Page 6 of Wanted by the Lawman

CHAPTER 3

“WHERE’S PHOENIX AND Kiersten?” Zander looked down the table at each of his brothers, Cullen, Kace, and Nixon who all gave a shrug with their linebacker shoulders.

“How the hell do I know? I’m not their effing keeper,” Kace muttered, still irritated from the black eye he’d received while apprehending a suspect earlier that day.

“Come on, bro. Black and blue brings out the color of your eyes,” Nix teased.

“Go to hell.” Kace looked like he could rip a man apart with his bare hands. At six-four and as large as a house, no one ever wanted to find out if he could. Zander guessed the guy who punched Kace probably got a lot worse than a black eye in return.

Beatrice, mother of the Cade clan, lightly smacked Kace on the shoulder. “Watch your language,” she corrected him. Although all her kids were adults, she still made sure they walked a fine line of respect, at least while they were at home.

“Ma, I said hell,” Kace sniffed loudly. “I said worse when I was in diapers.”

“Yes, and we washed your mouth out with soap.”

“Can we eat now? Dinner’s getting cold,” Nixon groaned. “I’m starving.”

“Not until we say grace,” Beatrice, who had been a starlet back in the day, still carried herself with grace and beauty, although she’d traded her heels for cowboy boots when she met Bo Cade. She often told stories on how he swept her off her feet although she’d kicked and screamed. She took a seat at one end of the table, while her husband sat at the other. “Bo darling, you want to say prayer?”

He bent his silver head and said a quick prayer. “Dig in, sons,” he announced. All the Cade sons took their looks after their Pa who was strapping, even in his early sixties. Although Beatrice lectured him, daily, that it was time to retire from the ranch, he always responded, “Wild horses couldn’t drag me away.” For Bo, after a twenty-year career as a cop, he was in retirement. He got up at sunrise every morning and did the chores and never complained once. Beatrice did back off a little when he sold some livestock and built her an indoor pool. They were still in love and if ever one of the Cade men met a woman and wanted to marry they had big shoes to fill to compare to their parents.

Zander gladly spooned a large helping of mashed potatoes onto his plate, then grabbed an ear of corn off the heaping platter. He liked driving home on Sundays to eat supper, but mostly he enjoyed seeing his siblings. Growing up they’d been raucous, but they always made sure they respected each other. Zander remembered how they’d invite guests over, eat to their heart’s content, play music and dance. The four walls of the Cade house knew enough love and laughter to blow the roof off. The siblings all wore a star in one branch of law enforcement or other and they were first in line to help each other work cases. “Ma, everything looks delicious.”

“Thank you, Zander.” She reached for a biscuit and gave him a smile.

“I heard about that murder over at Tattleman’s Farm. Did you find out who the fu—” Cullen looked up shyly at Beatrice who was frowning. “freak did it?”

“Do we have to talk about this at the dinner table?” Beatrice asked.

“Ma’s right, Cul. Mind your manners.” Nix smacked his brother on the back of the head.

“Bro, touch me again—”

“All of you cool it,” Bo said in a quiet, but mighty, tone. “Show your ma some respect.”

“Sorry, Dad,” each brother mumbled in staggered unison.

“For the life of me, I can’t understand why my sons aren’t married.” Beatrice shook her head.

Zander picked up the chicken casserole dish, scooped out some onto his plate then passed it down the line. Once the clanging of utensils against china stopped, Bo asked, “How’s the hiatus, son?”

“Hiatus? Is that what their calling a suspension from duty these days?” Kace scoffed.

“I’m not suspended,” Zander retorted. “After a disagreement with my supervisor, Johnson, over the Tattleman’s Farm case, I decided I needed to use a few weeks of my vacation time. It’s a clever strategy. He’ll appreciate me more when I come back.” He munched on a biscuit.

“Good plan, son. You deserve a break,” Beatrice added.

“I’d like to hear about those horses. How many you have over on the new property now?” Bo smothered a biscuit in butter.

“Five,” Zander said around a mouthful of food. Swallowing with a drink of lemonade, he added, “Just bought another roan.”

“Great investment to buy that property. You’ll make your money back in two years once you hire on a few ranchers and buy some livestock.” Bo proudly patted Zander on the back.

He’d bought the property last year at an auction after the owner, Agnes Makelti, passed away. The first thing he did when he had the deed in hand was build a fence and buy himself a few horses. Then he hired builders to construct a cabin. Two months ago, they finished construction. He was glad to take some time to get his place in order. “Now that I have the time, I plan to start the ball rolling on hiring some men and getting livestock. I’ve already talked to a rancher who is downsizing.”

“How are you managing living over in Crooked Creek?” Bo asked over the rim of his coffee cup.

“It’s an amazing area. It’s quiet.” Zander, Special Agent with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation bought the property to have a hassle-free place where he could unwind and do some of the things he enjoyed like working with horses.

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