Page 2 of Claimed by the Lawman

“Think about it. If the cattle aren’t tagged, how do either of you know who the owner is? They just happen to be on his land. Make sure your beef are tagged, my friend.” Kace shook his head. “Build the fence back up and keep a man on the line twenty-four seven. If Bane steps onto your property, then give me a call.”

“You know he’s willing to do anything to get my land. He had his men take the fence down. Plain and simple. He’s also the one who’s slaughtered a few of my livestock.”

Going back to his truck, Kace leaned against the hood. He understood the man’s agitation and wanted to help. “You think he’d waste his time?”

“I think he enjoys toying with people. A cat playing with its prey. Since that man came to Bohannan he’s done nothing but crush people.” Johnny looked into the distance, watching the cattle in a cloud of dust.

Crossing his ankles and tucking his thumbs into his front pockets, Kace sighed. “Stand your ground, Johnny, but we both know you and Bane can’t keep going at each other like rams, waving your shotguns around. Someone’s bound to get hurt. It’s not worth it.”

“The hell it ain’t. That bastard, Bane, is taking over everything.” With a shrug, Johnny dragged his worn hat off. He was a large man, strong as an ox too, but here lately he was showing his age in the deep wrinkles in his tanned skin. “I’m sure by now you heard Tyler’s back. Even more reason to keep the ranch in the Posey hands. My hope is she’ll take her place next to Rogue.”

Kace looked at the bright blue sky wondering if all hell was going to break loose. “I heard. She staying over at the Posey ranch?”

“Nah.” The corners of Johnny’s mouth dipped. “She still refuses to talk to me more than a few sentences. Stubborn as her momma, that’s for danged sure.”

“Looked in a mirror lately?”

“Hmph. I’ve got a few stubborn streaks, but my girl owns the corner lot. She blames me for her sister’s death.”

Even now, after fifteen years, the mention of Tyler made Kace’s heart hitch and his stomach twist. “Blames you for Susannah taking her own life?”

Johnny swiped the toe of his boot through the dirt. “You know how it was. There at the end Susy wasn’t herself. I couldn’t trust her not to steal me blind to pay for her fix. I loved her, but I had to stay firm. It wasn’t easy, and I had no clue…” He looked away and Kace saw the man’s shoulders lift and drop as if he carried the weight of the world.

Kace pushed off the truck. “You did what you thought was right. Sometimes we can’t control the decisions others make.” He knew that firsthand.

“I’ve screwed up with my kids, Cade. They needed their mother, but I wasn’t enough to keep her here in Bohannan” There was a new strain to his voice, proving he was becoming softer hearted with age.

“You didn’t screw up. They’ve made a few bad decisions, but look at how far Rogue has come for instance? And Tyler, well, she’s independent. Smart. Beautiful. Can shoot a shotgun better than most men I know and catch fish big enough to make a grown man cry.” Realizing where this was headed, Kace cleared his throat and adjusted his hat.

Johnny’s eyes lit. “Maybe you can check in on her. She’s staying at the Belleview Street rental.”

Making sure he didn’t show his emotions through his expression, Kace said, “Sir, with all due respect, I think it’s best your daughter and I steer clear of each other.”

“Ah, come now, son. You and my girl…you could always seem to reach her when no one else could. I know that she’s been hurting since Susy’s death. I’m afraid with her being back here she’ll feel an overload of emotions and take off again. She has a place on the ranch, along with Rogue. This is her home.”

Giving the other man a long look, Kace shrugged. “She has friends here. They’ll help her.” Since he’d rather not talk about the girl who’d broken his heart, he headed for the truck, climbed in and closed the door. “How’s everything else? Still seeing that heart specialist in Cheyenne?,” he asked through the rolled down window.

“I’m surviving, but the kick isn’t as high as it used to be.” He chuckled, but it fizzled. “As far as that nutjob in the white coat, he wants me to cut back on red meat and potatoes. Said it’ll be the death of me. Hell, if I eat all those green, orange, and purple vegetables, I’ll die from starvation. An old man can’t win, I tell ya.”

“That’s a fact for most of us, pal.” Kace turned the key and the engine roared alive. “If you need me, you know where to find me. Keep the guns at home.” He gave the older man one last wave and headed back toward town.

He had work to do, but his mind wandered down a path where it didn’t belong. Tyler Posey. He’d heard a few days ago that she was back, even received a few calls from her, but he had no clue how long she’d stay. In the meantime, he’d steer clear of her.

~~~**~~~

Ordering a drink so she didn’t look conspicuous, Tyler took her bottle to the end of the highly-polished bar at Lolli’s Honky Tonk and slid onto the torn vinyl stool, settling her gaze on the front door with the flashing neon sign. It was more than the bright red light that kept her attention. Her best friend, Isla, had said that Sheriff Cade came into the bar and grill most evenings to grab takeout, and because he refused to return any of her calls, she had no other choice but to ambush him at his favorite go-to. She’d thought about going to the Sheriff’s station, but their first meeting—after fifteen years—should be casual. If she planned to ask him for a favor she had to be careful how she approached him. Tyler already guessed he’d be stand-offish.

Two beers, a handful of sad songs about cheating and heartbreak, and watching a dozen or so patrons come and go and still no Kace Cade, she was starting to believe he’d gotten the lowdown that she was here and was dodging her. He couldn’t hide forever. Eventually, their paths would cross.

“Want another?” the bartender, Mandy, asked.

“No thanks.” Her stomach was already turning from nerves.

“You’re not from around here, are you, darlin’?”

At the sound of the deep, male voice, she lifted her chin and followed the fancy pearl-buttoned shirt all the way to the man’s smile. “And what gives you that impression?”

He tipped his hat and slid onto the barstool next to her. “Oh, I’d remember if I saw you before. Can I buy you a drink?”

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