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  Chapter Two

  Jillian left, and I watched the beat up 1979 Jeep CJ-7 drive out of sight. I stood on the porch, aware the reason for the solitude rested squarely on my shoulders. Maybe Blaze was right, I needed to forgive the town for the past, and try to work in the present. To quit avoiding.

  I checked on Rogue, and made a decision. He had to return to Laramie. Water filled, the colt taking advantage of the pasture for the night. The night would be cool, but nothing he couldn’t handle.

  Inside the house, I picked up the phone receiver. Slammed it down. Picked it up. Slammed it down. Such a damned coward. Taking a deep breath, I picked it up, shaking fingers dialed the Wyoming number.

  “Hello.” Her voice. Pure music, healthy, strong, and vital.

  “Hey,” I whispered, trying not to give in to the impulse to hang up.

  “You little shit! Where the hell have you been? Why aren’t you returning my calls? Checking email? Where is your cell phone?” Karen yelled.

  “I know-”

  “No, you ass, you don’t know! We’ve been worried sick, nobody hearing from you, no answers, and that fuck-all sheriff won’t answer questions.”

  Wow, she’s livid.

  “Look, um, I’m sorry. There’s been some issues.” I put a hand against the wall, and leaned forward, watching the toes of my boots. “I’m in trouble of my own, and didn’t want you involved. Last year was enough to last a lifetime.”

  Her voice stone cold, “Are we not friends?” From the tone, I was in for a world of hurt.

  “We are. That’s why I didn’t want to call and cry on your shoulder, Karen. I know you’re still cleaning up the mess.”

  “Then you’ll act like we are friends. Give me your address.”

  I glanced at the ceiling. “You don’t need this, Karen.”

  “I’m a grown ass woman, I’ll decide. The address.”

  I coughed to hide a chuckle.

  “Yeah, chuckle all you want, butthead. Stop stalling.”

  I gave her the address. “Bring a trailer. You’ll need to take Rogue back with you for a while, okay?”

  Silence. I tapped a foot on the floor. Giving in first, “Karen?”

  “What’s wrong with the colt?”

  “Nothing! Nothing. But well, I’ll explain when you get here.”

  “I’ll be there in three days. Do you need Fozzy?” her tone gentle.

  “Yes, I need Fozzy.”

  “Three days.” She hung up.

  The disconnected line buzzed, and I watched the receiver a moment, finally putting it in the cradle.

  I was so screwed.

  *

  The next three days were quiet, and I finished renovating one of the upstairs bedrooms. It was silent around the house, with Jillian stopping by once to make a huge lunch and disappear again. Blaze stopped by daily, to make sure I was updated about the investigation of the shooting. Despite his reassurances it was self-defense, I didn’t look forward to the possibility of a Grand Jury, and put finding an attorney on the to-do list.

  Returning from a supply run in town, I spent time reconciling memories of Dillon with the townspeople I spent the last two hours visiting. Most gave me their support, a few of the old timers mumbling, “You don’t mess with a man’s property.” One woman, whom I vaguely remembered as an elementary school teacher, hugged me and said she was glad I’d returned.

  I cleaned the house, polishing the oak floors to a high shine, scrubbing the kitchen and bathrooms, prepping rooms for visitors. I assumed Karen would bring Brent or Maria. I hoped she didn’t bring the cop. I’d spent months coming to terms with the fact I was in love with her, but she couldn’t see me the same way. Watching her in a relationship with another man was not yet possible.

  I laid on the couch, feet hanging off the end, an arm across my eyes. Sleep crept over me in a slow, inevitable march. The small hut in Fallujah appeared, but morphed into a campfire in the jungle, surrounded by friends and fellow soldiers. The Colonel sitting on a stump, laughing and telling bad jokes. The dream shifted, and I stood at the windows of the bedroom in Laramie, watching Karen struggle to reconnect with Five Alarm.

  The sound of wheels on the drive woke me, and I sat up, padding on bare feet to the front window. I peeked out the heavy blue drapes, and saw the big Jeep Karen drove, pulling a matching two horse trailer.

  I ran to the couch, yanked on the boots and straightened the Metallica t-shirt. I took several deep breaths, shaking my head. I shouldn’t have been nervous, but I couldn’t prevent it either.

  I practically skipped out the front door, seeing Karen open the driver side door and carefully get out. She limped, but the gate was smoother. Hair in a thick ponytail of curls, hanging past her shoulders. The scars, bright pink when I left Wyoming, were thinner, and gave her the look of a warrior. Vogue would never have her on the front cover, but to me, the scars were beautiful. I’d seen what Karen could survive, standing up no matter how many times life knocked her down, never giving up. She’d been working out, with an athletic body, but it was her eyes, and the new light within which brought me to my knees.

  I’d never seen the shine. Last year wore her down, it did everyone involved. It gave her an ethereal beauty.My heart skipped two beats, and I swallowed.

  “You look like someone hit you between the eyes. Do I look that bad?” Karen’s voice brought reality crashing back.

  “No! No, you look great.” I smiled and engulfed her in a bear hug. The feel of her body, warm and alive, was a revelation. I wanted to keep her close, never let her leave. But even if I convinced her, nobody was safe.

  Her laugh filled the air. I kissed the top of her head, and moved away.

  “Show me your house, I’m here for a couple of days. But I need a nap.” She put an arm around my waist.

  I hoped she didn’t notice the shudder.

  At the sound of a kick to the side of the trailer I shoved her behind me, looking for the source. “In the house, quick.”

  She didn’t move. “Aiden, it’s Five. He doesn’t do well unless I’m close. We’re working on it, but he starves himself if I’m gone for a half day or longer. I had to bring him along.” She peeked at me. “Is it that bad, Middleston?”

  With a hand on her waist, tension sang along lithe muscles. I didn’t have to look to know she was going into a defensive posture, checking the surroundings for the enemy. The fact she used my last name was a good clue of her soldier state of mind.

  “Yes, it is.” I couldn’t lie, even if my soul begged me to.

  “Let me get Five out.” She pushed my hand off.

  Part of me wanted to scream, tell her to use extreme caution. To let me do it, she needed to be in the safety of the house. The other half knew she’d kick my ass for trying.

  I relaxed, watching. When I’d left, Five wouldn’t allow anyone closer but Karen, and that was sketchy at best. She opened the back, dropping the ramp and disappeared inside. I heard soft nickers, a few snorts. Soon the backend of one of the world’s most famous horses appeared. I watched, marveling at the changes. He’d gained weight, the deep sorrel coat shone, and the scars barely visible from afar. He was well muscled, and healthy. She led him to the side of the trailer, tying the lead rope to a hanging ring. Five looked at me with his good eye.

  I was frozen to the spot. His nose went into the air, nostrils flaring as he scented the air. His ears whipped forward and zeroed in on me. I returned the stare. In his eye, I saw another warrior. One who seemed to understand humans would underestimate him, and he’d use it. The sheer intelligence of the big horse was unnerving.

  “He looks good, doesn’t he?” Karen was next to him, running a soft bristled brush over his copper penny coat. It shone in the late afternoon sun, reflecting the giant trees in the front of the yard.

  “I’m speechless. Is he approachable yet?” I’d seen him maim, and nearly kill, trained men with guns. Better to ask.

  “Yeah, he’s calmed quite a bit since he was gelded.” She
waved me over in an absent manner. I could hear whisper soft clicking noises, and short whistles. She was talking to him, a language only the two of them understood.

  I turned a little sideways, and approached. It would be the first time I’d gotten close. She grabbed a hand, rubbing hers over the top and my palm. With our fingers laced, she presented my hand to Five, letting him get a good smell.

  I watched, noticing when Five relaxed, a back foot cocked, and his head lowered to sniff the grass. I put a hand on his neck, rubbing a scar running from the top of the neck to the withers. His skin twitched.

  It was a fanboy moment. I took the brush from Karen, and ran it across his neck, finding an itchy spot.

  “Where’s Rogue Spy?” Karen’s voice startled me.

  “He’s in the small front pasture around back.” I stepped away, letting the awe of Five Alarm sink in. Last year was different, purely survival. It was momentous I was able to touch, and groom him. Be close instead of trying to save us all.

  She trotted off. I stood in front of Five, lifting his face, staring into the good eye. Such strength of spirit, a loyalty most people couldn’t understand, a perfect mirror image of his owner. Horrifically scarred inside and out, yet shining with an inner glow I envied.

  “Aiden!” Karen yelled, and I pulled on the lead rope, releasing Five, and throwing the rope over his withers. He followed close as I ran around the house.

  A man held Karen in a choke hold, a gun to her head, face a mask of rage. The man was Cornell Smythe.

  The reason for the range war.

  Chapter Three

  Five danced behind me, snorting. Karen narrowed her eyes, one hand pointing at the ground. I didn’t move, blinking once.

  “What are you doing, Cornell? Trying to add to your long list of felonies?” Crossing my arms, and shifting, my left foot back a little. I tilted my head, and gave a wide smile.

  “I’m damned tired of you,” his voice, deep from too many cigarettes and bottles of whiskey, rang across the backyard. “Where did you hide them? Don’t lie to me, boy, you’re as much a coward as your father. Selling out to Paul Barnes in order to hide.”

  Karen raised an eyebrow, face losing expression. “Hey, big guy, do you like walking?”

  Cornell frowned. He’d once been handsome, but the drinking had taken its toll. His face was ruddy, the heavy jowls of a bloodhound, and eyes permanently bloodshot, hiding the light blue. He glanced down, “Shut up or you’ll lose your brain. Stupid woman.”

  I laughed. He had no idea who she was.

  “Apparently not,” she mumbled, shifting into the barrel of the gun, raising one leg and kicking into Cornell’s knee. As he released her, she twisted, grabbing the arm with the weapon, and twisting it out of his sausage-like fingers. In a graceful movement, she took two steps back, flipped off the safety, and sighted the big man on the ground. “I love when morons underestimate me.” Four steps back, she turned and winked, “Middleston, honey, turn around, we have more company.” Three short whistles and one long burst across the yard. I heard Five snort.

  I sidestepped and turned, in time to see Five give a little buck, landing one iron shod hoof in the chest of another male. Movement caught my attention and I ducked in time to miss a two by four hitting the back of my head. I dropped, using one leg to kick the knee of the third man. Gaze sweeping the area, I listened for more.

  “Karen, are you okay?” I scrutinized her for injuries.

  “It’s okay, Aiden. I’m better now. Go call for help. Five and I got this.” She smiled, seeming to enjoy it.

  I wondered what changed. She hated violence, although she was damned good at it. I jogged to the back door, glancing over a shoulder. Five had his rump to her back, swinging his head slowly from side to side. She’d taught him to guard her back.

  I grabbed the phone, dialing the now familiar 9-1-1. The operator was learning my voice, not sure if that was a good, or bad, thing.

  Hanging up, I found the store of zip ties and my Sig. I’d come home to avoid this shit, and here I was, knee deep and sinking.

  Outside, I bound the whimpering men, avoiding eye contact with Karen. Sirens could be heard in the distance. I checked on Rogue, with his head over the fence, sniffing the air. Compared to Five, Rogue was a tiny replica of the big gelding. I put my forehead to his, the guilt tangible.

  A small hand squeezed my shoulder. “It’s not your fault, you know. I’ll leave in the morning, no need to tempt fate.”

  I held her hand, the conflicting emotions making it hard to speak.

  “But tonight, Aiden, you will tell me what is happening, do you understand? And you’ll tell me what help you need. I can’t fight anymore, Aiden, but damn it to hell, I can gather the troops for you.” She pulled on the shoulder and I turned. With her hand on my cheek, “Don’t feel guilty. Please. With all you’ve done for me, this was a pleasure.” She grabbed Five’s lead rope, and took him into the barn.

  “Listen to me, boy, this won’t stick. You’ll have to give up what I want,” Cornell’s voice was low and breathless.

  I planted my feet, wanting to kick him in the head. “I don’t surrender so easily.”

  Chapter Four

  Karen stared at me, and I shifted on the bar stool.

  “Where’s Fozzy?” I made circles on the granite with a finger.

  She left, coming back with the worn teddy bear. I stood and took it, knowing the image of a grown man hugging a small teddy bear was ridiculous. But the feel of the rough fur, the flattened stuffing, the smell of years of travel, immediately relaxed muscles. My mind quieted, and I took a deep breath.

  “Now talk.” She turned to the fridge, grabbing two bottles of water and handing one over.

  “I don’t know where to start.” I cracked open the water, and chugged half.

  “The beginning.” She took a few swallows.

  “The violence didn’t start until three months ago. Started with key scratches on the truck, broken windows, slashed tires. Then thefts, and vandalizing the house. I received several threatening emails and letters. I reported all of them to Blaze.” I stood and paced.

  “What do they want, Aiden?” Her voice gentled with the query.

  “At first, I thought it was just water rights. You know it’s still a big thing around here. Dad, and your father, held the rights. There are several ranches around us, and since I’m not using the land, they wanted it. Several were good enough to back off when I explained I was going to start a working ranch down the road, but Smythe wouldn’t let up. Now he wants something else, and I have no idea what.” I walked to a far cabinet, opening it and bringing out a bottle of Jack. I lifted it in question, but she shook her head. I took off the top and guzzled. The burn made my eyes water a little. Another guzzle.

  “He said he wanted them, so I’m guessing paperwork?” Karen frowned.

  “What paperwork? What does he want? I have no idea. I’ve been asking, but can’t get any answers.” The whiskey was starting to take effect. I hugged Fozzy tighter.

  “I’ll take a closer look at some paperwork Dad left behind. But Aiden, all the violence, what is it doing to you?” She’d walked to my side, a hand gripping my arm.

  “I’m not coming back like I should,” I whispered.

  Karen hugged me.

  “Hi! What’s going on?” Jillian’s voice echoed through the silence.

  I jerked away, wanting to fall back into her arms. “Karen, I’d like you to meet a childhood friend, Dr. Jillian Winters. Jillian, I’d like to introduce you to Karen Barnes.”

  The look on Jillian’s face was priceless, jaw loose, eyes wide and staring. She shook herself, holding a hand out, “Nice to meet you.” Her face burned with a blush of dark red.

  “Don’t worry, I get that expression a lot, nice to meet you as well. So you knew Aiden when he was a kid, huh?” Karen smiled wide, looking from Jillian to me and back, an impish spark in her eyes.

  “Yeah, we got into a lot of mischief around Dillon.” Jil
lian returned the smile, warm and bright.

  Karen reached into her pocket, pulled out a business card, and handed it to Jillian with a wink. “You and I have to talk.”

  Jillian laughed. “I brought food, are you guys hungry?”

  I slapped a hand over my eyes, knowing I was in for a night of good natured ribbing. At least it was beautiful women wielding the jabs.

  *

  The night was filled with tears of laughter, as Jillian and I told the stories of our childhood, a dinner she whipped up filled with Italian dishes, and ended as Jillian left. I checked on the horses, wondering if I should sleep in the barn, just in case.

  “Leave them in the pasture. Five has it covered. He’s already bonding with the colt,” she pointed at the two horses, coats reflecting the half-moon. Five stood near the colt, tail swishing, at a relaxed attention. I had no doubts he could protect Rogue.

  “I’m sorry I had to call you to come and get the colt. But Karen, I can’t use him to his full potential. At most he’ll be a ranch horse, if I ever get some kind of normal. It’s not looking good right now.”

  “Oh, Aiden. Don’t worry. I’m happy to take him back to Laramie, and train him while you figure it all out. I’m your friend, you understand that right? It’s the least I can do.” She turned and went inside the house, the screen door shutting softly behind her.

  I watched the horses for a few more moments, realizing I was checking for intruders. I hadn’t relaxed in months. It was no way to live.

  I went inside, prepping for bed. I kept an ear open, listening for the tell-tale signs of more problems. Only the sounds of crickets, and the occasional whinny, broke the silence and I fell into bed, holding Fozzy close, hoping for one night without the nightmares.

  Chapter Five

  I watched Karen drive the Jeep around the deep bend in the driveway. A small sigh of relief escaped and I let the loneliness have its day. Going to the study, I stood in the doorway, realizing it was the one room in the house I hadn’t messed with. Dad’s oak desk stood in the middle of the room, facing a window looking out the south side of the house. The window showcased the mountains, and the green of the pastures. Behind the desk was the matching oak office chair, worn where his butt sat for decades. In the corner stood three filing cabinets, an old lamp I wasn’t sure worked, and in the opposite corner, a chalk board.