Luke Daniels drank his beer slowly. He faced Jake and participated in the conversation, all the while listening unobtrusively to what was being said behind him at the bar.
"These are guys who know how to steal cattle because they've been around livestock for most of their lives," someone was saying.
"Rustling's gettin' worse," his buddy agreed. "Locations are being hit in the early morning hours. A guy can come onto a ranch late at night, get about 30 or so cows and get as much as $1,000 a head for them at livestock auctions."
"Ah'll be dawged - $1,000 a head? My pa's in the awhl bidness and he don't make that sort of money."
"Yeah, the stolen cattle are generally calves weighing somewhere between 350 and 500 pounds. Theft of bovines is a profitable business - if the rustlers don't get caught."
The bartender joined in the conversation. "You boys hear 'bout those 28 calves vanished from a sale barn out in Crockett? Yeah? Well that same night a livestock trailer was stolen 20 miles away. These guys are organised - they sure know what they're doing."
"They're probably hauling a long goose-neck trailer in the early hours, hitched to high-powered pickups."
"Likely making a better living than I am," the bartender sighed. "Now then Joey - what'll it be?"
"Gimme another beer," growled Joey.
Joey proceeded to tell everyone about the new whore house that had opened up on the shadier part of the east side of town, under the guise of a truckers lounge. The conversation promptly moved away from cattle rustling to more interesting and ribald talk of women and their talents at pleasing a man.
"Fizyu I'd git outa here and pay them ladies a visit real soon," Joey urged, and recommended two girls in particular for their extraordinary talents.
Meanwhile, Jake Swain and his cronies had finished their business. There was a scraping of chairs as the four men got up from their table and prepared to depart. Jake headed out first, and the assembled throng respectfully stepped back so he could pass through their ranks, followed by his three men.
Once outside, the four prepared to go their separate ways - Luke strode off in the direction of the bank, and the other three, after mulling over the conversation overheard at the bar, decided to check out the recommended girls at the truckers lounge.
Luke pulled the brim of his hat down lower to shade the hot afternoon sun that threatened to blister his eyelids. As he did so, he almost collided with two women on their way out of the bank.
"Apologies, ma'am."
Luke doffed his hat at the nearest woman. Evidently in her fifties, she was attractive - tallish, with shoulder length light brown hair and intelligent hazel eyes. She acknowledged his apology with a smile and a nod.
"Sorry 'bout that," he said to the second.
"No problem, cowboy," she said, and flashed him a bright smile.
Luke stared at her, and in that brief moment instinctively knew that he was meant to be with this woman. Their paths would cross again, of that he was absolutely certain. He had been waiting for her all his adult life without realising it. And here she was. She was pretty - mid to late twenties with a cheeky smile, a cute snub nose and sweet rosebud mouth. Her big hazel eyes were thickly fringed with sweeping dark lashes. A brunette, she wore her hair swept up into a long ponytail. She had curves in all the right places and she was wearing sandals with a three inch wedge heel. He figured she was maybe 5ft 4 in her bare feet. She was perfect. And she was his - or would be - she just didn't know it yet.
"Come on Cindy." The older woman linked her arm with that of the younger girl and escorted her across the road toward a parked vehicle.
Cindy. Nice name, he thought, watching her walk. When she got to the vehicle, he had a feeling that she would turn and look in his direction before getting in. He was right, she did, and she flashed him a smile. He returned it with a tilt of his head and a flash of his eyes.
He gave her such an intimate knowing look that Cindy blushed and squirmed a little in her seat.
"I'm goin' to get me a cowboy just like that one," she said to her companion. "Just you wait and see."
Luke watched the departing vehicle, making a mental note of the license plates. Smiling, he suddenly realised how hungry he was, and followed his nose to the nearest diner where he ordered a prime rib-eye steak.
The food was good and he ate well, but all he could think about was Cindy.
---oOo---
It was late when Cindy woke. For a moment she wondered where she was, then she recognised her pretty guest room at the Armstrong ranch where she had spent the past 4 days; the room she would occupy for the next few weeks of her Texas vacation.
She had come over from England to see her best friend Rose get hitched to Hank Armstrong. The newly weds were due back from their honeymoon in a few days time, and as Hank would pick up his work on the ranch on return, she and Rose planned to spend lots of time together.
She yawned, stretched and glanced at her watch. It was well after 9am.
"Oh darn it - looks like I've missed breakfast again," she muttered ruefully as she got out of bed and padded to the adjoining bathroom where she splashed water on her face and brushed her teeth.
Pulling off her nightgown, she quickly put on fresh underwear, a halter-necked top and a pair of blue jeans. She then attacked her unruly locks with the hairbrush before securing her hair into a ponytail which swung gaily from side to side as she bounded down the stairs.
There was no point going into the Armstrong's family dining room as they would have vacated it long since as they tended to eat breakfast no later than 7am. Instead, Cindy headed for the big ranch kitchen, knowing that Hannah and the other two cooks could be relied upon to produce a cup of coffee and something nice to eat.
"Mornin' Miss Cindy. Missed breakfast again, have we?" grinned Hannah.
"Yep. It's all this fresh air I'm getting - I'm out like a light as soon as my head touches the pillow. I don't suppose I can scrounge a cup of coffee?"
"She can do better than that - she's fixed you some breakfast and left you a plate of bacon and pancakes warming in the oven." Mary Lou smiled, her hands coated with flour, as she finished kneading a big lump of bread dough. "I'll fix you some nice fresh orange juice too as soon as I get my hands cleaned up."
"Brilliant!" beamed Cindy. "Thanks, both of you. Hannah - I just love your pancakes."
"You're welcome." Hannah went to the oven and produced Cindy's breakfast. "Sit yourself down and eat up."
Cindy was soon tucking into breakfast when Gabriel, one of the ranch hands, entered the kitchen.
"Smells good," he said, nodding at Cindy.
"It IS good," said Cindy. "Want some?"
"I've already eaten thanks. I'll have some coffee though before I go back out. There's a lot to do. There's a storm coming." He drew up a chair and sat at the table opposite Cindy.
"A storm?" Hannah frowned as she poured coffee into a mug. "Weather forecast didn't mention no storm."
"What do they know?" said Gabriel dismissively. "Whereas me and my pa - we got the nose for sniffing out a storm."
Cindy laughed. "Really? You smell it coming?"
"Sure do. Smell it. Sense it. Feel it in my bones. I'm never wrong. Trust me." Gabriel sipped the hot coffee and eyed Cindy's remaining pancake, grinning as she handed it over to him on her fork.
"He's right. He always knows when we're in for a spell of bad weather. Isn't that right, Hannah?" said Mary Lou.
"Beats me how he knows, but he does," agreed Hannah. "Gabe - have you warned Isaac and the others?"
"Yeah. He and Connor have gone to the corral. Matthew, Nathan and Ryan are shuttering all the windows. Dylan and Noah and Caleb are out securing all the lawn furniture and anything else that could blow away and cause damage. I'm not yet sure what the others are up to." He drained his cup and got to his feet. In his late forties, he was still a fine figure of a man, with dark hair flecked silver at the temples; his skin was darkly tanned by the hot Texas sun, his body hard and stro
ng and lean from riding and regular physical activity. "Mighty fine coffee, Hannah. I'm off out again. Be seein' you later, ladies."
Cindy helped herself to another cup of coffee, and then put her empty plate and cup in the dishwasher and wandered outside. The morning was sunny and bright with a faint cooling breeze. The sky was blue and unblemished by cloud. There wasn't even the merest hint of an approaching storm.
Silly old Gabe, she shook her head as she felt the warm sun caress her face. He obviously doesn't know what he's talking about, she thought. Behind her from the direction of the kitchen came the sound of chatter and the clatter of dishes, pots and pans. To her right she could see Isaac and a couple of his men rounding up horses in the corral.
Cindy loved horses, and while she was staying at the Armstrong ranch, she had been given the go ahead to ride, providing she was accompanied by someone - for her own safety, they'd said. Cindy pursed her lips. Rose and Hank were honeymooning; Isaac was working, and his wife Brenda had gone into town; their son Scott was away on a trip somewhere, and the remaining ranch hands were all occupied with tasks on the ranch. As for the kitchen staff - well, they were all busy in the kitchen.
"Looks like I'll have to go without a chaperone," she told one of the ranch dogs as she reached down to give it a pat on the head. "It will be more fun on my own anyway."
Looking carefully to make sure she was not observed, she walked quickly past the barn that served as Rose's art studio. Further along were other barns and outbuildings, and the stables. Smiling happily to herself, Cindy saddled up Savannah, a lovely bay mare she had already ridden a couple of times.
Savannah snorted in greeting and nodded her head affectionately as Cindy stroked her velvet nose.
"Quietly now, girl. We're going to sneak out of here without anyone seeing or hearing us - and then we're off on an adventure! What do you say to that?"
The prospect of an adventure obviously interested Savannah, a good natured and athletic animal who loved to run. Horse and rider made their escape swiftly and silently, and ten minutes later, out of sight from the ranch, Cindy whooped in glee as they raced carefree through the grass.
The horse galloped on tirelessly, and Cindy laughed, elated to be on horseback, feeling the sun on her face and the wind in her hair. On and on they hurtled, before slowing pace a little. This was further than Cindy had been before. She had no idea whether or not they were still on Armstrong land, not that it was important, as surely no one could object to her riding out this way.
Half way up the slopes of a hill, Cindy reigned in Savannah and peered down into the valley below. She could see the bright sparkle of a stream as it ribboned its course through the gully. With a flick of the reigns, horse and rider proceeded down the slope.
As the mare drank, Cindy sat and pulled off her boots and dangled her feet in the cooling stream. Her feet submerged in the bubbling waters, she lay back and closed her eyes against the heat of the afternoon sun.
The mare came close, inclined her head and snorted warm breath from her nostrils down onto Cindy's face. Giggling, Cindy sat up, petting Savannah as she nudged against her arm, seeking affection.
"You're lovely. I know it. You know it. Ok - off you go and eat some grass while I take a little nap."
Savannah obediently munched on the lush grass by the edge of the stream. Meanwhile, Cindy lay down again; relaxed and happy she dozed, oblivious to the time.
It was after three in the afternoon when the first drops of rain began to fall. Cindy blinked and sat up, rubbing the remnants of sleep from her eyes. The day had changed. The sun had disappeared behind a bank of thick grey cloud and in its shadow, the once sparkling crystal waters of the stream now appeared dull and murky.
Getting to her feet, Cindy glanced at Savannah. The horse was edgy and tense and wouldn't come when Cindy called. Ignoring the mare for a moment, Cindy bent to put her boots back on. The splats of rain came faster now, and in less than a minute, she found herself soaking wet.
"Looks like you were right after all, Gabe," she said ruefully, peering up at the heavens. What she saw there sent a spine-tingling chill of fear coursing through her body.
The sky was neither blue nor grey, but an ominous sickly greenish colour, punctuated by large, dark and low-lying clouds.
"Oh shit!" she gulped, ineffectually wiping her eyes as the rain hurtled down in torrents so thick she could barely see through the thick moving curtain of water. "Savannah! Here, girl!" she called through the din of the lashing rain.
Savannah's ears went back, and a moment later she turned and bolted.
"Savannah! Savannah! Come back!" yelled Cindy. Her voice cracked as desperation bit and she struggled to keep calm and rational.
But the horse was off in a panic, racing away through the increasingly boggy ground, and was soon out of sight behind a ridge of trees.
"Oh no!" wailed Cindy. She was beginning to feel really frightened now. The little hairs on her arms and the back of her neck were standing to attention and a coil of terror began to unleash itself from the pit of her stomach. Something wasn't right. There was something in the air... something unwholesome... The air trembled and stilled into a brief unnatural silence. It was broken by Cindy's scream - as in the same spot from which the horse had bolted there came a huge crackle of white lightning and a sickening thud as a thunderbolt blasted from the torn sky.
Cindy jumped back in terror. What should she do? Where should she go? At the mercy of the elements she stood for a moment rooted to the spot, trembling and sodden, lashed by wind and rain.
The landscape, which such a short time ago was wonderfully benign and welcoming, was now alien and terrifying. A chain of thunderbolts close by created the effect of making pockets of ground ripple and jump repeatedly. Lightning flared, shredding the skies, and thunder rumbled ominously overhead. Day turned to night in an instant, the gloom alleviated by the dazzling brightness of the lightning, which crackled and hissed menacingly, illuminating the flailing treetops, boughs bent into weird contortions by the wind and driving rain. Bolt after bolt of lightning ripped the battered sky and an unholy light pulsed through the jagged wound.
Cindy whimpered in fear and stumbled along aimlessly, now caught in the path of a new danger as a keen wind hurtled in from the west, harrying debris and leaves before it. Leaves rose high, whirling in a frenzy, obscuring her vision even more. The storm raged like some furious ravening beast. Cindy staggered forwards, heading for a copse of trees. In the dim recesses of her mind came the half-remembered knowledge that one should never shelter beneath trees in a thunderstorm as lightning may strike.
But Cindy dismissed the thought. To her, at that moment, the trees were an oasis of safety and seemingly a much better prospect than wandering on open ground. She was hell bent on reaching the trees as they would surely offer some protection from the raging storm. So when she felt a hand grip her arm and pull her in the opposite direction, she squealed in shock and terror.
A stranger had grabbed her arm. A man. He wore a battered black hat with a cattleman crown crease, and a four inch brim from which water cascaded in rivulets. His face was hidden in shadow, pierced by a pair of penetrating green eyes. A sodden cognac-coloured fringed suede jacket was set atop a blue plaid shirt. His blue jeans were worn with a wide-buckled belt, and his black boots were caked in thick mud.
All this, she absorbed in an instant. Still shocked, she stared at him. His mouth was moving, shaping words as he yelled at her.
"W...WHAT?" She had to shout to be heard above the rising din.
"I said MOVE! Quickly, or you'll get us both killed."
"Killed?" she repeated stupidly, her senses reeling in relief that at least she was no longer alone in this nightmare.
He jerked his head upward and said one word. "Tornado."
Cindy looked up, and when she saw the sky, she quailed. The sickly green colour had intensified and thickened, and strange clouds were moving in, scudding across the sky.
"How do yo
u know?"
"Trust me," he said and pulled her arm.
He led her east, along the bank of the stream, and then they began to climb the hillside. The thunder and lightning retreated, the lightning fading fitfully, and the thunder now only a low rumble over the distant horizon. And as quickly as it had started, the rain stopped.
"Oh," puffed Cindy. "The storm's over now. We're safe. I need a rest."
"It ain't over by a long chalk," said her rescuer. "No time to rest. Keep moving."
To Cindy's annoyance he herded her up the hill as though she were a cow.
"Wait - I need to catch my breath. I hate hills," she gasped.
He ignored her protests and grabbed her hand, pulling her bodily up the hill. It took her a moment to realise that though the storm had abated, there was a strange yet expectant quiet. The dead calm was rapidly followed by an intense wind shift. A glance up at the sky again showed the fast moving clouds were churning, all of them converging at one point in the sky. And then, to her horror, she saw there was one funnel-shaped cloud that was rotating.
"Oh Lord," she breathed. "What the hell is that?"
"I already told you. Tornado. Hurry! We're almost there."
"Almost where?" Cindy looked ahead, puzzled. The grass and scree had given way to a rocky outcrop, dotted at intervals with trees.
She gasped for breath as he urged her even faster up the rocky slope. She was slipping and sliding on the wet ground. And then the air was full of noise - the sound of rushing air intensifying to the roar of a mighty waterfall. It was so loud she wanted to ram her fingers in her ears to muffle the din. The noise increased. It now sounded like the rumble and roar of a jumbo jet. Another glance up showed the funnel-shaped cloud had elongated; it pulsed with a dreadful energy as it whirled, filled with a raw and terrifying power.
Love on a Ranch Box Set Page 15
