Page 26 of The Outlaw and the Heir

"Why?"

"Because that means they're used to people, means they don't have any fear of them. So if they're this close to the ranch, it's one of the two."

"They'll have to be taken care of either way."

"True, but you'll be dealing with them again in a few more years, like I said."

My father's brow finally rose slightly. “And what would you do?"

"Me?" Samuel asked, considering the glass, and I thought he was going to swig down the liquor. I was confused as to why my father had handed him a glass of the good stuff but was more surprised when Samuel simply took another sip, savoring it. "Not much you can do with this pack except take them out. And unless you plan on wiping out packs for miles around, you'll have to keep an eye on the future. After this pack is done, get better guard animals and make sure to patrol for wolves every now and then. You'll need to find ways to keep the wolves scared of people so they don't keep coming around. Oh, and stop keeping the news from the town."

I blinked. “I...what now?"

Samuel shrugged. “The easiest fix would be to tell the town and put a bounty on some hides, but...your dad isn't doing that. Which means he's been keeping the wolf population under control on his own and making sure to downplay how bad they've got. And I'm guessing they've beenrealbad in the past if he's worried about a few animals getting taken now. My advice? Stop playing savior and protector and let the people know that wolves are and forever will be a problem, but though you're doing your part, you're willing to part with some hard-earned cash to people who bring you bodies or pelts. More for good pelts, and even more for good bodies with good pelts, the meat is edible."

At that point, I didn't have the sense to pull my eyes away from Samuel as I stared in complete and utter shock. It wasn't that I hadn't known he was smart, but there were miles between being smart and knowing what to do with it in the real world.So far, all he had done was use his brains to antagonize me and play games with people. It was the first time, other than whatever motivated him to have his companions placed into more effective jobs, that I'd heard him do something like that.

My father grunted. “You smoke?"

"Not in a while, happens when you don't have access to tobacco," Samuel said with a shrug.

To my growing surprise, my father held out a cigar and, once taken, gave him a box of matches. “You're not a city boy."

"Haven't been a city boy for a long time," Samuel chuckled as he used the rough surface of the desk to light the match and then the cigar.

"Not ever."

Samuel eyed him, grinning around the cigar as smoke drifted out of his mouth. “Is that so?"

Unlike me, my father didn't take the bait but took a seat as he leaned back and watched the two of us. "This one's got the right of it, we need to deal with these wolves. They're becoming a problem and if we don't do something, they're going to be a worse problem. As for tellin' people...let's put that away to think about another time. For now, I need to know where they are and how many there might be."

"Which is where we come in," I said, eyeing Samuel.

"We," Samuel said, contentedly puffing on the cigar. "Lord knows you can't stand to have me out of your sight. I might actually enjoy myself without you around, and we can't have that, now can we?"

"You'll go where you're told," my father told him.

"Like bossy father like bossy son," Samuel said, as unbothered as ever. Clearly, he had no idea how big a deal it was that my father even let him speak, let alone take him seriously.

"You'll go out tomorrow early but after the sun is up. You'll find where these wolves are roaming the most, figure out howmany there are, but don't deal with them. I need information. I'll send out hunting parties once we know more," my father said, looking directly at me.

"Why me?" I asked, then wondered if I’d been spending too much time around Samuel. Normally, I wouldn't question my father, but the words left my lips before I thought about them.

If my father was bothered, he didn't show it. "Because you're the one to do it. Samuel?—"

"Hm?" the man hummed.

"You're done for the day, so enjoy the free time you have until you leave tomorrow morning with my son," my father said. "Starting now."

"Ahh, the sweet taste of temporary, conditional freedom," Samuel said as if he’d just been handed a pardon. "You two have fun."

I didn't dare protest as Samuel turned to walk out. I might have given Samuel credit and thought he knew that when my father spoke, you went along with what he said and didn't question it, but I knew better. He was simply happy he was being given the chance to get away from me to do whatever he wanted without me keeping an eye on him.

Samuel stopped beside me and leaned in, making me tense at his proximity as he dropped his voice to a low whisper. "He's choosing you because he's not sold on the idea that the town should be told, and he doesn't want anyone else to know about it, even the men around here. He wants us to do the looking, and when he has the lay of the land, he will send out men to do the job. That way, if gossip starts, it'll start when he's doing the best job possible and not a moment before."

I couldn't be sure whether my father heard what was said since he wasn't the type to give anything away, but Samuel had spoken incredibly low and leaned in close to say it before continuing on, whistling a tune I didn't recognize. However,my father's eyes never left my face, and I fought to keep my expression as neutral as possible. Not that I would have any way of knowing if I gave anything away, as the stone face staring at me gave me nothing to work with.

The office door clicked softly as Samuel closed it behind him. My father's gaze never left me as the sound of the door left a silence behind that was far louder than any conversation as it stretched onward. All I could do was stand and stare back at my father, waiting for the inevitable question about what he probably didn't hear and figure out how I was going to answer so that?—

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