Chapter Fourteen

 

 

Sean shook his head. “That’s not a good idea. You’ll get yourself shot. Or killed by a crazed horse.”

“No, I won’t,” Rico said, already straddling the gate. “You’re gonna radio the sheriff to move in. We have Domino in out sites. Dyna, let Edwin and your mom know, too. In case I come charging through the woods. We need everyone in place.”

Dyna blocked him. “You can’t be serious. It’s too dangerous.”

“He’s coming,” Rico said. “If I don’t get him out of here, they’ll kill him.”

Sean’s gaze seesawed between them. “He has a good point. Let me call in reinforcements.”

His phone buzzed. “Hey, Michael. Yeah, we see.” Then he told Michael the plan. “Sure, that sounds good.”

“They’re on it and the sheriff is watching. They’ll help cover you, Rico. And Michael is coming over the fence to use some of his rodeo clown tactics, if necessary.”

“Okay, let’s rodeo then,” Rico said.

Dyna pulled her daddy’s Remington revolver from her waistband. “Go. I’ll cover you until the others get here.”

Grabbing some rope off one of the waiting horses, Rico hopped over the fence and waited for Domino. The horse knew they were here. Maybe he’d play nice since he’d obviously missed them.

“Three rustlers headed your way,” Sean called. “Be prepared.”

He rushed past Dyna to get his rifle. “We’ll get this done, Dyna. Don’t shoot that gun unless they get too close. You’ll spook Domino.”

Dyna climbed over the fence. “My horse won’t be leaving here with them tonight.”

 

* * *

 

Rico treaded through the rocky, stark pasture land, wondering why he’d thought this might be a good idea.

He could see Domino galloping free, hurrying away from the three men on horseback who wanted to rope him and take him away.

Had the big animal sensed the cavalry? Or was he just running toward home?

Rico had to calm Domino down long enough to get on his back. He didn’t have a chute and he didn’t have anyone to help.

But he would make it work, somehow.

“Hey!”

He whirled, afraid he’d been busted. But Jesse and Michael came out of the shadows, both holding ropes. “We can hold him down long enough for you to get on his back,” Jesse said.

“Thanks.” Rico turned around. “Okay, get ready. He might charge or he might just hit the brakes and stare us down.”

“We’re ready,” Michael said.

They heard a ruckus behind them. Dyna came charging over into the pasture, her gun in her hand.

“Let her be,” Jesse said when Rico started toward her. “She has a right to be here.”

Rico nodded and decided the best thing he could do right now to protect Dyna was to settle Domino down and get him out of here.

“I knocked the fence down,” Dyna called. “So you can ride him out.”

At their astonished stares, she added, “It’s a cheap fence.”

Rico laughed and turned, ready for Domino. “Hold on. It’s about to get real.”

Dyna gave him a long glance, her eyes full of hope and … something he wanted to call love.

Then he turned and faced the approaching horse.

Domino kicked and reared, his nostrils flaring, his ears tipped forward. Rico could barely see the horse’s eyes but he knew they were on him. “Easy, boy. It’s me, your new best friend. And Dyna, she’s back there.”

He stepped closer, knowing Jesse and Michael had his back.

Then he heard Dyna’s soothing voice right behind him. “Hey, big fellow. I missed you so much.”

Domino stopped and stomped, his tail swishing. They could hear the wranglers arguing with each other. The whole place was in chaos. Someone called for the three to turn around.

Rico heard all the noises, the sound of horses scattering, men chasing them, men running, trucks cranking up and then sirens and flashing lights.

Heard and never stopped staring into Domino’s wild, brave eyes. “I’m here, boy,” he said. “We all are. I’m going to ride you now.”

Dyna was right beside him. “Domino, it’s me. Hey. She reached out a hand. “Cella sent you a treat.”

God bless Cella Cassidy.

Domino snorted, pranced, stared, shivered.

Dyna cried. “It’s me, big fellow. Me. I almost lost you but from now on, you can be the boss. You can do whatever you want, on your terms.”

Rico stepped closer, his rope swishing. Michael and Jesse were nearby and ready.

Dyna sniffed and held out her hand. “For you. Your favorite treat, apples and oats.”

Domino made a fuss and did a little production number but finally, he took a nibble from Dyna’s hand.

Michael and Jesse moved in unison to lasso him from both sides while Rico threw his own rope over the horse’s head just as Dyna lowered her hand and got out of the way.

Domino bucked and whinnied, angry and surprised. But the men held him steady and Rico went for it and did a flying leap up onto his back.

“Let go,” he shouted to Michael and Jesse as he swung over and placed his feet against Domino’s shoulders.

The men dropped their ropes and parted.

Then Domino lifted in the wind, bucking straight up, his hind feet the only thing touching dirt. He slammed back down, jarring Rico’s teeth and lifted up his hind legs, bringing Rico down hard near his big neck.

They took off toward the fence line, where Edwin’s truck shined it’s headlights as a beacon. Rico caught a glimpse of the fence and saw an open spot. Domino charged right through it, knocking it completely away and took off through the woods.

Eight seconds and counting! This counted as a lifetime of seconds for Rico. He’d never been so scared and exhilarated at the same time. They kept going until they’d past a cheering Edwin and Wendy and made it out to the road.

Finally, Domino bucked himself to a place where he had to stop. Rico held on and patted the big animal’s back. “Your personal best, boy. And mine.”

“That was some kind of awesome,” Edwin shouted as he came running out to the road. “Mercy me, I ain’t never seen anything like that.”

Wendy was right behind him. “Domino, you were a true hero. You, too, Rico.”

“Thanks. Where’s Dyna?” he asked, expecting her to show up.

“She took off with Sean and his brothers,” Wendy said. “We saw them ride off on the horses, headed toward the round-up.”

Rico stayed on the spent horse’s back and kept talking to Domino while he walked him, all the while glancing at his watch and at the area where flashing lights whirled and shouts sounded. Then he looked around and saw Dyna standing there, a smile on her face.

“You did it,” she said. “You rode Domino.”

“And survived,” Rico replied on a winded, thankful breath.

“They’ve rounded up all the horses and the criminals,” she said. “Think you might come down off there sometime soon?”

“Honestly, I’m afraid to move.”

“We got it,” Sean said, Michael and Jesse coming up behind him. “We can go get the trailer.”

“I think I might be able to ride him to the trailer,” Rico said. “Meet y’all there.”

Then he looked down at Dyna. “So … who did this?”

Dyna shook her head. “That’s a long story. I’ll tell you all about it once we’re on the way home.”

 

* * *

 

Rico stared over at Dyna as the big truck zoomed back to Mesa Malloy. “So, Jonah was the ringleader and … Jonah and Sandie had a secret thing going on, but … when he approached her about running away with him and Domino, she refused and then he kidnapped her and tied her up at that ranch we just left and planned to leave her for dead?”

“Yes.” Dyna sank back on her seat. “The sheriff gave us the brief report. Details later. But I can tell you that Jonah was the cowpoke Domino kicked tonight. Jonah’s got a big bruise on his right cheek and eye.”

“Well played, Domino,” her mother said with a giggle.

“I talked to Sandie as they were loading her into a sheriff’s car to take to the hospital,” Dyna said. “But she kept telling them and me that other than a bruised heart, she’s fine. Apparently Jonah worked on her when she arrived here this morning, thinking she’d help him with his ambitious plan.”

Edwin grunted. “So James Roy had nothing to do with this?”

“I don’t think so,” Dyna said. “He’s somewhere in Texas, according to what the sheriff could run down.”

Rico reached for her hand. “What are you not telling us?”

She lowered her head. “Jonah was small potatoes, really. They’re tracking down the real ringleader, who’s down in Mexico, waiting for his horses.”

“And who is that, honey?” Wendy asked from the front seat.

Dyna let out a long sigh. “None other than Chip Hatfield—my ex-boyfriend.” Looking embarrassed, she said, “He was playing all of us.”

“We don’t have to talk about it now,” Rico said, squeezing her hand. “You’re safe and Domino is on his way back to Mesa Malloy. The rest will take care of itself.”

 

* * *

 

Dyna woke up at eight the next morning. She’d overslept but then she hadn’t gotten home until around four A.M.

Now, showered and dressed in a white t-shirt and jeans, a fresh pair of boots and her hair damp-dried, she went in search of caffeine, wondering if she’d dreamed last night.

When she entered the kitchen, Rico was sitting at the table reading on his phone. “Good morning,” he said with a soft, tired smile.

“Hi.” Glancing around, she asked, “Where is everyone?”

“Your mother and Edwin went over to the Triple Seven to get an official report from the Knight Investigation Agency.”

“What? Will they ever let me take care of things?”

Handing her a cup of coffee, Rico nodded toward a chair. “Yes, when they leave for their cruise next month. Meantime, Sharon whipped up a big breakfast and left you a plate of pancakes and bacon in the oven.”

“I’m so hungry,” she admitted, letting him get the food for her. “Thank you.”

“Just so you know, your mother wanted to wait on you but I asked her to let you sleep. I thought we should talk privately about what happened after Domino and I went on our wild ride last night.”

She sipped her coffee and wolfed down a few bites of pancakes and syrup. “Oh, you mean the part where I caught my foreman—former foreman—admitting that he also worked for my definitely ex-boyfriend, stealing and loading up horses for either the auction house, the slaughter house, or to ship off to some foreign country for a different kind of rodeo?”

“Yeah, that part.”

Putting down her fork, she shook her head. “Chip came here hoping to scam me. When none of his tactics worked, and I kicked him out, he decided to get me where it hurts.”

“By taking Domino?”

“Yes. But I was right about him knowing animals. He conveniently held back the fact that he’s an expert horse trainer and livestock nabber, too, apparently. He managed to mess with Domino real good, hoping I’d sell him off for a profit, which I guess Chip planned to steal from me somehow by fudging the numbers. But I made him leave before he could work that scam into the conversation. By then, Domino had learned a few of Chip’s tricks.”

“Such as choking instead of bucking.”

“Yes. And Jonah knew about all of it. He hates me, apparently. Doesn’t believe in women bosses. Wanted me to turn over things to him. As if.”

“How did Sandie get involved?”

“She was as gullible as me,” Dyna said. “She and Jonah got close but kept it a secret. She loves her job and didn’t want to jeopardize that. But Jonah told me last night as they were carting him away—she had no part in this elaborate plan. She had plans to meet him at Tahoe for a long weekend, but then you showed up and Chip told Jonah to go to Plan B.”

“The fire?”

“A distraction, yes.”

“They had to get to Domino while he was acting up.”

“They’d trained him to do so, yes.”

Dyna got up, petted her dogs and gave them both a treat. “Sandie said Jonah called her to meet him in Indian Springs. Then he told her he loved her and she could come with him to South American, where he has a lot of money stashed.”

“And she refused.”

“Yes, at least I have one loyal employee.”

Rico got up and came to where Dyna sat and turned her around. “Dyna, it’s over. Domino is in the stables, being guarded by a lot of people who want him to stay right here.”

“And he will. I’m retiring him. He’s been through enough.”

“So have you.”

She stared up at him. “Our third day together and already, so much has happened between us.”

“You’re not boring, that’s for sure,” he replied. Then he leaned down and kissed her, his hands on her hair. “I know you need time. You’ve been burned badly and … I get it.”

She kissed him, wanting time right now. “Three days with a Knight. Not nearly enough.”

“We can expand that. You are paying me for the whole week. And I do want to have Sean check over Domino and I want to observe him and see what he’s decided.”

“What if he’s decided to keep bucking people off his back?”

“Then you’ll need to decide if you want him to do that.”

“What if he’s decided he wants to just be a horse?”

“Can you live with that?”

“Yes.” She got up, her hand trailing over Rico’s delicious beard stubble. “Let’s go for a ride. I want to look over the property.”

“Do I have to ride Domino again?”

“No. Scout likes you, too.”

The front door burst open and Wendy and Edwin chattered their way into the kitchen. “Oh, good, you’re up. Eddie called. He’s wide awake and wanting to come home. Edwin and I are going to pick him up.”

“That’s great news,” Dyna said. “Does he remember anything?”

“Enough to testify that Jonah and some unknowns took Domino right outta that pen and knocked Eddie over the head when he ran after them.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Dyna said. “Rico and I are going to check on Domino and then we’re going for a ride around the property.”

Wendy smiled at her. “Take your time, darlin’. You deserve to relax a little bit.”

Edwin clapped his hands together. “Oh, Cella and Sean have invited all of us over for a barbeque at the Triple Seven tonight. To finish out the reports and read over the sheriff’s report and to … well … have some fun. Y’all in?”

Dyna glanced at Rico. “Yes, we’re in. We’re all in.”

Then together with Butch and Sundance, they headed hand in hand for the stables.

“Do you visit your cousin Sean a lot?” she asked, hopeful.

“I will now,” Rico replied, also hopeful.

“Good.”

“Okay then.”

When they reached Domino’s stall, the big horse tossed his head and snorted a welcome.

“I think he just smiled at us,” Rico said, pulling her close.

Dyna smiled back. And then she kissed the man she planned to marry.

Domino stood still and held his head high, his dark eyes full of sweet secrets.

 

* * *

 

Later that night, Rico and Dyna gathered with Jesse and his girlfriend Carly, Michael and his new wife Bella, along with Edwin and her mother at Cella and Sean’s ranch, where they laughed and talked and went over the horror of the last couple of days. Carly and Bella had flown in to have a long weekend with Cella and Sean.

“It’s Vegas,” Bella had explained. “Cheap flights.”

“Here’s to better times,” Edwin said, raising his beer mug.

“Here’s to my daughter’s strength,” Wendy said, holding up her wine glass.

“Here’s to some peace and quiet,” Dyna said, toasting with her mineral water.

“I think we can all drink to that,” Rico said, smiling over at her.

“And to the Knight Investigation Agency,” Dyna said. “You helped take down a big rustling ring.”

“We did, indeed,” Jesse said through a proud grin. “This ain’t our first rodeo.”

“And it won’t be our last,” Sean chimed in. “Hey, cuz, we could always use a fourth,” he said to Rico.

Rico smiled and winked at Dyna. “I like Vegas. Really, really like it. But your horse trainers seriously stink.”

Everyone laughed and then he gave Dyna a peck on the cheek. “What do you think about that idea?”

“I think it’s perfect,” she said, her heart bursting and her eyes misting.

“You’re welcome,” Edwin said through a chuckle.

He always would get the last word.

But this time, he was right.

 

 

—The End—