Comeback Trail

by Carolina Mac

  “Okay. Keep your eyes open, Jacky. Swain is a bad one and somebody is bound to recognize him soon from the wanted posters.”

  “Yes, sir. I’m all over it.”

  “I know you are, Jacky. The fucker stabbed your brother, not to mention strangling me.”

  “Yes, sir. He also burned our barn down and stole our bull. I’m making it my business to find him.”

  Preston Hospital.

  The boys sat in the waiting room and let Bonnie Sue visit with Clay first.

  “You didn’t find Swain, or you would have told me already.”

  “One of Ronnie Palmer’s rumors,” said Jack. “He ain’t the most reliable source around Broken Spur.”

  “He does hear a lot of crap at the gas station,” I said, “and some of it must have a ring of truth to it. He might come through for you one of these days, Jack.”

  “He wants money for everything he tells me. I think he makes half of it up, I swear.”

  “He might make a lot of it up, but he’s a lot more truthful since Swain beat him senseless the first time. He might have learned something from that.”

  I smiled. “But we’re not sure what.”

  Jack spent a little time with Clay after Bonnie Sue came out, then he took her to the Spur to wait for us.

  I was last and Clay was more awake than he’d been in the morning. “You feeling better?”

  “A little. Good drugs they’re giving me. Jack said they can’t find Swain anywhere.”

  “Not yet,” I said. “Sheriff Tucker will find him.”

  “Bonnie Sue has to testify,” said Clay. “I can’t go.”

  “What if Mr. Pace came to depose you?” I asked.

  “What’s that mean?”

  “You tell him what you would say on the witness stand and they read it to the jury.”

  Clay nodded. “I want to do that. Ask him, Logy. Ask him to come and talk to me.”

  “I’ll call him in the morning and try to set something up for tomorrow.”

  “Thanks. I want to tell what Harper did. It’s important to the case against her.”

  Broken Spur Roadhouse.

  MID afternoon on a Sunday, the Spur wasn’t busy. We picked a booth, sat down and ordered a pitcher of beer.

  Ricki came running over with menus and placed them in front of us. “The lunch special is ending in a couple of minutes, but if you order right now, I can get it for y’all.”

  “What is it, Ricki?”

  “Caesar salad with chicken fried steak and onion rings.”

  “Sounds delicious. I’ll go for it,” I said.

  Bonnie Sue nodded and so did Jack and Linda.

  “Make it four, Ricki. You sold us.”

  She smiled and ran to the kitchen with the order.

  Miss Jane came out and sat with us while we waited for the food. “How was Clay today?”

  “He said he was a little better,” I said, “but he’s getting a lot of drugs. I don’t think he’s feeling the pain yet.”

  “I feel so bad for him,” said Miss Jane. “He’s been through so much. If Kenny was here, he would have strung Micky Swain up by now for hurting one of his boys.”

  I knew she was right.

  Preston Fairgrounds.

  LINDA and I made it to the rodeo in time to see Rip and Chuck compete in the final round of steer roping. Neither one of them won the event, but both of them finished in the top five and to me that meant they could win on any given day in the future.

  “They’re almost there,” said Linda as she slipped an arm around my waist. “You did a great job with them, Logan.”

  “This is their first real competition,” I said. “Once the nerves wear off a little, they’ll make it.”

  “I’m sure they’re both happy.”

  Linda and I searched out the boys and found them loading their horses into the trailers. They were both excited and elated.

  I offered my hand and congratulated each of them. “Top five for both of you guys. You did well, really well. I’m happy for both of you.”

  “Thanks so much, Logan. Without you we never would have made it.”

  “Hours of practice is what it takes. Put the time in and you’ll be a winner.”

  “We want to buy you a pitcher, Logan.”

  “Sure, anytime I’m at the Spur, I’ll drink a pitcher with y’all.”

  McKenna Ranch.

  AFTER dinner we sat on the front porch drinking sweet tea over ice watching the sun set and waiting for the temperature to drop. “It’s going to be a scorcher tomorrow for the bull riding,” said Jack, “but we’ve got to be there to see which bulls are cutting it.”

  “We’ll be there,” I said. “Don’t matter how hot it is. Raising bulls is our business and we have to check out the competition.”

  My phone signaled a text and without checking to see who it was from, I opened the screen. “Shit,” I said out loud and that made Linda glance over at my phone and look at the picture Fiona had sent me. A picture of her posing naked, smiling and waving at me.

  “Huh.” Linda hopped up off her chair. “I think it’s time for me to go home.”

  “Come on, Linda. That woman is stalking me. There’s nothing going on between us and never will be. I turned her down at the Preston Club and she’s been pissed at me ever since.”

  Linda stormed into the house and came back with her purse and overnight bag. “I should spend Memorial Day with my Mom. She’s probably missing me.”

  “Don’t go, Linda. I grabbed her in my arms and tried to kiss her. “Fiona is nuts. She means nothing to me.”

  Linda turned her head and wouldn’t kiss me goodbye. She stomped to her truck, tossed her belongings in and slid behind the wheel.

  I stood on the bottom porch step and watched her truck raise dust as she took off down the laneway.

  “What was that all about?” asked Jacky boy.

  “This.” I handed him my phone. “I’m going to the vet clinic right this minute to have it out with her. She can’t do this to me.”

  “I can arrest her for stalking,” said Jack.

  “Stalking is hard to prove,” said Bonnie Sue.

  “I don’t care how hard it is,” I hollered, “I’ll prove it and put her naked ass in jail. I’m going to her place right now.”

  “We’ll go with you,” said Jack.

  “No. I can handle it myself.”

  “Yes, you can,” said Bonnie Sue, “but you need witnesses to prove anything, Logan.”

  “Yep, that’s true,” said Jacky. “Otherwise you got one of those ‘he said, she said’ cases.”

  Figuring Jack and Bonnie Sue might be right, I tried to think reasonably through the anger that had me by the throat. I couldn’t let Fiona come between me and Linda.

  “Okay, let’s go.”

  Broken Spur Veterinary Clinic.

  I parked in front of Fiona Lonnigan’s white frame house in Broken Spur. She’d transformed the main floor of the house into her veterinary clinic and she lived upstairs. Thankfully, I’d never been past the waiting room at the front.

  No lights were showing on the main level when I pounded on the door. I figured she’d look out the upstairs window, see my truck and never come to the door.

  But, nope. I was wrong. Fiona opened the door with a big smile on her face. “Logan, you made good time. I was hoping you would respond to my text.” That’s when she saw Jack and Bonnie Sue standing in the shadows behind me.

  “What’s your brother doing here?”

  “He came to arrest you for stalking me, Fiona. You can’t do what you’re doing and get away with it.”

  “I’m not doing anything illegal, Logan. Nothing you can prove.”

  Jack stepped up to the plate and took over. “I’m giving you a warning, Doctor Lonnigan. Leave Logan alone or he’ll be laying charges against you.”

  “You are so cute when you’re in your deputy mode, Jack McKenna. What a turn on.”

  Jack held up a finger. “Next ti
me I’m taking you to the station and you can explain to Sheriff Tucker how you’re not harassing my brother.”

  Fiona smiled. “Looking forward to it, Jack. Nice to see y’all.”

  “Let’s go to the Spur.” I clumped down the porch steps to the truck. “I could drink a whole pitcher of Lone Star myself.”

  “I’m with you, Logan.”

  Bonnie Sue laughed. Something she hadn’t done a lot of. “If you guys are going drinking, I guess I have to go too.”

  “You have to, Bonnie Sue. You’ll have two drunk guys protecting you instead of one.”

  “How did I get so lucky?”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Monday, May 25th.

  Memorial Day.

  SINCE Linda was gone, I took over the breakfast chores myself. Bonnie Sue was still sleeping and although severely hung over, Jack had struggled out of bed and he was at the barn with Clint and Jay.

  I’d texted Linda several times telling her that Fiona was stalking me, and she was a criminal, but no response. At least, none so far. This was turning out to be one of the worst weekends ever.

  As soon as the coffee was ready, I poured myself a cup and called Mr. Pace, the District Attorney. He sounded sleepy when he answered, and I apologized for waking him up.

  “It’s okay, Logan. You wouldn’t have called if it wasn’t important. Can I help you with something?”

  “Clay is worried that he can’t testify and I was wondering if you could depose him at the hospital before tomorrow?”

  “Yes, I have every intention of seeing him today. I talked to Sheriff Tucker about it and we’re meeting at the hospital this morning at eleven. Did you wish to be present?”

  “I think I will come, sir. I’ll be visiting Clay anyway.”

  “Thanks for the call, Logan. I’ll see you later this morning.”

  When Jacky came in for breakfast, I brought him up to date.

  “I’d better sober up. I don’t want to look like an idiot in front of Sheriff Tucker and DA Pace.”

  “You won’t, Jacky. You’re the new golden boy in the sheriff’s office.”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, right. When have I ever been the golden boy? Daddy was always whipping my ass for something or other. You and Clay were the good ones.”

  Bonnie Sue walked into the kitchen her dark hair damp and curly from her shower. She wasn’t moving too quickly and appeared to be a little under the weather.

  “You okay?” I pointed to the coffee maker on the counter. “Coffee’s ready.”

  “Don’t think I should’ve tried keeping up with you guys on the beer drinking last night. Not one of my best mornings.”

  “You did fantastic, Bonnie Sue.” Jack had true admiration in his voice. “Never saw a girl drink so much beer.”

  “Uh huh.” She sat down at the table with black coffee in front of her. “What’s the plan for today?”

  I told her about talking to Mr. Pace. “We’re going to the hospital for eleven o’clock.”

  “That’s great. I’ll feel better after Clay gives his statement officially to the court. Then there’s nothing Swain or anybody else can do to shut him up. He’ll be safe.”

  “I’m hoping that’s true,” I said.

  Jack nodded in agreement and got up for more coffee.

  Preston Hospital.

  WE arrived about a quarter to eleven and Bonnie Sue had a few minutes of private time with Clay before the sheriff and Mr. Pace arrived. The nurses weren’t all that keen on letting so many people into the ICU and some of us had to stay in the waiting area.

  While I sat thumbing through an old fishing magazine, my cell signaled a text.

  If it’s Fiona I’m blocking her. Should have done it yesterday. Warily I checked the screen. Linda.

  “How’s Clay today?”

  “Mr. Pace is deposing him for court tomorrow.”

  “That’s a good move.”

  “Are you coming to the bull riding?”

  “Can’t. Mom’s having people over. I’m inviting you.”

  “Sorry, I can’t make it. Too much going on today.”

  “That’s too bad. Okay.”

  Linda didn’t say anything else and I felt bad, but I couldn’t drive up to her ranch and sit around at a Memorial Day picnic with all this crap circling around me and my brothers. I’d be terrible company anyway. Linda was better off without me. Maybe she always had been.

  Am I having second thoughts about our relationship?

  I tossed the magazine aside and decided not to think about the Linda situation until later.

  Jack and Bonnie Sue came into the room and brought me coffee. “You okay, Logy? You look pale and kind of sickly.”

  I shrugged. “Linda invited me to her mother’s picnic, and I declined.”

  “She knows we have to go to the rodeo to see the bulls.” Jack made a grumpy face. “We’re not missing the bulls to eat Mrs. Loudon’s potato salad.”

  Bonnie Sue smiled. She was clearly hung over.

  Did Clay notice how hungover Bonnie Sue was?

  Sheriff Tucker and Mr. Pace joined us in the waiting area when they were finished with Clay. The District Attorney smiled. “All done, Logan. Y’all have a nice visit with your brother. He’s a brave young man through all of this.”

  I stood up and shook Mr. Pace’s hand. “Thanks for coming. Clay was worried about missing court and I don’t want him upset. He has to rest.”

  Sheriff Tucker shook his head and turned to Bonnie Sue. “You staying safe, young lady?”

  “I am, Sheriff. Mostly these boys have been teaching me how to drink beer, but I’m safe while I’m doing it.”

  The sheriff chuckled. “I’ll see you at court in the morning.”

  “Yes, sir,” said Bonnie Sue. “Can’t wait to get that over with.”

  “You’ll be first on the stand, Deputy Dempster,” said Mr. Pace. “Tomorrow will be an exciting day for all of us at the courthouse.”

  I went into see Clay and sat with him for a few minutes. He was tired from all the talking he had to do to the DA, but he wanted it done.

  “It’s all done, Logy. They heard my side of it, and I don’t have to go to court.”

  “You rest this afternoon, Clay. Jacky and I are going to size up the bulls at the rodeo. We’ll get the names of the best ones and check into their bloodlines. Breeding bulls is what the McKenna brothers are all about.”

  Clay tried to smile and closed his eyes.

  Preston Fairgrounds.

  THE PBR was a sellout. If I hadn’t bought tickets well in advance we never would have gotten seats. We were in the middle of the arena directly across from the chute and the view was perfect.

  “These are great seats, Logan,” said Bonnie Sue.

  “I got them a while ago. You have to be quick before the seats sell out. Bull riding is popular.”

  “Number one,” said Jack. “And they need great bulls.”

  I pulled out my pen and my notebook ready to jot down the names of the bulls as they were announced and keep track of the scores on each bull.

  “Anybody want a drink?” asked Jack.

  “Coke only,” said Bonnie Sue.

  “I’ll have a Coke too, Jacky. Too early for beer.”

  “All of today is too early for beer,” said Bonnie Sue.

  JACK headed down the stairs to the refreshment booth and joined the line. He was growing a little impatient when he heard a voice close to him.

  “Hey, Jack.”

  He turned his head and was staring into Dakota’s big brown eyes. He smiled at the sight of her in short shorts, cowboy boots and a frilly top. “Hey, girl. Sorry I forgot to call you. I had to work all weekend.”

  “But you’re here now?” She made a pouty face.

  “Still working. Hang back a minute and I’ll explain it to you.” He got the drinks and waited against the wall for Dakota to buy a can of Bud.

  She hurried over and stood close to him away from the stream of people tromping by. “How�
��s your brother? Our date had a bad ending.”

  “No ending at all,” said Jack. “I didn’t even get to kiss you goodnight.”

  “That can still happen.” She leaned over and kissed him. “Tell me why you’re here if you’re working.”

  “Sheriff Tucker assigned me to guard Bonnie Sue after Clay got stabbed. I took her to the ranch to keep her safe and she’s with Logan in our seats.”

  “Does she testify tomorrow?”

  “First thing. Once that happens she should be safe at the sheriff’s office when she goes back to work.”

  “Can I see y’all later?”

  “Sure, “said Jack. “Let’s pick up our date where we left off. Let’s say Spur at eight.”

  Dakota smiled. “Spur at eight. I’ll be there.”

  Preston Hospital.

  AFTER a long hot afternoon sitting in the blazing sun watching the bull riders, Jack, Bonnie Sue and I went to the hospital to visit Clay before we headed home.

  The hospital air conditioning renewed us somewhat and we got our second wind.

  “Which bulls were the best?” asked Clay. “Did you write the names down and the times?”

  “Logy did,” said Jack. “We’ve got it all down and we’re keeping track.”

  “Good. When I get out of here I’m concentrating on the ranch and getting ready for the birthing.”

  “That will be our first priority, Clay. Can’t wait to get you home where you belong.”

  “Y’all going to the Spur?” asked Clay. “It’ll be packed on a holiday.”

  “I’m meeting Dakota at eight,” said Jack. “We’re finishing our date from the other night.”

  “The date I ruined.”

  “You didn’t ruin anything,” said Bonnie Sue. “Someone else ruined it and I’m going to make Swain pay for what he did to you.”

  “Sheriff Tucker can’t find him,” said Clay. “He told me this morning.”

  “We’re following every lead, Clay,” said Jack. “He can’t hide forever.”

  Broken Spur Roadhouse.

  CLAY was right about the Spur being packed on a holiday. There was standing room only at the bar and Hank couldn’t fill the pitchers fast enough for the servers waiting for their orders.