“Y’all need to get,” Winston said. Keeping his eye on them, he yanked open the passenger’s door and reached toward the console.
“We’llgetwhen we get our money,” Donna said, putting her right hand inside her purse.
“I said there ain’t no money!” Winston turned and threw the shovel at them.
“Whatever,” Gerald said. “Thanks for the shovel to bury you.”
Winston grabbed the gun out of the console as Donna pulled a pistol out of her purse. She was faster. Winston took the surprise bullet to the middle of his chest. Donna’s crazedlaugh was the last thing he heard before he hit the ground dead.
“I’msurprised to see you hittin’ town alone, Cash-man,” Richard said at Southside Suzy’s.
“Me too,” Cash muttered, standing at the bar as he threw back another shot of whiskey.
Richard made eye contact with Vince who was drying glasses behind the bar. Cash had a feeling Vince had texted or called Richard and Suzy to come check on him. With that in mind, he pulled out his cell phone and turned it off without checking for messages or calls.
“Where’s that beautiful redhead you introduced to us?” Suzy asked, concern in her voice.
“I don’t know,” Cash said as Richard and Suzy settled in on either side of him.
“How about something to eat to go with that whiskey?” Vince asked.
“Thanks, but I’m okay, Vince,” Cash said.
He heard Suzy order something for him anyway and was vaguely aware of Richard and Vince sticking close by. As Cash drank, his mind wandered. Earlier, he had stalked to his stables. He’d grabbed Captain’s saddle from the tack room and carried it to the horse’s stall. Sam was running the store, had seen him, and asked where he was riding in the rain. Cash had paused as thunder rolled and decided it wasn’t fair to Captain to ride him unnecessarily in weather as foul as his mood. Cash stood at the entrance of the stables, glaring through the pain and rain at the cabin Tracy had occupied as Sam stood beside him.
“Who agreed to that all-female dude ranch week, Sam?” Cash had asked his longtime friend that question again like he had the day they’d met Tracy Dalton.
“You did, boss,” Sam had replied and placed his hand on Cash’s shoulder.
They’d talked some, stood in companionable silence some and eventually closed the store. Cash had backed his Mustang out of the garage and driven around the house. The front door was closed now and the Rav4 sat where the car dealer had parked it. Wondering if Tracy was still in the house, he’d checked. The house felt oddly silent and deserted. He had found the Rav4 car keys on the hall table, but Tracy and Dude were long gone.
“Dammit,” Cash had cursed, got back in the Mustang and peeled away from his ranch.
No sooner did he hit the highway than Cash received a call. It was from the Ranchers Gun Club and Shooting Range where he, Chase, and Derek were all members. Along with the Rav4, he’d ordered a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield EZ pistol for Tracy. He headed toward the gun club. The weapon would protect her if need be. Like the SUV, the gun was paid for so he might as well pick it up along with bullets. He’d ask Jeff or somebody to deliver it to her. In the parking lot of the club, he’d locked the pistol in the glove box of the truck.
Phone in hand, he’d called Chase and told his brother Tracy was gone so not to expect them for dinner. Chase had urged him to come to dinner anyway. Cash had thanked him and declined. In the Springs, he could call or run into any number of women to console him. He had passed the exit to Tracy’s apartment and headed to Southside Suzy’s. He’d barely made it to the bar when Delilah and Desiree had circled him as fast and tightly as they raced around a barrel. He’d been so gruff, they’d left in a huff. Cash had chuckled at his unintentional rhyme and then frowned, wondering at his own actions of chasing them off. Suzy had also left to take care of customers and Lobo had come for Richard.
“T-bone cowboy steak and baked potato,” came a sweet and familiar voice.
Cash tossed back another shot, which Vince said was his last, and looked to his left. “Hi, Stella.” He had an inkling Suzy had asked Richard’s daughter to serve him, figuring hewouldn’t refuse the meal if she were the one who set it before him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Stella said and smiled. “Enjoy and I’ll be back to check on you.”
Vince winked at her, smiled at Cash, and then said, “I heard this steak came from a ranch called Triple C-Central, so it’ll be the best you’ve had.”
Cash nodded at the kindness shown him. Pulling up a barstool, he sat and said, “You’re the best, too, Vince.”
Cash wasn’t hungry and despite being fairly drunk, he wouldn’t have ordered food. But his friends had gone to the trouble on his behalf, so he sliced up a bite of steak. He didn’t receive a bill but knew about what his meal cost. After managing a few more swallows of his steak and potato, he smacked his money on the bar along with a hefty tip for Stella. However, he wasn’t nearly sober enough to suit Vince. Vince snapped his fingers and the next thing Cash knew, Tommy-Gun and Blade were escorting him down the hall to Vince and Suzy’s private office.
“Where are your keys, Cash-man?” Richard asked as two of his most trusted men maneuvered him toward a leather sofa.
“I can Uber it to my ranch,” Cash replied. The irony of an Uber ride made him laugh.
“Keys, Cash,” Richard said. “Otherwise, I’ll call Chase or Derek to come get you.”
“No, don’t bother ’em,” Cash muttered and handed Richard the keys to his Mustang.
“Good deal,” Richard said. “Take a load off and sleep.”
