is my dad’s old pistol. I found it in the house and intended to store it with others in a lockbox in my barn. It’s not loaded and wasn’t this morning. His dogs threatened me and Mr. Bones.” She passed the revolver to Wes Rowe, who’d held out his hand.

  “It’s rusted and wouldn’t shoot if it was loaded,” he said, checking the chamber.

  “You two can go. I’ve got this. Rowe, save your recording. I’ve a hunch we’ll need it along with the photographs and my notes.” The sheriff hauled Hicks toward his official vehicle.

  Wes and Tandy returned to his SUV.

  Bending around Scotty, Wyatt kissed Tandy on the mouth as soon as she slid in. Sighing, she patted his face. “I see the windows are down. I guess you heard. It won’t end well or easily.” She buckled her seat belt once Wyatt sat back.

  “Wes, I heard him admit his dogs or dog killed Rollie’s cow. Hicks owes Jefferies. The state shouldn’t pay,” Wyatt said.

  “I put that on my mental to-do list.” Wes fired up the SUV.

  “Listening to Mama be fierce made me super hungry,” Scotty said. “Can we please get pizza?”

  Tandy gaped at him. “What are you talking about? I wasn’t fierce.”

  “Wyatt said so. You were fierce and kinda nice.”

  The men in the front seat laughed. “I’m hungry,” Wes said. “Direct me to the pizza parlor.”

  “Can we do take-and-bake?” Wyatt asked, his hand stroking the back of Tandy’s neck. “I have something to say and I’d like to speak my piece at the ranch.”

  All agreed, and Wyatt directed Wes. He asked what everyone wanted then phoned in their order.

  It was ready when they arrived, so he dashed in and paid for the pizzas and returned with the boxes.

  Later when Wes parked in front of Tandy’s house, she said, “I’ll put these in to bake and fix a pot of coffee.”

  “If you want to help her, Wyatt, I’ll give Manny a hand,” Wes said.

  Wyatt carried the boxes. At the door he said, “I’ll start a fire in the fireplace if you handle kitchen duty.”

  “Okay. Does Wes need to record what you have to say for the sheriff?”

  “What? Uh...no,” Wyatt stammered.

  Once everyone took seats in the living room, talk centered on Hicks until Tandy brought steaming pizzas to the coffee table. She passed around paper plates and had Scotty give out paper towels.

  Mr. Bones stretched out on the braid rug in front of the hearth.

  “Wyatt, you’re awfully quiet,” Tandy said after everyone but him took pizza slices. “You’re the one who wanted to come here and talk.”

  He stood up, paced to the window, tucked his hands in the back pockets of his jeans and walked back. “Stop me if I chose an inappropriate time.” He looked down on Tandy. “After we found Scotty I told you I wanted to discuss us. You said nothing’s changed. But, I’ve changed. You and Scotty and the ranch are hands down more important to me than my job.”

  Tandy dropped her pizza and Mr. Bones darted over to drag it away.

  Wes rescued the slice and tossed it on the fire, where it sizzled as hot as the sparks suddenly flying between Wyatt and Tandy.

  “Tandy, will you marry me?” Wyatt dropped to one knee. “I realize you may not think I’m a good bargain, especially as I’ll be quitting my job and all. I have savings. I have a college degree. What I’ve never had is a real home. Until now I’ve never loved anyone more than my work. Now I do. I want to always have your back.”

  Scotty jumped up. He bumped the coffee table, which rattled all the coffee mugs as he molded his body to Wyatt’s back. “We’ll be a family like the wolves we saw after you saved me.” The boy straightened.

  “Yes.” Tandy was slower to speak. “Yes, I’ll marry you. I love that you say we’re more important than your work. Except I’m not sure I feel right letting you give up your job for us.”

  Wyatt cupped her face. His thumbs wiped away tears sliding down her cheeks. “I swear I’ll be perfectly happy as your sidekick. Manny can retire again. I think, though, your dad would like knowing his friend has a home with us on the ranch. And I believe Curt would approve of us marrying, too.”

  Scotty frowned at his mom and Wyatt. “So you mean you won’t keep the baby wolves safe anymore?”

  “It means I’ll help your mom keep you and everything on the ranch safe.”

  “But I don’t want the other bad guys to kill the wolves,” Scotty cried.

  Wes Rowe cleared his throat, causing Wyatt to stand and glance around.

  “Sorry to make you sit through all this personal stuff, Wes. I wanted you to know that in the morning I’m calling my boss in New Mexico and requesting he send someone to pick up my company vehicle. Joe always thought this Arizona project should’ve been handled out of your office. Now you’ll be forewarned if he dumps it in your lap.”

  “Do you remember me saying I had some information to give you? There’s a new program starting up here. It’s been operating in Eastern Oregon a while. I’ll talk to Joe. It might be right up your alley. In Oregon, Fish and Wildlife hired cowboys as lookouts during calving season. They know where released wolves are, where range cattle are and they get paid to ride herd, keeping the two apart. It’s not as if there’s not enough wild game to feed wolves. This makes it less likely they’ll take down a domestic calf. I have reports and stats from the Oregon trial. They’re impressive.”

  Wyatt spun back to Tandy. “Does that sound doable to you?”

  “Absolutely. And it’d delight Scotty.”

  “Yay. If you marry Mama, can I call you Da
ddy instead of Wyatt?”

  For the first time since he started down this path, Wyatt faltered. “Uh, those are details to be worked out. I’ll be your stepfather, Scotty. Your real dad won’t change.”

  The boy’s face clouded.

  Manny roused from where he’d been eating pizza. “Scotty, come finish the food you begged us to buy. Let Wyatt kiss your mother and seal this deal. If Wes will see I get across to my place, you three can hammer out particulars. Tandy, girl, I know your pa would want me to stand in for him and hand you off to Wyatt. Curt regretted that you didn’t come home to be married on the ranch before. I hope this time you’ll hold the ceremony here.”

  “We will,” Tandy and Wyatt said in unison.

  “Am I invited?” Wes asked. He tore off a final piece of pizza before he stood and aided the elderly cowboy to the door.

  Wyatt deferred to Tandy. “I barely worked up courage to propose. I know I have to buy rings. Wedding planning is above my pay grade.”

  Tandy smothered a laugh. “Wes, you’re invited. We’ll notify you somehow.”

  Scotty again hung on Wyatt. “Can we ’vite Loki, Abby, Parker and the twins?” he asked, suddenly brightening.

  Tandy’s laugh expanded. “Wyatt, you look totally gobsmacked. Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “The marrying part, yes. I guess I figured we’d ask a preacher to come here to make it legal. Not very romantic, huh?”

  “We’ll get to the romance part.” Tandy winked.

  “There used to be lots of weddings on the beach by Aunt Lucinda’s. Bunches of people came. Mark and me watched. They had music and food, and whoever got married stood under a wooden thing covered in flowers.” Scotty formed his arms into a semblance of an arch.

  Wyatt mussed the boy’s hair. “You know more than I do about weddings. I served as Loki’s best man. I’ll ask him to be mine.”

  “Perfect,” Tandy exclaimed. “Abby can be my matron of honor. Scotty will be our ring bearer. Since Manny wants to give me away, all we have left to decide is a date.”