Bobbi Smith (8 page)

“Let’s go upstairs,” she invited.

“I’d like that.”

Fred groped her generous curves as they left the table and headed to the privacy of her room. He was going to make sure she earned her pay.

And Sindy did.

Sober, Fred was not the most elegant of customers, and drunk, he was even worse. Most of the time Sindy enjoyed her work, but men like Fred were rough and hard to please. Business was slow tonight, so she had to make do with whomever she could get—and right now that was Fred.

Sindy suffered Fred’s pawing touch as he quickly stripped away her clothing as soon as they reached the privacy of her room. When she was naked, Fred undressed and then wasted no time tossing her on the bed and taking his pleasure of her. Only when he’d finally collapsed on top of her did she breathe a sigh of relief.

Fred rolled off Sindy, smiling drunkenly. “You’re good, darling. Real good.”

“Thanks,” she said, hoping to sound coy. “You sure were fast tonight.”

“I needed it—things are going bad for me right now.” He told her what had happened.

“Did you really put a rattler in his bunk?” She was shocked, even though she knew she shouldn’t have been. These cowboys were a rough and rowdy lot, and Fred was worse than most of them.

“I sure did.”

She shuddered.

“I’m going to get even with Jack Stockton. You just wait and see,” he vowed in a deadly tone.

“But how? What are you going to do? You owe Trey a lot of money, and you know how he is about getting paid back.”

“I’ll find a way. Don’t you worry about that.”

“Any hope of getting your job back?”

“Hell, no, and I wouldn’t work for Jack again anyway. I hate the bastard.”

Sindy rolled over on her stomach and lifted herself up on her elbows to stare down at him. “You know the Lazy S real well. Does Stockton keep a lot of cash on hand? You could break into the house and rob him.”

Fred smiled at the thought of finding a way to get money out of Jack. He could pay off Trey and then leave town with his pockets full. “I like the way you think, woman, but Jack doesn’t keep a lot of cash around. He’s too smart for that.”

“Then what does he care about?”

“The ranch, mostly, and his daughter.” At the thought of Randi, Fred’s expression changed. “Now, that might be something. . . .”

“What?”

“His daughter, Randi. Since his wife died a few years ago, she’s all he’s got left.”

Sindy was suddenly becoming worried about what Fred might do. She didn’t really know Randi Stockton, but she had seen the young woman around town every now and then. Sindy didn’t like the thought that Fred might hurt her somehow. It was one thing to steal money, quite another to harm an innocent girl.

“It wouldn’t be smart to mess with his family,” Sindy cautioned him.

“What do you know about being smart?” Fred sneered, ignoring her completely. He quickly got up and started to dress. She’d given him a good idea, and he knew what he was going to do. All he had to figure out was how to pull it off.

Sindy was insulted. “At least I’m smart enough to know better than to take on Jack Stockton.”

“You just said I should rob him!”

“That’s only money. You’re talking family now. You’d better be careful, Fred.”

“Don’t worry. I will be.” He finished buttoning his shirt and took some money out of his pants pocket. “You keep your mouth shut about what we just talked about. You hear me?”

“I hear you.”

Satisfied that he’d scared her enough to keep her quiet, he tossed the cash he owed her on the nightstand and left the room. He had some serious planning to do.

Hawk went to work as a regular ranch hand. The other men told him about the rustling and showed him where some of the missing cattle had been run off. Hawk looked the area over, but found nothing. Too much time had passed. He kept watch as he did his job, hoping for a lead.

The days passed quickly, and soon it was almost time for the Stampede.

It was late one afternoon, and Randi was ready to put Angel to the test. Hawk was there with her as she led the mare out of her stall.

“Do you think she’s healthy enough to make the run?” Randi asked him. She trusted his judgment about Angel’s leg.

“She’s fully healed,” Hawk answered, glad Angel had made such good progress in the little over a week since she’d injured herself. He’d checked on her daily and done all he could to nurse her along.

“All right. Let’s see just how fast we are,” Randi said, still feeling a little nervous.

This was the moment she’d been waiting for. This was the moment she would find out whether she had any chance of winning the Stampede again.

She saddled Angel and walked her out of the stable.

Hawk followed Randi outside to watch.

Randi didn’t say a word, but swung up into the saddle and rode slowly over to where Wade and several of the other men were waiting for her. Wade was holding a handkerchief to use as a mock starting flag, and he had his pocket watch in hand to check their time.

“Are you ready?” Wade asked.

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” Randi answered, her expression serious. “Let’s just hope Angel is.”

She concentrated on what she had to do, ignoring all the ranch hands who’d gathered around to watch and cheer her on. It didn’t matter that she had an audience. All that mattered was running the course she’d laid out for herself in winning time. The Stampede was only two days away. She could delay no longer. She’d let Angel rest up and heal, and now the time had come to find out if she could still compete.

Randi leaned forward and stroked Angel’s neck, saying a few soft, soothing words meant for her and her alone. Then she looked up.

“All right, Wade. We’re all set.”

Wade didn’t need any further invitation. He dropped the flag.

Randi reacted instantly. She put her heels to Angel’s sides, and they raced off at top speed. They charged toward the far end of the corral and then circled around the back of the stable and the main house. Randi had charted the path carefully. She’d made sure it was as close to the same length and difficulty as the real race would be in town. Leaning low over Angel’s neck, she urged the mare on.

As always when she and Angel were moving this fast, Randi felt as if they were flying. The moment was heavenly, and she was smiling in delight when they finally raced to a stop before Wade.

“How did we do?” she asked breathlessly, believing they’d made good time.

Wade glanced down at the watch. When he looked up at her, his expression was troubled. He gave a slow shake of his head before answering, “Not good.”

Randi felt heartbroken. She suddenly feared Angel would never be the same, and she knew it was all her fault. “How far off our old time are we?”

Wade tried to keep from grinning as he answered, “You’re ten seconds under your best time for last year.”

“What?” Randi was shocked, and then immediately burst into relieved laughter. “Why, you . . . !”

Wade and the other hands laughed with her.

“I thought Angel felt good. She hit her stride.”

“That she did.”

“I guess I know who I’m betting on come Saturday!” Rob called out.

“That’s right!” the other men all agreed.

“It looks like we’re going to have to save back even more of our drinking money for betting on you!” another hand added.

The men went on back to the bunkhouse to relax, leaving Randi with Wade and Hawk.

“I don’t think there’s anyone out there who can beat you,” Wade told her with confidence, remembering how easily she’d won the race the year before.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Randi said, looking at Hawk. There was a gleam in her eyes as she remembered their first encounter. “Bruiser’s a pretty fast horse. If Hawk enters, I’m going to have to warn the boys about their bets. Bruiser would be a tough one to beat.”

“You don’t have to worry. I’m not going to enter the race,” Hawk answered. He would be going to San Miguel for the Stampede, but only to investigate the rustlers.

“Why not?” Randi was surprised. “Are you afraid Angel and I would beat you?”

“Very funny,” Hawk said, smiling in spite of himself.

“The Stampede is quite a celebration,” Wade added.

“Have you ever been to one?” she asked Hawk.

“No.”

“Then this will be your first,” she stated with conviction. “There’s a social on Friday evening. The race and a shooting competition are held during the day on Saturday, and then the big dance is that night.”

“It’s definitely a good time,” Wade told him. “Especially since it’s payday.”

“I guess I’d better show up. I can’t miss Angel’s big race.”

“That’s right. She’s expecting you to be there,” Randi said, but she realized that she was the one who really wanted Hawk there.

The thought surprised Randi, although she knew it shouldn’t have. These past few days she hadn’t seen much of Hawk. She knew her father wouldn’t be pleased, but she’d actually found herself looking for him. When he’d ridden in with Wade a short time before, she’d been delighted. She had sought him out, for she’d wanted his opinion on the condition of Angel’s leg before taking her mare out for the test run.

“When does everybody go into town?” Hawk asked.

“The boss will pay us Thursday night, so most of the boys will head in as soon as we get done working Friday. We have to be there to cheer for Randi and Angel. They’re the pride and joy of the Lazy S,” Wade said.

“Let’s just hope we live up to your high expectations.”

“You’ve never let us down before,” Wade said with confidence. “You’re going to do just fine.”

“We’re going to find out real soon; that’s for sure.”

Randi led Angel back into the stable, leaving the two men outside.

“It’s good that we’re going to town. You never know what we might be able to find out while we’re there,” Hawk said thoughtfully.

“That’s right. Talk is cheap down at the saloon when all the hands get liquored up. Since it’s payday, there will be some serious drinking going on.”

“I’ll be ready to ride whenever you are.”

“I’ll check with the boss and find out if there’s anything else we need to get done before we go. No matter what, we’ll be there in time for Randi’s big race.”

“You’re right. We can’t miss that.”

Pat Walker was unusually excited about the weekend ahead as she drove her buckboard into San Miguel. She’d left her trustworthy foreman, Ken Gilbert, in charge back at the ranch, and for the first time in ages she was off to be with her friends again. Pat realized she might even have some fun—if she could remember what fun was after dealing with all the trouble she’d been having on the ranch. Of course, Wade was going to be there this weekend, too, so she had the pleasure of his company to look forward to.

The prospect of being with Wade and enjoying herself brightened Pat’s spirits as she reined the buckboard to a stop in front of her friend Jeannie Stewart’s home. Jeannie had invited her to stay the night, and she was glad.

“It’s about time you got here!” Jeannie called, hurrying out on her front porch to welcome Pat when she saw her drive up. She’d been watching for Pat and was eagerly looking forward to spending the weekend with her longtime friend.

Pat climbed down from the buckboard, and, after tying up the horse, she went to give Jeannie a warm hug. “It’s so good to see you. We are going to have so much fun this weekend.”

“Yes, we are,” Jeannie agreed. “I’ve been baking all morning for the social tonight.”

“Need some help?”

“Of course, I was counting on you! I told the ladies who are running the social that we’d help them box up the dinners for tonight’s auction. I love it when the bidding starts. It’s always so exciting to see who buys the dinners.”

“And this is a payday weekend for the ranch hands. The social should bring in a lot of money.”

They laughed, remembering how heated the bidding could get sometimes. Pat was smiling as she got her bag out of the buckboard and followed Jeannie inside.

It was midday when Jack and Randi reached San Miguel. Jack had driven them into town in their carriage with Angel tied to the back. While Jack went to see about checking them into the hotel, Randi drove over to the livery to leave the horse and carriage and to take care of Angel. She wanted to get her settled in.

Tomorrow was her big day. Randi could hardly wait.

She was excited, too, about seeing her friend Sherri Sadowski. It had been more than a month since their last visit, and that had been just a quick conversation after church services one Sunday morning. This weekend they would have plenty of time to catch up on all the latest news and gossip.

After making sure Angel was fine, she started back to the hotel. On the way, Randi stopped by Sherri’s father’s general store to see if her friend was there working.

“You’re here!” Randi said in delight when she found her friend behind the counter.

“Where else would I be?” Sherri teased. “I’m glad you got here early.” She looked quickly around, noticed there were a few customers in the store, and then added in a quiet voice, “There’s so much I have to tell you!”

“What do you have to tell me?” Randi was surprised and intrigued by Sherri’s tone.

“I can’t talk about it now. I’ll tell you later. Do you want to meet and go to the social together tonight?”

“Yes, why don’t you come by the hotel and get me when you’re on your way?”

“Fine. The social starts at six o’clock, so let’s meet in the lobby about quarter ’til.”

“That’s perfect. I can’t wait to see everyone.”

“Me too,” Sherri agreed.

Randi was curious. She didn’t know what had her friend so excited, but she knew she’d be finding out soon. “How dressed up are you getting for tonight?”

“Very!” Sherri had her reasons, but she couldn’t tell Randi about them yet.

“I guess I’d better go back to the hotel and start getting ready.”

“That’s right. We want to give the boys their money’s worth.”

The social followed the same format every year. The ladies in town prepared box dinners for the occasion, and each single girl at the social was assigned one of the dinners. When each dinner was auctioned off, the girl had to dine with the one who’d bought it. The funds all went to the church.