Chapter Five

James

 

 

Queen carried me through the back field where the cattle had grazed for several days. It was time to move them, and without hesitation, she ran towards the large beasts with me on her back.

“Yeahhh,” I yelled out, gaining the attention of a few of the cattle.

As if they were bored by the display of authority, they slowly started to move in the direction they were led.

Queen galloped along, her head held high, as we made our way to the far east pasture. “Whoa, girl,” I pulled back on the reins and stopped her in her tracks.

I jumped down, closed the gate and watched as the most of the cattle became settled in their new grazing spot. The grass was green, a large pond spread across the land, and trees offered plenty of shade for the next few days that promised to feel more like summer than spring.

One of the steers, massive in size, and always a bit nosey, walked over to the fence where I stood on the other side with Queen.

“What’s up ole’ man?” I asked, reaching across the fence to grip his horns for a loving tug.

He snorted, causing Queen to squeal as if to warn him not to harm me.

“He’s harmless, girl,” I promised her, turning back to the old steer.

He was harmless indeed, neutered last summer, and no longer able to breed.

His eyes were dark, filled with a strange appearance of boredom.

“I get it. I’ve been on a dry spell myself,” I chuckled.

Queen nudged into my back, jealous of the attention she wasn’t getting. I shrugged her off to continue to talk to the once vibrant bull.

“There is this woman, Evelyn,” I smirked.

The steer snorted again, his eyes still filled with the same boredom.

“She’s a tiny little thing, but as feisty as you once were,” I told him.

I chuckled as I realized I was talking to the animals, and not just Queen this time. I was losing it. That little woman had me under some kind of spell, and I liked it.

The way she looked at me when I caught her from falling, there was something there. I felt it. Did she want me to kiss her? Was that why she got pissy and demanded I let her go?

“Women. At least you don’t have to worry about them anymore,” I gave one last tug to the steer’s horns before hopping back onto Queen.

We rode the fence line, just me and Queen, marking off spots that needed repair with a red cloth. There was a lot of work to be done; Evelyn was right about that, but I didn’t mind it. I looked forward to it. I just wanted this to be over, so I could focus on the ranch again.

I thought about Evelyn, her small frame, her silky red hair and bright green eyes. Did she even know she was beautiful? I bet she didn’t. Women like her, smart, focused, they usually didn’t know the true extent of their appeal.

Queen, back in her stable, brushed, watered, and chewing on hay, was no longer listening to my rants about the woman I’d suddenly become enamored with. Goofy, on the other hand, was listening, or at least acting as if he was, with his head pushed against the third and second slat of wood in his stable. I laughed at his antics.

“One of a kind,” I reached through the gate and let him eat an apple from my hand.

“Somebody will love you one day,” I stroked his nose.

I didn’t tell him that I wasn’t certain of what I promised. He was a handful, a nitwit at times, and even though a strong thoroughbred with beautifully stunning features, his silliness emasculated him. Poor Goofy, maybe one day.

Inside the house, I double checked my phone, even though I checked it more than a dozen times while on my ride. No messages, no new e-mails, and no missed calls.

I moved to the computer in my small office, quickly typing in my password to open the main screen.

My e-mail’s inbox was without anything new, without anything from Evelyn.

I opened up the last e-mail she’d sent, informing me that she was working on gathering information. I started to type, and then deleted the few words I’d managed to muster.

After several minutes staring at the empty reply box, I finally decided it was fine to shoot her a short message, just to check on the situation. She knew I was antsy, ready to get this over with, so she would understand my impatience.

Miss Pierce,

I hate to bother you, but I was curious about how things were going. Were the letters I gave you and the receipts sufficient evidence that old man Jasper was in his right mind, and that he intended the land to go to me?

James

I clicked send with a slight hesitation. I’d changed her name several times from Miss Pierce, to Evelyn, to Miss Evelyn Pierce. I was flustered. I wasn’t used to being flustered, especially over a woman.

As soon as I leaned back in my computer chair, the laptop sounded with a ding. I pulled towards the laptop, quickly opened the reply from Evelyn, and let out a sigh to release some of my anxiousness.

James,

I’m headed into court shortly for another case. I’ll be unavailable the rest of the afternoon, but I do need to bring you some papers to sign that I forgot on our last meeting. Can I bring them to you Thursday?

Evelyn

Disappointment and excitement collided throughout my mind. I was excited to see her again, that she answered so quickly, but disappointed it would be two days before she arrived. I chuckled at my behavior, deciding to push that aside, at least for now, and sent her a reply, this time more informal since she opened the door with her signature of simply, Evelyn.

Evelyn,

Thursday would be great. I realize you left the papers on purpose so you could see me again, but are you sure Thursday is soon enough to ease your pain?

I’ll be at the Hitching Post in town tonight drinking my blues away; feel free to join me if you can’t wait to see me.

;-)

James

I hit send and instantly felt my heart tighten against my chest. I thought of her reading it, possibly finding it offensive that I was teasing her in that way. It was the last thing I wanted, to offend Evelyn Pierce, the attorney that would save my ranch, but as I waited for her reply, my nerves unraveled.

What was I thinking? I knew better than to be so forward. Fuck. The silence was deadly as I stared at my inbox, nothing new, no dings.

I got up from my chair, stretched to ease my tension, and turned to walk away when the familiar ding rattled my ears. My hands reached for the laptop, quickly clicking the new response from Evelyn to open it. My heart raced thinking she’d probably taken that length of time to really put me in my place, writing a scolding that was scathing as the drill sergeant during my training.

:-P

The only thing on the page was an emoji sticking its tongue out with a smile. I could breathe at least, but I wasn’t sure what to make of the symbol on my screen. Was she flirting, just being silly, or just unsure what to say to my bold, and possibly offensive message?

I shrugged off the anxiety once again, laughing at myself for becoming so wrapped up in this tiny woman. I picked up my mail from the desk and sorted through the pile. The first piece of mail was a postcard from Liam and Blake. I read the message about how I needed to visit soon and stuck it on the corkboard near my desk. The next piece was a letter from the stockyard, probably just the latest cattle prices. I left it on the keyboard of my laptop and shuffled through bills until stopping on a white envelope with a realtor’s name. Paul Freeman – Real Estate Broker. I tossed it into the trash. Fuck Paul Freeman and Jill for thinking she could send him to my land.

Showered, dressed in my nicest black shirt and tightest blue jeans, I sat on the bar stool at the Hitching Post. Evelyn never did answer back, and I wasn’t about to push the subject, but I still had hope that she may, just maybe, show up here, right where I told her I’d be.

The bartender leaned in towards me, his breath strong of tobacco mixed with something sweet. “What can I get ya?”

“A shot of whiskey with a beer chaser,” I ordered, flicking the inside brim of my hat as I reached to take it off.

“Got a preference?” he turned back to me, pouring the shot glass with Jack Daniel’s.

“Miller,” I replied, and then watched him walk towards the cooler at the other end of the bar and pull out a glass bottle.

He slid the beer in front of me, already popped of its top, and then winked as he looked over my shoulder. He walked away, leaving me to wonder who he winked at. Evelyn maybe? My stomach grumbled as I quickly sucked down the shot of whiskey. It was warm in my throat, and gave me a sense of calm as I caught glimpse of someone sliding onto the stool beside me from the corner of my eye. Perfume wafted under my nose, and I was already smiling when I turned towards the woman beside me.

“I thought you were a Coors man,” the familiar voice stung my ears.

“A man can change,” I smirked in Carrie’s direction.

I had changed. I had changed quite a bit since messing with Carrie. She was trouble, always had been, and always would be as far as I was concerned, but damn, she looked as good as she smelled.

A long finger twirled around thick blonde curls, the tip painted a bold shade of pink to match her lips. My jeans tightened a bit as she leaned in, giving me a clear view down her low-cut top at the breasts that one of her conquests paid a pretty penny for, and that were worth every dime.

“I hear you’re back in town for good this time,” she breathed.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood at attention as her breath rolled onto my skin.

“Looks like it,” I smiled politely, starting to remember the strange hold the woman had over me.

“Maybe I should check on you sometime. I can’t stand the thought of you on that big ole’ ranch all alone,” she smiled.

“I’m a big boy. I can handle it alone. No need to check on me,” I replied.

Her finger left her hair, letting the curl bounce as she waved towards the bartender. Without ordering, he brought her a shot of whiskey, and without hesitation, she drank it in one gulp. Yes, it was clear. Carrie had spent some time in this hell hole of a bar. She’d probably bagged everyone in the place that was worth enough to snag her attention. Probably pissed em’ all off as well. Trouble, always was, and always will be.

Her tongue slid across her lips, slowly as she hummed sweetly. I knew she was working me, just as she had before, plenty times before.

“I know you’re a big boy,” she giggled, her hand reaching towards my shoulder.

I turned, trying not to be obvious about my intentions for her to keep her distance, and quickly ordered another shot before the bartender got too far away. Not that he was planning on leaving his spot any time soon, the place in front of Carrie, where he leaned into the bar, taking his own peek down her low-cut shirt.

“I just came in for a drink, that’s all. I’ve got too much going on at the ranch right now for you to be distracting me,” I explained politely.

“Oh, you know I’d distract you,” she purred, leaning back towards me as she spoke.

I leaned back away, this time with no way to show the obvious dismissal of her advances.

I grabbed my shot, downed it, and then took a long swig of my beer. I turned to look towards the door, now instead of hoping for, fearful that Evelyn would walk through. I didn’t want her to find me with Carrie. I knew her claws came out when another woman was in her way, and I couldn’t imagine Evelyn involved in such cattiness.

“Are you meeting someone here?” Carrie asked, her tone cold and steady.

“No. I-I-uh, I mean, I’m not sure if they’re coming or not,” I stammered, realizing I was truly hoping she’d show.

“Well, I’m here,” Carrie smirked in my direction, her pink lips full and plump, and capable of things no other woman had proven possible. Fuck.

I chuckled nervously as I studied her eyes, so blue, so filled with intent. She was like a lion with her curly blonde mane, stalking me as prey. For a moment I was helpless, frozen, and vulnerable to her allure, but old man Jasper’s voice rattled in my head. “That one’s no good,” I heard him say when he first met Carrie.

He was right. She wasn’t.

“I’d really rather be alone right now,” I smiled, offering my most polite brush off.

Her face tightened just enough to show the cracks in her thick makeup. Suddenly, her allure was gone, the light hitting her just right so I could see one of her fake eyelashes starting to loosen from her eyelid, the streaks of different colors in her hair from extensions she’d clipped in, and an underwire pushing from her bra where it had been overworked.

I thought about Evelyn and how she looked sitting at my kitchen table that first day. Her hair was soaked, messy, and frizzy, but beautiful. Any sign of the small amount of makeup she’d worn was gone, but her skin flawless. The green boy shorts she’d worn and the shirt with the ride a cowboy phrase. I laughed, aloud, but not intentionally.

Carrie’s eyes turned dark as she pushed her tongue against the inside of her cheek. The bright blue shade was probably contacts and the blonde hair most likely from a box. Most definitely from a box as I remembered her bush as a dark brown. Fake. She was fake, and that wasn’t alluring to me anymore.

In a huff, she was gone, already moved on to her next conquest before I could finish my beer.

“Another one?” the bartender asked, his eyes towards Carrie bent over the pool table, and not on me.

I thought about Evelyn. She wouldn’t come here alone. Maybe if I brought her, but not alone. I was foolish to think someone like her would even consider my overly-zealous request.

“No. I’m leaving,” I smiled at the man who still had his eyes glued to Carrie’s backside.

I slapped money onto the bar to gain his attention, long enough to thank him and make sure he knew he was paid in full, with tip.

As I headed towards my truck, Jack Fuller, one of the men from the stockyard grabbed my arm, pulling me towards him without my consent. He was older, probably in his sixties, but he was still strong for an old coot.

“James Laurie, so it’s true, you didn’t leave,” he hooted with a grin.

I smiled down at the old man who stood no more than five foot nine.

“Man, it’s good to see you,” he continued, his eyes lingering on me in a strange way.

“It’s good to see you too,” I replied, hoping that would be the end of our encounter.

His grip continued strong on my arm, and that strange look remained on his face.

“So, the rumors aren’t true then?” he asked.

“Rumors?” I questioned.

“About the ranch,” the old man’s white bushy eyebrows pushed downward.

“I’m sorry,” I stammered, still not sure what he’d heard.

“Oh, you know how people like to talk. After Jasper passed, well, there are rumors of his kids being back in town meeting with brokers to sell the place,” he informed me.

I sighed. I wasn’t in the mood to get into the mess that was going on in my life, but Jack wasn’t going to let it go until I did just that.

“We hadn’t seen you in a while, so I leaned towards believing them, thinking you hauled off and left town. I’ve saw the daughter, just the other day actually, sitting in that diner with a man in a suit,” he pointed across the street.

“There’s a lot of work to do at the ranch. I’ve been trying to keep things going,” I smiled through my irritation.

“That rumor is really gonna drive the prices of your cattle down, James. You need to grab hold of this rumor and head it off before it gets outta hand and you get lowballed at the next sale,” Jack warned.

I nodded.

“The ranch isn’t going anywhere. I’ve got my own lawyer, a will, and plenty of proof that the land and everything on it belongs to me,” I scowled.

Jack smiled, giving me a quick nod before releasing his grip on my arm.

He slapped me on the back, smiled, and then walked towards the door. From the strong odor of whiskey already on him, I’d expected him to be leaving, not coming.

He was right. I was going to have to make sure this was handled, and quickly. I couldn’t afford to lose money at next week’s sale.