John wasn’t liking any of it. It was hard for him to believe that East had stolen a horse, but there it was, and here he was at the motel with the two girls whose defence of East made him blush. He wanted to talk to Cort since he’d seen the trailer at Rounders. Something wasn’t right.

East was still in his cabin and had been handcuffed, John had told his deputy it was too damned hot for him to sit in the car, now where in the world was Bobbie?

He turned, seeing Bobbie and Jake coming up the path. Now maybe it would start making sense.

"Hey, Bobbie, Jake."

"Sheriff, what you got my boy cuffed up for?" asked Jake.

"Can I see him, talk to him, John?" asked Bobbie, not looking at him. She couldn’t look at him, not after what she had done this afternoon.

"Yeah go on in, Bobbie," now what was up with her? He turned looking after her as she walked in the cabin.

"Sheriff, you ain’t answered my question," Jake reminded him.

"Jake, he’s got a stolen horse in his paddock."

"Well he ain’t put it there, I know better than that, East ain’t no thief, what’s he say anyway?"

"He ain’t said nothin’, Jake just says he didn’t put it there." John rubbed his temples.

"Well maybe he didn’t ever think of that?"

"He was at the scene of the crime up at the Silver Moon."

"That old motel, what was he doin’ up there, somebody see him take it?"

"Somebody took it and was seen takin’ it, East was, er, had company in his room."

"It don’t sound to me like you put two and two together and come up with a round number, John. You best let that boy go he’s a trainer not a horse thief."

"Jake, where’s Cort?"

"Cort…you ain’t bringing him in on this are ya? Cort’s been workin’ all day. I say you ain’t chargin’ Cort!"

"I never said nothin’ about chargin’ Cort. I just need to talk to him."

John’s head was swimming and a headache forming in his temples. He noticed Jake didn’t look right, his color was off. "Jake, you ought to sit down somewhere man, you don’t look too good."

A crowd had gathered around East’s cabin with the word filtering down through the bunkhouse. "Why don’t you boys go on back down the hill, there’s nothing to see up here," tried John.

Nobody moved, and Jake didn’t offer to send them off. Somebody brought him a bench to sit on in the shade.  The crowd parted to let Billie through and she ran up the steps into East’s cabin.

"You tryin to make up your mind, John, just let him go you ain’t got nothin’on him." Jake couldn’t stand it.

"No, I’m waitin’ to talk to Cort. Will somebody go find him?" Nobody moved.

"You ain’t takin’ my boys to jail, John, I ain’t gonna let you do that."

John turned and went into the cabin, "Bobbie, I need to talk to Cort, has anybody seen him?"

Billie was holding a glass of water for East to drink, his hands being cuffed behind his back. She didn’t say anything.

"I haven’t, John. I believe they’ve just got in he could be in the shower for all I know."

John turned to his side to see what she was looking at, it sure wasn’t him. "You all right, Bobbie?"

"Well…hardly, I come home and find all this goin’ on. East ain’t done anything, John." She said pleadingly.

John stared at her a minute, there was something wrong with Bobbie. Had she had second thoughts about last night, she seemed great when he left her? He wished she would look him in the eye.

John’s deputy came in, "You think I need to call some back up?"

"Back up, for what Brady? Jesus man."

"Crowd ain’t happy out here."

The hammers were beginning across John’s forehead and he walked to the door just as someone yelled out, Jake had fallen over. Damnit, "Call 911, Brady, it’s Jake."

"What," said Bobbie and she was up and out the door bending over Jake, "Go get Marie hurry!"

It was this scene that Cort and Ben walked into. John was bending over Bobbie, who was bending over Jake.

"What’s wrong with Jake," Cort went down on his knees beside the bench

"I don’t know, Cort, might be his heart, he was awfully aggitated." Bobbie was smoothing his brow

John straightened up, "Cor,t I need to talk to you."

"Now? With Jake like this?" Cort looked up. He took Jake’s hand, "Hang in there, Jake."

"Cort," said Jake weakly, "Don’t let ‘em take you."

"Ain’t nobody goin’ nowhere, Sheriff, I think me and you need to talk." Said Ben calmly.

Bobbie didn’t know where to look so she kept her eyes on Jake. Oh god, he wasn’t gonna tell John was he? She couldn’t stand it if he did. She felt tears forming in her eyes.

"Don’t worry, Bobbie, Jake’s gonna be all right, he’s a tough old bird ain’t ya Jake." Cort spoke softly.

The crowd parted again for Marie who came up the path red faced and panting, "Oh Jake, oh my god, Jake" She was down on her knees holding his hand.

"Ambulance is comin’, Marie," assured Bobbie.

Cort stood up by Ben, "I guess you might as well include me too."

"No, Cort, this is between me and the sheriff here." Said Ben, "Where you wanna talk?"

John looked around and nodded his head, "How about the paddock?"

"Fine, lead the way." Ben followed him out to the paddock and stopped and rubbed Ribbon’s nose."

"You know this horse?" asked John.

"Like I know the back of my hand, sheriff, I trained him, he’s mine."

"Did you steal him, Ben?"

"I ain’t stole this horse, like I said he’s mine."

"You got proof of that?"

"As a matter of fact I got some papers from the last vet he saw, you ask me anything about him I’ll tell you."

‘This horse fits the description of the one stolen from Silver Moon last night, Ben, you want to tell me about that?"

"Who reported him stolen?"

"Owner of the motel?"

"Did he say it was his horse?"

"No, belonged to one of his guests."

"Well did the guest report a theft?"

"We can’t locate him, we’re still lookin’"

Ben dipped his head and smiled, "You still got a boy named Jimmy Dean in your jailhouse?"

"No, he was the one we transported to the hospital night before last with broken jaw," John looked down at Ben’s cast.

"Well if Jimmy D is still in the hospital the guest is prob’ly somewhere around there. They’re partners you know."

"You were the one started that fight at Rosita’s."

"I didn’t start it, I finished it. Look there’s no need to go into all the details here, they run a crooked card game okay, they took my horse, I got him back, and until this feller presses charges sheriff, you ain’t got shit."

John blinked his eyes the hammers turning into sledge hammers. "So, you put him in the paddock."

"Yeah I did, and you can let that boy go in there, he ain’t done nothin’ wrong."

"What about the horse trailer at Rounders. You and Cort left together in Cort’s truck with the trailer."

"Maybe I hitched a ride."

"How far did you ride with Cort, Ben?"

"Far enough I could walk to the motel."

"So…what you rode your horse back here, or did Cort drive you back with the horse?"

"What difference does it make?"

"If the guy presses charges, he’s an accessory."

"Why don’t we cross that bridge when we come to it, I’ll wait here with baited breath."

"You ain’t lyin’ about any of this?" John believed him.

"I ain’t got no reason to lie, sheriff."

John sighed and rubbed his forehead, "Listen, you stick around here till this is settled. What I’m sayin’ is don’t leave town."

"Got nowhere to go right now, hey you better take somethin’ for that headache."

"This…all this is your fault you know, Jake down, the women all upset, Cort possibly in trouble, East all tore up…all your fault you know that?"

Ben narrowed his eyes and lifted his chin, "Yeah I do know that. That’s what I get to take to bed at night, comfortin’ ain’t it."

John looked him in the eye and turned walked back to East’s cabin. The ambulance had pulled up and people were scattering about.

Ben leaned his head back on the wall and thought about Bobbie.

The first thing Terry Johnson noticed when he and his wife, Sarah pulled up in front of the garage was the Sheriff’s truck parked in the yard. He turned to Sara and shook his head.

"I wonder the Sheriff knows what’s going on beyond the Triple J ranch."

"I think it’s sweet Terry, a little romance goin’ on right under our noses."

Terry brought their overnight bags in the house finding it empty, he took them upstairs.

Sarah cut the stove off under a burnt pot of something and looked around wondering where Marie was.

"Looks like we’ve got the place to ourselves Sarah, nobody home."

"I know and that’s unusual, Marie’s burnt something on the stove."

Terry looked out the back down toward the bunkhouses, "Nobody down the hill either." Something began turning in his stomach just before they heard the siren start up toward the corral. Terry was out the door and running, the ambulance passed him and he paused a moment looking at the back of it, and continued running up the hill. He found everybody milling around the corral and East’s cabin. His eyes sought his sisters. He passed by the ‘Hey Terry’s’ and bounded up the steps into East’s.

"Oh Terry," sobbing Billie and then Bobbie ran to him throwing their arms around him, he breathed again, it wasn’t them.

"Who’s in the ambulance?"

"It’s Jake, his heart." Answered Bobbie.

"Oh no, how bad is it?"

"We don’t know yet, Marie’s gone with him."

He looked around the crowded cabin taking in the Sheriff, a very sullen looking East, and Cort.

"Somebody want to tell me what’s goin’ on here?"

Sarah stepped into the cabin, "Terry, what’s happened?"

"Jake’s in the ambulance and Marie is with him that’s all I know."

"Maybe we should just go down to the house and I think I can explain the whole thing." Said John his eyes nearly closed with his headache. "Brady, go clear it out, show’s over, and go on back to the station, I’ll stop by later and fill you in."

Bobbie turned to Cort, "Jake’s put you in charge till he’s back, that’s what he wants okay?"

"Yes ma’am thanks." Cort ran his hand over his face.

After the family and John left, East turned to Cort still rubbing his wrists, "Where the fuck is he?"

"I don’t know, East and goin’ after him ain’t gonna fix nothing,’ its just gonna cause more trouble that we don’t need." Cort walked over to the doorway flexing his right hand. He looked back,,"whatever he told the Sheriff got us off the hook for now, so just let it be okay?"

"He better not come around here askin’ for anything again." East was still pissed.

"I don’t expect he will," Cort stepped out of the cabin and walked down the path toward his own.

Sarah put on a pot of coffee as the family trooped into the kitchen and sat around the table. She noticed John was awfully pale. "John, are you all right?" she asked.

"Oh yeah, my head’s about to come off in pieces."

Sarah looked at Bobbie who was staring at the floor, "Bobbie, get John something for his headache."

Bobbie got up and went to Marie’s medicine chest and found some headache pills, and got him a glass of water, he grabbed her hand for a minute and she pulled away going back to her seat. A hurt look went across his face, and he looked down at his coffee cup. He didn’t understand what was going on with her.

"Whenever you’re ready, John," Terry leaned into the table.

John recounted everthing he could think of, including some of what Ben had told him, and sat back in the chair.

"And I understand this man is still here?" Terry wanted to know.

"It’s all my fault, I picked him up and brought him here," a fresh flow of tears from Billie.

"I want him off the property tonight, he’s toast." Terry sat back crossing his arms.

"He’s got nowhere to go." Bobbie said.

All eyes turned to her especially, John’s.

"Guys like that always can find a place to go, Bobbie, he’s done enough damage here." Terry was adamant.

"I told him not to leave the area." Said John faintly.

"John, why don’t you go lie down on the sofa in the living room until your head clears." Sarah was beginning to worry about him. She couldn’t understand Bobbie not taking care of him.

"Thanks, Sarah, but I think I’ll go, I got to stop by the station. Let me know about Jake okay." He stood up and walked to the door, "Bobbie, can I see you a minute."

Bobbie walked with him out to his vehicle and John stopped by the door and put his hands on her shoulders, "Hey, what’s the matter Bobbie?" he said softly.

Bobbie burst into tears and he put his arms around her pulling her to him. "I know its been a bad day honey,"

"Yes, it has John," her answer muffled against his chest.

"I’ll call you in the morning, and if you hear anything about Jake call me okay?" he lifted her chin and softly kissed her, "I don’t like to taste tears now, you go get some rest."

"You too, John." She bit her lip and backed away walking back to the house.

John began to feel a pain in his heart as he slipped onto his seat and buckled his seatbelt. Something was wrong and he didn’t know how to fix it.

Bobbie knew she had been a subject of conversation when she walked back in the kitchen. She went to the island to pick up her bag and remembered she still had Ben’s medicines and pulled them out setting them on the counter. That’s when the dam broke and she ran upstairs to her bedroom, quickly followed by Sarah.

"What’s that all about?" asked Terry

Billie picked up the bottles and was beginning to understand something about her sister. "It’s Ben’s prescriptions. I can run them down there."

"Okay and if you see Cort, tell him I’d like to talk to him, he can come on up here to the house." Terry ran his hand over his hair, gone hardly two days and it’s a different place. "Billie what’s wrong with your sister?"

"I gotta idea but I don’t know for sure, so I ain’t sayin’ nothin’. I reckon she’ll tell you when she’s ready…or not."

"I’m going to the hospital and see about Jake, Billie don’t let nothin’ else happen while I’m gone."

Part 11

Billie walked down to Cort’s cabin and knocked. The door wasn’t latched, so she pushed it open and called his name.

"Billie, that you?" Ben was laying back on his bed.

"I was lookin’ for Cort," she replied, stopping in his doorway.

"He went down to the chuck wagon to get somethin’ to eat."

"Oh, well, I got your prescriptions." She brought them to him.

He turned the bottles over in his hand, "How’s Bobbie?" he asked quietly.

"Bobbie’s tore six ways from Sunday. John was at the house. You shouldn’t have done it, Ben, I mean she  ain’t  said nothing,’ but I know her pretty well and I know there was four hours this afternoon we couldn’t get hold of her. That black hat suits you Ben."

"We are what we are Billie, black hats and white hats."

"You ain’t even sorry are you?"

"I’m sorry Bobbie’s upset, but I ain’t sorry for nothin’ else."

"I don’t understand you, how can you not care about what you’ve caused here today."

"What makes you think I don’t give a damn. Your sheriff could have locked me up today just on suspicion after what I told him. He didn’t do it, because regardless of the law he knew I was right. Your sister is a woman who makes her own decisions, I’ve never forced my way on a woman, Billie."

Billie entered the room and sat on a slat back chair with her face in her hands, "I should have never picked you up, there ain’t been nothin’ but trouble since. Terry’s home he wants you to leave."

"Well now, I reckon he’ll come and tell me that himself won’t he and not send his little sister."

"He’s gone to the hospital to see about Jake. Cort must be really hungry."

"How long have you been sweet on Cort?"

"Ever since he come in April it was just one look and boy I was a gonner."

Ben smiled, "He’s a good man, how well do you know him?"

Billie looked up, "Not like that, you know."

"I ain’t talking about sex, Billie, how well do you know him, what kind of a man he is, what he’s made of? There’s more there than a pretty face, you ought to try and learn a little about him."

"He don’t talk much about himself,f and not much to me at all, think’s I’m a kid."

"But you’re not are you, you’re a woman in the makin’, just be patient, Billie, he’ll see that one day."

"How can you be so nice one minute and a black hat the other?"

"Ah, Billie," he smiled, "You’d be surprised what lives under a black hat, sometimes things are not always black and white you know, and that’s something you should remember."

"How’s your hand feelin’?"

"Is there a hand in there? Looks like a damn boxing glove." He studied his hand for a minute, "Gonna make things difficult for a while I reckon. I ain’t never been left handed. Have you tended Cort’s hand?"

"No, I ain’t had a chance, that’s one reason I wanted to see him."

"Billie…be gentle with him, he’s had a hard day." He said softly.

"Thank’s, Ben…thank’s for talkin’ with me like an adult." Billie walked out on the porch and saw Cort coming up from the chuck wagon, she sat down on the steps and waited.

Sarah picked up a box of tissues from the bathroom and tossed them on the bed by Bobbie. "Okay what’s going on with you tonight, I’ve never seen you like this before Bobbie?"

"I ain’t never been like this." Sobbing.

"Will you talk to me, maybe I can help?

"Its gone beyond help, Sarah, and I can’t change it."

"Is it John, has he upset you like this, cause if he has…"

"No, he hasn’t done a thing, its me, I’ve ruined it all."

"I know I’m a little out of the loop here, we were gone thirty six hours…what have you done that’s so bad, Bobbie."

"I can’t tell you, you’d tell Terry. It’s bad enough, Sarah, trust me."

"Its something you don’t want Terry to know, does it have to do with the ranch or the family?"

"No not the Triple J or Billie, its my own mess."

"All right then, its just between us, I swear to you I won’t tell Terry so long as it’s not something serious, like sickness or something okay?"

"I wasn’t here today, I took Ben to the doctor…"

"Well, honey, that’s not something to get so upset about.." Sarah was baffled.

"Then he took me to lunch…I went to bed with him, Sarah, God help me I did, I just lost myself."

Sarah sat back truly shocked, she’d never known Bobbie to do anything like that, not even with John."

"So you see, Sarah. This will be the end of me and John, and there can’t be a me and Ben."

"This is the same fellow that caused all the problems here today, sent Jake to the hospital? I’m sorry, Bobbie but how could you?"

"I didn’t know about the horse stealin’ and all then…and to tell you the truth, it probably wouldn’t have mattered anyway…he just has that effect on me."

Sarah got up and paced around the room. "You can’t ever tell John, Bobbie."

"I know that, but I can’t even look at him right now."

"You don’t love him anymore?"

"Yes I do, I do, and tonight when he was here, oh god I wanted to just go and be held in his arms. He’s so good, Sarah and good to me, he loves me. Oh how could I have done such a thing."

"What are your feelings for this…Ben Wade?"

"Sarah forgive me but it was just pure lust. I couldn’t get enough of him. He’s just…so sensuous and seductive, oh mercy, when I think of the things I did today…I don’t know what I feel…I just wanted him. John is so sensitive he’s gonna know something happened."

"Just don’t ever tell him…there were a lot of things goin’ on here today, pass it off on something else, Bobbie. I’m not telling you to lie, just don’t tell all of the truth. Do you know what I mean? It might make you feel better to tell it all, but it sure as hell won’t make him feel good, and he won’t ever forget it."

"I don’t know if I can carry that off."

"You will if you love him. Oh come on girl, be having your period or something hormonal, he’ll understand, that’s all a mystery to guys anyway."

"Sarah, you know sometimes its good to have a big sister," they hugged and sniffed picking up tissues off the bed.

 "Hey, Billlie. You waiting for me? Cort asked, sitting down on the step beside her.

"I’m always waiting for you, Cort. One of these days you’re gonna figure out why."

"What can I do for you, honey?"

"I came to see about your hand, and to tell you that Terry wants to talk to you up at the house, but he’s at the hospital right now."

"I’ll watch for his car and come up when he gets back. Hey I wanted to thank you, Billie for bein’ there for me today when I needed it."

Billie’s eyes widened, "Anytime, Cort, I mean I’m always here for you I want you to know that."

Cort gave her shoulders a hug, "You are ain’t you, whether I notice or not, you’re there."

"Yeah, like old shoes or a chair or somethin’"

"I was thinkin more like somethin’ to hold onto when the wind is about to blow me away. Like I could reach out and hold somethin’ warm and solid and real."

"Does that wind blow you around some, Cort?"

"Yeah it does. Well I’d better go clean up if I got to talk to Terry."

"Cort…come on up when you get cleaned up I’ll take a look at your hand for you."

"Sure, I’ll do that." He smiled and patted her head as he got up and went inside.

Billie still sat on the step a minute trying to let it all sink in, he’d touched her today, hugged her. A big smile began, he’s noticed. She wrapped her arms around herself, he could hold onto her anytime, anytime at all. 

"Billie find you?" asked Ben pouring a cup of coffee.

"Yeah she did. What did you tell John today about last night?"

"I told him the truth, can’t ask for more than that."

"And he let you go?"

"Yeah, technically I ain’t commited a crime, since the bastard didn’t report it."

"East almost went to jail, and I would have been right behind him."

"Well now, it didn’t happen ain’t nobody goin’ to jail tonight, like the man said, show’s over."

"Just like that, you just turn the page."

Ben looked up from the book he’d picked up off the table. "Chapter ended Cort, why you want to drag it out and beat it to death?"

Cort ran his hand through his hair and started unbuttoning his shirt, " I don’t know. I come awfully close to goin’ back to prison, I can’t do that again."

"Nobody likes prison, Cort. Forget it move on do somethin’ about Billie."

"What about Billie?"

"Well if you don’t know I ain’t gonna start teachin’ school."

Cort stared at him a minute and went on to take his shower.

Terry came in through emergency looking for Marie. He was directed back to a waiting room.

"Terry, boy I’m glad to see you." Marie stood up.

"Marie, are you all right?" Terry put his arms around her.

"Yeah, I’m holdin on so’s Jake, they let me back to see him awhile ago and they’re waitin’ to take him up to ICU. Doc said he’s a lucky so and so."

"I’m so sorry Marie."

"He’ll make it all right Terry, too onery for anythin’ else. How’s Sarah?"

"Uh she’s fine, tryin’ to sort out Bobbie."

"Yeah well, huh better her than me."

"What’s going on with he,r she was cryin’ all over the place tonight?"

"I got my suspicions."

"That’s about what Billie said, and that doesn’t help me at all."

"Well, I’ll tell you only what I know and what I saw. She took that new man, Ben Wade to see Doc Randall; his hand was broke, fightin’ I’d say. Anyway, that was about 12:30, it was after 5:00 when she got back, nobody able to get in touch with her. She come in all pink and shiny so you can draw your own conclusions."

Terry sat back and looked at the ceiling, "That’s not like Bobbie."

"No, it ain’t Terry."

"I know her life is her own, none of my business what she does you know what I mean, but there’s John she’s been datin’ for awhile, I kinda hoped something would come of that."

"John’s a good man she couldn’t do no better in my book. That’s why I was real surprised to see her come in like that with Ben, and of course that’s when John and his man was up there about to take East to jail so she walked into a hornets nest."

"What kind of feller is Ben, Marie have you talked to him?"

"I only seen him when he came for me to check his hand. Nice lookin’ man probably a few years older than you. I know Jake talked highly of him, you know he likes to make his judgement on the spot."

"I know, but he’s rarely wrong Marie, how could he have so misjudged this one."

"I can’t say maybe he ain’t wrong you know, things just seem to have snowballed."

"I hear Jake’s put Cort in charge while he’s out."

"That’s what he wanted, he’s really taken to that young man. You know who he is don’t you?"

"Yeah Jake told me all about him, he’s taken some hard knocks, I wanted to talk to him tonight about this Ben Wade. My first thought was to throw him to the road."

"Might not be a bad idea, but that’s up to you and Cort."

Billie came in the back door and smelled grilled cheese sandwiches. "Who’s cookin’ make me one."

"Hasn’t anybody eaten tonight?" asked Sarah.

"Nobody’s had time, I’m starvin’. Did Marie call?" Billie went to the fridge pulling out ice.

"No, but Terry did, Jake’s gonna be okay, they’ll keep him for a few days.

"What’s the ice fo,r Billie?" Bobbie wanted to know.

"For Cort, I went down and took Ben his prescriptions," Billie gave Bobbie a side look, "Cort’s comin’ up as soon as he showers for me to look at his hand."

"What happened to Cort Billie?" asked Bobbie.

"Oh you hadn’t heard? He punched out Ben."

Bobbie sat down, "When was this, and why?"

"When the sheriff was up tryin’ to arrest East. Cort didn’t like it too much that Ben got them in trouble."

"Is…he…all right?"

"You would ask wouldn’t you, Bobbie, yeah he’s fine just a little boo boo. Maybe you ought to go down there and kiss it…make it all better for him."

"Shut up, Billie I don’t need this tonight." Bobbie ran her hand over her face.

"You know I like the man, no matter what he’s done, I like him." She gave her sister a tight little smile.

"Billie, lay off Bobbie tonight okay, your sandwich is ready." Said Sarah.

"So what are you goin’ to do about John, just toss him off? What a dilemma, two men to choose from. Black hat and a white hat…fits don’t it."

Bobbie left the kitchen and walked into the living room settling on the sofa in the dark.

"What do you know, Billie?" asked Sarah

"I ain’t dumb, Sarah, nobody had to tell me where she was this afternoon. Ben never said anything and I don’t go around tellin’ anything either so don’t even say it."

"Just ease up on her right now, she’s in a bad place."

"She put herself there, and after all this high and mighty talk to me about who I can and can’t see."

"Who are you seeing?"

"You ever see me with anybody? Well then…guess that answers that."

Sarah had enough of Billie and left the kitchen, the sound of a TV came down the hall and Billie cleaned up after the grilled cheese sandwiches. She went to check Marie’s medicine cabinet and set a bowl ice on the table.

Cort knocked softly on the door and Billie let him in. "That didn’t take long, want a glass of tea?

"Ah yeah, wouldn’t mind it."

"Just sit at the table I pulled some things out there we might need."

"You know all about hands, Billie?"

"I know some Cort, I’ve lived here all my life and there’s been a lot of hands on this table gettin’ bandaged up. I help Marie out she’s shown me what to look for. Now let me see."

Billie took his hand looking it over, his knuckles were skinned and some swelling around them. She carefully lifted each finger and felt along the bones in his hand. His hand was warm and rough in hers.

"I don’t think there’s anything broken here so you won’t have to have a boxing glove like Ben," she looked up and smiled. She pulled out some ointment and smoothed it over his knuckles and wrapped it in gauze. "Now just lay it on the table and let this ice pack sit on it for awhile."

Cort studied her dark blond hair, her black eyelashes, her hands, how small and soft they were. She was a natural beauty with no artiface about her. He thought the sprinkling of freckles across her nose added to what she was. When she looked up with her light blue eyes and smiled he felt a stirring in his chest.

"What you reckon is gonna happen next Cort? Have you seen East tonight?"

"I saw him earlier he’s okay, pissed off but he’ll get over it. Is East special to you Billie?"

"Yes he is, he’s my special brother. I’ve know him since I was fourteen, and he was eighteen when he came here from Australia. I would not have let John take him today, he would have had me hanging all over him." She grinned.

"You’re a real tigeress ain’t you?"

"I can be when someone I love is threatened. He’s damned lucky he didn’t try to put you in handcuffs." She met his eyes for a minute and got up putting away her medications.

"Looks like Terry is back, what are ya’ll gonna do with Ben?"

"I guess that’s up to Terry."

"Don’t send him away, let him make the decision to leave." She said quietly.

Cort narrowed his eyes, she might be right.

"Hey Terry, how’s Jake and Marie?" she asked as Terry came in the back door.

"They’ve got him in ICU but I got to see him, he’s alert, talking, I expect he’ll pull through okay. Hi Cort."

"Terry, Billie said you wanted to talk to me."

"Yeah, uh, Billie you got some sewing or something to do?" He cocked his eyebrow.

"Oh I can tell when I’m not wanted. I’m going to walk up and see East, ‘night Cort."

"G’night, Billie thanks for fixin’ my hand."

"What happened to your hand, Cort?" asked Terry settling down in a chair

"Well…

                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"East, what ya doin’ sittin’ out here in the dark?" asked Billie.

Just thinkin’ what you doin’ up here this time of night?" He moved over on the step.

"I came to make sure you’re all right. Make sure your head is straight."

"It’s straight enough."

"Still mad as hell, wanna stomp sombody’s head in?"

"You got that right."

"Maybe John should have arrested him today, solved everybody’s problem."

"What are you talkin’ about?"

"He could have you know, after what Ben told him, Ben told him everything but left out the part you may have played."

"I didn’t do nothing but show him where the place was."

"I knew you hadn’t broken the law, you’re not that kinda man."

"You might be surprised, Billie."

"I don’t think so, we’ve known each other for a long time and I ain’t dumb, I know people for what they are."

"Ah you’re a wise woman tonight are ya?"

"I’m getting’ that way. I might still be at the bottom of the totem pole, but I’m learnin’ a few things."

"People are strange, Billie, he come on like an okay bloke you know, but he uses people, manipulates them to do his bidding."

"You think that’s what he does…maybe…he’s pretty smart gets what he wants and comes out on top. Might not tonight, Terry’s gonna do something."

"Terry’s the man to do it.  Yeah, he comes out on top all right, leaves bodies all over the place."

"He didn’t have to do what he did today, he did it to save you and Cort, you might think about that. He put his own neck in the noose."

"Ha believe me, Billie if he did he knew the rope wasn’t tied at the top of the tree."

"I’m glad you’re my friend, East, I told Cort you were my special brother."

"When were you talking to Cort, things heating up there?"

"I don’t know about that, I fixed his hand tonight, he might be comin’ around."

"Good for you, keep workin’ on him, what was wrong with his hand?"

"Oh he punched out Ben, he didn’t tell you?"

"Well the bloke sure goes up in my book. Good onya Cort."

"I probably need to get back and see what Terry’s doing, I’m glad you’re okay, East don’t be mad at Ben anymore, he is what he is." Billie leaned against his shoulder.

"Billie, I’m glad you came up…come back sometime…stay awhile." He slid his arm around her waist.

"Oh, East," she hugged him and East hugged her back catching a kiss on her lips.

"Just remember, Billie, I’m not your brother so be careful what you do to me."

"We’re friends, East."

"I know that, and I want us to stay friends, but you’re not a kid anymore."

"That’s the best thing anybody’s said to me lately. Thank you, East now I’m going."

~~~~~

"So, Jake put Ben in with you Cort?"

"Yeah, well bed’s are getting’ scarce, I don’t mind it."

"Even now after what he’s caused?"

"I ain’t gonna defend Ben, but what I done was my own doin’, Terry. I might still have to stand for it, though I hope to God I don’t.

"From what John’s told us tonight the guy might not press charges, since he’s missing and probably not wanting to talk to the law anyway, but if it comes down to it, Cort, I’m behind you I just want you to know that."

"I don’t deserve no special treatment." Cort met Terry’s eyes across the table.

"Jake’s put you in charge while he’s sick, he trusts you and so do I. Now about Ben Wade, I have to wonder why he’s still here Cort."

"Jake didn’t know nothin’ about Ben getting’ his horse back. I know he wouldn’t have approved of the way we did it."

"You don’t think it was stealin’, Cort?"

Cort moved a salt shaker around on the table for a minute. "Takin’ back what’s yours? I guess technically it might have been. Well technically is what did me in you know, after Daddy sold my horses. They didn’t belong to him, I just went and got Pearly and I still ain’t sorry for it. I know what a good horse means to a man after he’s raised him and trained him. Ben can answer for himself Terry.

"I think he’s a trouble maker Cort but I’m just seeing the aftermath. I don’t know what Jake saw in him or what Ben told him. I wasn’t able to talk to him about that tonight. I do plan to talk to Ben in the morning and I’ll make my decision then. Anything else we need to talk about?"

"Yeah, Terry I’d like your permission to see Billie."

Terry’s mouth fell open. "You’re not serious…she’s my kid sister…she’s only 19 years old she’s still in school for fuck’s sake, Cort."

"She’s nearly twenty…and I ain’t  wantin’ to do nothin but take her out, spend some time with her. I wouldn’t get in the way of her college I want her to finish school. I’m askin’ Terry."

"You don’t know what you’re asking fo,r Cort…," Terry ran his hand over his hair. "If I say yes and anything…you step over the line with her…I’ll take you apart."

"Is that a yes?"

"God help you man."

After Cort left, Terry sat at the table with his hands over this face. How could so much happen in such a short time. Billie and Cort? Bobbie and Ben and John.

"Terry, are you okay?" asked Sarah walking behind his chair and rubbing his shoulders.

"I’m not sure, Sarah I seem to have lost control of everything, don’t ever ask me to go out of town again."

Billie came in the front door and stopped when she saw Bobbie on the sofa watching TV.

"Bobbie, I’m sorry for being such a bitch"

"It’s okay"

"No, it’s not okay I think I know what happened to you today and I can understand it. Sometimes things just happen."

"That doesn’t make it right or excuse it Billie."

"Doesn’t make it wrong either. I think sometimes things are meant to happen, things you don’t expect or plan turn out to be a special moment." Billie went up the stairs and to bed.

Bobbie didn’t think her afternoon with Ben came under that category…it was somehow more than that. She had wallowed in her shame over John and still didn’t know if she could just pretend it didn’t happen. She loved John, but knew she could never trust herself around Ben again.

Cort found Ben sitting on his front porch smoking a cigarette, "You still up?"

"Yeah couldn’t get to sleep."

"Did you take your pills?"

"Yes mama, I did." Ben leaned his chair back against the cabin.

"I had a talk with Terry, he’s gonna come and talk to you in the morning."

"Do I need to pack?"

"I don’t know…just be honest with him don’t screw with him Ben."

Ben dipped his head down and smiled.

Part 14

Terry walked down the yard and stopped to talk to Cort, he looked over his shoulder and saw the man in black coming back from the chuck wagon. Cort’s men were branding calves today and he left to get the days work under way. Terry waited a minute with his hands on his hips as Ben walked up to the cabin and sat on the steps, turning his bandaged hand over.

His first impression was that he was not a cowboy, he carried himself with the easy confidence of a man used to getting his own way. He wrinkled his brow what was he doing out here?

Ben noticed the man talking to Cort and figured this must be Terry. From the way he carried himself and his stance suggested military. A man in charge who would brook no foolishness. Ben narrowed his eyes, well what the hell he’d just tell him who he was.

Terry walked over to the cabin, "You must be Ben Wade, I’m Terry Johnson."

He held out his hand and Ben shook it with his left. "Good to meet you, Terry."

"Oh, I forgot about your hand, how’s it goin’?"

"Slow, I’m right handed, makes it a little difficult."

"Speakin’ of difficult…you want to explain yourself? You seem to have caused a few problems since you’ve been here. I don’t like problems, Ben."

Ben looked to the side and then met his eyes, "I don’t like problems either, how’s Jake?"

Terry blinked, "Jake’s in ICU, he’s expected to come home by the end of the week, if everything checks out. How about tellin’ me what you’re doin’ here."

"I like to keep my hand in you know, get out and work with real people once in awhile, connect with the real world. I’m sorry for the trouble here, never thought it would get to this."

"Who are you?"

"Wade Petrol Industries," he smiled and tilted his head, "That would be me."

The guy was a fucking billionaire, "So, you’re just out here playing games; fucking with people."

"I wouldn’t say that, no I wouldn’t say that at all, you see I started out on a ranch my Daddy owned. I don’t want to ever get to the place where I can’t walk in a bar and buy a cowboy a beer and talk shop with him. I guess I never been that comfortable up there in that rarified air of the Dallas high rises. I kinda envy you, Terry."

Terry ran his hand over his face, "You can’t stay here, Ben there’s my sister to think of too."

"Well now, I think of her too, Terry I’d like to see her again."

"I don’t think you’re good for her."

"Why don’t we let her make that decision. I won’t impose on your…hospitality much longer. My truck’s in the shop in Amarillo, as soon as it’s ready I’ll move on. Terry, Jake’s medical expenses are on me."

"I can take care of my own people, Ben I don’t need your money."

"Funny thing, I don’t either I’d be just as happy ridin’ my horse out at daybreak over this ranch. I would appreciate it if you don’t say anything to anybody about who I am. I ain’t gonna be here much longer anyway. I don’t want to cause anymore bother."

Terry stared at him, "Well, Ben Wade, enjoy your little vacation…what are you going to do about the sheriff?"

"Oh, I’ll alert my legal department, anything comes of it they’ll handle it. I don’t expect anything at all."

Terry knew the man to be ruthless in business and always one step ahead. He was also honest, or at least he thought he had been with him. "Find out when your truck will be ready, I’ll give you a ride into town."

"I’ll do that…thanks."

Terry turned and walked back up to the house. He hadn’t expected that; the  name rang a bell but didn’t register until he mentioned Wade Petrol. The man was a self made billionaire, he could be anywhere in the world he wanted right now, and Terry wished he was somewhere else.

Sarah finished loading the dishwasher, "Want some more coffee, Terry?"

Terry sat down at the table, "Yeah, if its made."

"Marie called, she’s ready to come back, I might go get her. Jake’s doing good she said, his color is back, probably just going to adjust his medication."

"That’s good news."

"Did you talk to Ben Wade."

"Ah…yeah I did."

"Is he fired?"

"No he evidently has a truck in the shop in Amarillo, soon as it’s ready he’ll move on. We left it at that."

"That’s good you don’t look very happy about that."

Terry smiled, "Oh but I am, Sarah. I’ll be very glad to see the back of him."

Bobbie had not left her room, breakfast had come and gone and she had no appetite for it. She laid awake most of the night and relived her afternoon with Ben. There hadn’t been many men in Bobbie’s life, a young cowboy one year in her late teens, then Alan whom she married right out of college, and John. Ben was different, he had taken charge of her right from the beginning, took her places she didn’t know existed. How could she not want that again now that she knew? The feel of him, the taste of him, the smell of him, there didn’t seem a way she could ever wash herself clean of him. Did she want to…she tried to see herself in John’s arms again…and couldn’t. She was going to break his heart, but there was no help for it.

Bobbie was convinced Terry was going to let Ben go, there would be no future with him and she was trying to accept that. He would be gone from her life as quickly as he’d come into it, and she would never be the same. John would never speak to her again. She got up and showered and decided to go riding by herself before John called.

Billie wandered out watching the calves being branded for awhile just to see Cort. He was busy, but sent her a heart stopping smile. What a difference a day made a lot of things had changed since Ben Wade came. Not that she thought he had anything to do with Cort’s finally noticing her womanly charms, but things seem to happen around him. She noticed him on the other side of the shute and walked over.

Climbing up on the fence beside him, "Mornin’ Ben."

"Hey, Billie, how come you’re not out there hog tying?"

"I don’t get into that, how come you’re still here?"

"Well now, you tryin’ to get rid of me?"

"No not really, I guess it’d be alright with me if you stayed around."

"I ‘preciate that, Billie I really do, but I’ll be movin’ on soon enough. How’s your sister this mornin’, did she get all right?"

Billie cut her eyes around to him, "I don’t think she’s ever gonna be all right again thanks to you. What did you do to her anyway?"

Ben smiled and didn’t answer.

Bobbie watched East work the gray quarter horse while Carl saddled her mount. She thought he had such grace about him, an easy touch here and there, insistent, accepting nothing else but what he wanted, he was the best horse trainer they’d ever had. She smiled when he noticed her and backed off the fence so as not to distract him further.  She wondered why Billie had never…oh well.

Sarah left to go pick up Marie and Terry went out the back door over to the building that held his office. He expected the horses he bought to be delivered this week sometime. He needed to see about getting East some help, if he’d accept it that is. East had his own way of doing things, and smiled remembering that Jake had once said he thought the boy had been foaled instead of born. Terry thought he might give him a raise, unlike some of the other permanent men, he’d never asked for anything.

Part 15

East took the quarter horse through the gate and into the pasture, riding him round the other horses. He reached down and patted his neck and head. He would make someone a good horse.

He looked again at the palomino standing away from the other horses. East had already broken him to his liking, and begun training. There was something about the horse that drew East to him. He dismounted and took the saddle off the grey, setting it down by the fence.

East walked out in the pasture and waited, the palomino was interested and made his way over. East communicated with him the only way he knew how, by touch and soft sounds.

Ben had walked up to take his horse from the paddock, Carl saddled Ribbon and Ben rode up by the pasture. He stopped to watch East with the palomino now there was a man and his horse. East walked back to the fence and noticed Ben.

"G’day Ben." Ben wasn’t his favorite person.

"That’s a fine horse you’ve got there, East."

"Ah the palo…he’s not mine."

"The hell you say he wants to be yours, look at him. Call to him, East."

East made a sound and the horses’ ears perked up, East did it again and he moved side to side before he decided to come over. East smiled and rubbed his head."

"How come he’s not your horse?" asked Ben.

"I couldn’t afford him, mate, he’s a beauty though."

"You ought to save up and buy him, he’d be worth whatever they want for him."

"Nah, I’m savin’ for something else."

"Oh, what is that may I ask?"

"I want my own horse ranch, I’ve been saving for four years now and it’s mounting up. Pay’s good here and I don’t have any expenses except beer."

"How old are you East?"

"Twenty four."

"How long before you reckon you’ll have that ranch?"

"Ah, maybe a couple or three years, I’ll be ready then."

Ben mounted his horse, "East that horse is yours boy." He turned and rode back toward the house.

Terry looked again at the check in his hand and then at the man’s back as he walked back to his horse. Ben had just bought East a very expensive horse. He’d quoted high, now why had he done that…and Ben hadn’t blinked. It was only when he handed him the check that he’d said it was for East. Hell he would have given East a horse.

The house phone was ringing again, where the hell was Bobbie? He hadn’t seen her all day.

"Triple J"

"Terry, its John, I was just wondering if everything is okay out there."

"Uh yeah, John, seems to be settling down now, Jake is gonna be okay, something about his medicine. Um, Sarah’s gone to pick up Marie and I know she wouldn’t leave if Jake was in trouble.

"That’s good to hear, Terry. Is Ben still around?"

"Yes he is, seems he’s got a truck in a garage somewhere in Amarillo being fixed for something, and as soon as it’s ready he’s gone."

"I thought you ought to know, I, e,r looked him up, do you know who he is, Terry?"

"I had a talk with him this morning, and yes I do, quite a surprise."

"Yeah, well, is Bobbie around?"

"I haven’t seen her this morning, John, I’ll have her call you."

"Sure, Terry, see ya."

Terry thought he might walk out and watch the branding for awhile. He spotted Billie and smiled. Not her usual taste, wonder what brought her out here. He still wasn’t sure he’d done the right thing, he liked Cort but couldn’t quite get his head around Cort and Billie.

"Hey, Terry."

"Billie, what brings you out here I didn’t think you liked branding."

"I don’t, I think’s cruel, I’m watching Cort."

Terry watched him rope a calf, "He doesn’t miss often does he?"

"Only once since I’ve been here, and he’s workin’ with a sore hand."

"About Cort, Billie I still think he’s too old for you…"

Billie rolled her eyes, "We’re not having this conversation again are we?"

"But he asked, and I didn’t exactly give it my blessin’, he knows he’d better be careful."

"What are you talking about, Terry?"

"You and Cort, he wants to take you out."

Billie fell off the fence.

Bobbie rode to the river and dismounted letting her horse water and graze. She sat down under a low tree and wiped her forehead, the water looked awfully inviting. Well why not, nobody else was around, so she stripped and waded out and dipped underwater. She floated for a while looking at the sky. For all her thinking she kept coming back to Ben.

The river at this point wasn’t deep but pooled up at a row of rocks providing a nice place to swim on a hot day.

Ben had ridden up to the top of a rise overlooking the river, edging slowly along he saw her and stopped. Looking up at the heavens, he mouthed the words thank you , then slowly and silently made his way down to the riverbank. He tied Ribbon to a tree and sat down by her clothes, watching her floating, a small smile playing on his lips. Her skin sparkled in the sun and her hair fanned out around her head as she lazily paddled her arms.

Bobbie rolled over in the water and dipped down again holding her head back so her hair would fall behind her. She stood up and blinked the water out of her eyes. She saw him under the tree and somehow it seemed right he should be there, he’d been on her mind for sometime now. She began walking toward the bank.

"Hello Bobbie," he said quietly.

Her heart was beginning a wild pounding in her chest as she walked to him and went down on her knees. He took her head in his left hand and pulled her lips to his tasting and exploring with his tongue. They spent some time under the tree before she pulled on her clothes and helped him with his.

"Damn woman," he said into her hair as he held her close to his chest.

"Ben, what am I goin’ to do?"

"Stay with me."

"It’s not that simple, I’m in a mess of my own makin’."

"Get out of it…go with me, Bobbie."

"Go where, Ben, I can’t follow a saddle bum."

"Why not if that saddle bum loves you. \what is it you need? I can give it to you."

"I don’t know…I don’t know anything…I just feel lost I don’t know myself anymore."

"Do you feel lost right now here in my arms, don’t you know it’s the safest place in the world you could be, nothin’ can touch you here but me, and I’ll touch you with love."

"Where would we go, what would we do?"

"Anywhere in the world you want to go, and do what you want to do. I can do that for you, Bobbie."

She held him tight around the waist, "I don’t want you to go away."

"You’re not listenin’ to me darling’. I want you to go with me, stay with me, Bobbie, stay with me."

"Oh God, Ben, I love you. God help me I love you."

"That’s what I wanted to hear, that’s all I nee. I’ll make it happen for us, Bobbie will you trust me?"

"Yes…I…think I’ve lost my mind…I’ll go with you oh yes, Ben whatever we have to do to make it, I can work I do have some skills."

Ben chuckled deep in his chest, "You ain’t got to worry about nothin’, keep them skills for me ‘cause I love ‘em," he tilted her chin up and kissed her. "I need to make some phone calls, we’ll be out of here before nightfall."

"But…"

"No…you’re going with me, leave it alone now leave the how and where to me."

"I need to pack and…I have to tell everybody…leave today."

"You don’t need to pack a thing but your toothbrush I’ll get you whatever you need, Bobbie. You want me to go with you to tell Terry?"

"Oh God…Terry…he’s not going to like this."

"It’s not his life its yours and mine we’re talkin’ about, I’ll go with you."

Part 16

Cort, hot, dusty and tired, called it a day and headed back to his cabin for a shower. He’d seen Billie fall off the fence, and rushed over, to see her laughing. Glad she was okay, he’d gone back to work. He hoped that he’d see her tonight as he unwound the dirty bandage from his hand and flexed his fingers.

He was getting dressed when he heard the door open, and popped his head around the door to his room. It was Ben.

"Hey Ben see you’re still here, Terry let you off?"

"I ain’t gonna be here for long." He went in his room and threw his things in the leather bag.

"So you are going, sorry about that, Ben." Cort was in his doorway rolling up his sleeves.

Ben sat down on his bed for a minute, "Cort, is this what you want to do with your life?"

"What are you talkin’ about?"

"Bustin’ your ass on somebody else’s ranch."

"I guess I ain’t really thought that much about it, it’s a job I know how to do."

"If somebody offered you more…you’re a good people person, Cort I like the way you handle yourself. You ain’t afraid of takin’ a risk and you care about people. Would you take it if somebody offered you more…a better lifestyle…a chance."

"Oh well," he grinned,"I guess it’d depend on what it was, I ain’t stealin’ no more horses."

"We ain’t talkin’ about stealin’ horses all strickly legal a high payin’ job."

"I lived high one time before…well at my Daddy’s ranch."

"This is you livin’ high on your own, doin’ what you want to, you’d have the money to have your own ranch."

"What are we talkin’ about here, Ben?"

"I’m offerin’ you a job, Cort as my right hand man."

"Right hand at what, who are you, Ben?"

Ben looked up and smiled, "Wade Petrol Industries that’s who I am."

"You’re shittin’ me, what the hell are you doin’ out here at the Triple J?"

"Tryin’ to keep my feet on the ground, keep myself sane. Only way I know how is to go back to my roots every once in a while. So what do you say?"

"I…don’t righly know right now I signed on here for the summer and now Jake’s out."

"I appreciate that, you want to work your summer and come see me in the fall?" Ben pulled a card out of his bag and wrote something on the back and handed it to Cort.

"This is for real."

"Yeah, Cort it is, that’s my private number on the back you call me when you’re ready."

"Well…fuck, Ben!"

Ben stood up, "I hope not, Cort save that for Billie." He grinned and picked up his bag setting his hat on his head. "I’ll see you in the fall." He walked out toward the house.

Cort looked down at the card again and turned toward the door.

********

"This is insane, Bobbie, you can’t do this!" Sarah was red in the face.

"It’s my life, I can do what I want." Bobbie was packing her toiletries.

"Terry won’t let you." Sarah gad come upstairs after Bobbie got home and found her packing.

"What do you think he’s gonna do, Sarah, tie me up and throw me in a closet. I’ve made up my mind today I’m goin’ with Ben."

"Goin’ where goin’ how he ain’t even got a car, Bobbie."

"Well I do, if it comes to that, he’s takin’ care of everything and I trust him. Who knows, maybe we’ll ride of on horses. What I’m sayin’, Sarah, is it doesn’t matter. I just have to be with him."

"You’ve lost your mind, Bobbie. Have you told John?"

"No…if you’ll give me a bit of privacy I’ll call him."

Sarah stalked out of Bobbie’s room and went downstairs to tell Marie.

Ben placed his bag on the front porch and pulled out his cell phone, he made several calls pacing back and forth, satisfied he walked up toward East’s.

He found East drinking a beer on his porch. "Hey, East, I want to thank you for lookin’ after Ribbon for me. I’ve got a man comin’ to get him in a couple of days his last name is Redfern make sure he shows you some id."

"Ya want a bee,r mate?"

"I wouldn’t mind it."

"So you’re leavin’"

"Yeah in a couple of hours."

"Why’d ya do it…buy me the palo?"

"Because I had a dream one time too and mine came true. I like what you’re doin’, East you keep on and you’ll get there. That horse chose you I couldn’t let that go by." Ben took a long drink of his beer, "You remind me of somebody I once knew."

"Who would that be?" asked East.

Ben smiled and finished his beer.

*******

Bobbie dialed John’s cell phone, "John, I have something to tell you."

"Hey, Bobbie, I tried callin’ you this mornin’ did Terry tell you?"

"No, I haven’t seen Terry today. John, I’m leavin’"

"What do you mean leavin’?"

"I’m going away with Ben, John."

Silence…"When did this happen?"

"Yesterday, today, I’m sorry, John."

"Yeah…I guess money does it every time…well…I’m sure you’ll have a good life, Bobbie." He hung up.

Bobbie sat on the side of her bed until the pain left her chest, then stood up. She hoped somebody would come along and love John, and soon. She washed her face and dried away the tears. What did he mean about money?

She walked down and out on the front porch, and seeing his bag looked around for Ben. He was coming down the path from East’s cabin.

"Hello, darlin’," he took her in his arms and kissed her, ‘it’s gonna be about and hour and a half."

"Have we got transportation, ‘cause I got my car."

"Don’t you worry about anything, we got transport comin’. Where’s Terry, have you seen him?"

"No, he and Billie have been down watchin’ the brandin’ today, I expect he’ll be here shortly"

"You all packed up?"

"I am," she smiled into his eyes.

"You don’t know what this means to me, Bobbie you just have no idea."

"It means I love you."

"An old saddle bum like me?"

"You, bum and all. I feel like I’ve been struck by lightning. I just sizzle all over when I’m with you."

"You got me sizzlin’, woman. I’ll make you happy, Bobbie I will."

"You already have."

******

Terry and Billie walked up to the back door and Sarah opened it.

"I am so glad you’re finally here you’ve got to talk some sense into her."

"What now Sarah?"

"Bobbie, she’s about to run off with that horse thief."

Terry stopped, "What did you say?"

"Bobbie’s all packed and ready to leave with Ben Wade that’s what."

"Ah, shit," Terry ran his hand over his face.

"Are you serious?" asked Billie "Where is she?"

"Out front with him."

Billie headed for the front door, and Terry stopped her, "Let me go talk to them okay, just go back in the house somewhere."

"Well I’m not missin’ this," said Billie and she ran over to the front window to watch.

Terry stepped out on the porch and Ben and Bobbie turned, "I hear you’re leavin’, Bobbie?"

"Yes I am, I’m goin’ with Ben."

"I thought you were waitin’ on a truck to be fixed, Ben?"

"Things changed, Terry."

"I think things are happening a bit too fast here you’ve known him what two days?"

"Well that’s all it took, Terry, it’s right for me I know it."

"Ben did you tell her who.."

"No, your sister fell for a saddle bum, time enough for the rest."

"I love him, Terry I have to be with him we’ll make it work."

"I think you ought to.."

"Terry, can I talk to you a minute?", Ben motioned him over to the side, "Man talk, sweetheart," he smiled at Bobbie.

"Listen, Terry, she ain’t got no idea who I am, she’s thinkin’ she might have to go to work to help make ends meet. I’m gonna tell you somethin’ havin’ a pile of money attracts a lot of flies, just like honey. I’ve never met a woman that cared about me for just me. She’ll know when the helicopter gets here, but right now I’m just a saddle bum that loves her, and you ain’t got to worry about her ever."

"Its happening too fast, Ben, you don’t even know each other yet."

"Well we’ll have plenty of time to learn who leaves the cap of the toothpaste, shit like that don’t matter, Terry. The big thing works, the rest will fall in. The big thing works."

Billie couldn’t stand it any longer and ran out the door and hugged Bobbie, "I don’t believe it you of all people."

"I know, it’s a me I didn’t know existed, Billie."

"I’m so happy for you, where are you goin’?"

"I don’t even know, I guess somebody is comin’ to give us a ride somewhere."

"Oh you know what, Cort asked Terry if he could take me out!!"

"Terry said yes? Oh Billie…now you know…"

"Hey don’t even go there…I’m so happy for both of us." She hugged her sister again.

"I’ve got a meal cooked in the house if anybody’s interested," Marie was behind the screened door where she had been watching the goin’s on.

Terry and Billie went in the house and Bobbie stepped up on the porch and turned holding her hand out for Ben, "You mean I get to eat in the big house now," he grinned and followed her in.

Part 17

They were finishing up their iced tea when Billie heard John’s Tahoe coming up the drive, and looked across the table at Bobbie, "Bobbie, John’s here." She said wide eyed.

Bobbie’s hand went to her mouth, "I’ll go talk to him."

"Do you want me to come?" asked Ben.

"No, let me…by myself." She got up and walked out the front door.

John stopped by his vehicle when he saw her come out of the door, "I had to come Bobbie."

"I know, I’m sorry John."

"I had to try…to talk to you. I just can’t believe this is happening Bobbie, two days ago…"

"A lot has happened in two days, John, I don’t think I’m the same person I was, oh maybe I am and I just never knew myself."

"I love you, Bobbie, I know I could never give you the things he can…"

"John, please don’t…say anymore you’re a sweet and good man with nothin’ to be ashamed of, I want someone to find those things in you and love you…that someone can’t be me.

John felt his eyes moisten and turned his head, "if you ever come to your senses, Bobbie, I’ll still be here."

"Don’t do that, John just get on with your life, mine is about to start again yours will too one day."

The distant sound of a helicopter caught their attention and they looked up.

****

Cort finished his dinner and left the chuck wagon, he paused by his cabin and decided to walk up to the house and find Billie. He looked up when he heard the helicopter, stopped and watched it approach the ranch.  He figured it must be Ben’s, and headed for the house.

The helicopter circled around looking for a place to land. The bunkhouse emptied out and a crowd gathered around the low pasture where the big black helicopter set down.

Bobbie ran to the side of the house and stopped, what was a helicopter doin’ out here?

Ben had their bags and came up beside her, "Time to make your good-bye’s, darlin’ transport’s here."

"But its…it says Wade Petrol…oh my God, Ben, this is yours?"

"Yes ma’am one of ‘em anyway," he smiled.

"But I don’t understand…you’re The Ben Wade!" her eyes rounded.

"No honey, I’m just Ben."

"This is too much to take in…"

"Well I’ll do some explainin’ on the way to the airport, you best go tell your brother good bye."

Bobbie turned as if in a dream and walked back to the porch where her family had gathered.

"Terry, I had no idea…none."

Terry grabbed her and hugged her, "I know you didn’t, Bobbie you just be happy okay?"

Billie claimed the next hug, "Boy do I know how to pick ‘em, good thing I gave him a ride to the Triple J!"

"I know, and I got all over you for that, bless you Billie."

Marie and Sarah gave out hugs and advice, Cort appeared around the side of the house, and Ben came over and clapped him on the back.

"I look forward to seein’ you in Dallas, Cort and if you need anything, if I can help with anything before then, you call me okay?"

"Thanks, Ben I ‘preciate the opportunity."

"Terry, I’ll be talkin’ to you soon." Ben dipped his head to Sarah and Marie and his eyes found John still standing by his vehicle, his chin came up and he locked eyes for a minute and saluted him, taking up his bag and motioning for Cort to take Bobbie’s out to the helicopter.

"I hope next time I see you I got two good hands, thanks Cort, you go on and take care of that pretty little filly waitin’ on you." He smiled.

Ben helped Bobbie into the helicopter and they turned waved and closed the door.

They all watched the helicopter until it was out of sight, the cowboys wandered back down the hill, Marie went in the back door, and Terry walked over to John putting his hand on his shoulder.

"John, I want you to know you’re welcome here anytime, bring your boys out here okay?"

John was still looking in the direction of the helicopter, "Yeah, thanks, Terry…she didn’t know did she, who he was?"

"No, Ben didn’t want her to know, she fell for a saddle bum not a billionaire.  You want to come in for a glass of tea or something."

"Ah, no thanks Terry, I’ll see ya." He got in his Tahoe and backed out of the yard.

Sarah slid her arm around Terry, "it’s like a fairy tale, Terry, Cinderella or something, I’m happy for her."

"Yeah, I hope everything works out for them, it just bothers me that it happened so fast."

"Hey I knew you were the one first time I laid eyes on you, it just took you a while to figure it out."

"Not that long, Sarah, about ten minutes maybe," he smiled and kissed her.

****

"I thought we might go ridin’ or somethin’ if you want to." Suggested Cort.

"That sounds like a good idea, any particular direction?"

He slid his arm around Billie walking up toward the stables, "Haven’t been up to the river in awhile."

Billie smiled, "Anywhere, Cort, anywhere."

They met East up by the pasture, he was taking the palomino out of the fence.

"Hey, East wanna ride with us?" asked Billie.

East mounted and looked over at them, "Nah, you two don’t need company, " He winked at Billie and took off building to a canter across the fields.

Billie and Cort rode to the river splashing across the in the shallows to the rocks beyond.

"Hey Cort wanna go skinny dippin’?" asked Billie grinning.

"I never skinny dip on a first date, Billie."

They settled for sitting on the rocks and splashing each other, talking and laughing for awhile then moving up under the trees.

You might as well strip, Cort. You’re all wet now."

Billie leaned up against the same tree beside Cort.

"I don’t think that’s a good idea, Billie, might lead to things we don’t want to get into."

"Who says we don’t?"

"I do, since you don’t seem to have any sense at all."

"I got plenty of sense Cort, just not where you’re concerned."

"Well that’s what I mean Billie one of us has got to look out for you."

"Cort, I’m not a baby I’m also not a virgin."

"That’s somethin’ I really didn’t need to know, Billie," he leaned his head back on the tree trunk and looked up at the leaves.

"Does it make a difference, you don’t want anything to do with me now?"

Cort turned his head to her, "No, just makes it harder."

"Why, why does it have to be hard, Cort," she turned her face to his their noses barely touching.

Cort took her face in his hands and kissed her softly, running his tongue along her teeth until they parted and he took her mouth. When he pulled away she was limp in his arms and he pulled her onto his lap and held her close.

Billie had never been kissed like that before, it melted the bones in her body and settled deep in her pelvis. She let her arms curve around his neck, and settled her head on his shoulder. This is the difference between a man and a boy she thought. His hand rubbed a circle on her

Back, and she sat up and looked into his eyes and touched his lips with hers.

"You know I love you, Cort," she whispered.

He let out a low groan and lay her down in the grass kissing her again. He placed his hand splayed out in the grass beside her, not trusting himself to touch her. 

"We better go back now, Billie," his voice was soft and low.

"I don’t want to."

"I don’t either, but I’m takin’ you back," he sat up and pulled her up beside him brushing the tendrils of hair out of her eyes, she threw her arms around his shoulders and he gently pushed her back. "Billie, listen to me, I’ve got two months left here on this ranch, we can’t start this now."

"Why, why can’t we I want you, Cort."

He dropped his head for a minute, "I want you too, Billie, but when I take you I’m gonna want you with me all the time, do you understand that? I’m gonna want you in my bed everynight. I ain’t gonna be sneakin’ around for a grab and tickle."

"Are you askin’ me to marry you, Cort?"

"I ain’t askin’ nothin’ right now, you’ve got school to finish and I got a new job to start in the fall."

"A new job, you can’t leave."

"I’m going to work for Ben Wade."

"But what about us, you’re not leavin’ me behind, Cort Wells."

"You need to finish school, I promised, Terry I wouldn’t interfere with that."

"Screw Terry. You think I’m gonna sit around readin’ school books when I can be with you? Oh no, Cort, where  you go I go. I wanna be in your bed everynight and I ain’t waitin’ three more years for that to happen."

"Billie…"

"You wanted to date me, Cort well you got me now, this is me, not what Terry wants me to be or Bobbie or anybody else, this is me, and Cort I’m yours, I wanna be yours cause you’re mine and have been since the first time I saw you." She felt tears pricking her eyes and blinked.

"Oh God, Billie," Cort held her to him and kissed the top of her head. "We have to go back now." He stood up and Billie grabbed him around the waist.

"We ain’t goin’ nowhere till you promise to take me with you." She looked up meeting his eyes.

Cort kissed her again, "I promise to take you to Dallas with me, there will be hell to pay."

She grinned, "Well you better start savin’ up to pay hell then."

Cort grinned somewhere in his mind the words Terry had said came to the fore front, ‘God help you’.

The End