“One of the best.” Jacob tapped his hand to his video camera. “It came from the video I shot while the wranglers were branding. That photo of Cash is being titled;Roping’n Rawhide.” Turning to her, he asked, “Did Devereux tell you what he wants for the cover?”
“Yes.” Tracy nodded and glanced at her engagement ring. “He wants Cash and me in the foreground saddled up on Captain and Cinnamon, with Dude sitting between the horses. In the background will be the Triple C Ranch-East house and the helicopter.”
“With the words,The Rancher Takes a Wife.”
“Right.” Tracy smiled. She and Cash had gone into Colorado Springs to bring Kirk Devereux up-to-date on the shooting of Winston Smith by either Donna or Gerald, and Cash’s defensive shooting of Gerald Moles. After that was thoroughly discussed, they had told him about their engagement. Kirk had congratulated them and insisted Tracy call him Kirk. He’d asked her to do so before, and now she did. “After we told Kirk we’d decided on a November wedding, Kirk said he wants the Triple C Ranches to be the December issue. You know you’re invited, and I want you to take the photos.”
“Yes. Of course, I’ll be at the wedding and take photos,” Jacob said. “So, we’ll get the perfect one of you and Cash on horseback. You must admit, a Christmas issue with a wedding photo on the cover will be an attention grabber.”
“Different anyway,” Tracy said modestly.
“Devereux knows the magazine industry.” Jacob held up his index finger and said, “He predicts that in the entire history ofRanchers and Ranges,it will be the number one selling issue, breaking all previous records. I agree with him.”
“We’ll ask Cash for his input when he gets here. He’s done for the week and guests are gone so he should be home any time.” When Tracy stood, Dude raised his head. “How about we toast to a job well done? I’ll get three glasses and a bottle of wine from the wet bar.”
“Need help?”
“No thanks, Jacob. Dude, you wait here with Jacob. I’ll be right back.”
Dude sat up and Jacob said, “Dude, let’s get a video of you. Shake?”
Tracy left the wide-open, comfortable, country-style living room, crossed through the two-story foyer and passed the wide staircase. The ring bell announced there was movement at the front door right before a knock sounded. Tracy turned and doubled back a few steps to thefoyer. From the living room, Dude barked as she opened the door.
“Donna!” Tracy gasped. The woman had the same crazed look now as she’d had when she screamed about Gerald trying to kill her in Wild Horse. Her back to the living room, Donna instantly slapped Tracy hard across the face.
“That’s for Gerald,” Donna said. “Yeah, he told me how you repeatedly hit and kicked after the barbecue while Cash’s men held him down on the ground.”
What? Dude barreled toward the foyer as Donna shoved Tracy sideways and stepped into the foyer. Dude jumped on Donna, planting his front paws on her back and knocking her face-first against the carved horse on the railing of the staircase.
“Dude, come!” Tracy ordered the snarling, barking German shepherd. “Now!” Dude obeyed and retreated to Tracy’s side. She grasped his collar. “Why are you here, Donna?”
“It’s payback, bitch,” Donna spat, scrambling to her feet. “Because of you, I’m out on bail while the sheriff tries to pin Winston’s murder on me. And yes, I killed that lying loser and yes, I’m glad he’s dead. I woulda killed Tammy too. But not Gerald.” The woman’s pupils were dilated and her eyes frantic and darting. “Now, I have no father, no job, no boyfriend, no money, and no place to live.” She screamed, “And it’s all your fault, Dalton Darling!”
“Jacob, call 9-1-1 and Cash,” Tracy said over her shoulder.
“Already done,” Jacob said, calmly walking forward as he filmed everything.
Twisting around and shocked to see Jacob, Donna shouted, “I hate you as much as I hate her, Jacob! I might as well go to prison for three murders as one.” Including Jacob with a glance and laughing maniacally, she sneered, “At least I’ll have three hots and a cot in jail.”
Donna yanked a knife out of her pocket which brought a new round of barking and snarling from Dude. Donnalunged at Tracy, but Dude leaped between them. With a sharp whimper, Dude fell to the floor. Baring her teeth, Donna raised her hand and charged Tracy with the bloody knife.
BANG!
Cash raced down the wide hall from the rear of the house as Donna stumbled backward falling flat on the floor. Staring at the Glock in Tracy’s hand, Donna’s mouth opened and worked soundlessly. With a bullet hole in her chest, the punched hole in the wall seemed to be the last thing Donna Smith saw as she took her final breath.
“Tracy!” Cash yelled as she crumpled to her knees beside Dude.
“Cash, help us,” Tracy pleaded, tears streaming. She set the gun on the floor and placed her hand to the chest wound oozing Dude’s blood. Cash knelt beside them, gathering Tracy into his strong and comforting embrace.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes,” Tracy cried. “But she stabbed Dude.”
Cash gently released Tracy and pulled off the neckerchief from around his throat. Speaking softly and encouragingly to Dude, he pressed the cloth to an inch-long gash to stop the bleeding. Dude’s breathing was shallow, but Tracy’s fierce defender was conscious.
“Dude, you might have a nicked vein, buddy,” Cash said at the blood loss. “Lie still.”
Jacob had run to the kitchen and hurried to them with a bowl of water and paper towels. With Dude’s head in Tracy’s lap, Cash carefully cleaned away the blood while keeping pressure on the wound. Jacob left them long enough to step outside and wave two El Paso County cruisers out on the highway toward the front porch.
