Dodge the Bullet (6 page)

“What is this you put on the steak?” he
asked.

She looked up from her plate, glanced at his
and laughed. “You’re almost done and you finally realized there was
a marinade on the meat. It’s good, isn’t? I picked it up at some
hole in the wall place I stopped to eat at outside of Oklahoma City
last week. The guy at the counter promised it’d be the best I’d
ever tasted. He may just be right.”

Dodge carefully placed his knife and fork on
the plate. “You drove out here from Atlanta by yourself?”

“Yes, it was a very peaceful two days.”

“I don’t know what’s more shocking, that you
drove all that way by yourself or that that old truck of yours
actually made it this far without breaking down.” He wondered how
in the world her family had let her drive practically across the
country unaccompanied. He figured she’d probably come up through
Amarillo, and that meant she’d gone through some areas that didn’t
even have cell coverage. As much as she tried to project an image
of someone who could take care of herself, her behavior proved the
opposite. The possible pitfalls she could have encountered along
the way were staggering.

He reached over and started looking at the
photos and survey she’d laid on the counter as she cleared their
plates and refilled his water glass.

“I have multiple copies of the survey and
photos, so feel free to write on those if you want to,” she said
over the hum of the running water.

As he studied his copy, he could see the
value of her property. Did she have any idea? Almost three miles of
river and over a thousand acres of natural grassland would fetch
more money than she could ever need in her lifetime. Why did she
want to ranch her place instead of living like a queen anywhere her
heart desired?

He looked up and watched her slender hips
sway as she scrubbed a dish. She turned around and caught him
staring at her.

“Everything okay with the papers?”

Dodge straightened in his chair and cleared
his throat, tried to disguise the fact that he’d been gawking at
her. “Yeah, it’s all here. Some of these areas near the river look
like they may be slews in the spring. Were these photos taken in
the fall?”

Sarah moved around the counter and peered at
the photos over Dodge’s shoulder. Her hair edged close to his
collar. She smelled like lemons.

“Yes, that’s about right.”

“The underbrush on the other side of the
river is pretty thick. Is there any way to get across there and
take a look?”

Sarah came around the counter and faced
Dodge. “We’ve used the four wheelers to cross when the river’s
down, but it’s so high now I’m not sure we could make it.”

“That’s what I thought.” He rubbed the
stubble on his chin. “I can trailer a couple of my horses over here
this week and we can take a look.”

“Horses?” Her fingers tightened around the
leather cord of her necklace.

“You do know how to ride, don’t you?”

“Well, I’ve been on a horse before.” She
lifted her shoulders in a helpless gesture. “Is it absolutely
necessary for me to go with you?”

Dodge fought the urge to slam his forehead
into the counter. She wanted to run a ranch and she didn’t even
know how to ride. Why was he surprised? “I assumed you’d want to
know what was over there. I’ve got a real gentle horse that
shouldn’t be a problem for you to ride. Unless you’re afraid.” He
imagined she was the kind who wouldn’t back down from a challenge,
but he wanted to know for sure.

“Of course I’m not afraid.” She stammered
and nearly pulled the cord around her neck to shreds. “I just…just
thought there’d be another way to get across, that’s all.”

Dodge tried not to snort. “Ok, how does
Thursday afternoon work for you? I’ve got to be out this way then
anyway.”

“Thursday’s fine.” Sarah unclenched the
necklace and pointed to the papers he held in his hand. “Should I
go ahead and set up some appointments with the fence people for
next week?”

“Once we get a good look at the other side
of the river, I’m sure I can give you an idea of what you may need
in terms of fencing.”

He continued blocking off parcels on the
aerial photo. He’d arranged a series of pastures in 50 to 100 acre
parcels that included most of the land except the main entrance,
caretaker’s house and storage barns. The cabin had been fenced
during the building process and abutted one of the largest pastures
he’d drawn. Once she got the fences up and had the grass seeded and
weeded, she’d have a fine piece of cattle property.

He sighed wistfully. Hers was the kind of
ranch he’d been raised on. His family’s property had been almost
twice the size, with the river running along the northern border
and a few ponds near the house and barn. He’d always thought his
family would own the land forever, but his dad had had to sell most
of it when times got bad and his health declined. He’d always
wondered if maybe his dad wouldn’t have sold out like he did if
Dodge had been around to help.

No one ever expected him to come back to
town. The icy reception he continued to receive from the old timers
sometimes made him wonder why the hell he stayed. But he was tired
of running from the past. He needed to face his demons and learn to
live with what had happened years ago because whatever distance he
put between himself and his sleepy hometown hadn’t helped.

Sarah put the last dish away and closed the
cabinet just above her head. “Looks like you’ve made some progress
here.” She slid into the seat next to him.

He straightened and passed the papers to
her. “It’s just a start, but I think getting a look at the other
side of the river will bring it all together.”

A small smile crossed her face as she
studied his work. “I like it.”

“That’s it?” he asked. “No questions?”

“Nope. I think I can tell what’s what from
what you’ve done.”

“Good.” Dodge stood and stretched his back,
moved toward the stairs that led to the garage and picked up his
hat and jacket. “Thanks for dinner. I’ll call you when I’m on my
way out Thursday, probably late afternoon.”

“You brought dinner and cooked it yourself
so I’d hardly say you owe me thanks. I appreciate all your help
with this, Dodge, I really do.”

With a nod, he placed his old Stetson on his
head and started down the stairs.

His cell rang as he climbed into his truck.
He flipped it open when he saw Tommy’s name on the display.

“Where the hell have you been?”

“Have you missed me?” Dodge maneuvered the
rutted road and gunned the engine when he finally hit pavement.

“In case you can’t tell, I’m not really in
the mood for games.”

“
You’re not in the mood?
I’m the one
who should be complaining.” But he couldn’t muster much energy with
his stomach full.

“That’s why I’ve been trying to reach you.
Burwick wants you away from Mrs. Woodward.”

“What do you mean?” Dodge pulled the truck
off road that led to the Rifle Range. “He’s the only reason I’m out
here in the first place.”

“You’re there now?”

“I’m just leaving. The place is a mess. I
told her I’d help rearrange the pastures a bit.”

“Well, you’ve got to stop and I mean stop
now. I don’t know what you did to Burwick, but when he found out
you were the one looking after Mrs. Woodward he ordered me to get
you away from her. I swear Dodge, you’ve got more enemies than I’ve
got friends. And I’ve got plenty of friends. Burwick isn’t someone
I’d want as an enemy.”

Dodge thought about the Machiavellian
Senator and the tract of Wyoming pasture land he’d bought before
Burwick could get his hands on it for development. It had been
nearly a decade since he’d put the tract under easement to protect
it from development and Dodge wasn’t surprised the Senator hadn’t
forgotten.

“Why the hell did you tell him I was helping
Sarah?”

“Who’s Sarah?” Tommy let out a breath so
loud it sounded like a hiss. “Don’t tell me you’re interested in
Mrs. Woodward. That’s the last thing you or I need right now.”

Dodge tightened his grip on the wheel. “Why
would you assume I’m interested? Because I used her first name?
She’s a widow, for God’s sake.”

“She’s also a woman. Look, I don’t care if
you’re interested or not, I just need you to leave her alone. I can
probably get her up and running myself.”

Dodge could feel anger boiling away in his
gut that only moments before had been pleasantly full. He didn’t
have any intention of walking away from her just because Burwick
demanded. If helping Sarah out made him mad, well, that was just an
added bonus. “You don’t know any more about the business than she
does. You can tell Benji to mind his own damn business. I’ve
already made promises to
Mrs. Woodward
that I don’t intend
to break just because he’s got his hackles up.”

“Damn it Dodge. You’re putting me in a bad
spot.”

“I’m sorry you’re in the middle, Tommy, but
you’re the one who asked me to help her in the first place. I won’t
go back on my word.”

“You’re asking for a shit-load of trouble,
you know that, don’t you?”

“What the hell else is new? I’m not talking
about forever here. Once she gets her fences up and I can find a
good man to run the day to day, she won’t need me at all.”

Sarah
sat on the couch reviewing the photos of her property Dodge had
divided into pastures. It made sense. Rotating the cows through
pastures, letting each section recover before turning them lose to
graze again. Unfortunately, the more she thought about all the
things Dodge had said, the more she realized she didn’t have a clue
what to do next. She reached for the phone.

“Paula, hi, it’s Sarah Woodward.” Sarah felt
relieved to reach the agent who’d helped her and Todd close the
deal on their ranch five years ago.

“Sarah, I’d heard through the grapevine
you’d moved to Hailey. How’s it going?” Paula Hamilton spoke with
the same Midwestern lilt that had patiently guided her and Todd
years ago. Her knowledge of the area and pragmatic advice had been
an invaluable asset to the Woodward’s when they’d started looking
for property in the valley.

“It’s coming along, but I have to admit my
inattention over the last few years has caught up with the place.
The ranch is almost as run down as when we bought it.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. You know I think
that property of yours is a diamond in the rough. I’m sure with a
little TLC you’ll have it up and running in no time.” Sarah could
hear the fax machine buzzing in the background and visualized Paula
in her cramped office working on a dozen things at once.

“That’s sort of why I’m calling. I’ve gotten
someone to help me with the initial plans, but I need to find
someone who’ll be willing to work for me and teach me the business
of ranching. Dodge seems to think that’s impossible, but I thought
if there was someone around here to fit that bill, you’d be the one
who’d know.”

“Dodge? You mean A.J. Dodge?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“How did you hook up with Dodge?”

The hesitation she heard in Paula’s voice
sent a chill up her spine. “Well, I don’t really understand it
much, myself. Apparently his friend Tommy Thornton asked him to
check up on me at the request of Senator Burwick. Todd had met the
senator a few times and he’s inquired about buying the land. I’m
not sure why he’d ask anyone to help.”

When Paula didn’t respond, Sarah asked, “Is
there something I should know about Dodge? I have to say he’s been
extremely kind, although he’s a little rough around the edges.”

“I…I don’t like to pass along rumors, but…”
She hesitated.

Sarah felt goose bumps rise along her limbs
and suddenly wished she’d made the call earlier. “Paula, if you
think there’s something I need to know, please don’t hold back. The
kids are coming on Saturday and I don’t want them around anyone who
may put them in danger.”

Paula cleared her throat. “There’s really no
danger, Sarah. I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just that, well, he
doesn’t have the best reputation around town. Something to do with
him and some girl when he was younger. I personally don’t know him
very well. He mostly stays to himself, but his sisters and dad are
well known and liked in the valley. I guess I shouldn’t have said
anything, but most people don’t seem to…trust him.”

Sarah tried to let Paula’s words jibe with
her own impression of Dodge and couldn’t quite make a match.

“Just forget I said anything,” Paula filled
the silence. “I don’t know of anyone offhand who’d be good to work
with you, but I’ll give it some thought and ask around.”

“I’d really appreciate that Paula, thank
you.”

She hung up the phone and fell back against
the couch. Could she have misjudged Dodge so completely? He was
boorish and blunt, but she’d never, not once, gotten the sense he
was someone she couldn’t trust. If anything, he seemed overly
concerned for her safety. Her instincts about people were usually
right on target, with a few memorable exceptions. She picked up the
photos he’d altered the night before. Whatever made people gossip
had happened a long time ago. She couldn’t turn away from the only
offer of help she’d received just because of some rumors. Her gut
told her she could trust him and she had to trust her gut.

###

By mid-day Thursday Dodge’s head throbbed
and his patience was shot. His hired man had gone on a binger the
night before and hadn’t shown up at the feed lot. And his hay
delivery had been delayed because of ‘transportation issues.’ He
should have known the price he’d been quoted was too good to be
true. He intended to talk to Sarah about leasing her circle for hay
next year in order to avoid future ‘transportation issues.’