Remember Me, Cowboy

by Caroline Burnes

  Slate stood in the shadows. No one had treated him poorly, but he didn’t want to give them a chance. He’d been part of this community once, but now he knew he didn’t fit in; he didn’t have to be told. He kept his distance from everyone.

  He’d been troubled all afternoon by the fact that Cassidy was attending the barbecue with Cole, but as he watched the two of them sweep by doing the two-step, he was glad. Cassidy’s face was bright with pleasure, and she and Cole cut a figure as they moved in and out of the dancers. It looked as if they’d been dancing together for years. Was it possible they intended to marry? The idea made him grit his teeth. He was man enough to admit Cassidy would not have had such a good time if she’d been his date. If he’d ever known how to dance, he didn’t remember now. But thinking of her and Cole together…

  Slate started looking for Hook’em, to thank him for the evening and his help. He was ready to load Stargazer into the trailer and head for the Double O. He’d had about as much of this good time as he could stand.

  Across the dance floor he saw a face he recognized. His heart pounded as he remembered the woman from his trial. She’d been the bank teller. The one who’d been terrified of him.

  He started toward her, noticing that she was alone for a few moments. He didn’t want to upset her, but he had to ask some questions. He couldn’t exactly go in the bank and talk to her.

  He approached from her right, and he positioned himself in the light so she could clearly see his face. “Excuse me, Miss Best, may I speak with you?”

  Her mouth opened as she recognized him, and her eyes widened. “What do you want?” she asked in a breathless rush.

  “I don’t want to upset you. In no way am I upset with you or your testimony. I’m not angry at anyone except myself,” he said, squatting on his heels so they were at eye level.

  “What do you want?” she asked again, this time with less fear.

  “I know what you testified to at the trial, and I’m not doubting what you said or trying to make trouble for anyone. I’m just trying to figure some things out.”

  “What things?” She looked past him into the crowd.

  “When I walked into the bank, did I have the gun in my hand?”

  “I said you had one, didn’t I?” She shifted in her chair. “My husband will be back in a minute. He went to get me a soft drink.”

  “You testified that I didn’t go up to the window. I told you I wanted the money from the middle of the room. Was the gun in my hand then?”

  “I don’t remember.” She took two deep breaths. “I’ve tried to put that behind me. I was terrified. I don’t want to think about it ever again.” She looked to the left and right.

  “Ma’am, I’m not trying to upset you. I need to know.”

  “I can’t talk about this.” She pushed back her chair clumsily and started to stand. “I’m pregnant, and the doctor said I shouldn’t get upset. I could miscarry.”

  She stumbled, and Slate caught her arm and eased her back into the chair. He took a step back. “I’m sorry. I won’t trouble you.” He saw that his words had a calming effect instantly.

  “Don’t try to talk to me again,” she said. “I can’t handle this now. Any stress and I could lose this baby.” Her expression brightened as she looked to her right. “Dray!” Slate saw the man hurrying toward them, a scowl on his face as he recognized Slate.

  “Honey, are you okay?” He put the cola down on the table and put his hand on her shoulder. “Is he bothering you?”

  “I didn’t mean to upset her. I wanted to ask a few questions,” Slate said.

  “We answered every question we intend to answer during the trial. Come around her again and I’ll have you arrested. We did our duty as citizens, and we want to be left alone. I don’t think I can make it any clearer than that.”

  Slate saw the fear in their faces. Were they so afraid of him? “I hear you,” he said. He felt the gaze of all the people around them focused on him. “I understand.”

  “Stay away from us,” Dray repeated.

  Slate walked away. There was nothing else he could do. For the moment.

  IT WAS NOT YET DAWN as Cassidy picked up the packed saddlebags and headed out the door. She’d seen a few lights on in the barn, and she knew it was Slate. The sky outside was dark, but brightening to the east. It was Sunday. Most of the ranch hands took the day off, but she’d known that Slate would go back out after Joker. And she intended to be with him.

  She’d seen him at the barbecue the night before—and she’d heard that he’d confronted Amanda Tyree and frightened her. Then she’d lost sight of him. Hook’em had told her he’d left early.

  Cassidy frowned as she grabbed a canteen of sweet tea and hurried out the door. Amanda had never been easily unsettled, but pregnancy did strange things to women. She knew that for a fact.

  “Slate!” she called softly as she ran to the barn. “I’m going with you.”

  Slate stopped as he was leading Stargazer out of his stall.

  “I thought you’d be too tired to ride today. You were out late.”

  The gruffness in his voice sent a thrill through Cassidy. He was jealous! She knew it. He’d stayed up and waited for her to come in. She wanted to laugh. If only he knew how eager she’d been to get home. She’d even faked a headache to get away by midnight. Cole would have stayed until the wee hours of the morning.

  “I’m never too tired to ride after Joker,” she said. She grabbed a grooming kit and approached Lightning. “That’s a nice gelding,” she remarked, indicating Stargazer. “I remember when you rode him in the cutting horse competition and took everything from here to the Dakotas.”

  “Thanks for letting me keep him here.”

  He was overly busy tacking up, and Cassidy smiled to herself. “What’s one more horse on a horse ranch? He’s welcome to be here.” She tightened her own cinch. “Did you enjoy the barbecue?”

  “It was fine.”

  With her face hidden by the horse, Cassidy grinned big. He was as sore as a cornered boar. “I didn’t see you dancing.”

  “I wasn’t in the mood.”

  “It occurred to me that maybe you’d forgotten how.” She couldn’t resist telling him the truth. “There was constant competition between you and Cole, for riding and dancing. I just thought I’d tell you that you won—at both.”

  Slate came to stand where he could see her. “Who was the judge?” he asked.

  Cassidy found that she was snared in her own trap. She met his gaze and swallowed. “I was,” she said softly.

  Slate’s smile was brief, but it was still there when he turned back and began to lead his horse out of the barn. “We’d better hit the trail. I don’t think Cole liked the idea that we were out riding together yesterday, and I don’t believe he bought that line about repairing a north fence.”

  Cassidy followed him out into the pinkening sky and swung up into her saddle. “I’m afraid you’re right. But he had to go to Fort Worth today. He’s working with Ramsur Rodeo and provides their bulls and broncs. He said he had to get his contract straight for the fall. So we have a few days, at least.”

  “We’ll need every minute of it.” Slate nudged his heels into Stargazer’s sides and started off at an easy lope.

  Cassidy fell in behind, not pushing Lightning up beside Slate. She watched his back, the way his hips rolled in the saddle and his shoulders remained loose and easy. Her body tingled with forbidden memories. Everything he did was accomplished with such grace, but most especially on a horse. Even loping along, he was something to watch.

  They picked up the herds’ trail where Slate had left them the evening before. Cassidy put her worries aside and enjoyed the sun and the horse beneath her. It had been a long time since she’d ambled over the ranch she worked so hard to keep. She wanted to tell Slate that Mary Walker had given her two hundred acres free and clear, and she’d bought another two hundred. The rest of Three Sisters had gone to Cole, more than four hundred acres. Mary would ha
ve given Cassidy more, but it had to be sold to settle the doctor and hospital bills that she’d accumulated. It had nearly broken Cassidy’s heart

  “Are you involved with Cole?”

  Slate’s question came so suddenly that Cassidy laughed out loud.

  “I wasn’t trying to be funny,” he said.

  “You get your fur up fast, don’t you?” she asked, still chuckling. “I’m laughing because the idea is so ridiculous. I’ve known Cole since we were in grammar school.”

  “You may not be interested in him, but he’s interested in you.”

  She lifted her eyebrows. “I suspect he’s interested in this land.”

  Slate stopped his horse and waited for her to draw level. “It’s more than that.”

  “That’s not the way I see it.” She could feel her pulse accelerating, and she realized that this was one conversation she needed to stop. If Slate was going to stay on the Double O and work, she was going to have to draw a line that he couldn’t cross. A line she’d also have to obey. “Even if there’s more there, I can’t see where it’s a concern of yours,” she said.

  Except for the look in his eyes, he didn’t react. “I guess you’ve got a point there,” he said. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He signaled the gelding, and Stargazer shot forward. She was left staring at his dust.

  “Damn, damn and double damn,” she whispered under her breath. He was sore. She hadn’t meant to cut him to the bone. She knew it was pointless to try to talk to him now, so she picked up a lope and followed fifty yards behind him.

  They stayed a good distance behind the herd, and Joker seemed to accept their presence, though he kept moving away. By the time they crossed the trickle of a stream that was Raging Creek during a rainstorm, Slate had recovered his composure, and they rode side by side in an easy silence. The wild herd stopped in a lush meadow and began to graze.

  “I’ll go out toward them,” he said. “Remember that dry gulch near the western boundary?”

  “Yes.” Another geographic detail had surfaced in his memory. By some measures it was slow progress, but she felt excited.

  “I blocked one end of it yesterday.”

  She understood his plan—to lead the horses into it rather than attempt to drive them.

  “Once we’re in there, you block the entrance,” Slate said.

  “Okay,” she agreed, following him down to the herd. The horses lifted their heads and watched with wariness, but Joker gave no warning and Cassidy watched with amazement as Slate dismounted and turned his back on the stallion.

  Cautiously, Joker began to approach. She was only a few feet from Slate, and she held her breath as the big stallion drew close. He was even more magnificent than she’d imagined. His wide-set eyes flicked from Slate to her, and he nosed out, his muzzle quivering as he sniffed Slate.

  “Go on and head toward the gulch,” Slate said easily. “Get out of sight and don’t move. We’ll be right behind you.”

  “I’ll be there.” She was turning her horse when the shot cracked loud in her ear.

  Stargazer bolted, nearly jumping on top of Slate. Lightning reared, and as she fought to control her horse, Cassidy saw Joker stumble to his knees.

  “He’s hit!” she called to Slate, but she was too late. He’d already seen the stallion going down, and he ran to him as the second shot rang out.

  Chapter Five

  Cassidy jumped from the rearing horse. She hit the ground hard and rolled, coming to her feet beside Slate. He was already kneeling by the stallion, who was struggling on his side.

  Cassidy had the presence of mind to hang on to Lightning’s reins, and once she pulled her lariat and rifle free of the saddle, she sent the mare running to safety with the herd. One quick glance told her that both Slate and Joker were covered in blood. Her heart hammered painfully, but there wasn’t time to investigate the extent of their injuries. Dropping to her knee, she lifted the rifle to her shoulder and began scanning the horizon for signs of the shooter.

  The shots could have come from anywhere—there were boulders, weeds and the ever-present scrub cedars, which provided low, thick cover. To the far right, sunlight glinted off metal behind a cluster of cedars. Cassidy pumped three shots there and the glint disappeared.

  “What was that?” Slate asked as he worked to calm the stallion. Cassidy felt relief so intense her legs trembled as she realized Slate was not seriously injured. Joker was sitting up, front legs extended, seemingly stunned.

  “Gun barrel,” Cassidy answered tightly. “Is he hit bad?” She was afraid to hear the answer.

  “It’s a head wound, but I think he can live with a piece of his ear missing.”

  Cassidy had to fight the urge to turn around and see if Slate was lying. “His ear?”

  “You may have to change his name to Notch. But I think he’s okay.”

  “But he went down—” Cassidy didn’t understand. “An ear wound wouldn’t drop a stallion.”

  “The bullet clipped his poll and then the side of his ear.” As Slate spoke, the stallion gained his feet, shaking himself as if waking from a bad dream.

  Cassidy saw that he was standing fine, and she refocused on the distance. Ever since she’d fired at the shooter, there had been no other sign of him. She stood up slowly, the rifle still sighted on the cedars. “I think he’s gone.”

  A loud, shrill whistle from Slate brought Stargazer and a trailing Lightning. “You mount up and ride on. We’ll do this just like we planned,” Slate said. “There’s a vantage point there where I can keep an eye out.”

  Cassidy started to argue. It would be better if they went straight back to the Double O barn, where Joker could get medical attention—and a safe place to stay. She examined the horizon again. They’d crossed the boundary onto Cole Benson’s property, which was a precarious position to be in, especially since they had the stallion. “Wouldn’t it be better if we went to the barn?”

  “Joker has accepted our help, but that doesn’t mean he’ll docilely walk into a barn, or anywhere else that looks like a trap.”

  “The gulch is on my land.” She wanted to be on Double O property. “I’ll meet you there.”

  “Go easy,” Slate said. “And stay alert. The shooter may be gone, or he may be there waiting for a clear shot.”

  “You’re the one with the stallion,” Cassidy pointed out.

  “I’m not certain he was aiming at the horse,” Slate said, his mouth a grim line. “I think he may have been trying to hit one of us.”

  CASSIDY RAN THE COOL water over Lightning’s legs and gradually moved up to hose off the mare’s sweat-and dustcovered body. After the terror of the shooting, the rest of the day had seemed like a breeze. Slate, with a little assistance from her, had managed to get Joker and the mares into the gulch. They’d pulled dead trees and debris to close off the opening, and Slate had sent her back to the ranch for supplies. She’d dispatched one of the hands with food, medicine and a sleeping bag—Slate insisted on staying with the stallion.

  For her part, she’d combed the area where she’d seen the glint of sunlight on a barrel, and all she’d found were two shell casings from a .22 rifle. Someone had been there, but he hadn’t left a clue to his identity. The tracks led back toward the Double O, but she’d lost them in a weed-choked field. Slate’s words echoed in her memory—someone might have been trying to shoot her. Or him. Was it possible? Had the rock slide, which had been deliberately tripped, been meant to kill her or Slate?

  She couldn’t imagine who would want to hurt her. She had enemies and competitors, as almost everyone did, but she wasn’t a big-enough threat to anyone to warrant such an extreme solution.

  And Slate. He’d come out of prison to what was left of his life. She’d never known him to provoke enemies, or to pick a fight. But she had no way of knowing what he’d become embroiled in during his prison term. What if it was someone trying to settle a prison score? Was it right for her to expose Lindsey to this danger?

  Her thoughts whi
rled as she finished with Lightning and then hosed off Stargazer. When both horses were cool and clean, she turned them loose in a paddock and started toward the house. The sight of a small red convertible pulling into the drive made her stop with one foot on the back step. She was surprised to see Amanda Tyree behind the wheel.

  “Amanda!” She smiled wide as she went to greet her old friend. “I can’t believe my eyes.” She didn’t hold a grudge against Amanda for her testimony at the trial. Amanda hadn’t had a choice. But the trial had been traumatic, and their friendship had suffered. In the past five years, they’d hardly seen each other.

  Amanda pulled her sunglasses down to reveal eyes that were bordered by dark smudges. “I meant to come before now. It’s just that when I was working and first married, there was no time to do anything.” She shrugged her thin shoulders. Her dark hair sparkled in the sun, but her brown eyes were large and serious. “The truth is, this isn’t a social visit. I really want to talk to you. I tried to convince myself that this was none of my business, but I can’t let it alone.”

  “I’m dying for some coffee.” Cassidy suddenly was in no hurry to hear her friend’s concerns. She already knew where the conversation would go.

  “I don’t have time. Dray’s coming home soon, and I promised I’d have pot roast.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what’s more work, the bank or Dray.”

  Cassidy chuckled appreciatively and waited. “At least come up to the porch and sit in the shade. It’s too hot in the car.” She noticed that Amanda moved slowly and carefully and recalled that Amanda had suffered several miscarriages. Obviously, she was protecting this pregnancy. Cassidy felt a pang of concern.

  “I’m here about Slate,” Amanda said, without bothering to sugarcoat her reason. She sat back in the wicker rocker and faced Cassidy. “I’m worried about you. Have you lost your mind, letting him work for you and live on the Double O? You know he went to prison trying to keep this ranch in his family. How’s he going to feel when you tell him that you bought part of his birthright?”