Page 48 of The Cowboy's Ultimatum

“Andy! Where are you?”

“The bikers went past the house just as I was leavin’ so I followed them, but they’re gone. I’m comin’ over there now. By the way, they got the better of the sheriff and everyone else in that room off the library.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope. Thankfully they’re all okay, and he’s callin’ the Fairview station to set up a roadblock. It’s likely Ken and his gang will be caught by them.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“Me too. I’ll see you soon, darlin’.”

* * *

At Lake View Point, Ken and his crew were checking out their haul. Though there was a chain across the entrance, rolling their bikes past either side of the posts had been easy. But earlier in the day, Bear had broken it with a sledge hammer so they coulddrive a car through, then put it back together with zip ties. Now a biker nicknamed Wolf, given the title because of his thick salt and pepper hair, was dropping the jewelry, cash, wallets and phones into separate bags.

“How’s it looking?” Ken demanded as he lifted a hamper from the trunk of the BMW.

“Pretty fucking good,” Wolf replied, “and what an easy score. I just wish we didn’t have to sleep out here all night. Why don’t we go over to the campgrounds and find an empty cabin?”

“Are you crazy?” Ken exclaimed. “This spot is chained off. No-one will bother us, and it’s only one fucking night. Now let’s run through everything again. Tomorrow morning I’ll drive the car out with the bags and weapons stowed in the hidden compartment beneath the trunk. The rest of you will leave one at a time, a couple of hours apart. Bear, you and wolf will go east through Fairview, and Roger, you’ll go west through the town. Then Bear, you’ll meet me at the clubhouse and bring me back to pick up my bike. Remember, when the cops stop you and search, be cool. There’s nothing for them to find, and they have no reason to take you in. Don’t give them one. Any questions? No? Good.”

“I’m finished,” Wolf exclaimed, rising to his feet and carrying the bags to the car.

Watching him hide the ill-gotten gains, Ken allowed himself a smile. Though he was a superstitious man and would save the celebrations until everything had been sold, he knew his crew needed to toast the successful evening.

“Okay, Bear, break out the whiskey.”

“Before I do, you never did tell us why you went to all the trouble of pretending to do a drug sale with that girl?”

“Why do you think?”

“Uh, I can’t figure it out.”

“Anyone?” he asked, looking at each of his crew.

“We don’t have a clue,” Wolf replied.

“I knew she wouldn’t be able to keep it to herself and she’d tell her cowboy, then he’d call in the sheriff, and the sheriff would reach out to that asshole detective in Dallas who’s been trying to nail us.”

“I don’t understand,” Bear grunted, shaking his head.

“Just listen. I also knew that detective would jump at the idea of catching my two supposed buyers and get them to turn on me.”

“But how did that help you? And who were they?”

“They’re users, and they actually believed they were there to pick up their packages, but they buy their stuff from some lowlife. They don’t even know who I am. Anyway, by manipulating the girl to get the sheriff involved, I got him and two of his deputies off the road. That’s two less to come after us and he only has four. As for the detective—well—that’s personal. I wanted to make a fool of him. And I did. He thought he’d be dealing with two regular guys, and instead he was faced with a group of balaclava clad thugs armed with guns, terrorizing all the guests.”

“But what if they’d decided to burst into the library while we were there?” Wolf asked.

“Not a chance. They couldn’t risk one of those wealthy people getting shot. They had no choice but to let us leave and set up roadblocks to catch us, which they’re probably doing right now, but it won’t work. Any questions?”

“No…except…how do you come up with these ideas,” Bear grunted, “and why don’t you ever tell us the details beforehand?”

“I didn’t dream up this one, my old man did, years ago. And I don’t tell you anything because I often change plans at the last minute and I don’t want any confusion. Is that it? Anything else?”

“Uh…yes, I have a question.”

Ken, Bear and Wolf turned to look at the man who rarely spoke. His gang name was Mouse.

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