Page 50 of The Cowboy's Ultimatum

“Mom’s handling it really well. She and a couple of her friends are making cups of tea and coffee for everyone. I wanted to help but she told me to come back up here and wait for you. Dad, though, he’s furious. He’s in his office making calls. I’mguessing he’s trying to find a private detective agency to track down Ken Lockhart. He’s not one to sit around and wait.”

“Ah, I get that.”

“But please will you take me back to the ranch? I want to get out of here.”

“Yeah, let’s go. Hey, Molly,” he said, lowering his voice and reaching down to pet her. “I guess you saved your mom by beggin’ for food.”

“From now on she can beg any time she wants!” Helen exclaimed. “Is Ranger in the truck?”

“Yep. I thought he preferred bein’ in the back, but he really enjoyed ridin’ shotgun when I was chasin’ Ken and his crew.”

“I’m just glad you didn’t find them,” she said with a sigh as she picked up Molly and started for the door. “You can’t win against four bikers with guns.”

“True, but it sure is a mystery how those tail lights just disappeared.”

“Maybe they turned them off.”

“Huh, that’s a thought. Anyway, let’s go. I don’t like leavin’ my ranch with no-one there, especially while they’re on the loose.”

But as they left the room and started down the stairs, the vanishing taillights continued to bother him.

* * *

At Lake View Point the bikers had been passing around the whiskey bottle, laughing and joking about the scene at the charity event. By the time it was empty the clear night had given way to clouds hindering the muted light of the moon, and the air had become frosty. All the while Ken’s phone had been vibrating in his pocket, and finally pulling it out he found several messages from an unfamiliar number. Grunting, he began to listen to the first.

“Mr. Lockhart, my name is Samuel Friedman. I have been retained by Erin Leary. A police raid was carried out at her training facility late this afternoon and a large amount of cocaine was found. She and several of her clients have been arrested. Please call me as soon as you get this.”

For a moment Ken couldn’t breathe, and a sharp tightness enveloped his chest. Suddenly filled with fury, he rose unsteadily to his feet and hurled the phone into the lake.

“Don’t toss stuff in there,” Wolf yelled. “That’s not cool. It’s…you know…messing with nature.”

Ignoring him, Ken snatched up the empty bottle and staggered to the water’s edge, surprised it seemed closer than it had a short time before. Thinking he was just confused because of the whiskey, he lifted the bottle in the air.

“How far do you think I can throw this? A hundred yards? Shit, we have no way to measure.”

“But, Ken,” Wolf continued, “you’re always saying how you like coming out here because of the woods and lake and stuff.”

“Fuck the woods and fuck the lake and fuck the fucking clouds,” Ken shouted, staring up at the sky. “I don’t give a shit.”

“Hey, Wolf, cool it,” Bear warned, lowering his voice. “You know not to screw with Ken when he’s like this.”

“Yeah, yeah, but it pisses me off. He shouldn’t throw things in the lake. It’s like saying fuck you to…to….”

“To what?”

“I don’t know, the Nature Gods or something. I’ve heard the mountains and lakes have spirits. If they do we don’t want to make them mad.”

“Hah!” Ken suddenly spat, spinning around and staring at him. “You know what you are, Wolf? You’re a fucking pussy. Hey, lake spirits,” he yelled, turning back around raising the bottle, “fuck you!”

Throwing it into the lake, the splash cut through the cold, still silence, but a moment later there was another splash echoing through the air, one that sounded much bigger.

“What the hell was that?” Bear grunted, lumbering up to stand next to him.

“Don’t know, don’t care, and I need to get some shuteye.”

Staggering to the nearest sleeping bag, Ken pulled off his boots and belt and wriggled into its warmth. The rest of the crew followed suit, except for Wolf who continued to stare at the dark water and the mountain peaks beyond.

“The lake spirits,” he whispered. “You’ve upset them. I can feel it.”

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