Cowgirls Don't Cry(74)

                “You don’t have to come, Cord. I’m not twisting your arm.”

                His brother laughed. “No, you aren’t. I’m doing it because it’ll piss off the old man. Plus, I want to see if this gal is good enough for you.”

                Chance smoothed the blanket across his horse’s withers, grabbed his saddle and tossed it up. He loosely cinched the girth then slipped the halter down as he bridled the animal. “The question is whether or not I’m good enough for her. I screwed this one up royally.”

                Cord clapped him on the shoulder. “I still can’t believe you got Judge Reynolds to sign that order.”

                He shrugged. “I caught him in the bar at the club. Heidi will file it as soon as the court clerk’s office opens, and then she’ll deliver a copy to the sheriff’s office.” He glanced at the expensive watch on his wrist. “I just hope Cass got a late start this morning. She’s been driving those cattle from can see to can’t see.”

                Cord chuckled. “You’ve been reading Louis L’Amour again.” He glanced toward the west. A few stars still sparkled faintly against an indigo backdrop. Behind them to the east, the sun was banked by clouds and fiery red rays grabbed at the dark sky. “Red skies, Chance. I hope the weather holds. Getting caught out in a thunderstorm will be a very bad thing.”

                They tied their horses to the trailer, and Cord grabbed a stainless-steel thermos. He poured coffee into travel mugs and handed one to Chance. “This girl is riding you hard. I’m not sure that’s a good thing.”

                Chance stared off toward the horizon. “She makes me want to be a better man than I am, Cord.”

                “How’s that working for you?”

                “Hurts like hell, but I’m going to prove myself to her. I’m going to be that man, come hell or high water.”

                * * *

                Cass put her heels to the big sorrel, and the horse trotted up to join the dun Boots rode. Red whickered, and Lucky answered back. The horses didn’t care what was up ahead. She couldn’t see over the low rise in front of them, but she knew what waited on the other side. County Line Road. The helicopter still droned overhead, and she could see media trucks set up for remote telecasts. So far she’d declined comment but didn’t stop any of her volunteer riders from answering reporters’ questions. She rolled her neck. At the snap, crackle and pop, Boots turned to watch her.

                “Problem with your neck?”

                Her laugh sounded as dry as the red dust coating the weeds lining the road. “Naw. Just stress.”

                They rode in relative silence but for the thud of hooves, Buddy’s excited bark and a few indignant moos. Her horse tossed his head and pulled against the reins. Cass realized she had a death grip on them and loosened her fingers. Red stretched his nose out and shook his head again, which jangled the rings on the bit in his mouth.

                “It’ll be okay, honey.”

                “I’m glad you think so, Uncle Boots. Me? I figure I’m on my way to jail as soon as we top that rise.”

                Before he could reply, two horsemen appeared silhouetted for a moment before they cantered up the road. Her mouth straightened into a grim slash. “Is that Chance? What the hell is he doing here?”

                “Don’t go jumpin’ to conclusions, Cassidy. Let the man talk before you bite his head off.”