The Reluctant Rancher~Badlands (Contemporary Western Romantic Suspense) (25 page)

And then
, there was the matter of cattle rustlers.
Seriously?
How could they steal a couple hundred head of cattle without his foreman, Leon, noticing?

E.J. sat up in bed
, a chill skittering across his skin.

How could Leon not have
known about the missing cattle?

Suddenly
, everything fell into place. He had always felt a certain animosity from the foreman, but he’d thought it had to do with Eldon being imprisoned and having a new, inexperienced boss thrust upon him.

E.J. got up and paced around the room, raking his fingers through his hair.
How does this all tie together?

He gave up on sleep and took a quick shower. Throwing on some clothes, he went down to the kitchen and started the coffee. While it brewed
, he stepped out the back door.

The wide patio and pool area looked neglected. Debris floated in the
water and the plants needed watering. There was an automatic sprinkler system, but he would have to figure that out too. “Sorry, Dad,” he mumbled. He straightened his shoulders and went back inside. He knew what he needed to do.

E.J. poured a cup of coffee and carried it to his father’s former office.
Might as well man up and see what the old boy had to tell me.
In his imagination, he could hear Eldon expressing disappointment that his only son had not lived up to his expectations.

Easing into the leather desk chair, E.J. sighed and
unsealed the letter, using a silver dagger-like opener with the initials EJK on the handle.

He swallowed hard.
They’re my initials too.

Unfolding the paper he felt a swell of emotion in his chest as his gaze fel
l on the familiar handwriting.

Dear son. If you are reading this, it means I have passed
on.

I always had trouble telling you how I feel. Somehow, when we’re together, it just isn’t comfortable to talk about feelings like we were a couple of girls. You know what I mean. It’s not manly to hug a
nd boo-hoo all over each other.

I always knew I did a piss-poor job of being a husband and a father. You know I loved your dear mother with all my heart and I never strayed. She was a saint and had more class in her little finger than I have in my entire body. I tried to make it up to her by earning a good living so she could live the same kind of life her parents raised her to expect. I didn’t want her to ever have reason to regret marrying a plain old cowboy instead of some Dallas high-society type.

I missed out on a lot of your growing up in my early years as a landman, but I fell in love with this beautiful part of the state of Texas and it was my dream that someday, you would love it too. I hope you know I have always been proud of you. Even if you weren’t my own flesh and blood, I would consider you a fine and worthy man. My hopes are that you can live on the land and make a good life for yourself, but if you choose to go back to the city, I understand. I have only myself to blame. I love you, son.

Dad

E.J. blinked, but tears ran down his face. He brushed them away on his sleeve and folded the letter. His father’s words stabbed into his heart. How sad that Eldon had never been able to express himself openly. How sad that Eldon had felt inadequate as a husband and father. How very sad…

~*~

Cami took a detour to the Mexican restaurant before arriving at the clinic. She pushed through the door with a bag of taquitos for Loretta and Reba, and a cup of the incredibly wonderful Mexican-style hot chocolate for herself. “Good morning, ladies,” she called out.

“Morning, boss.”
Loretta’s eyes lit up when she spied the bag.

Cami placed the bag on the counter and smiled. “Enjoy.”

“Wow, what did you bring us?” She unrolled the top of the bag. “Ooh, taquitos from Milita’s place.”

Reba turned from the patient file she had been perusing. “Did somebody say
taquitos?” She reached into the bag Loretta extended to her. “And salsa. Our boss remembers everything.” She gave Cami a toothy grin.

“Fuel up, my friends. You may want to choke me when I tell you what I’ve done.” Cami saluted them with her chocolate. “I’m going to be volunteering at a low-income clinic in
Amarillo a couple of days per month. It’s close to a Catholic church on the south side of the city. The part that lies within Randall County.”

Loretta stared at her, wide-eyed
.

Reba made a grunting noise as she bit into her
taquito. “I know about that place. The bowels of hell clinic. A lot of migrants and illegals go there.” She chewed thoughtfully. “And homeless.”

Cami sucked in a breath. “Well, as lovely as that sounds, I’m going to try and lend a hand.” She wasn’t going to tell them she had been given no choice in the matter. “And I’ll prevail upon you, Reba to accompany me on my visits.”

Reba muttered something unintelligible as she chewed.

“And you, Loretta to keep the records straight.”

Loretta nodded. “Not a problem.”

Cami gave them a wide smile. “And since today is my half day, I thought we might drive over and check it out this afternoon, just to get a feel for the
place and know what’s needed.”

“A miracle.”
Reba shot a penetrating glare. “But, I’ll go with you. All my immunizations are current and I have a hand gun.”

A queasy feeling in Cami’s stomach let her know this ‘bargain’ of Mr. Jorgensen’s might not be such a great deal. Maybe she had bitten off more than she could chew…again.

~*~

When George and the hands arrived at the ranch, E.J. was on his third cup of coffee. He had saved Eldon’s letter in the safe behind the big portrait of his mother in the office wall. He thought he understood their relationship a little better now. Sad that two people who loved each other so much had built t
heir lives on acquiring things.

E.J. carried the coffee pot outside
, along with a sleeve of disposable cups. He placed them on a small table and settled into one of the rockers lined up on the porch and motioned to George and the men to join him. “Come on up, gentlemen. Have some coffee.” He poured the brew into cups and handed them around.

George introduced his men to E.J. and reached for a cup after the
others had been served. “G’morning, boss. We were up pretty late last night, but there was no action. Everything was quiet.”

E.J. shrugged. “Maybe the count was off. I just found that number in my dad’s records, so I assumed it was true.”

George shook his head. “Nah. I don’t think so. There are tire tracks from some kind of big truck by the fence in the east pasture. That’s where your dad used to load cattle for transport, but these were pretty fresh.”

E.J. swallowed the coffee, drawing comfort from the warm liquid. “I see. What do you propose we do about it?”

“We plan to be on watch tonight. If there is to be another theft of cattle, it will most likely be tonight. It’s the dark of the moon.”

E.J. n
odded. “I’ll be with you then.”

George finished his coffee and set the cup on the small table. “Wear dark clothes and saddle up a dark horse.” He grinned and pointed to E.J.’s head.
“Might want to cover up that hair, too. It will glow like a beacon with even a sliver of moonlight.”

E.J. grinned.
“Sure thing. I’ll ride my dad’s horse, Stryker. He’s solid black.” His gut clenched when he thought of rustlers. He hoped the upcoming nighttime adventure would produce some results.

~*~

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

After her last patient had gone, Cami loaded her staff into the Lincoln and made the trip to
Amarillo.  Loretta had Googled the clinic and printed out a map with directions. When they pulled up near the building, Cami suppressed a shudder. The health center was located in a store-front in a run-down area of town. There were several closed shops and boarded-up buildings on the same block, but the Catholic Church on the corner appeared to be well-maintained.

She glanced at Loretta who sat in the seat beside her, clutching the map with a tight grip. Loretta was taking in the surroundings with a wary eye.

Reba let out a disdainful snort from the back seat. “Doc, are you sure you want to get out here? I mean, look at this neighborhood.”

Loretta nodded, her expression telling exactly how she felt about this expedition.
“Perhaps we should go home.”

“Look at that guy, Doc.” Reba pointed out a man leaning against the building where the clinic was housed. “He’s probably a drug dealer or a gang member.”

Cami eyed the man. He was a young African-American male in his late twenties or perhaps early thirties. He slouched indolently with one foot braced against the wall. He was eying the three women in the candy-apple red Lincoln, as well.

Cami stifled a shudder and opened the door.
Maybe I should have Breck with me instead.
“You two can wait here if you want to. I’m going to check it out.”

Loretta let out a little squeal of protest.

“Not without me, you’re not!” Reba opened her door and leaped out. “I know karate,” she whispered.

Cami swallowed. “Good to know. Let’s try not to use it.” She stepped up onto the sidewalk as Reba and Loretta scrambled after her. Striding purposefully to the clinic entrance, she
nodded at the man by the door.

He straightened and put both feet on the sidewalk. “Are you ladies lost?” he asked.

Cami felt Reba step forward and stepped quickly in front of her to forestall any confrontation. “I don’t think so,” she said brightly and flashed him a smile. “This is the clinic, isn’t it?”

He frowned and leaned forward. “You ladies are going to the free clinic?
That just don’t seem right.”

Cami stopped to answer him, but was shoved toward the door by Reba,
who gave him a ferocious glare.

Once inside, Cami stopped short. Reba and Loretta bumped into her and the three huddled togethe
r, staring around at the scene.

The entire store had been emptied out and a hanging curtain cordoned off one end. A small desk was attended by a tired-looking woman and the rest of the room was filled with a hodge-podge of mismatched chairs. The individuals seated, or in some instances
, sprawled on the chairs, were an assortment of people, young and old, black, white, and Hispanic. Most were women and many of those were in some stage of pregnancy. Young children sat at the feet of their mothers or played nearby. Babies slept, or cried, or were being jiggled by parent or grandparent. Several young men slouched in chairs or against the wall. Their glares were as uninviting as had been those of the man standing outside the building.

What am I doing here?
Cami heaved a giant sigh.
Oh, yeah. I made a deal to avoid punishment. This is my punishment.

The woman at the desk waved them over. “Can I help you?”

Cami and her escorts moved as a single unit toward the desk. Cami cleared her throat. “I’m Doctor Ryan. I’m going to be volunteering some time here and I thought I might get acquainted with your…um…facility.”

The woman emitted a short huff of laughter. “Well, there
ain’t no facility to it. Just this one room.” She spread her hands and gazed around.

“I see.
” Cami was at a loss for words.

“Doctor Ramirez!” the woman yelled. “When you get a minute
, can you step out here?”

Cami gripped her handbag and shuffled from foot
-to-foot. A few minutes later, an elderly Hispanic man and a younger Hispanic woman came out from behind the curtain. The young woman dropped a plastic laminated number in the box on the desk in front of her and then escorted the old man from the clinic.

There was the sound of running water and a young man came from behind the curtain, drying his hands on a paper towel. He tossed
it in a trash can. “Lakeesha? What do you require of me?”

Lakeesha
smiled up at him and gestured to Cami and company. “This one says she’s a doctor and is here to volunteer.”

The young man swiveled toward them, his hand extended.
“A doctor! Welcome to our clinica. Welcome.”

Cami shook his hand and he ushered them behind the curtain. If she thought the waiting room was bleak, the examination room proved to be even more so. There was a very old exam table and a makeshift counter with a few tools in zip lock plastic bags. A meager amount of disposable supplies and a trash can with a ste
p-on lid rounded out the array.

Reba fisted her hands on her hips and took a wide stance, her face radiating an assortment of di
sapproving glares and grimaces.

Cami took a deep breath and plunged in. “I’m Camryn Carmichael-Ryan. I’m the doctor in Langston and this is my office manager, Loretta and my nurse, Reba.”

He shook hands with each woman, in turn. “I am Doctor Jose Ramirez. I have been coming here on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the past couple of years.”