Page 23 of Final Ride

“Give him a call and see what he’s got lined up for you for tomorrow, then come to Boots later and we’ll make a plan.”

“Sure. We’ll drive up to Giddings later on.”

“Where does Annie want us to go, Dad?”

“To her roadhouse. We’ll drive up for a pitcher and some dinner and sort out a plan for tomorrow. Meantime, I’ll call and talk to her real estate guy and see how many ranches he’s got lined up for us to see.”

“Copy that, Dad,” I said. “It sounds like you’ve got a hold on a plan already.”

“Annie is helping me out, son. She did the legwork and all I have to do is call the guy and tell him who I am.”

“Mom is organized, Dad,” said Virge.

“Yep, she is, son.” Travis made the call. “Mister Bennett, this is Travis Bristol calling. I believe Annie Powell told you I was coming down from Montana to view some properties.”

“She did, Sheriff Bristol, and I’ve got a half dozen beauties lined up for you to see tomorrow. What time would you like to start?”

“Umm…could you meet us at the Budget Inn in La Grange around nine-thirty?”

“Perfect. I’ll pick y’all up and we’ll have us a time.”

“Thanks. I’m looking forward to it.” Travis ended the call and told the boys there were six ranches lined up.

“When are we going?” asked Virge.

“Right after breakfast tomorrow morning.”

Boots & Saddles Roadhouse. Giddings.

Annie’s roadhouse was noisy and loud and about ten times busier than the Dry Run we always went to in Coyote Creek. This place was huge and there was a big pool room at the back just about doubling the size.

We walked through the double doors at the front and Annie waved to us from behind the bar. She ran around the old cowboy bar to give us all hugs. It looked just like the ones you saw in all the old Westerns.

As soon as we found an empty booth, one of her servers set us up with a pitcher and a big spread of food. Ribs and potato wedges and coleslaw and cornbread.

I couldn’t match the number of ribs that Virge ate, but I ate a lot. All that warm cornbread I couldn’t stop eating almost put me to sleep, but I couldn’t waste time sleeping. Annie sent us to the pool room to play some free games while she talked to Dad about our new ranch.

“What do you think about my juvie ranch idea, Annie-girl?”

Annie laughed. “How could I think it was a bad idea when it’s basically the same principal I operated my foundation under?”

“Yeah, that’s true. Only the background the boys will be coming from will be a little different.”

“I can put a folder together for you of all the people you need to communicate with in the State of Texas. Some of them could be new staff from when I started, but the departments will be the same. If you need help from higher up, Jesse is the one to talk to.”

“Yeah, I thought of talking to Jesse. I might give him a call tomorrow if there’s enough time left after all the viewings.”

“How many does Kevin have lined up?”

“Six, so far.”

“Nice round number. That should keep you and the boys going all day. Come to the ranch for dinner when y’all are done and tell us all about the ranches you liked and didn’t like. The kids are anxious to see Harlan and Virgil.”

“Thanks. We’ll do that.”

She stood up and lingered at the end of the booth for a minute. “You worried about any of your old enemies coming at you if you move back to Texas?”

“Nah, not really. Most of them probably forgot about me by now.”

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