Cowboy For Keeps. Brenda Mott

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СКАЧАТЬ disgusts me to no end,” Estelle fumed. “Can’t the sheriff get them for trespassing on Reno’s ranch, at least?”

      “Yep, but trespassing charges aren’t going to solve the problem. The Bureau of Land Management needs to bust them for poaching and theft of government property. But what I hear from Sam Grainger, the agents have been busy out by De Beque, where this same thing’s been happening.”

      “Think it’s wise to be poking around on Reno Blackwell’s place?” Matt asked. He’d been well aware of Cade’s feelings for Reno, and the complicated decision he’d made in leaving Colorado.

      Cade shrugged. “Reckon I owe her all the help I can give.”

      “You’re an agent in Idaho, not here,” his mother reminded him. “I hate to see you hanging around Reno again.” She didn’t have to finish what he knew she was thinking. That by leaving, he’d hurt Reno, a teenage girl who’d looked up to him.

      But the older Reno had got, the more Cade’s interests had changed from brotherly to something more, especially once she turned eighteen. Yet after what her stepfather had done, not to mention what Sonny had forced Cade to do, there was nowhere for those feelings to go. Twenty-five-year-old men weren’t supposed to be attracted to eighteen-year-old girls.

      “I’m not hanging around with her, Mom. I’m just doing what needs to be done.”

      “I suppose,” Estelle said, “but there’s no sense in you dragging your father out in the middle of nowhere.”

      “For crying out loud!” Matt slammed his cup down, sloshing coffee onto the gingham tablecloth. “Why don’t you just go ahead and put me in a pine box and bury me?”

      “Matthew, calm down.”

      “Don’t tell me to calm down,” he wheezed. Suddenly, a coughing fit seized him, and Cade half rose from his chair, feeling responsible.

      “You okay, Dad?” he asked, laying a hand on his arm.

      “Oh, Matt.” Estelle scooted her own chair away from the table and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Relax. Just breathe easy.”

      “Br—breathe easy,” Matt wheezed. “Easy for you…to say.” His color had gone from red to ashen, then slowly returned to normal as he leaned back in his chair and sucked in oxygen.

      Cade felt like crap. He wished there was something he could do for his father. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

      “You didn’t,” Matt snapped. “She did.” He waved Estelle away. “Quit fussing, woman. If I’m gonna die, then so be it. But I damn sure ain’t gonna sit around this kitchen twenty-four-seven—like an invalid.” He breathed somewhat easier. “Yeah, I’ll ride along to Wild Horse Ranch with you, son.” He reached out to squeeze Cade’s hand, and his grip was surprisingly strong. “It’s good to have you home, boy.”

      Cade swallowed the lump in his throat. “It’s good to be here, Dad.” To his mother he added, “Don’t worry. I’ll look after him. The truck’s air-conditioned, so he’ll really be more comfortable in my Chevy than he is in this kitchen.” He winked at his father.

      The old ranch house was cooled by the shade of the massive cottonwoods that grew around the perimeter of the yard, front and back. Plus most of the rooms had ceiling fans and plenty of windows for cross breezes.

      Matt smiled, more like his old self. “I’ve always been a Ford man myself, but I guess a body can’t be choosey.”

      THE PHONE RANG, startling Reno from her spot in front of her home office computer. She used the PC to keep records of the mustangs that lived at her sanctuary, as well as for her own small herd of fifteen quarter horses.

      “Wild Horse Ranch.”

      “Hey, Reno,” Sheriff Pritchard said. “Hope I’m not calling too early.”

      His sexy drawl gave her shivers. “Not at all. What can I do for you, Austin?”

      “Now there’s a loaded question,” he teased. “I saw Wynonna at the diner today—talk about a morning person.” He laughed and Reno joined him.

      “Wy definitely gets up with the chickens.” Wynonna sometimes ate breakfast in town on the weekend, lingering over coffee at the diner to chat with her friends.

      “Anyway, she told me about your encounter with the poachers.”

      Reno knew where this was going. Austin wouldn’t be at all happy to know Cade was stepping on his toes.

      “I would’ve called you out if I’d been certain they would try something,” she said. “I was just following a hunch I had.”

      “Yeah, well, your hunches can get you into trouble, Reno. You need to let me handle this.”

      “Actually, there was a BLM ranger out there last night,” she said. “I’m sure you remember Cade Lantana.” Austin had become a deputy shortly before Cade hung up his badge.

      “He’s with the BLM now? I thought he’d moved to Idaho.”

      “He did, so I guess he’s not here officially. From what I understand, though, he’s got an agent friend in the Glenwood Springs office—Sam Grainger.”

      “I know Sam,” Austin said. “He’s a straight-up guy.”

      “Cade took a leave of absence to come help his mom and dad.”

      “Yeah, I guess Estelle could use him here,” Austin said. “Well, the BLM may have authority over the wild horses, but I’m the law in this county. I’m coming out to have a look around.”

      “Fine by me.” What was it to her if the two men got into a pissing contest? Besides, she enjoyed Austin’s company. “Come on up to the house and we can ride out to where the poachers were.”

      “Will do. See you in a bit, then.”

      Reno hung up the cordless and had no sooner turned back to the computer when the phone rang again. She picked it up and spoke without preamble. “If you’re wanting coffee, I’ve got the pot on.”

      “Well, that’s mighty thoughtful of you. I can always use a cup.”

      The deep, familiar voice prickled the hair on the back of her neck. “Cade. I thought you were someone else.”

      “Does that mean I don’t get any coffee?”

      She stiffened. How could he banter with her? “That all depends.”

      “On…?”

      “Whether or not Sheriff Pritchard drinks it up.”

      Silence stretched across the line. “Austin Pritchard? He’s sheriff now?”

      “Martinez retired shortly after you left. I would’ve thought your mom told you that.”

      “We try not to talk much about the past.”

      Reno СКАЧАТЬ