Page 48 of Lawless Ride

“Fuck yourself, Jack.” Leaving the pitcher untouched, I walked out the door.

Harlan had to run to catch up to me.

Chapter Ten

Wednesday, May 30th.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

I poured my first cup of coffee and took stock of the cluttered kitchen and from there I could see into the living room, and it wasn’t a pretty sight.

“Look at this place, Harlan. Annie-girl is coming in a couple of days, and I haven’t done any cleaning up. And where’s everybody going to sleep? This ain’t the Holiday Inn for chrissakes.”

“I’ll clean up and help you change the beds and do laundry. I know how. We had to change our own sheets in Juvie.”

“Thanks, and we might have to do it all ourselves tomorrow, but first I’m going to ask Molly about the lady who cleans the run. Tina. She’s thorough and very fast. If we can have Tina take hold of this house tomorrow or Friday before Annie comes, we’ll be off the hook.”

“What about groceries for a bunch of people?” asked Harlan. “Do we need to go to the market?”

“For sure. Another fuckin job we have to do. Annie likes to cook, and she’ll be pissed if there’s nothing in the pantry or the fridge for her to use. You should see the pantry she has at her ranch.”

“Tammy said her mama taught her to cook and to make pies. Think your wife will make us some pies in between watching the girls race and teaching me how to shoot like Jesse James?” Harlan chuckled.

“Yeah, I get it. I’ve been raving on about her a little too much. We’ll get the place cleaned up and do some shopping. I’ll calm down. How much time have we got?”

“We’ve got today and all day tomorrow. Why are you so fuckin nervous about her anyway?”

“Can’t put my finger on it, but you’ll see when she gets here.”

Harlan smirked. “I get it. Now you’re trying to make me nervous too. It ain’t working.”

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

The first thing I did when we got to the station, was ask Molly about the house cleaner. “Do you think Tina could squeeze my ranch house in for a good cleaning today or tomorrow? Even Friday morning but that would be cutting it kind of close. Annie’s coming, the girls are at barrel racing camp, and the place is a mess.”

“I’ll call her right away for you, Travis. She’ll go if she isn’t already booked.”

I blew out a breath. “Hope she’s not. I shouldn’t have left it so long to ask.”

Harlan smiled. He was enjoying all of my Annie-stress.

With the cleaning off my mind for the moment, I rushed into the break room for a coffee and Ted was sitting at the round table looking pale and haggard.

“Jesus, Ted. Should you be here?”

“Can’t stay in my apartment no more. My dad is over there every minute fussing over me and making me soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. He’s driving me nuts.”

“You can hang out here with us. First thing I want you to do is take a look at two guys I’ve got locked up in the run. They could be two of the drug punks who beat you up.”

“More than two.”

“Yeah, I know there were more than two, but I’ve only got two to show you. Might have killed the other ones already. Will you look at them?”

“Yeah, I remember their faces,” said Ted.

“Come on and take a look. They’re being arraigned this morning and if they were the guys who assaulted you, then I have to add more charges before they come up in front of the judge.”

“How’d you catch them?” Ted’s voice was so weak I was wishing we had a sofa in the squad room.

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