Page 33 of Final Ride

“Good, that’s done,” said Travis. “Nice job, Harlan. I’d better call Billy, tell him about the offer and bring him up to speed.”

“Yeah, the closing date is at the end of August. He should know about that if he’s not coming with us,” I said.

“I’m still hoping he is,” said Travis.

Me and Virge were too, but Dad told us not to be saying stuff to Billy to sway him. Best to let him make up his own mind.

“Hey, Travis I was about to call and tell you about all the people who’ve been here looking at the ranch. Seems Crockett had a run on the place.”

“Yep. He’s got an offer that we’re almost settled on. Down here, we’ve got action too. We’re waiting to hear back on a ranch we offered on this morning. It’s been a busy day.”

“You coming home soon?”

“Be back tomorrow. I’ll book a flight right now and let you know the time we’ll be landing in Great Falls. If the sale is solid, we’ve got a helluva lot of work to do in the next few weeks.”

“Sure do. Tell the boys the horses are dandy. I think they’re missing the way the boys fuss over them.”

“How about Max and Sarge?”

Billy laughed. “Those two big crybabies? I had to let them sleep on my bed for chrissakes.”

Travis chuckled. “Tell them we’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Copy that.”

Boots & Saddles Roadhouse. Giddings.

“It’s our last night in Texas for several weeks, boys. Y’all want to go to Boots tonight and celebrate with Annie?”

“Sounds like fun, Dad. Let’s do it.”

We drove up to Giddings around nine and got us a booth near the dance floor. Annie sent us over a couple of pitchers of Miller along with chips and salsa that she gave to every table free of charge.

We’d been there for a couple of hours kicking back when a few bikers started drifting in. They weren’t local. They wore cuts that said Black Breed, Houston Chapter.

I knew right away they were the same guys who came to the hotel in La Grange looking for Dad.

“Should we leave now Dad? Those are the guys who don’t like you from a long time ago.”

“Hell no,” said Travis. “I ain’t running from those punks.”

“Okeydokey. If you’re sure.”

Wasn’t long after that Annie came over to our table and sat with us. “I’m watching them, sugar. Gilly and Mick are on alert in the pool hall. We should be okay.”

“Course we are, Annie-girl. Running scared ain’t my style.”

Chapter Eight

Sunday, July 28th.

Days Inn Hotel. Watertown. New York.

Bobby followed Tammy and the old guy she was with all the way to upstate New York. Only twenty-five miles left to the Canadian border when they pulled into this hotel the night before and stopped for the night.

Bobby couldn’t figure it out, but it was a gift to him in the end. He’d been hoping to get a chance to grab Tammy and kill her as they drove north yesterday, but no opportunities came his way.

It seemed to Bobby like she’d become aware of him following her and she was on high alert doing everything she could to avoid him catching her.

---