“By the way,” Chase addressed his remark to Ty,
“among the ‘other valuable considerations,’ she wants access to the fifty-acre tract as well as a utility easement.”
“I am building a home there,” Tara said, as if they needed to be reminded of it.
Leaning back in his chair, Chase removed the reading glasses and idly toyed with them. “There is something I’ve been wondering.”
“What’s that?” Tara asked, all bright and helpful.
“Your reason for hiring Buck Haskell to work for you.” He studied her with a look of detached interest yet he was alert for the smallest change.
Her smile was quick and careless, mildly chiding. “Who else could I find who knows every inch of the ranch as well as he does? I can understand why you would have reservations about him. But believe me, I checked him out thoroughly. I know it sounds terribly trite, but he is truly a changed man.”
“Take it from me”—Chase tossed the reading glasses onto his desk—“he is as skilled at acting as you are.”
She drew back fractionally, a wounded look in her eyes. “Please. This is not an act.”
“Maybe not,” Chase agreed without conceding the fact. “Just the same, you had best keep an eye on him. And whatever you do, don’t let him slap you on the back without first checking to make sure his hand doesn’t have a knife in it.”
“I appreciate the advice, and I will follow it,” Tara promised.
“I hope you do. As for this lease”—Chase touched the document before him—“I’m afraid we won’t be able to sign it.”
Undeterred, Tara smiled away his answer. “Obviously I didn’t expect you to sign it tonight. I know you will need to review it with your lawyers. There are always minor changes that need to be made for one side or the other. I—”
“You don’t understand,” Ty interrupted. “We don’t need to have our attorneys look at it because we can’t accept it.”
Startled, Tara divided her questioning look between the two of them. “Why ever not? What possible objection could you have to it?”
“We aren’t in a position financially to take it on,” Chase responded. “It isn’t so much the ten dollars as it is the cost to stock it. We have already sold the cattle, and we don’t have the spare capital to buy more. What resources we have available are committed to this auction. As tempting as your offer is, it simply wouldn’t be prudent for us to accept it at this time.”
“Why don’t you give us a raincheck?” Ty suggested. “Then later, if the auction is as successful as we believe it will be, we can sit down with you again.”
“Flabbergasted” was not an adjective that normally would be applied to Tara, but it described her reaction perfectly. “But signing the lease doesn’t require any financial commitment on your part. It merely gives you control of the land. Surely you want that?”
“Wanting something and not being able to afford it are two very different things. But I doubt you have had much experience with that.” Rising, Ty reached across the desk, slipped the lease back in its folder, and offered them to Tara. “I hope this hasn’t inconvenienced you too much.”
“Inconvenienced me? What about you?” Tara argued. “What about the winter hay you always got from Wolf Meadow? You will need it. And the water, too.”
“We have already committed to buy our hay from an outside source. And without additional cattle, we don’t need the water.” Ty’s smile was wry with regret. “If you had said something about this before, I could have saved you from going through all the trouble and expense of having a lease drawn up.”
“I believe Buck is still outside waiting to drive you back to town,” Chase inserted. “Ty, why don’t you walk Tara to her car?”
Short of creating a scene, Tara realized she had no choice but to leave. As furious as she was over her plans being thwarted, she longed to indulge herself with a nasty scene. But both men had been much too cordial, too reasonable in their rejection, leaving her with no opening.
Keeping an iron control on her temper, Tara accepted the folder from Ty and rose to her feet then paused, determined to gain something positive from the evening. “At least tell me you aren’t angry with me anymore? That you understand my reasons for doing this?”
“Naturally we understand. You explained things very well.” Chase nodded in assurance. “And we always try to get along with our neighbors. Which is what you will be, right?”
“Right.” Try as she might, Tara didn’t know what to make of any of this. Both Ty and Chase were too calm, too congenial. It worried her. Did they know something she didn’t?
Chapter Fourteen
R
eclining in the driver’s seat, Buck had his hat tipped forward to shield his eyes. The radio was tuned to a country music station, the volume low enough that he could still hear the murmured voices of the two cowboys lounging by the porch steps. He didn’t recognize either man, but assumed they were more than likely the offspring of somebody he knew.
Neither cowboy had so much as nodded a hello to him when they walked up to The Homestead. Buck knew right away that Chase had given orders for them to watch him. It had crossed his mind to see if he couldn’t engage them in some small talk just to pass the time, then decided not to give them anything to report, convinced that would bother Chase more.
A long rectangle of light spilled into his side vision, its presence signaling the opening of the front door. With a slight turn of his head, Buck glanced at the couple exiting The Homestead, quickly identifying Ty and Tara.
Giving his hat a push off his forehead, Buck sat up and popped the lever that brought the driver’s seat back to its upright position. By the time he stepped out of the car, the two were coming down the steps. Quickening his steps, he had the passenger door open for Tara before she reached it.
All smiles, she turned to take her leave of Ty. “Please tell your father how grateful I am for his understanding. I meant it when I said you all are the same as family to me.”
“I will tell him,” Ty promised, smiling easily as he stepped back. “Have a good evening.”
“You, too.” With a farewell wave to him, Tara slid into the seat.
As Buck moved to shut the door, he got a good look at Ty’s face. There was something just a little too pleased and a little too confident about his expression in Buck’s way of thinking. He had a feeling that his employer had just found out what it was like to tangle with the Calders.
After he had climbed into the driver’s seat, Buck flicked a quick glance at the rearview mirror, inspecting Tara’s reflection in it. But he could tell little from her expression.
Buck waited until he was headed down the forty-mile-long lane to town before he asked, “How did it go?”
She met his reflected glance in the mirror, her gaze cool and sharp. “That is really none of your business.”
Buck grinned. “That bad, huh?”
In a burst of angry frustration, Tara snapped, “If you must know, yes!”
“That’s what I thought.” He nodded in amusement.
“I don’t understand,” Tara murmured in irritation, an intensity and determination to her expression as she mentally searched for an explanation. “It was a sweet deal. Why didn’t they accept it?”
“Just out of curiosity, ma’am, exactly what did you offer ’em?”
She shot him an annoyed look in the mirror then relented. “A year’s lease to the property for ten dollars, excluding the fifty-acre building site, of course. It was all very straightforward, completely in their favor.”
“Except for one thing, I’m guessin’.”
“What?” Her gaze sharpened on him.
“I’ll bet there was a clause in there somewhere that gave you access to the property. Right?”
“Naturally. I expected it to be an issue, but they didn’t raise any objection to it. It was almost as if they had decided to turn down any offer I made before they even saw it,” Tara mused, mostly to herself as she replayed the meeting in her mind. “And you think access alone killed the idea?”
“Deader than roadkill,” Buck confirmed. “It’s just my opinion ma’am, but as long as you have title to the Wolf Meadow range, the Calders won’t give you access to diddly-squat.”
“But why? What can they possibly gain from it? It won’t stop me from building. I should think they would have already realized that. I have been flying men and equipment in for a week now. If necessary, I can continue to do it until the lodge is finished. It will likely double the construction costs, but I can easily afford it.”
“While you’re at it, you might as well figure on buying yourself a flock of those whirlybirds. Because you can bet those Calders plan on makin’ getting’ to or from that property as inconvenient as hell.”
“I can deal with it,” she stated firmly.
“Sure you can.” Buck nodded in agreement, the same amused smile edging the corners of his mouth. “But it’s gonna get mighty old after a while. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Calders aren’t counting on that.”
Clearly irritated by his obvious insight into the Calders, Tara challenged, “Do you have any suggestions, Mr. Haskell?”
“Not off the top of my head.”
“If you should come up with anything, let me know.” After delivering the sentence with a curt finality, she turned her gaze out the window to stare at the night-darkened grass sea beyond it.
“I’ll do that,” Buck replied. “Just one question, though.”
“What’s that?” Disinterested in any further conversation with him, Tara didn’t bother to glance his way.
“If it should come to it, are you prepared to go to war with the Calders?”
For a long run of seconds, she remained silent. “Not yet,” was her ultimate decision.
Buck drove another mile before curiosity got the better of him. “If you don’t mind me asking, what are you going to do now?”
After a thoughtful pause, Tara replied, “Perhaps make a point.” Buck could tell that she had a plan formulating in that brain of hers. “Step on it, will you? I have some calls I need to make.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Buck pushed the accelerator pedal a little closer to the floorboard and the vehicle surged forward, leaving a dust cloud behind it to linger in the night air.
The two cowboys, Jobe Garvey and Kyle Sullivan, followed Ty into the den. Chase waited behind the desk for their report on Buck’s movements, nodding to them when they entered.
“What happened?” He glanced sharply from one to the other.
“Nothing really, sir.” It was Jobe Garvey who answered. “When we showed up, he kinda acted like he had been expecting us. He hung around the Rover for a while then ambled off to the cemetery.”
“You went with him?” Ty sought confirmation.
“Like a couple of puppy dogs,” Kyle replied. “He spent some time at Ruth’s grave then headed straight back here and climbed into the Rover. He never budged from it until she came out to leave.”
“So he didn’t say anything to you, ask you any questions,” Chase said thoughtfully, not actually phrasing it as a question.
Garvey answered him just the same. “He never said one word.”
“Good.” Chase nodded in satisfaction and smiled. “Thanks for coming out tonight, boys. We appreciate it.” As soon as the two men had left the den, he switched his attention to Ty. “Did Tara say anything outside?”
“Just the usual small talk.” Ty settled back in his chair and draped a bent leg across his knee. “But you can bet she was confused and annoyed that we didn’t accept the deal. She’ll be back. Probably not for a few days, but she will be in touch.”
“I’m sure she will,” Chase agreed absently, a slight frown creasing his forehead. “There was one thing she said tonight that rang true. Outside of our own men, no one knows the Triple C better than Buck Haskell. He has ridden every hill and gully on this ranch—and can tell you every back trail and which one is the quickest or shortest way to anywhere.” He swiveled the leather chair around to stare at the framed map. “And she has him planted damned near in the middle of it all.”
Ty studied the map as well. “I still can’t believe he would be fool enough to try anything.”
“Maybe. Then again, maybe not.” Chase swung his chair back around. “The smart thing is to play it safe and pass the word tomorrow for everyone to keep an eye out for any strange vehicles traveling over the ranch roads.”
“Consider it done.” Ty idly adjusted the hem of his jeans, smoothing its line over his boots.
But Chase wasn’t finished. “Does O’Rourke still prowl around?”
“Not as much as he used to. Every now and then, you’ll catch sight of him, usually if Cat’s in the vicinity. Why?”
Chase reached for the telephone. “I think I’ll have Cat ask O’Rourke to keep his eyes peeled for anything unusual or suspicious. He is one man who could teach you, me, and Buck a few things about moving from one end of this ranch to the other without being seen.”
“Do you think that’s wise?” Ty questioned the decision. “Buck used him once before. And O’Rourke has never had any love for either one of us. He only tolerates us for Cat’s sake.”
“Good point. Just the same, I think Cat can handle him and make sure nothing like that happens again.” Chase slipped on his reading glasses again to punch his daughter’s telephone number.
The next morning Ty spread the word for everyone to keep a lookout for any strange vehicle traveling within the Triple C boundaries. He also made a point of mentioning that Tara had offered to lease them the Wolf Meadow range—and they had refused.
Each time the reaction was the same. After a moment or two of stunned disbelief came the smile and the wry shake of the head. The message was clear to all—the Calders would not be dancing to whatever tune Tara chose to call, as many had feared. Just how Chase and Ty intended to get the land back, no one knew. But they were confident that the Calders would find a way—their way.
Within days after the word went out, the telephone at The Homestead was ringing off the wall—not with reports of unknown vehicles being sighted, but with complaints over the marked increase of air traffic over the ranch’s north and east quadrants.
Shortly after lunch on Thursday, longtime ranchhand Jasper Karlsen stomped into the dining room, each heavy step punctuated by the harsh
chank
of his spurs. He walked straight to Chase’s chair, the angry scowl on his face was as black as a thundercloud.
He didn’t waste time coming to the point, exploding, “Dammit, Chase, you’ve gotta do somethin’ about those damned choppers! They’re flying in and out of Wolf Meadow in swarms now. The cattle over on Long Creek pasture are flighty as hell from bein’ spooked all the time. In the last couple days they must have dropped nearly a hundred pounds just from runnin’ when those damned choppers fly over.”
Ty spoke up. “I have already left a message for Tara to call me right away. When she does, hopefully I’ll be able to convince her to have the pilots fly at a higher altitude.”
“In the event he doesn’t succeed,” Chase inserted, “I already have Stumpy checking to see if he can handle any more cattle at South Branch in case we have to move them.”
“If you do, you’ll play hell roundin’ them up,” Jasper warned. “About the time you get ’em bunched together, the helicopters fly over and scatter them to hell an’ gone. What the hell is she doin’ over there anyway?”
“Ferrying in equipment and supplies for the house she’s building, I guess.” That was Ty’s supposition.
“More’n likely she’s flying in her own damned army,” Jasper retorted, then sprang to his own defense. “You think I’m exaggeratin’, but if you were out there with me, you’d swear, too, that the military must be holdin’ war maneuvers.”
“Until we get this handled, just do the best you can,” Chase advised.
The cowboy snorted in disgust. “I might as well piss up a rope. At least I’d stand a chance of accomplishin’ that,” he grumbled and stalked out of the room.
He passed Cat on her way in, grunting a response when she greeted him. “What’s wrong with Jasper?” she asked curiously. “He looked as grouchy as an old bear.”
“He’s having trouble over at Long Creek with the helicopters spooking the cattle,” Ty explained as the twins clamored for Cat’s attention.
“Uncle Culley mentioned last night that he had seen a bunch of them flying toward Blue Moon.” Cat paused by the highchairs to give each child a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Hi, sweeties.”
Jessy frowned. “I don’t understand why she needs so many.”
“Presumably, to haul all the construction workers she has hired.” Cat picked up the insulated coffee carafe and gave it a shake, checking for the telltale slosh of liquid within. There was none. “Do you have more coffee made, Sally? I could use a cup.”
“There’s some in the kitchen.” The woman rose from her chair, gathering a few plates to carry with her. “I’ll get it.”
“Thanks.” Cat pulled out an empty chair next to Jessy and sat down. “According to Logan, she is bringing in workers by the droves. I guess it’s absolute chaos in Blue Moon—even worse than when Dy-Corp opened its mining operation. Every time I think about her buying that land away from us, I get so mad I could personally strangle her.”
Jessy glimpsed some of that anger in Cat’s eyes. Truthfully she felt the same. Unfortunately it didn’t solve anything.
“Isn’t there some way we can stop her from building on it, Dad?” There was a hint of desperation mixed in with the frustration in Cat’s voice.
“As long as she has the necessary permits, which she does, she can do anything she likes. We can only step in if she attempts to cross our land to get to it,” Chase stated what they all already knew.