“You just said you can’t get around on your own,” Winston reminded her cajolingly. “If you could lend me some money, I could pay my cell phone bill and we could get the service turned back on.”
“What happened to the money I’ve paid you for looking after me up until now? Never mind. Drive me to the bank and I’ll get the money.”
“Oh now, don’t be silly. Save yourself the trouble of trying to make it to your truck,” Winston said. He was sick to death of putting up with her demands. “Everybody from Wild Horse to Kit Carson knows you and your dead husband buried cash for years all over this property. Just tell me where at least one stash of the money is buried. I’ll go pay my cell phone bill and be right back.”
“Buried money?” Tammy asked. “What are you talking about, Winston?”
“You’re a Dalton. Outlaws often buried their money to hide it from lawmen back in the day. I figure you buried yours in the yard to hide it from the IRS,” Winston said. “You live like you’re poor. But I still remember when your son and his wife took that expensive vacation out to Arizona which ended in a helicopter crash.”
Tammy winced. “We aren’t outlaws and we didn’t bury money in the yard.”
“But when she worked at the bank, my daughter, Donna, said it was rumored?—”
“Donna? I thought you said your daughter’s name was Brenda.”
Winston silently cursed himself at the slip and didn’t reply. “It’s rumored your husband made all kinds of money before his oil well dried up.”
Tammy stared at him. “So that’s why you’re here.”
“Is Gerald still here, Jacob?”Tracy asked as she, Cash, and Donna met up with him.
“He’s over at the kegs refilling his cup,” Jacob said as they stood near the stage.
Through a throng of people dancing to a fast song and others in line near the grill waiting for steaks or burgers, Cash glanced toward the kegs. He spotted a guy sticking out like a sore thumb due to his business casual attire. Had to be Gerald. What was the editor’s problem? Why drive all the way out to the ranch only to leave before touching base with the owner?
“What’s he unhappy about?” Tracy asked, taking the words out of Cash’s mouth.
“Jealous,” Jacob whispered to Tracy and inclined his head toward Cash.
“Ask Gerald yourself,” Donna muttered and then smiled at someone behind them.
“She’s back!”
Cash watched the man who’d just spoken wrap his left arm around Tracy’s waist and tug her close. An unfamiliar emotion slammed Cash in the gut. He couldn’t remember ever feeling such a jolt. What the hell? Probably six foot tall with a yellow pompadour slicked straight back, the man completely ignored Cash as he grinned down at Tracy.
“Gerald, I’d like you to meet Cash Cooper, owner of Triple C Ranch-East,” Tracy said and eased out of Gerald’s grasp. “Cash, this is Gerald Moles.”
“Nice to meet you, Gerald,” Cash said and offered his hand.
Gerald pulled his eyes off Tracy and blatantly stared at his empty left arm. Grinning, Donna jiggled her way into Gerald’s loose embrace. With a frown, Gerald handed Donna his beer and glanced at Cash. This guy was as arrogant as they came.
“Cash Cooper, man of the hour.” Gerald finally acknowledgedCash with a sarcastic ring to his voice. He shook hands with Cash and said, “Quite the entrance.” Releasing Cash’s hand, Gerald retrieved his beer from Donna, and raised it in Tracy’s direction. “Happy birthday to my best journalist.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere,” Tracy said firmly.
Cash could tell Tracy was serious and Gerald was well on his way to being drunk. “We’re known for our barbecues,” Cash said to Gerald as the smell of grilled beef wafted all around them. “Have you eaten?”
“No,” Gerald said moving away from Donna and with only a cursory glance at Cash. He chugged his beer, handed Cash his empty cup, and said to Tracy, “They’re playing our song.”
The flash of surprise in Tracy’s turquoise eyes told Cash that she had no song with Gerald just before he pulled her away from Cash into the crowd of nearby dancers. It was a slow song and Cash did not watch.
“Let’s dance, Cash,” Donna said and grabbed his arm.
“No, thanks,” Cash said, pulling his arm from her.
“Boss,” Jeff called, coming his way.
Cash left the dance area and walked toward Jeff. “What’s up?”
