The Last to Know

by Michel Prince

  “Not much competition.” He opened the door to the house and ushered Savannah through it. “I was working for the Tender Root PD, but when the county Sherriff was set to retire, my name got put on the ballot.”

  “Without your consent?” She dropped the mugs into the sink and shook out her fingers that had cramped a bit. “You sure, they didn’t get you drunk and make you sign up?”

  “Maybe.” He leaned against the counter with an easy grin. “Any chance there’s a clean mug and coffee anywhere around?”

  “Mug, yes.” Savannah opened a cabinet with three shelves almost full. “The coffee might be a bit.”

  “Well, I have quite a bit to discuss with you and Teddy, she’s around right?”

  “In the barn.”

  “Good, would you be willing to make some coffee? We’ve had some leads in Connie’s murder.”

  “Bert,” Teddy said as the front door swung closed with a thwack. “You here?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I’m a year older than you. You ma’am me again, I’ll beat you so bad you’ll have to put the cuffs on me.”

  “Still trying to seduce me.” He laughed as the two embraced. “Good to see you again.”

  “You in a uniform,” she said as she backed up, but kept her hands on his upper arms. “Don’t they know you burnt down one of the Long’s barns?”

  “Shhh…I pay Miles for his silence.”

  “As well you should. Savannah get this addict some coffee will you?”

  “I was getting ready to make a fresh pot.”

  “Oh yeah, I did go through a whole one before church.” Teddy collapsed into one of the kitchen chairs. “Tim came through at the butt crack of dawn to scoop up the kids. School and all. At least, he was willing to take Mindy. No reason to pay for daycare and not use it I guess.”

  “How’s things going with him?” Bert asked.

  Now, Savannah’s ears perked up. Teddy hadn’t spoke about her husband except in passing for the past two days. Gossip was always good to have if for no other reason, than to find out what the temperature of the room might be.

  “They’ve been better.” Teddy looked around the house. “But hey, we’ll make it work.”

  “No coming home for you then?”

  “To what?” she sighed. “Plus, this is Savannah’s now. I’m just here for the transition. Dumping this place is probably the best thing we could have happen.”

  “Dumping?” Savannah asked. “Uncle Patty acts like I’m stealing the family fortune.”

  “The only fortune will be tied up in years of litigation. Patty never really looked at things practically. If you left and let the land reclaim this place, it would be just as useful unless you need a bed to crash in”

  Savannah knew fishing when she heard it and she wasn’t in the mood for games.

  “Either way, my contacts in Mexico say they think they know where Julio is,” the sheriff interjected.

  “That’s the ranch hand who killed my father?” Savannah asked suddenly interested. “Not to be nosy.”

  “According to Melody Long, yes.”

  Long, isn’t that the hundredth time she’d heard that name since she got to town? “Who are the Longs?”

  “They own the next ranch over.” Teddy sat forward at the table. “They’re family owns most of the county surrounding Tender Root. Good people, but Melody was left for dead by Julio after he killed Connie, according to her statement.”

  “And here I thought, little towns were safe.”

  “Safe for the most part, but we’re still as wild as the west has ever been.” Teddy shook her head. “Don’t get things twisted. The cowboys here all have a code that’s got bad and good mixed in it.”

  “Retribution being the bad,” Bert interjected. “That’s why I’m talking to you two and not at the Long Ranch. I’m sure that family is doing their own investigation into the whereabouts of Julio.”

  “Because of this Melody girl?”

  “Yep, she’s the only girl, well except Vanessa, since the Longs came to Tender Root.” Bert poured himself a cup of coffee since it had started to finally brew. “If Sunny wouldn’t of saved her life, I’m sure they would have killed him too. Never thought I’d see the day a Parker and a Long had a relationship, besides employer to employee.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Longs don’t marry locals,” Aunt Teddy answered. “Not that many haven’t tried. At least with this generation of them.”

  “I think one showed me how to get here,” Savannah said insure, since names had been pouring over her like hot oil since she got to Tender Root. How do families remember everyone?

  “Don’t expect much more. They stick to their own for the most part.”

  “Own as in black?”

  “As in black,” Aunt Teddy said with a bit of a lost look in her eye. “They send the boys off to school and they come back married. Or at least, that’s what they try to do. The last few came back confirmed bachelors.”

  They spent the next hour going over the information Bert had obtained from the Mexican authorities. Savannah learned the brutal details of Conrad Winston’s murder and she felt for the man. Aunt Teddy had told her about Connie taking over the ranch and the hard work he’d put into it just to keep it afloat.

  The paperwork they’d seen around the house indicated he was looking at adding more heads of cattle. Sad, considering the ones they were having to have killed, not counting the ones that had already died. Federated Gas wouldn’t pay them a penny until after they had a final tally and slaughtered the infected. They wanted proof of the environmental damage they’d caused before paying out.

  The Long name came up again, this time with the girl Melody, a local veterinarian who’d figured out what had been going on. This was more than just a few ranches getting hit. The damage from the company would soon hit Tender Root and Bert said he wasn’t sure if the town would still be here in ten years, even with the clean up efforts.

  The word run had Savannah’s skin itching more than a roll in a grass full of chiggers. Yep, she needed to get away from here. This was more than some simple inheritance. This was baggage and her car was already full.

  * * * *

  “What’s the meeting about?” Clay asked as he leaned out the window of his car.

  His brother had pulled up opposite him as they were rolling out. “There’s no meeting, just saw Hope Matthews and your face didn’t quite match. Can’t I look out for my baby brother?”

  “You can, you just don’t usually.”

  “You coming by the house or going to the cabin?”

  “Cabin, gotta hit the store first.”

  “Your clothes are washed,” Tina said as she leaned across Walt to the open window. “Come by the house before you head home.”

  “Thanks.” Clay’s eyes turned down, he could wash his own clothes, but Tina insisted it was easier if she did them.

  “You’re gonna need to be straight with that girl,” Walt ordered. “Better to dash her hopes than break her heart.”

  “You sure she has a heart? I’m thinking she’s all about contracts.”

  “Not even on your best day. Trust me, she was Junior’s teacher last year, and you came up more than once in conversation.”

  “I can’t help that I’m irresistible,” Clay teased. “Be glad you met Tina before me or you’d be alone for life.”

  “You wish,” Tina snorted then gave him a wink.

  Clay pulled out and headed to the Discount Mart grocery store. As he was digging through his glove box to retrieve his wallet, he caught a flash of blonde and instantly ducked. Hope was walking into Myrtle’s Dress Shop that was next to the Discount Mart in the strip mall. What were the chances she would go into the grocery store after? Best not risk it, starvation was a better way to go. He was about to start his truck when a door slammed next to his car and he turned to see Savannah.

  Today, her midnight hair was spilling from the back of a baseball hat with small tendri
ls around her face. Wearing a beat up Ramones t-shirt with the sleeves ripped off that obviously was not hers to begin with since her bra was visible when her arms moved, Clay couldn’t tear his eyes from her.

  The red lace was a harsh contrast to her pale skin and the sight caused him to have an instant physical reaction. Damn, she was as sexy today as she’d been the first time he saw her.

  Her head turned sharply as if she could smell his arousal through the glass and she gave him a questioning look. Maybe she didn’t remember him. Or, she felt him staring at her like a piece of meat. Her head tilted slightly before she gave him a half smile and headed into the store.

  Scrambling, Clay retrieved his wallet and took off after her. “Savannah,” he called.

  “Um, yeah, you’re the guy from the other day?”

  “Yes, how you likin’ Tender Root?”

  “Don’t really know, this is my first time coming into town.”

  “Getting some supplies?” he asked like a moron. Where was Sunny or Walt to smack him upside his head?

  “I’ve got to get back to Dallas,” she replied flatly.

  Instantly, his heart dropped. “I thought you got the ranch? Why would you be rushing away?” They’d made their way through the parking lot and to the door, but she hadn’t turned to look at him yet. “Or, are you going home to get your things?”

  “My things are all in my car.”

  “Then why you goin’ back?” he asked. “Doesn’t sound like you have anything to go back to.”

  “That you know of. I could have a thousand things to go back for.”

  “Name one,” he challenged. It was stupid, he knew as much about this girl as he did quantum physics and he still thought he could take her on and make her stay. Hustling into the store, he tried to make sure he wasn’t caught by Hope as they entered.

  Savannah tugged on a shopping cart that was jammed into another one.

  He nudged her aside and yanked hard, freeing the contraption.

  “Look, I just need a few things then I’m off. This isn’t really a place a person could actually live.”

  “This from the girl living out of her car? At least here, you have a roof over your head and hot and cold running water.”

  “Aren’t you a Long or something?”

  “Yes, I am, what does that have to do with anything?”

  “From what little I’ve gleamed in the last few days from my family, yours never leaves this place. You go away and come back hitched to some girl and breed the next generation.”

  “So…” Clay smiled and stepped in front of her cart. “You’ve been looking into me.”

  “The cops came by the house. Guess Conrad and one of the Longs were attacked by the same person.”

  A chill ran down Clayton’s spine at the mention of Mel’s attack. “Was it Bert? What did he say?”

  She gave him a sideways glance, then maneuvered her cart around him.

  It was bad. His gut churned as memories of seeing Sunny giving chest compressions to Melody’s lifeless body in the middle of the ranch assaulted his vision. Wet from the stream that she’d been tossed into like a piece of garbage. If not for the cool water and the fact she’d been tossed on her back, she would have surely died. The bastard that killed Conrad and left him to be torn apart by wild animals had yet to pay for his sin. The Longs hadn’t decided if they wanted him dismembered or rotting in jail, but an eye for an eye was high on their list. Too close to the Texas border, those in Tender Root had been opposed to New Mexico’s ban on capital punishment.

  “Savannah, I have a right to know.” Clay caught up to her in the cereal aisle. “Tell me what the hell he said.”

  “If he wanted you to know, he would’ve told you.”

  “What kind of shit answer is that?” Clay asked as his fingers curled around her upper arm. It was then he realized anger took over and he backed off. The fear in her eyes cut him. He never wanted her to fear him. Any woman really. “Sorry, but Julio almost killed my cousin.”

  “He did kill my father, you don’t see me acting like a fool.”

  “If you would have known Connie, you would be. He was good people. Deserved better than to be carrion for animals to eat and scatter.”

  A shudder followed Savannah’s face paling.

  Shit, had Bert or Teddy not told her the details? “You didn’t know.”

  “Let’s just say, they weren’t as visually detailed as you are. Look, I’m over loaded. To the point of exploding. A few days ago, I had a mother, nothing more. No grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins. And certainly no dead fathers. So, my bad that I want to take a breather.”

  “What if I offered you a better way to clear your head than six hours driving? You need space right? I’ve got over forty thousand acres, you ride?”

  “A horse?”

  “It’s more relaxing than a four wheeler. And more reliable.”

  “I thought all the animals were dying around here.”

  “Not if Mellie can help it.”

  “You all still believe in apple pie and shit here, don’t you?”

  “Only with ice cream on top.”

  “What would one do if they were to stay in Tender Root?”

  “Depends on what they like to do.” He gave her a grin.

  Savannah rested her arms on the handle of her cart and propped a foot on the bottom bar. Rocking the cart back and forth, she seemed to be flipping through a rolodex to find the answer. “I’m not a rancher.”

  “Most aren’t in this town, contrary to popular belief. In fact, some of my best friends have never done more than ride an already saddled horse.” He bit at his lips imagining Savannah straddling a horse with him following from behind. “You sure you don’t wanna go for a ride? Might just clear your head enough to figure out a plan.”

  Savannah glanced at him and abandoned her cart. “Not today, cowboy, but I may need a ride soon. I better get back, Teddy said she needed help before they come to get the cattle tomorrow and well, that will give me time to think about what I like to do.”

  “Remember where I live?”

  “I have an idea I’d only need to ask anyone in town and I could get directions.” She shoved her hands into the pockets of her cut off jeans. “If Sergeant Wednesday drops by again, I’ll tell him to tell you what he knows.”

  “Friday,” Clay corrected with a grin. “Wednesday is from the Addams Family.”

  Savannah looked as if she were going to have a quick comeback. Instead, she fumbled with her keys and became transfixed with a spot on the floor. “I better get back to the ranch…” Her words were broken as she rocked back on her heels. “But thanks for the offer cowboy. I might just—well…”

  “No rush,” he said as he picked up a jar of peanut butter that was on sale. “You may not be staying here, but I doubt I’ll ever leave.”

  Savannah turned and passed through the sliding glass door.

  Clay counted her steps as he watched her walk away. Five, six, seven…not only did Savannah turn her head, she turned her whole body and walked backwards for a few steps as she stared back at him…yep, he had her.

  Chapter Five

  Savannah ran lipstick over her full lips and settled herself for what she needed to do. She hated to admit that Long guy was right, she had nothing to go back to, so why not just stay? Especially, since she had no gas money and old Deano the lawyer wasn’t coming with any cash in the near future.

  Teddy had talked with her during dinner. She seemed happy that Savannah was going to stay and not just abandon the ranch completely. Thankfully, Teddy also appreciated Savannah’s need to make her own way and understood being a cowgirl wasn’t it.

  Steeling herself, Savannah opened her car door and smoothed out her skirt as she walked through the front door of the Hard Root Bar.

  “You look a bit young to be working in a bar,” Carolyn the owner of the Hard Root said as she rung out a dishrag then began cleaning the top of the bar. “What’s your experience?”

>   Savannah intertwined her fingers and sighed. “I’ve worked in plenty of bars in Dallas. Started at eighteen. Killers, The Starlight Ranch, Lucy’s, The Yankee—”

  “What was your position there?” Carolyn’s blue eyes locked on Savannah’s. “I’ve been in this business for years. We may be a half day’s ride away, but let’s just say I know every shit bar between here and Bourbon Street.”

  Savannah sucked in her cheeks as if that could quell the burning and make the embarrassment go away.

  “I’m far from one to judge.” Carolyn said as she lined up a bottle of tequila, rum, vodka and gin. “So, were you a waitress, bartender or stripper?”

  Raising her eyebrow, Savannah turned to see the black cowboy at the end of the bar from the other day leaning against the countertop, obviously interested in the stripper comment. What was his name again? Dirt? Mud? “Dusty,” Savannah said, hoping she’d guessed right. “Don’t you have a cow to rope or something?”

  He stared at her for a moment with a confused look. “Was Dusty your stripper name?”

  “Isn’t that your name?”

  “Nope.” He raised his beer to his lips and took a long swallow.

  Savannah couldn’t help but notice his full lips as they brushed against the glass just enough that he wouldn’t spill, but not surrounding it. Her nipples perked and tingled.

  “Not even close,” he replied.

  “You sure?” she choked out and found she’d lost all moisture in her mouth.

  “That my name isn’t Dusty?” He laughed. “I’ve never seen my birth certificate and I am the youngest, so giving me shit is a prerequisite of those related to me, but since my mom always called me Clay…I think that’s my name. Unless, you know something I don’t.”

  “Clay as in dirt, as in Dusty.”

  “That’s a leap.”

  “But see, it’s close.”

  He shook his head with humor. “Carolyn, I know it’s none of my business, but when she serves Hank whiskey instead of rye—”

  “I don’t mess up on drink orders,” Savannah assured Carolyn. “I swear, it’s just some stuff doesn’t stick.”