Riders - Horizons (III) (2 page)

“I'll consider the
situation carefully.”

“You'd better do more than
just consider. You'd better make sure they're treated like a pair
of princesses. Because they're our girls.” I looked to Kicker for
support and he gave me his assured smile of agreement.

“They sure are. I'm just
calling Cherry to make sure my princess is okay.”

“Kicker? You just spoke to
her five minutes ago? Fucking hell man, you're a lost
case!”

“I know. She's got me
wrapped 'round her finger. And I don't care,” he chuckled, picking
out his cell, disappearing round the corner for some
privacy.

My attention came back to Mickey.

“I expect better things
from you. You're gonna run Riders as an honest business from now
on.”

A wicked gleam arose in his eyes.

“Sure, whatever you
say,
boss
.
I
really
appreciate you putting me on the straight and narrow,” he
added sarcastically, “and one good turn deserves another in my
book. Here's a warning for you. Your little bitch of a princess is
playing you for a fool. She's got your balls in her hand, ain't
she? In your pants already and worming her way into your pocket
before long. She knows where to hedge her bets for a better future.
She's a smart little bitch. I knew it the first day I had her
working on the job.”

My mouth dropped open in shocked surprise.
This was completely out the blue. The dark eyes glowed like hot
coals, and a look of pure glee arose on his face when he saw my
instant reaction to his words.

My blood boiled within me fast.

“Don't talk shit, you
lying piece of scum,
” I ground out, just
about keeping it together.

He put his hands up. “Just a warning. She's
a sweet little honey trap. A picture of innocence. But I saw her
looking and asking about you. And I heard her talking. I confronted
her about it, told her I knew her game. She's set her sights on
you, Lyle. She's working you like a pro. An evil little gold
digger, that one. Fair warning, right?”

I could have punched his lights out, and
before I could stop myself, I had my hands around his throat.

“You bastard
liar,
” I fumed.

Kicker arrived behind me, and pulled me off
him.

“Hey cool it, pal. The guy
ain't worth going to jail for, whatever your problem.”

“Shit,
” I strode off, raging inside, wondering if there was any
grain of truth in his words. I tried to deny it, but the
possibility stuck in my brain, regardless. Things started flying
through my head.

Working me? No...
but
―

There were things she'd said and done which
had started to take on a different meaning and I couldn't stop that
or rewind my thoughts. Doubts flooded in.

The way she'd reacted when I'd told her I
didn't have much cash to my name. My Harley was on credit.

The look on her face...
was that surprise or was it actually disappointment?

She must have figured I
had money coming my way sometime in the future. My father was a
wealthy man. I
was
the path to considerable wealth, at some stage. Unless he
disinherited me, but she wouldn't know about that
possibility.

Her behavior started to run through my mind.
The way she'd constantly pushed me away, making me want her more
and more. Then just giving it up like that, with no resistance, on
her mother's porch.

That had replayed itself constantly through
my head, like the hottest, sweetest and most tantalizing taster of
a woman that a guy could have. That made me want a whole lot more
of where that came from.

All those tears and distress. Was that real
or put on?

By this point, I was beginning to think she
really was playing me. I thought of earlier today and how she'd
kept me at arms length. Until we sat together at the river. She
knew how to press all my buttons, until I wanted her so bad, I was
almost climbing up my own ass.

A mistress of words and persuasive
manipulation. Wasn't that who she was studying to be?

That sweet little trip out with her sister.
Entrapment, seduction, female cunning. I'd had experience of that
before, but nothing like her league.

I got on my bike, stewing to the depths of
my soul.

I conveniently forgot all about the fact the
Mickey was a lying piece of shit and it was he who had planted the
seed of doubt in my mind.

My God, how fast that seed of doubt had
grown.

Mickey had worked a fucker of a number on my
head.

Very soon one plus one made three hundred
and fifty seven, somehow.

I started the engine, my mind clouded with a
dark disappointment.

I roared off in a blaze of noise and dust, a
cold rage brewing deep inside me.

Two can play at that game.

TIFFANY

I brushed Philipa's wet hair and plaited it
in a fishtail braid so it dried in soft waves. She liked that. It
made her smile and I'd do anything to make her smile. Sometimes it
broke my heart. That her life was bound and constricted by Downs.
Mom and I tried to be positive and to make her feel as normal as we
could, but the rest of the world was not so accommodating and
protective as we were. I feared for her, deep down. Life was tough
enough, without her extra burden. I couldn't bear for her to be
disappointed too badly.

Philipa was drawing a picture of a horse.
She was suddenly into horses, for obvious reasons. There were
pictures of horses all over the kitchen. How she'd adored
yesterday's ride. So had I.

I smiled widely, remembering the gorgeous
horse I'd ridden and the sight of him on his. Joshua was a hot
piece of ass on his Harley, but Joshua on a horse... WOW... that
had really thrown me. Hot didn't come close. He was orgasmic...

I remembered the feel of coming with him
inside me. The wave of pleasure and the way everything clamped up
tight. I muffled a groan.

I'd like to have more of that kind of
experience with him. I'd loved the sound of him gasping in my ear
when he exploded into me. It may have been a reckless moment we
shared, but I was coming to terms with it now that there looked to
be a worthwhile relationship forming between us. I wanted more of
that groan of his.

My cell buzzed. I smiled widely as I
answered it. Did I just conjure him up...? I wanted to hear his
voice so badly...

“Hi babe, how's the hot
head rancher today?” I giggled.

“Not in the greatest of
moods,” he replied, tersely.

“Oh, I'm sorry to hear
that. Did you find out about the dead cattle?”

“No, haven't had time to
get around to that shit yet...” he replied, taking in a deep breath
and then sighing. I loved the sounds he made, even if he wasn't in
a great frame of mind. “but anyway, the reason for this call...
could you give me your mom's name, and her cell number, please. One
of my guys is gonna look her truck over. He can sort it out with
her, directly. And I need your address too, I didn't take note of
it.”

“My mom's name is Miranda,
I'll text the rest. It's so good of you. We really appreciate it.
”

“I carry through with my
promises. Even if that makes me an idiot at times...” I couldn't
help notice the heavy sarcasm edging into his voice, and what a
strange choice of words.

“Josh, you're no idiot and
you sound really pissed off. What's up?”

“Nothing, and fucking
everything... I'd better go before I say something I
shouldn't.”

“What have I done, what's
wrong?”

“You're the lawyer, how's
the current case going?”

“What case?” I was getting
very confused. It was only 11 a.m. But I wondered if he was drunk.
If so, I hoped he wasn't a miserable drunk like this all the
time.“Can I come over and sort this out, face to face?” I thought I
could suss out if he'd been drinking at least.

“No, I'm busy today, but I
can spare you a few minutes this evening. Make it eight. I'll be at
the bunkhouse. Don't be late, I've got plans for later.”

“Sure, that's fine,” I
murmured getting quite upset at his 'couldn't give a fuck'
attitude.

He even hung up on me before I could say
goodbye.

“Yeah... well... bye to
you too, babe!”

Why no goodbye, or anything pleasant
mentioned about the day we'd spent together? A lump rose in my
throat and the hurtful sting of tears flooded my eyes.

What a strange, unnerving conversation. I
got the distinct impression he was more than unimpressed and had
lost interest in me.

What on earth had happened between yesterday
evening and today to make him feel that way? Perhaps it was his
job? He was under stress or something? I tried hard not to worry
too much, because I was very interested in him now. After the
wonderful day I'd had yesterday. He was nothing like I'd imagined
he'd be and I liked him so very much. I was prepared to give him a
chance and to tell him so.

Perhaps that was what he needed? Some nice
news? Some hot attention? Someone to listen and to care?

We all have days where we feel down. Life
can get you like that.

I swallowed my bad reaction to his call and
forced a smile on my face as Philipa held up her latest masterpiece
for my approval. I took it from her in awe. She really was a good
artist. Very talented. The horse head and neck was shaded heavily.
His eye was perfect. I knew whose horse this one was. It had a
white cross on it's forehead. Storm was so handsome, completely
beautiful. Much like the guy who sat on him.

“Joshua's horse is lovely.
Joshua's lovely. Kicker is very lovely. I love him. Can I marry
him?” Her voice had a note of pleading. As if I could grant her
wish, just like that.

“Kicker's a little old for
you, sweet. Think about that. But yes, everything in the world is
lovely, isn't it?” The irony of my words brought a pain to my
chest.

“I love horses, Tiffy, I
want one. Can I have one? Just a little one.”

“I don't think so. They're
very expensive to buy and look after, you see.”

Her mouth drooped with the two big refusals
she'd received. No Kicker to marry and no little horse. “Maybe one
day. If things change for the better,” I said vaguely, and her face
brightened again.

“If you marry Joshua, we
can live on the Ranch and I can have a horse, can't I?”

My heart squeezed so tightly.

I said a little prayer... for Philipa...
that she'd be happy and her dreams came true. As for mine, I didn't
dare hope for anything like that.

JOSHUA

With a fair degree of
revulsion, I carefully began to dig out the bullets from the dead
cattle. I needed to resolve this issue and it would take a
scientific approach to do it. I had to get some tangible evidence.
After a fairly repulsive dig around, I found what I needed. Placing
the two bullets in my pocket, I mounted my horse and rode back to
the ranch. It was a long ride and a hot day. I stopped at the ridge
and to
ok a rest, giving Storm a break.

I was still stinging over her. She was the
only girl I'd really felt strongly about. She was cool, beautiful,
smart, and seemed to be very into me. That day I spent with her and
her sister had been a great day. Something I'd like to have
repeated several times over. I'd felt something new growing inside
me. She'd awoken a tide of protectiveness. I'd wanted to look after
her. Both the Johnson girls. And at the same time, I wanted to
please them. To ensure they had a good time with me.

I paced up and down on the grass as Storm
grazed, oblivious to my agitated mood. I chewed a piece of grass
while I stewed over my thoughts.

More fool me. Appearances could be so
deceptive. Lesson learned.

I returned to the saddle, swinging myself up
and heading off with a hardened heart.

*

She placed them in a labeled plastic bag
with a pair of tweezers, “I'll send them off to forensics. And we
need to eliminate your fingerprints, so can we take those, Josh?”
Lorna, the Deputy Sheriff said.

“Sure. Go ahead, Lorna.” I
held out my hand, submitting to the finger printing. I'd do
whatever was necessary to bring the bastard who did this to
justice.

“Got any enemies, people
with a grudge? Ex employees? Bad blood? Anything like
that?”

“Two guys spring to mind.
Lucky, who I just fired. He's always been on my case. He could have
done this to cause me trouble. The other, more likely culprit is
our dear friend Mickey Green. Since my pa bought him out, he's
always had a sore spot. This would be right up his street, sneaking
in and shooting something belonging to us.”

She picked up my other hand and proceeded to
print that too.

“We need more than a hunch
to go on. I can't get a search warrant to look for a gun unless I
have good reason. But I can make inquiries at the gun stores. To
see if he purchased one local. If I can match a weapon type to the
bullet, along with due cause and motive, such as a grudge, that may
well be enough to convince the municipal judge to issue a search
warrant.”

“Whatever you can do to
help will be appreciated. I don't know what I can do other than
hire a PI.”

“You don't want to do
that. Not in this instance. Don't tamper with the process of law,
Josh.” Lorna smiled at me. She had a sweet smile. She was far too
old for me at almost fifty, but she still had a lot of sex appeal.
“Right we're done, wipe your fingers, Josh.
”