Page 91 of Stormy Ride

I laughed. “I’m not preventing much of anything. It’s happening all around me and I’m trying to grab the assholes who did it. Didn’t prevent a damned thing so far.”

“The girls not with you tonight?” asked Jack.

“We had business at the Krystal Palace, and I didn’t want them with me. Don’t want my girls anywhere near that place.”

Jack smiled.

I didn’t get a chance to explain what we were doing at the strip club before Brenda and Glenda came through the front door. Since there were no other seats, the twins sat down next to us. Brenda grabbed the seat next to Billy and cuddled in close to him.

“You buying drinks, Travis?” asked Glenda.

“Nope. Time for us to go home as soon as we drink this pitcher.

“Come on, Travis,” said Brenda. “You’re the hottest stud in this county, next to Billy. One drink and one dance.”

“You’re looking at the wrong guy.”

Harlan chuckled.

“I heard you been hanging around Miss Marilyn,” said Glenda. “Got something going on with the barrel racer?”

“No. My girls are signed up for her racing camp, so yes, I did take their horses over to the Pellegrino ranch. You happy now?”

“Not yet,” said Glenda.

“Let’s go, Harlan. Time for us to get some sleep.”

“Stay here, Billy,” said Brenda. “I’ll give you a ride home later.”

Billy chuckled. “I’d better go. Travis might lock me out.” He untangled himself from Brenda’s arms and limped along behind me and Harlan.

Chapter Eighteen

Friday, May 6th.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

The girls were already at the barn when Harlan went out to feed his horse. “We’re finished with Outlaw, Harlan. Do you want help with Windrider?”

“Nope. I can do my own chores.”

Tammy stood at the door of Windrider’s stall. “Want me to put him in the corral while you muck out his stall?”

“I can do it, Tammy,” Harlan snapped at her. “I know how to take care of my horse.”

“Me and Lucy are going to miss you while we’re staying with Marilyn.” Tammy stepped into the stall, pushed Harlan up against the wall of the stall and kissed him.

“You shouldn’t be doing that, Tammy. Travis finds out and we’re all in deep shit.”

“He won’t find out if you don’t tell him.”

“Tomorrow we’ll go for a long ride to the back of the ranch while you’re off work,” said Lucy. “It will be fun, and Travis won’t see us kissing you way back there.” She squeezed past Tammy, tipped her head up and kissed Harlan with Tammy watching her.

“Jeeze, girls. Let me get my chores done. Travis will wonder what the hell is taking us so fuckin long.”

At breakfast, the girls were chatty, and Harlan was silent. I had to wonder if there was something going on that I didn’t know about. Did I want to know what was going on with three teenagers? Probably not. More to worry about and with the three of them under my roof, I had plenty on my plate already.

After the girls cleared the table and were doing the dishes, I said to Billy, “Work on Evan Bronowski’s background today. I need some solid evidence for the DA to take to trial. Right now, Kala’s murder is all circumstantial.”

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