Cat

by Carolina Mac

  Farrell paced, becoming more and more pissed off with the Dog. He held his tongue and finally left the room and closed the door behind him.

  “Take it easy, sugar.” Annie leaned down, held the big Dog in her arms and kissed him on the mouth. “You’re mine now. You behave, hear me?”

  “I hear you, baby, but I’m all messed up. My life is over—that’s a fact I’m trying to deal with. My ribs are broke, and I can barely draw a fuckin breath, can’t smoke, and my leg is sending pain to my brain bad enough to kill me.”

  “One thing at a time.” Annie pulled a pair of track pants she’d bought out of the bag. She eased them up over the bandaged area of Dougie’s leg and in passing, rubbed his groin area and stroked the velvet hammer a couple of times.

  Dougie nodded and let go some of the tension. “Okay, I could get used to that.” He held up his left hand with the cuff still hanging off. “How long do I have to wear these?”

  “Until I get you home, sugar. Once you get to Coulter-Ross, you’ll be safe.”

  “Tell me what you want with me,” said the Dog. “I need to know.”

  “I’ll say this once, Dougie, because it’s classified. If you want to live you have to change sides. Somebody has decided you can be useful. If you don’t switch from the B team to the A team, you’ll be terminated or permanently incarcerated.”

  “Terminated? By who?”

  “That’s all I can tell you right now. If you stick with me and take what’s being offered, you can have a new life. If not, you won’t last long on your own.”

  “Ain’t that the truth.”

  Austin-Bergstrom Airport. Austin.

  THE AUSTIN AIRPORT wasn’t crowded at noon when Blaine arrived to pick up Annie and Farrell. Farrell had called Blaine with a ‘heads-up’ about Dougie the Dog being with them, so Blaine wouldn’t be caught short and lose his cool. Farrell was well aware of the short fuse. He lived with it every day.

  Blaine sat in the arrival’s lounge, drank bad coffee from a cardboard cup and waited. He hated it when Annie was away on a job and he’d made no secret of his wish for her to quit and stay home with Jackson. She’d paid her dues and had no need to put herself in danger—not for anyone.

  Annie came through the double doors ahead of the rest of the passengers, pushing Dougie in a wheel chair, Farrell walking close behind carrying their baggage.

  Blaine smiled, hugged her and kissed her neck. “I’m so glad you’re home, Mom.”

  Dougie stared and said nothing.

  Blaine leaned down and shook the Dog’s hand. “Glad to see you made it here in one piece, Dougie. Welcome to Texas.”

  The Dog didn’t smile. “You would actually welcome me after all the shit I’ve done and all the lies I told all of you.”

  Blaine shrugged. “Nobody’s perfect.”

  Dougie laughed out loud.

  FARRELL helped his brother get Dougie into the back of Blaine’s lifted Ram. The huge truck was parked at the curb in the pickup loop, strobes flashing. No siren. The sidesteps were high and it took both of them to accomplish the task. Even though they were careful with the Dog’s bandaged leg, he groaned and cursed a little. When Annie climbed in beside him, he quieted and settled.

  Less than half an hour later, Blaine pulled up to the gate at Coulter-Ross. Jose gave a wave and opened the gate wide with a big smile on his face.

  “We’re home,” said Annie and squeezed Dougie’s hand.

  Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.

  DOUGIE stared at the ten-foot wrought iron gate at the end of the long lane into Annie’s ranch.

  This place looks like a fuckin fortress. Maybe I will be safe here.

  Blaine parked as close to the porch as he could manage with a truck the size of his and at the same time avoiding Annie’s myriad of flower beds with his oversize tires.

  Farrell hopped out, pulled the folded wheelchair out of the load bed and opened it up. It was a little easier getting Dougie out of the truck than getting him in. He slid down into the chair and let out the breath he was holding.

  I hate people helping me. Especially fuckin cops.

  The front door opened, and a kid came running out.

  That must be Race’s kid. Looks just like him.

  The boy ran straight to Annie and hugged her. “I missed you, Mommy. Why were you gone so long?”

  “I was trying to help Dougie.”

  “Are you shot, Dougie?” Jackson stood in front of the wheelchair, staring at the bandages. “My Daddy had a best friend named Dougie the Dog. Are you him?”

  Dougie felt his heart pick up speed. Race had talked about him to his kid. Dougie nodded. “I’m the Dog. Nice to meet you, Jackson.”

  “I take care of my Daddy’s cat now that he’s in heaven. I’ll show her to you in the house.”

  Race had a cat? Fuckin impossible.

  Annie pushed Dougie into the foyer and Declan was there to take over. “This is Declan, my medical man,” said Annie. “He’ll be taking care of you.”

  “I can take care of myself,” growled the Dog.

  Declan laughed. “That’s what they all say until they have to take a piss.”

  Dougie smiled at the Irishman and liked him right off.

  BLAINE and Farrell sat down at the harvest table and Annie fetched them each a beer from the Sub-Zero. “What’s the next step with Dougie?” asked Blaine.

  “As soon as he’s had a little recovery time, someone will come and speak to him here. If he has the information that they’re convinced he has, they’ll depose him I think.”

  “What kind of info does he have?” asked Farrell.

  “Don’t know, sugar. Not my pay grade.”

  “Do you think he’ll cooperate?” asked Blaine.

  “I don’t know. That’s not my worry either. All I had to do was bring him in.”

  Blaine grinned. “That was the hardest part, Mom, and you did a good job. Damned good.”

  The boys had one more beer with Annie, then headed home to Austin.

  ANNIE tapped on the guest room door, then opened it and peeked in. Dougie was sitting in a wing chair in the corner of the room with his leg propped up on an ottoman. The guitar case Annie had brought from the Bellagio leaned up against the wall. The TV was on, but he wasn’t watching it.

  Annie sat on the side of the bed. “Can I get you a beer?”

  “I don’t know if I can do this, girl. I’m used to being on my own. I’m talking completely on my own—all my fuckin life.”

  Annie smiled. “It will be hard at first. Tomorrow I’ll take you to the safe-house and you can talk to my boys. They’ve all been here a long while, but it wasn’t easy for them in the beginning either.”

  “You run a safe-house?”

  “For juveniles I rescue from bike gangs, just like yours.”

  “How many kids you got?”

  “Twenty in house at one time. Lots have left after their paroles were over and we help them get jobs. It breaks my heart every time one of them leaves the ranch.”

  Dougie stared and said nothing.

  The door opened, and Jackson pushed his way in carrying a huge black ball of fur. “Here she is, Dougie. This is Pyewacket, my Daddy’s cat. Wanna pat her?”

  My heart almost gives out whenever I look at the kid.

  “Sure, bring her on over here.”

  Fletcher Bowden’s Apartment. Austin.

  BLAINE and Farrell stopped off to see Fletcher on the way home. He was watching a game, his right arm in a sling, and stuffing his face left-handed with chips and salsa.

  “You doing okay, partner?” asked Farrell. “Sorry I wasn’t there to back you up. Might not have happened.”

  “I think it would have happened all the same,” said Fletch. “The gigantor asshole flew out the door just laying down fire to clear a path. Somebody would have been hit. Hammer chased him down and got him.”

  Farrell nodded. “Yeah, I heard.”

  “I was kind of sorry the guy was dead,” said Flet
ch. “He was our lead and we could have squeezed him.”

  Blaine nodded.

  Damn right we could have. Maybe Hammer isn’t a good fit for us.

  “Take as long as you need, Fletch,” said Blaine, “all your medical is covered by the Agency. Do what the doc tells you. We’re clear for a few days anyway.”

  The Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  BLAINE and Farrell arrived home at the Blackmore Agency in the middle of a cooking frenzy. Carm, Misty and Lily were all busy in the gourmet kitchen making dishes for a Mexican fiesta.

  “Smells so good in here,” said Farrell, “I’ll have to stay in the kitchen and just camp here until I get to try what y’all are making.”

  Blaine got two beers from the fridge and sat with Farrell. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I smelled the food.”

  “You can start on these for an appetizer,” said Misty. She placed a platter of fish tacos on the table in front of the boys.

  Blaine grabbed her hand before she rushed off and asked her how she’d been feeling.

  “I’m fine. I rested this afternoon for a bit. Don’t worry.”

  All I do is worry. I’m a worry machine.

  He was half way through a fish taco when Cat called.

  “You doing better today, Governor?”

  “Yes, thanks to you. I pulled it together. Went early to the Capitol, and I’m working well with Stokes. I feel hopeful.”

  “Excellent.”

  I’m not telling her about Izzard.

  Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.

  DOUGIE’s chin was on his chest and his eyes were closed. He had dozed off in the chair, the meds making him dopey and drowsy. He opened his eyes and Annie was holding his hand and talking to him.

  “Want to join me and the boys for dinner in the kitchen or do you want me to bring you a tray?”

  “I want to get up. I’m not much good at sitting around.”

  Declan came in behind Annie and helped the Dog into the wheelchair. He wheeled Dougie into the kitchen and moved a chair out of the way at the end of the harvest table and snugged Dougie up. He was set.

  Annie and Rosalie loaded the table with more food than enough and Dougie wondered how many boys she was talking about. He didn’t have long to wonder. The door opened, and all the cowboys came in for dinner, talking and laughing and making a helluva noise.

  Jackson sat next to Dougie and announced to all the hands, “This is my Daddy’s bff, Dougie the Dog.”

  That announcement caused a few raised eyebrows. Any friend of Race Ogilvie’s was not necessarily a friend of theirs.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Friday, February 6th.

  Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.

  DOUGIE laid on his back groaning as Declan rubbed ointment on the big purple sore spot under his heart.

  “I’m going to tape those ribs for ye lad. Give a bit of support to the damaged area and might help get you up and walking on crutches.”

  “Fuck,” said the Dog. “What about my leg? When will I be able to step on that motherfucker?”

  Declan grinned. “Not for a good long while. The bullet lodged in the bone, and you had major surgery. Give your body some time to heal.”

  Dougie blew out a breath. “I might as well relax and take it easy. I’m a fuckin prisoner. It’s not like I can go anywhere.”

  “You’re confined to the ranch for your own safety,” said Declan. “Once I get you up and running, I’ll take you for a drive around the ranch and you can get the whole picture.”

  “I want to see the safe-house where the kids live,” said Dougie.

  “Why?” asked Declan. “Do you have an interest in the boss’s work?”

  “I guess I don’t understand why she does what she does. It must cost her a lot of money.”

  “Miss Annie has chosen to do something meaningful with her money. Maybe you will get a better understanding when you talk to the young residents.”

  “Yeah, maybe.”

  The Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  BLAINE was typing reports into his computer when Doctor Quantrall’s name came up on his cell. His heart skipped a beat thinking there was something terribly wrong with Misty.

  “Brian, good morning.”

  “Morning, Blaine. Misty said you sent her for a checkup because you were worried.”

  “I thought she seemed weak and she hasn’t been eating much.”

  “Sounds like you keep a sharp eye on the young lady.”

  “I guess I do.” Blaine managed a chuckle.

  “When her results come back from the tests I requested, of course, I can only discuss them with her—unless you were in the room at the same time—but I wanted to reassure you, that overall she seems healthy.”

  I will be in the room when you talk to her.

  Blaine let go the breath he was holding. “Thanks for calling. I can’t tell you how I’ve been imagining what could be wrong with her.”

  “Stop worrying, until we get the tests back and for heaven’s sake, don’t look anything up on the internet.”

  “Okay, Brian. I promise, I won’t.”

  Blaine ended the call feeling somewhat relieved. “As soon as I finish these reports, I’m going to Google things to do in New Orleans.”

  Quantrall Ranch. Giddings.

  JESSE bundled Charity into her car seat in the back of the Land Rover and handed her the baby elephant that she took everywhere with her. “Want to go see the kids at Ace’s house?”

  “Kids.” She repeated. She said a few words, but not too many yet. Hollering for Ty by name was the word she used most.

  “You can play with Jacks and Lucy while I catch up with Ace.”

  And do another job I’m not keen on doing.

  He did up the buckle and closed the back door.

  Fifteen minutes later, Jesse knocked on Annie’s door with the baby in his arms and Rosalie let him in. “Mr. Jesse, nice to see you. Can I take this little girl?”

  “Sure, she came to play with the kids.”

  Rosalie called Sarah—her daughter was the children’s nanny—and Sarah took Charity to the kid’s room where the toys were.

  Annie rushed down the hall and gave Jesse a hug. “So happy to see you, cowboy. I didn’t know you were coming over.”

  “Charity likes to play with the kids, and I was missing you while you were away.” Jesse raised an eyebrow. “Doing whatever it was you were doing.”

  “I was working.”

  Jesse took her hand. “You’ve been lucky so far, Ace, but do me a favor. Don’t press it. I want you to stop.”

  “Blaine does too. I’m considering it.”

  “Good,” said Jesse. “Please think about Jacks not having a parent. He only has one and that’s you.”

  “Good argument.”

  Jesse sat down at the harvest table and Annie took coffee mugs out of the cabinet. She placed a cream carton on the table at the same time Declan came down the hall pushing a wheelchair.

  “Jesse, this is Dougie Robertson.”

  “Hey, Dougie, you’re just the man I want to see.”

  The Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  BLAINE turned off his computer and tried to tidy up his desk before dinner. He picked up a few scribbled messages, read them and tossed them into the trash, then he picked up one he hadn’t thought about since Cat’s inauguration. “US Marshall, Davis Raney. He might be the key to finding out what happened to my parents.”

  Blaine shoved the note into his pocket.

  “I’ll call him tomorrow.”

  Governor’s Mansion. Austin.

  AFTER a long day of nothing but meetings at the Capitol, the limo flying the Lone Star flag brought Cat home to the Governor’s mansion on Colorado Street.

  Feeling like she was a hundred years old, Cat climbed the stairs to her private quarters, went in and locked the door behind her.

  She selected a bottle of wine from the rack, found the corkscrew and poured herself a glass. Sitting alone in
the dark, she took a sip and let out a big sigh.

  “It’s going to be a long four years.”

  I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading Cat, book nine in the Blackmore Agency Series.

  If you’d like to read a chapter from Dog, book ten in the same series, I’ve included some pages to get you started.

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  Author Notes from Carolina:

  I hope my readers are enjoying the Blackmore Series. The stories are flowing and as of this book, I don’t know how many there will be. Eighteen at least. Maybe more. Time will tell.

  A special thank you to the fans who take the time to reach out and share their ideas, support, and opinions. You know who you are, Holly, Lynn, Dorothy, Shelley, Diane, Wendy, Shirley and Freda, Dawn, Alice, Billy and Melinda, Jim and Gayle, Ava, Terry and Celestia to name a few. If I missed you here, message me and I’ll try to include you.

  To access my author page on Amazon and see all my books out so far, click here.

  Carolina Mac is the author of fifty books in four different series. The Regulators biker series, The Quantrall PI series, The Paradise Park series and The Blackmore Agency series.

  She has also written a four part serial called Kin.

  Carolina lives with her family in Ontario, Canada.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Monday, February 9th.