Billie laughed when she watched Bobbie lead Ben toward Jake’s house. That might just take some of the starch out of her, she thought. Out the door she climbed up in her truck taking it down to the stables, hoping Cort might be back. He’d rode out with the rest of the men that morning to move cattle. Cort was her special project for the summer. Unlike the rest of the young men, he was quiet and reserved, and Billie was attracted to him in a big way. She parked her truck and jumped out, going around to open the tailgate.  She had forgotten about the saddle and climbed up to get a good look at it.

"Hi Billie, need some help?" Cort walked up to the tailgate with his hands on his hips. "What have you got there?"

Billie felt as she always did when he was around, her heart doing flips in her chest, "I didn’t know you were back, Cort. I was just havin’ a look at this saddle."

Cort jumped up on the truck bed, "Where did you find this, Billie, that’s an expensive looking saddle." He bent down running his fingers over the tooling.

Billie was caught up in watching his fingers work over the leather, "Oh…um it belongs to a guy I picked up on the road comin’ back from town, he’s down with Jake now."

Cort looked up, "You picked a guy up on the road? Billie that’s not good, honey."

He’d called her honey, woo hoo, "I know, I already heard all that, but he’s okay. I brought the oats," she looked into his eyes and smiled.

Cort dropped his head, a small smile playing his lips, "I’ll help you unload." He jumped down pulling one of the bags out.

"You’re back early ain’t you?"

"Yeah, I think Pearly must have picked up a rock or something, need to get Jake to take a look at her. I can’t find it."

"Aw poor Pearly girly," Billie ran her hand over Cort’s horse, turning her head to catch the site of his strong back as he lifted the bag of oats off her truck. She’d like to run her hands across that back of his. "Pearly, Pearly what are we gonna do." She said quietly.

"Billie, you wanna come hold this saddle up so I can get this bag out from under it?"

Anything, Cort, she thought as she jumped up on the truck bed. Oh she had it bad for him. "You goin’ down to Rounders tonight?"

"I might."

"Think I could come along?"

"You can’t get in, Billie you have to be twenty-one, besides its not a place I’d take you anyway."

"Bobbie goes to Rounders."

"Bobbie is ten years older than you my friend."

She followed him back in the stable, "You think I’m just a kid don’t you?"

"I know you’re a kid, Billie, but that’s not a bad thing you know."

"Well I’d like to know how old you have to be not to be a kid, I’m nearly twenty, only 28 more days and I have a birthday." She picked up a brush and started helping him brush down Pearly.

"I didn’t know you had a birthday coming up, twenty is pretty special."

"Will I still be a twenty year old kid?"

Cort stopped brushing and looked at her, nothing about her looked like a kid but he couldn’t, he just couldn’t. He sat on his heels having another look at Pearly’s hoof.

"Can’t answer that can you, Cort?"

"You aren’t twenty yet, we’ll have to wait and see."

"Okay, this may be the last of the ‘kid’ you get to see." Billie threw the brush down and stalked out of the stable.

"Billie, you didn’t find that brush on the ground," his voice was so soft and deep she wanted to cry.

"I’m sorry, guess that’s the kid still in me." She stooped and picked up the brush and put it away.

Cort stood and came around to the side of the stall, "Billie, I didn’t mean to upset you honey. You aren’t cryin’ are you?"

Billie had her back to him biting her lip to keep quiet while tears gathered in her eyelashes. "No," she croaked, "I’m not cryin’ not over you," she turned and ran toward the house.

Cort leaned against the side of the stall wondering what he was going to do about her. He was eight years older, and older in more ways than one. He turned and saw Jake and a stranger walking up toward the stables.

"Hey Jake when you get a chance can you look at Pearly’s right hoof, think she might have picked up something."

"Sure thing Cort, by the way this is Ben Wade, thought I might put him in with you since Bo’s gone ‘ bout the only bed we got left."

"Nice to meet ya," Cort shook Ben’s hand

"Same to ya Cort." Ben sized him up as he usually did when meeting a stranger, he liked what he saw.

"This must be your saddle then, nice piece of work there."

"Yeah it is, I hear we’re roomates?"

"Seems like it, get your gear and I’ll take you around, you can leave your saddle here in the stable if you want, ain’t nobody gonna bother it."

Ben climed up in the truck bed and got his saddle handing it to Cort. "Where do you want me to put it."

"Put it back here with mine." Cort watched him for a minute trying to figure him out.

"Cort, looks like she’s got a little pebble in there, I’ll go get my tools, go ahead and take Ben on up to your cabin and get him settled in." Jake limped back down to his place.

"Well come on with me to the plantation." Cort ran his hand through his hair and grinned. "That all you got?" he asked noticing the leather bag Ben carried.

"Yeah, travel light, best way you know?" he grinned

"I do know, where you from?"

"Lastly or firstly?"

"That bad huh? That’s a fine saddle to be carryin’, where’s the horse that goes with it?"

"Prob’bly still in Amarillo." Ben gave him a side glance

"You gonna leave it there?" Cort met his look

"Hell no…first chance I get."

"Here it is, Ben, home for the moment. It’s really not that bad since they partitioned off the bedrooms." He opened the door to a small neat cabin with a one counter kitchenette, bathroom, two bedrooms and an open living area. "This is your room."

Cort went over to the little fridge under the counter and took out a bottle of water. He’d bet a dollar to a doughnut Ben was a gambler, probably poker he was familiar with eyes like that.

"You got anything stronger than a bottle of water?"

"No, might go to Rounders tonight, wanna come along?"

"Where’s that?"

"Just outside of Amarillo."

Ben sat down in the old overstuffed chair by the pot bellied stove, "Which side would that be?"

Cort grinned, "top side."

"You got a trailer?"

"I got a truck, East’s got a trailer."

"Who’s East?"

"Horse breaker here at the ranch, he trains the wild ones."

"Good man?"

"The best I ever come across."

"I can’t pay nobody."

"Wasn’t askin’ for nothin’"

Ben sat back and smiled, he was rarely ever wrong about a man.

Cort finished his bottle of water, "So you wanna tell me how you lost your horse?"

"No but I will, I lost him in a card game. Been playin’ for three days and winnin’. Along comes this cowboy and his buddy, all of a sudden I start losin’, and bein’ in the heat of it I put up Ribbon, My misstake of course, I lost him. I saw the look the two fellers exchanged and knew I’d been had, so I called ‘em out on it, turned into a brawl, him and another feller in jail and his partner left with my horse."

"I figured somethin’ like that, let’s go look up East make sure he ain’t got a hot date tonight."

They walked away from the cabins and up through a path to the corrals.

"East part of the summer crop?"

"Sorry?"

"Ah somethin’ Billie said, a summer crop of cowboys."

Cort smiled, "No, East ain’t a summer crop, he’s been here for about six years He’s an Aussie, come over from Australia. "There he is, workin’ the paint."

Ben leaned against the corral and watched the young man work, "He’s good, works ‘em with his body. How’d you end up here, Cort, been here for awhile?"

"I come in Apri,l just a saddle bum."

Ben narrowed his eyes, there was more to this young man than that but he’d let it ride; another time

Part 3

East, satisfied he’d worn the paint down for the day, dismounted and led him over to Carl, the Mexican who took care of the horses. Carl handed him a bottle of water and he walked over to the fence.

"Hiya, mate. What’s up?"

"Hey East this here’s Ben Wade hired on today,"

East narrowed his eyes taking in Ben, not sure what to make of him, he extended his hand, "East Driscoll, glad to meetcha."

"Mighty fine work you’re doin’ there, East." The man had a good firm handshake.

"Yeah, he’s comin’ along, are you a horseman?" East took a long swig from his bottle.

"I know a fine mount when I see one, and recognize a trainer."

"Whatcha doin’ tonight, East?" asked Cort

"Drinkin’ and fuckin, ,why?"

"Reckon we could borrow your trailer?" Cort tilted his head.

"Somethin’ wrong with Pearly?"

"No, just need to pick up a horse, Ben’s horse."

"Where is he? Why not just take it now and go get it?"

"Well it ain’t quite that simple. East," said Ben, "Ya see I lost him in a crooked card game and I aim to get ‘im back."

East grinned, "We stealin’ a horse?"

"Ain’t no stealin’ goin’ on. he’s mine."

"East. you don’t have to get involved in this, we just need your trailer,"  said Cort

"Crikey!  Hey I’m in. Where we goin’?" East asked, climbing through the rail fence.

"I reckon he’s coralled somewhere this side of Amarillo," offered Ben

"Pretty wide open area there, Ben, gotta do better than that." Cort leaned against the fence and crossed his arms.

"Well I don’t know much about this area, Cort, card game was in the back of Rosita’s place. I don’t think either of the men were locals, but the one in jail mentioned a motel named Silver Moon."

"I know where that is," said East, "Its on past Rounders, up toward the hills."

"Been there, East?" asked Cort with a smirk.

"Mate, I know them all," he grinned.

"Well I figure the buddy is waitin’ on the scum in jail to get out, that’s why I’d like do somethin’ tonight. I really appreaciate your help, can’t offer nothin’ else."

"Hey mate, no worries. Cort, just hook my trailer up to your truck, I might need mine tonight."

"Yeah, right, East, see ya at Rounders around 8:00." Cort clapped East on the shoulder and they turned to go.

"Ah, Ben, welcome on mate." A wink from East

"Thank ya, East ‘preaciate it." Ben touched the brim of his hat. He fell in beside Cort as they walked back toward their cabin. "Nice felle,r East, ladies man?"

"He’s always got ‘em all over him at Rounders."

Ben thought about Bobbie, "What do you know about Bobbie?"

Cort gave him a quick look, "She’s datin’ the sheriff, Ben."

"Serious like?"

"I ain’t privy to all that, he’s out here a lot."

"Well that’s good to know ain’t it?" a small smile teased his mouth.

Bobbie finished up entering her invoices and filed them away in a drawer. She stretched her arms over her head and looked out the window to see the boy’s coming in down around the bunk house. Her thoughts went to the new man. Ben Wade, he sure didn’t look like the usual cowboy looking for work, for one thing his clothes were a cut above, she remembered his boots, hand made to fit.  Jake had come by and told her he’d hired him on and she trusted his judgment, still there was that niggling thing in her gut. She looked at her watch, better go tell Marie she wouldn’t be there for dinner. John was taking her to a new restaurant that opened up. The thought of John made her smile, was this going to get serious? She kept her feelings for him locked up in a closet in her mind, not wanting to examine them too closely.

She found Marie in the kitchen, and Billie sitting on a stool eating something.

"Marie, I won’t be here for dinner tonight, sorry I didn’t tell you sooner."

"Oh that’s okay, Billie will eat for two I’m sure."

"Not if she keeps eating salsa and chips. What’s the matter, Billie, you’re awfully quiet?"

"Nothin’ is the matter, Bobbie, I just have a need to feed myself, I do that you know…eat."

"How come your eyes are puffy, been crying?"

Billie dropped her head pushing a chip around in the bowl of salsa, "How long am I gonna be a kid, Bobbie, till I’m old and gray hobbling around with a cane?"

"Hey, what’s brought this on, you’ll always be my kid sister you know."

"Yeah, I know but I ain’t talking about kid sisters."

"Okay, who is he? Is it East? No, well let me see…you’re not still mooning over Cort are you?"

"He think’s I’m a kid, Bobbie, I’m almost just about twenty you know?"

"Billie, he’s got to be about twenty eight years old, that’s a lot of years between you two."

"Does that matter really? Dad was six year older than Mom, what’s a couple more?"

"Mom was twenty four when she met Dad, you’d be surprised the difference a few more years make. You’ve still got three more years of college left. "

"I can’t help it, my whole insides just turn over when he’s around, I can’t even breathe right. I think I’m in love, Bobbie."

Bobbie gave her sister a hug, "My advice is not to go around him then, sounds like you’ve got a big crush on Cort, and he’s just a bit out of your league, Billie."

Billie looked up and met her sister’s eyes, "He’s not you know, he just doesn’t realize it."

Bobbie saw something in Billie’s eyes, "You haven’t...Billie tell me you haven’t been to bed with Cort." Fear rising in her throat.

"No I haven’t, if you must know, but not for want of tryin’. Yeah…that’s how it is…he won’t."

Bless you, Cort, "Please don’t go there, Billie he’s a good man, I’d hate to lose him."

"Well I guess you don’t have anything to worry about there, Bobbie. Why would you fire him if I did?"

"To protect you, Billie, I’d fire the lot of them if I thought they couldn’t be trusted around you, you’re my kid sister for cryin’ out loud."

Billie bit her lip, Bobbie never knew about her and East when she turned seventeen. Something that just happened one day and was never repeated. East was more like a brother now, and set the tone for the rest of the guys, but he’d been the first and she’d never forget him.

"I’m gonna take a shower, so you’re goin’ out tonight with John?"

"Yes, he’s takin’ me to dinner."

"How nice for YOU," said Billie, and she flounced out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

"Oh, Marie, what am I going to do with her?" Bobbie sighed, standing with her hands on her hips, staring after Billie.

"She’s growing up, Bobbie, she really ain’t a kid anymore you know. She’s a young woman, ha I was married with a baby when I was her age."

"I don’t want that for her, Marie, I want her to finish school and get her degree, find some nice man to marry someday. I don’t want her to throw her life away on a cowboy."

"But what you want and what she wants might not be the same thing, Bobbie, you just picked the wrong cowboy, that’s all. Me, I picked a good one and never looked back. Jake is the best."

Bobbie turned and smiled, "He is that, Marie, he’s a good man, and they are hard to find."

"You should look at your sheriff, Bobbie," Marie said pushing her red ponytail over her shoulder.

"Hmm, you think so?" she smiled and walked out of the kitchen.

Jake Carpenter hung up the phone, he’d just got a call back from one of the references he’d checked on. This one a woman in Oklahoma, and by her conversation he figured Ben had been doing more than herding cattle. He ran his hand over his face, now that was something he hadn’t considered, maybe he’d better keep an eye out for Bobbie, she seemed to be getting on just fine with her sheriff. Looking out his door he saw the boys were filtering back down to the bunkhouse, better go see how things went today. He put on his hat and hitched up his jeans.

Walking down the path he caught of whiff of something good coming from the ‘chuck wagon’, as they had dubbed the dinning hall for the men. Carl’s wife had turned out to be a treasure when old Sam had to quit because of his arthritis. The men had certainly appreciated the change of menu.

Part 4

Sheriff John Biebe left the station and slid behind the wheel of his Chevy Tahoe. It had been a trying day for him clearing up after a rodeo, always was.

The jail was full of drunks and public disturbances, property damages and card sharks. He was glad to leave them all behind for the day and was looking forward to a good dinner with Bobbie. He’d checked out the menu on line today and it looked good. He was running out of new places to take her on Friday night, and wondered when the night would come he could take her home with him, because he was about ready to do that. They had been dating for two months and living on kisses that promised so much more but hadn’t delivered. John was getting awfully hungry.

Bobbie dried her hair and pinned it back behind her ears with silver and turquoise clasps, she wore her white sundress with turquoise flowers around the bottom. A dab of perfume and she was out in the hallway, stopping by Billie’s door.

"Well what do you think, Billie?"

"You look gorgeous as always, Bobbie, I’m sorry about earlier, I hope you have a good evening, Tell John I said hello."

"Have you got any plans for tonight?"

"Oh I thought I’d just ride on down to Rounders, have a few beers and see what’s goin’on."

"I wish you wouldn’t say things like that, Billie, gives me a spell."

"I ain’t doin’ nothing as usual, Bobbie, just hangin’ out, go on now, I hear John’s Tahoe."

Billie grabbed a pillow and rolled over on her bed, sadly looking out her window.

John waited on the porch until Bobbie came to the door, damn she looked good tonight. "Hey sweetie, you’re lookin’ real pretty tonight, ready?"

"I’m ready, John," a quick kiss and she was off to his vehicle.

They were seated at the resturant looking over the menu and making selections.

"Busy day, John?"

"Yeah, I don’t even want to think about tomorrow. How about you, things goin’ all right at the ranch?"

"Goin’ good, Jake hired a new man today, we were one short since Bo left."

"Well I guess they come and go don’t they?"

"Some do and come back again, Jake’s got some good boys workin’ this year, he might want to keep a few of them over the winter. I know one in particular he’s taken a shine to, but that might be a problem."

"How so?"

"Billie’s got a king size crush on him, and he’s eight years older and much more worldly you know."

"How old is Billie now?"

"She’ll be twenty on the 28^th of the month, sometimes she’s older than I am, and sometimes she’s about twelve."

"Want me to check him out?"

"Oh no, John, I wouldn’t want you to have to do that. She’ll go back to school in a couple of months and all this will fade away."

"Who is he? I might know him."

"Cort Wells is his name."

"I’ve met him, he was with East at Rounders one night when I stopped in; seems like a nice guy. You worry too much, Bobbie. Made up your mind yet?"

Bobbie looked up and widened her eyes, "Sorry?" His soft eyes were so blue.

"The menu, have you decided on anything?" a little half smile reached his eyes.

"Oh yes," it wasn’t what he said so much as how he’d said it, ‘Made up your mind yet’, she smiled over the table, "Yes, I believe I have."

After dinner they stopped for a drink and John asked if she’d like to go by his place for a cup of coffee before he took her home.

"Oh…well, yes that would be nice." He’d never asked her to his place before.

John pulled his Tahoe up in the drive of his two bedroom bungalow. "It ain’t much, but it’s home."

Bobbie came through to the kitchen while he filled the drip coffee maker. A neat tidy clean house, photos of his boys adorned the surfaces in his living room, and pictures they’d drawn hung on his fridge. John was divorced and moved here from Alaska two years ago, it had taken him awhile to come to terms with his new life.

"When are your boy’s comin’, John?"

"First of next month, I’ll have them for four weeks. Really looking forward to it too."

"I want you to bring them out to the ranch, I think they would enjoy it."

"I thank you for that, I was gonna ask if it would be okay."

"You’ve got a cozy place here, very nice."

"Cozy meaning small? It’s okay, I don’t need much."

"Is that really true that you don’t need much?"

"Can I say this…I need you, Bobbie." He laid his hand over hers on the kitchen table.

A smile stretched across Bobbie’s face, "You can say it, but can you show me…just how much?"

John took her on his lap and kissed her, all the longing coming forth. When he broke away, "Will you stay with me for awhile?"

"Yes."

It was after eleven o’clock when he took her home, kissing her goodnight at the door and holding her close.

"Did I say thank you for tonight? It was wonderful, Bobbie."

"You’re wonderful, John," she kissed him again, and pulling her hands slowly down his arms, she turned and opened her door.

John was whistling through his teeth when he pulled out on the highway, feeling pretty good. Bobbie was so, so… he slowed when he came to Rounders, noticing the parking lot as he always did. Many times he had given Bobbie’s guys a ride home after too many beers. The last thing he wanted to do was lock somebody up, so he broke up fights, drove home crying drunks, and generally tried to keep people from themselves. He saw Cort’s truck parked on the side with a trailer behind it. That was a little strange, he thought, and pulled up in the parking lot to check it out. It was empty, still why would Cort have a horse trailer at Rounders. He opened the door and went into the bar.

It was loud with country western music, and by this time of night everybody in the place was trying to talk at the top of their lungs. The dance floor was full of boot scoot boogie’s. He made his way to the bar and saw East with a couple of women on his arms and smiled, tipping his head back. He finally spotted Cort and a few of the guys from the ranch. One fellow in particular he didn’t know, and walked over to find out who he was.

"Evening, Cort, you all right?"

"Heyyy, Sheriff, don’t see you in here much?"

"I try to keep a low profile in here, Cort. Who’s your buddy?"

"Oh, John this is Ben Wade, just hired on today." Cort stepped back, "Ben, this is Sheriff John Biebe."

John extended his hand,"Ben, nice to meet you."

Ben smiled a little smile and shook the man’s hand, "Sheriff."

"Just call me John, I’m not sheriffin’ tonight."

"Hey Joyce, give the sheriff a drink," called out Ben. Ben looked him over, um hm, honest, not so straight he wouldn’t bend, trustworthy, a good man, too bad he was the law.

"What brings you out here tonight, John?" asked Cort

"I was on my way home and I saw your truck out here with a horse trailer, thought it odd you’d be drinking with Pearly."

Court grinned, "Nah, John, things ain’t that bad yet."

"You live out this way…John?" asked Ben

"No, I just took Bobbie home." He took a drink of his beer.

"Bobbie huh?" said Ben drawing out her name.

Who the fuck was this guy, "Yeah, you from around here?"

"Nope, just passin’ through and found me a job out at the Triple J," he met John’s eyes.

He’d for sure look this guy up, "So, about the horse trailer, Cort?"

"Oh,,uh it was on East’s truck and we just transferred it over, looks like he ain’t comin’ back to the ranch anytime soon."

John smiled, "All right you boys, be careful tonight, go straight home and Ben…thanks for the drink."

"Sure thing, John." Ben drawled and lit a cigarette.

John made his way out the door, broke up a fight out in the parking lot, got in his vehicle and drove home. He kept thinking about Ben, the guy hadn’t really said anything out of the way, but there was something he didn’t like there. Almost like he’d thrown up a challenge over what?...Bobbie? Hell the guy didn’t even know her did he? Did he?

"So that’s the law?" said Ben, taking a drag off his cigarette.

"Yeah, John’s all right, it ain’t like he’s all gung ho and all, kinda quiet, but gets the job done." Cort looked at Ben, "Well, when we gonna do the deed?"

"Soon as I finish this drink, how’s your buddy holdin’, out reckon he’s still with us?"

"East, hell I ain’t never seen him drunk, and he could drink this bar dry."

"I was thinkin’ more about his lady friends. Boy must be broke all the time takin’ ‘em two at a time."

"Shit, you don’t think he pays for it do ya?" Cort laughed.

Ben leaned on the bar watching East in action and smiled, the young man had it goin’ on, he almost envied him his youth and obvious sexual prowess. He made a decision on the spot not to put the boy in danger tonight. Not that he expected a problem. Cort, on the other hand would be a good right hand man, he’d have your back, he slid right by that lawman about the trailer, and didn’t blink an eye. He turned his head watching Cort laughing with one of the ranch hands. Likeable man, he still didn’t have him completely figured out. Cort however, was not all sweetness and light, else he wouldn’t be about to steal a horse. He downed the rest of his drink and called for his tab.

Cort called his tab too and looked across the bar catching East’s eye. East excused himself from his women and came over beside Cort and Ben.

"Right mates, are we ready?"

"Yeah, East all I want you to do is point the place out, reckon you can do that?" Ben patted his shoulder.

East turned looking back at the two pretty girls waiting for him, "How about I get a room at the motel?" he pulled out his cell and made the call walking around the end of the bar. Thumbs up and he walked back to his girls and paid his tab. He jerked his head to the side indicating they should follow him.

Cort drove, following East down the highway, and turned off toward the hills. The only light around being the tail lights of East’s truck, it swerved a couple of times and straightend up.

"I thought you said he didn’t get drunk."

"He ain’t drunk. I imagine there’s somethin’ else goin’ on in the cab of that truck."

Ben sat back and smiled, More power to ‘im then."

About five miles up the road lights appeared, a gas station cum convience store, and just a little further on an old 1950’s style mote the L being burnt out on the sign.  Cort slowed and pulled off the road, just outside the light cast by the parking lot.

"What a dump," observed Ben

"East don’t give a shit, as long as it’s got a bed."

They watched him go in and then come back out with a key, moving his truck down to the end of the row. The girls got out and went in, and he came running across the road.

"They ain’t got a corral, but there’s a shed out back with some horses in it. You’re sure you don’t need me to help?"

"No man, you go on in…call us if you need some help okay?" said Cort his teeth showing in the dark.

"Yeah wait on it, see ya mates." East was back across the road.

"All right, Cort, go on up the road and turn around somewhere and come back, park down the road a piece out of sight if you can. I’m gonna go see what’s what." Ben eased out of the truck and crossed the road, disappearing in the dark in his black outfit.

He pulled his hat down low on his forehead as he passed around the back of the motel, there were windows open and light shinning here and there. He skirted around the pools of light until he spotted a couple of horse trailers, crouching down, he moved behind them and saw the shed a ways down the hill. There was a light down in front of the shed, and he tried to stay out of it as he made his way down the hill. Squatting down, he let out a low whistle and heard the responding sound from Ribbon.

Anger built up in his chest that he would have to go through this to get his own horse. He was in the shed moving quietly, retrieving his horse after he’d silenced it with a touch. He had him out, leading him up the hill when the back door of the motel opened and a loud "What the fuck,", Ben jumped up on Ribbon’s back, grabbed the reins, and they took off toward the dark end of the motel.

"What’s goin’ on?"

"Somebody stealin’ a horse, call the law."

Ben was on the road now riding fast, there would be no time to put the horse in a trailer. He kept a sharp eye out for Cort. Seeing tail lights on a layby he rode close to the truck motioning for Cort to go on ahead.

Cort pulled out and moved on past Ben, wondering what the hell had happened. He must have been seen. It would not be a good idea for him to be found on this road tonight with a horse trailer, and he started looking for somewhere he could turn off. He came up on a narrow dirt road and turned, probably somebody’s drive he thought, and slowly drove down through the trees. He didn’t want to get too far off the road with the horse trailer, making a tricky situation to back it out. He cut his lights hoping Ben had seen him pull off.

Ben had been following the tailights and saw Cort pull off the road, he wasn’t far behind him.  Cort got out of the truck and walked back to the horse trailer waiting on Ben.

"Open the fuckin’ door,’ said Ben breathless. They got Ribbon in the trailer and secured the door.

"What the hell happened?" asked Cort

"Some asshole seen me, they’re callin’ the law."

Cort thought a moment, "It’ll take them a little while to get up here, lets get this trailer out of here. You stay back here and help guide me out, my mirrors don’t go out far enough to see behind me." Damnation he thought, slamming the door. It took a few starts and stops, but he got the truck and trailer back on the road, Ben jumped in the cab and they sped away.

Ben lit a cigarette and offered one to Cort, "I don’t smoke, but I’ll have one anyway. What the fuck are we gonna do with this horse now, you can’t take it back to the ranch?"

"Why not, best place in the world to hide him with his own kind." Ben took a deep drag on his smoke, "I don’t reckon the feller that had him stashed up there is gonna report him missin’ anyway."

"Well somebody saw you so somethin’s is gonna be reported."

"I doubt anybody could identify me outta that rat hole, they don’t wanna talk to the law anyway. Half of ‘em prob’ly wanted for somethin’ don’t ya think?"

"I don’t know what to think right now except East is up there."

"East is busy, he’s got two good witnesses if anybody wants to question him."

Cort slowed down and turned onto the highway and picked up speed. "I don’t wanna be seen anywhere around here tonight, hope your horse likes to ride fast."

"What you worried about Cort, we’re just out for a drive?"

"At one a fuckin’ clock in the mornin?"

Ben took another drag on his cigarette and threw the butt out of the window, "Was you up for horse stealin?"

Cort turned and looked at him and then back to the road, "Yeah, and I don’t fancy it again."

"Well now, I didn’t think you was that old, that packs a pretty good sentence."

"I got out after servin’ five years thanks to my Daddy and his lawyers."

"Hmm Daddy must have some pull somewhere, you gonna tell me who Daddy is?"

"Ever hear of Senator Wells?"

"Well I’ll be damned, Cort, what happened to you boy?"

"I reckon I took stupid a long time ago, Ben."

Ben chuckled, "Welcome to the world, Cort."

They pulled into the ranch and up to the corral.

"He ought to be cleaned up, but I ain’t gonna mess with it tonight."

"Good lookin’ horse, Ben, you wanna help me with this trailer?"

"What time you reckon East will get back?"

"Before daylight, that’s his usual."

"I reckon there’s a pasture somewhere right?"

"Yeah, follow that trail yonder."

"Cort, thank you for helpin’ me out, I’ll do the same for you. I owe you one."

"Just keep me outta jail when they come for you."

Ben chuckled as he led Ribbon up to the pasture.

Part 6

Cort undressed and lay down on his bed wondering why the fuck he’d ever got mixed up in this tonight. He blinked and knew, pretty much the same story he had seven years ago. Why was it wrong to steal from a thief? He turned over beat his pillow into submission and closed his eyes. He was asleep when Ben quietly closed the door and went to his room.

His eyes felt gritty when he woke to the sound of the triangle reverberating off the walls. He sat up on the side of his bed and held his head. He had a hell of a headache this morning. He listened, and heard no sound from the room next door wondering if Ben was up already.  He walked out and knocked on his door, it opened but Ben was not in the bed, he noticed he’d slept there though.

Taking care of his morning absolutions, he dressed and walked down to the chuck wagon for breakfast. He was surprised to find Ben leaning on the porch with a cup of coffee.

"What the hell time did you get up?"

"Daylight, you like sleepin’ in I see."

Cort went in for coffee and some breakfast, he wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries this morning. Jake came around and sat down beside him.

"Mornin’, Cort, I thought I’d let Ben ride with you today, you can show him the ropes. I reckon you can cull him out a horse for the day."

Cort looked at him, "Yeah I reckon I can do that, cull him a horse and all."

"Good man, Cort," he slapped him on the back, "You have any problems with him or anything comes up, I need to know…"

"Thanks, Jake." Cort stared straight ahead and drank his coffee.

He finished his breakfast and found Ben outside talking to Jake.

"Okay boys, do a good turn today," Jake waved them off.

"You eat?" asked Cort.

"Oh yes, I had mine before you got your panties on. Good food here."

"Yeah, good food, decent place to live, and money at the end of the month. I don’t wanna mess that up, Ben."

"I ain’t gonna mess nothin’ up for you, Cort, that’s a promise, and I don’t make ‘em lightly."

They stopped by the stables for Cort to pick up Pearly and walked up to the pasture. "I’m supposed to cull you a horse, any one in particular you want." Cort asked with a smirk.

"I’ll make it easy on you, Cort," he whistled, and Ribbon ran over to the fence. "There you are boy, ready to ride?" He saddled up and followed Cort out to the range.

Towards noon, Jake rode out to watch the boys work. They were culling calves. He found a place he could watch from, and lit a cigarette he’d bummed off one of the boys. Marie would kill him if she knew he still occasionally smoked. He sat in the saddle feeling his muscles ebb and flow with the work. He wanted to be out there with them, but his heart condition prevented it. He caught site of the new man and watched him for a while. Man and horse as one, he liked to see that. Yes, he was satisfied with him, make a good cowman. Squinting his eyes he looked at the horse, now that was a new one, and well trained, he would ask East about him. Speaking of East, he hadn’t seen him at breakfast, he hoped the boy wasn’t in any trouble.

Billie rolled over in her bed knowing she had to get up. Cort had come in late last night and that bothered her. She always lay awake listening for his truck to come up the road before she went to sleep, and he was usually home by eleven. The thought he might have been with a woman made her insides tie up in knots. Whether he knew it or not, he was hers.

She plaited her hair in a long thick dark blond braid and bounded down the stairs for some breakfast. She saw Bobbie out in the back yard talking to East and wandered out with a piece of toast.

"Mornin’, East."

"Mornin’, Billie," he turned back to Bobbie to finish their conversation and walked off toward the corral.

"What’s up with East?"

"Well, somebody stole a horse up at the Silver Moon motel last night and they held everybody over for questioning. He’s just getting’ home."

"What’s that got to do with East?"

"Well, evidently he was there…you know him." Bobbie came up the steps

"Yeah," grinned Billie, "I do. So why was he at the house?"

"Jake’s out with the boys he wanted somebody to know where he was. What are you doing today?"

"I thought I’d go help Tomy at the chuck wagon."

"I’m sure she’d appreciate that."

"So how was your dinner last night?"

"Tasty."

"Yeah, where did you go?"

"Travinas, it’s a new place that opened up in Amarillo." Bobbie poured a cup of coffee

"Then where?"

"What?"

"Then where did you go? I know you didn’t eat until eleven o’clock."

"How do you know what time I got home, waiting up on me?"

"Um yeah, you know I can’t go to sleep when you’re out. Bobbie, have to stay up and make sure you get in at a reasonable hour you know, flash the porch lights and all. Are you and John…you know…are ya?"

"That’s none of your beeswax. girl," she smiled

"Ah Hah you are, written all over your face…good for you. Bobbie. Is he good?"

"Billie. I’m sure Tomy is waiting on you. go find something to do." Bobbie walked down the hall to her office.

Bobbie sat down at her desk resting her chin on her hands. She recognized a crack in that closet door that held her feelings for John. Could she be falling in love with him? What would it mean for her if she was? She had seen a different side of him last night, a father that loved his sons and a lover. She sat back in her chair, a lover and he wasn’t a cowboy.

Billie finished her breakfast and decided to go look for East. maybe he might shed some light on Cort’s late night.

Part 7

East was not happy this morning, he’d been up all night after the deputy had knocked on his motel door and told him to stay put. Even the attention of the two girls had not helped the growing anxiety he felt. Ben had bungled the job.

He grabbed a bit of breakfast and went to his cabin to clean up. He was shaving when Billie showed up at his door.

"Hey, Billie what you doin’ up here, leave the door open okay."

"Yeah sure, East." She smiled, he was so careful with her. She sat down on a chair and watched him shave. "What happened to you last night?"

"Last night, nothin’ somebody said a horse was stolen at the Silver Moon and they wouldn’t let anybody leave."

"Yeah, how come you were up there?"

East turned rinsing out his razor,"What do you think?"

"Anybody else up there…from here I mean?"

"Not that I know of why you missin’ somebody?" he stopped and looked at her concerned.

"No, everbody is accounted for this mornin’, did you see Cort last night?"

"Yeah he was at Rounders… what’s this about, Billie?"

Billie looked toward the open door, "I…I was just wondering if he had a girl."

East stopped again turning to look at her catching her profile in a shaft of sunlight coming through his door. She was so pretty…Cort.

"You got the hots for Cort, Billie?"

"Are you gonna start tellin’  me I’m too young for him?"

"Hey  I haven’t said anything, and as far as I know he ain’t got a girl, nobody special anyway." He rinsed his face and grabbed a towel.

"But he does have…girls, sometime?"

"I’m not going to give you an account of Cort’s sex life if that’s what you’re after, it’s none of my business." He dried his face and came over, squatting down on his heels beside her.

"You’re my business, Billie, what’s goin’ on with you and Cort?"

"Well nothin’ that’s the problem, he think’s I’m just a kid, East."

East ran a finger down her arm, ",Well we know that’s not so, don’t we, sweet." He met her eyes for a moment and smiled, "Anything I can do to help?"

"I don’t know I mean there’s nothing you could say to him is there, that would make him see me in a different way?"

East put a finger on her lips, "You know I would never, and have never ever said anything, and no way would I say anything to Cort about us."

"Oh no," she blushed, "I wouldn’t want you to."

"He’ll just have to find out for himself that he’s not the first. You gave me something special, Billie"

"Oh East," she put her arms around his neck and hugged him, "I’m glad it was you."

"Hey now don’t start something here you won’t finish, you best be on your way, Miss." He stood up and pulled her out of the chair, turning her toward the door giving her a pat on her bottom.

East stood in his doorway watching her walk down toward the corral, the feel of her soft bottom still in his hand, he looked down at it and made a fist. That would just never work for him, not if he wanted to continue working here, and he did. He shook himself and pulled on a vest ready to go to work.

Billie headed for the chuck wagon thinking at least Cort wasn’t with a woman last night. She stopped thinking about hearing his truck come in, he must have had a trailer on the back, she recalled the rattle as it passed by the house. She wrinkled up her forehead, what had he been up to she wondered.

Jake had moved along with the men, and seeing Cort ride over to Ben he stopped. Something wrong with Ben? He touched the sides of his horse with his heels and rode up beside them.

"Got a problem?"

"Ah it’s nothin’ hand’s givin’ me a little problem, guess it’s been a while since…"

Jake grabbed his right hand, he’d noticed the swelling and bruising when he hired him. "Tell you what, Ben, you go on down to the house and get Marie to look at it, might need doctorin’, ain’t no sense in aggrivating it. 

I been watchin’ you this mornin’, looks like you know what you’re doin’. I’d like to keep you on, so go on down and get that hand looked at. Cort you just ride this side for awhile."

Ben sighed and turned his horse back toward the trail. His hand was throbbing from having to hold the reins so tight, he’d almost lost it there for a minute.  He stopped by the corral to see if East would hold his horse up here somewhere, he didn’t want it seen around the house for a while.

Ben saw East over by the paddocks. "Hello, East."

East looked back not entirely happy to see Ben. "Yeah, G’Day, mate. What the fuck happened last night?"

"Ah, somebody seen me by the shed and raised a ruckus." He dismounted. "Wondered if you’d stash this horse somewhere up here with your stock?"

"Ruckus huh, I didn’t get out of there till after seven this mornin’, damn deputy was questioning everybody."

"Sorry about that, East, I see you got by it all right."

"Yeah, no thanks to you, what’s with the horse?"

"I got a little problem with my hand and Jake’s sent me to the house to see Marie, I don’t really wanna  ride up to the door."

"Yeah sure, put him in here, nice lookin’ animal."

"His name’s Ribbon and he’s mighty special to me, I trained him myself. East…thanks I ‘preciate this, I owe you one."

He turned toward the house, not liking the fact that the accounts were beginning to be a little one sided, he didn’t like to owe anybody anything. He walked around to the back of the house figuring this what hired help did, and knocked on the door. It was opened by a plump woman with a graying red braid across her shoulder.

"What can I do for ya?" Marie asked, not recognizing the man

"Jake sent me to see Marie about my hand," he turned his hand over and looked at it.

"Well that’s me, who are you?" she held the door open for him.

"Name’s Ben Wade, ma’am."

"Ah you must be the new man Jake hired, pleased to meet you. Let’s see what you got here."

She led him over to the table and examined his hand, moving each of his fingers and feeling along the top. She noticed him wincing a couple of times, "When did this happen?"

"Night before last, I was…"

"Hit somebody, okay what have you done for it, anything?"

"No, ma’am." Ben smiled slightly.

"You got somethin’ broke in there, Ben, I believe, and you’re gonna have to see Doc Randall. I’ll call and let him know you’re comin’ in. Wait here a minute."

She went down the hall to Bobbie’s office, "Hey, Bobbie, I got a man out here with a broke hand, can you drive him in to see Doc?"

"Um sure, Marie, is it bad?" She stood up looking around for her bag.

"I don’t know for sure, he ain’t had it looked at, happened night before last he says."

"Okay, send him around to the garage, I’m on my way, go ahead and call Doc Randall."

"On my way right now." Marie made her call and went back in the kitchen and told Ben to go to the garage and pointed out the way.

Bobbie opened the garage about half pissed because the boy hadn’t reported an injury. She’d let him know about that. One thing they did was take care of their people. She backed her Explorer out and turned it around and stopped. Oh well, it was him.

"How do, ma’am." He said as he slid into the passenger seat and fumbled for the seat belt, trying to push it in with his left hand.

"Here let me do that," Bobbie fastened his seat belt and sat up, those eyes again, "what happened to you?"

Part 8

Ben turned and smiled. "Do you really wanna know?"

"Probably not. As long as it didn’t happen on the Triple J I really don’t care."

"Is that the be all and end all of your world, Bobbie?" he asked quietly.

"Well…I guess it pretty much is."

"Kind of a small confined cloistered space, you ought to get away once in awhile, broaden your view of the world."

"How would you know what kind of a view I have."

"Well, I don’t of course, but I see a beautiful woman out here in the middle of nowhere goin’ to waste."

"Waste? I put in a full day just like everybody else."

"That’s what I mean, you shouldn’t have, to you should have somebody to take care of things…and you. When was the last time you went to a concert or the theater, shoppin’ for pretty dresses?"

"I don’t need pretty dresses on the ranch, just a pair of new jeans every now and again."

"Which you fill out very well."

"Am I supposed to say thank you?"

"You don’t have to say anything, Bobbie."

His voice was beginning to stir up her senses. "What are you doin’ out here, Ben, you ain’t a cowboy."

Ben smiled, "I ain’t a lot of things."

"You have to be somethin’"

"I’ll let you figure that out…if you want me to be somethin’ that is"

He seemed to fill up her vehicle taking all the air out of it, and she rolled her window down. Ben settled back in the seat and stretched his legs out as far as he could, and moistened his lips. Bobbie glanced at his legs fascinated that the inside thighs of his black jeans were leather. She’d seen that before, but somehow on him…the inside of his thighs. She felt a flush begin on her chest and concentrated on the road ahead.

"How far is this Doc Randall?"

"He’s in Amarillo."

"How about I buy you lunch in return for your care."

"Oh well, ah, Marie will fixin’ somethin’ at the ranch."

"Lets just forget about the ranch for a couple of hours, can you do that…Bobbie?"

"I can’t ever just forget about the ranch, Ben, it’s part of me."

"Well then, just let that part go for awhile, have lunch with me." He said ever so softly

She felt herself weakening, "After we see Doc Randall if there’s time."

Ben had a small smile on his face as he looked out the side window, he had her.

Doc Randall was in an Urgent Care facility just inside Amarillo. He had Ben’s hand x-rayed and found  cracked knuckles, one pushed back out of place and after some painful maneuvering he put a cast on it. He came out in the waiting room. "Well he’s all your’s, Bobbie, I want to see him in about four weeks." He told her what the problem was and she walked back to the examining room.

Ben had his shirt on but couldn’t seem to button it up with his left hand. "You need some help?" she asked

"Looks like I do," he looked down at her as she buttoned his shirt, "you want to undo my pants and tuck it in?" he said slow and lazy.

Not even thinking, Bobbie unsnapped his jeans and started tucking his shirt in around his waist, he moved quickly with his left arm crushing her to his chest while her arms were around his waist, and kissed her soundly on the lips. Bobbie felt her knees go and tightend her arms around his waist. She couldn’t believe she was doing this, he had that effect on her, just took her to another place out side of herself. He released her as quickly as he’d taken her, leaving her blinking and looking at his chest letting her arms fall away from his waist.

"You forgot to snap my jeans, can’t go out of here like that can I?" he asked quietly

Bobbie saw her hands snapping jeans and stepped back, her voice finding itself a little ragged, "You had no right to do that."

"You know I didn’t even think about rights, Bobbie, I thought about you and how good you smelled and how pretty your hair falls around your face. It was just something I had to do. If you want to hold somethin’ against me, hold your body against mine it felt damn good woman."

"I…I can’t do this Ben…I…no, the um Doc gave me some pills for you, one is ah an antibiotic and the other is for pain." She held them out to him and he closed his big left hand over hers.

"You hold ‘em for me, honey, I’ll get ‘em later. Now lets get out of here and find a place to eat, I know of a nice place just a couple of blocks from here, can we leave your car here or you want to take it?" She drove her vehicle down to a little pink adobe inn and parked. They ordered their food and sipped on their drinks. Ben had a beer and she had iced tea.

"Ben, about what happened…"

"Don’t you worry your pretty head about that, sometimes things just happen the world has a way of rightin’ itself." He tilted his head and smiled.

"I don’t want you to think that…"

"I don’t think anything, Bobbie except I enjoyed it you’ve got a sweet little mouth."

The dining room was nearly empty, it being after 3:00 in the afternoon, Ben chose a table back in a corner mostly hidden by plants and the back of a banquette. Their food arrived and he found he couldn’t use his knife, so Bobbie moved her things on his side of the table and helped him with his food. Before their meal was over she was actually feeding him and it seemed one of the most erotic things she’d ever done. He was leaning in the corner of the booth and she on his lap. By the time he called for the ticket and paid, he also had a room upstairs and led her, in her already seduced state, to bed.

Two hours later she turned onto the road to the Triple J, the full reality of what she had done was beginning to hit her. It was worse when she parked her car in the garage and saw the sheriff’s vehicle in the yard.

"Ben, please don’t say a word…"

"Honey, I never kiss and tell." He leaned over and kissed her quickly and got himself out of the vehicle and walked back down to his cabin.

Bobbie let herself in the back door to find Marie and Billie at the island..

"Where in heck have you been all afternoon?" screamed Billie, "all hell’s breakin’ loose here." She was in tears.

"What are you talkin’ about?" Bobbie immediately alarmed

"Everybody’s been tryin’ to call you, we called the Doc’s place you left hours ago?"

"Well I’m here now what’s goin’ on?"

"They’re arrestin’ East for horse theft." Said Marie through her teeth.

‘WHAT!"

"They found that horse that was stole last night in East’s paddock, he was at the motel it was stole from." Marie was pissed.

"He didn’t do it, Bobbie, East didn’t do it." Cried Billie

"I don’t believe this, where’s John?"

"They’re all up at East’s. Oh Bobbie, you gotta do somethin’" Billie was hanging on her arm

"I am, I’m goin’ up there and see what he says."

Bobbie and Billie went out the back door headed toward East’s cabin. Bobbie felt like she was moving under water. Still half senseless from Ben, and the other half ice water down her back.

"Don’t worry, Billie, we’ll get this sorted out, East doesn’t steal I know that, John knows that."

Billie was in total meltdown, she couldn’t tell what she knew of Cort coming in late with what sounded like a trailer, and here was her beloved East charged with horse theft. She hadn’t seen Cort at all today. She needed to see Cort, but couldn’t leave East.  They met Jake headed toward’s East’s place.

"I just heard, Bobbie, we just got back, what’s goin’ on?"

"I ain’t sure, Jake, I just got back myself with Ben."

"How’s his hand?"

"He’s out for at least four weeks, Jake it’s in a cast."

"Jake, you ain’t gonna let them take East are ya?" cried Billie

"No I ain’t if I got anythin’ to say about it."

Billie stopped, realizing Cort would be back at his cabin, and took off running, she had to talk to him. She ran up to his door knocked and opened it. Cort was drinking a bottle of water and Ben was in the old overstuffed chair.

"Cort, I gotta talk to you, now," she was breathless and crying.

"Billie, what’s wrong, what’s happened." Cort came over to her and took her arm taking in her red tear streaked face and wild hair.

"Oh Cort, the Sheriff is gonna arrest East, they’re all up there now, they got him in handcuffs Cort, I can’t stand it."

"For what, Billie?" fear forming a knot in his stomach.

"Stealin’ a horse, they found the horse that was stole up at the motel in his paddock. I know he didn’t do it, Cort, but, Cort I…I heard you come in last night with a trailer, I ain’t said nothin’, and I ain’t gonna say nothin’, oh shit, Cort I don’t know what to do."

Cort released her arms and kicked the door shut. He stood facing the door a minute and turned to Ben.