Page 14 of The Earl's Wrangler
Sawyer shrugged.“Probably seedy ones.I really don’t know.Why?”
Randall set down his napkin.“Because men like that don’t care who they get their money from as long as they get paid.They may be leaning on your father now, but they could come directly to you… or to Alan and George.They don’t care who they pressure to get what they want.”
It was suddenly very cold.“His issues are his own.They aren’t mine or anyone else’s.”
“And these people aren’t exactly law-abiding citizens.They will do whatever they want to get paid.”He went back to eating, but Sawyer’s appetite suddenly sprouted wings.
“They could come after me?”he asked.
Randall nodded.“A colleague of my father’s got himself into trouble and he didn’t have the money to pay.They threatened his kids and his wife.They even had pictures of his grandchildren playing in the park.He ended up selling everything, including his house, to pay them.And it isn’t like your father cares for anyone other than himself, so he isn’t going to care if you get hurt, as long as it keeps the pressure off him.”
“So what do we do?”
Randall picked up his fork.“First thing, you eat your lunch, and then when we get back to the ranch, we have a talk with Mrs.Justice and Alan.They have to know what we think is going on so they can alert law enforcement.”He slowly ate his lunch, and Sawyer tried to do the same, but now as people entered, he kept wondering if they were coming after him.“Relax for now.We’ll figure it out.”
“This doesn’t have anything to do with you,” Sawyer said.“Why would you get involved?”
“Because I’m not as callous as you seem to think I am.”He smiled slightly, and Sawyer nodded.
“Thanks.”Stopping him from getting hit by his father was one thing, but putting himself on the line with guys like this… that was something else.“I was thinking that maybe it’s best if I move on.I’ve been here on the ranch for some time, but if I take off, then no one else needs to get in the middle of this shit with my father.”
Randall shook his head.“First thing, the family is going to miss you, and secondly, these guys have people who specialize in finding folks.If they want you, they will figure out where you are.The best thing to do is tell everyone what you think.A united front is a lot stronger than you on your own.”He gently set down his fork.“Now go ahead and eat.This is too good to let go to waste.”He continued eating, and Sawyer forced himself to finish.Randall paid the bill when they were done.
“Thanks, Sally.”
“This was amazing,” Randall told her as she cleared away the plates.“I’ve never had this kind of cooking before.”He gave her a good tip, and they headed to the truck, then drove out of town and back to the ranch.
“WHAT’S GOINGon?”Alan asked as he, George, Chip, Mrs.Justice, Claude—back from a trip to Dallas—and Randall all sat in the living room of the main house.Claude and Mrs.J held hands as they sat on the sofa, glancing at each other gently.
“Just tell us what’s on your mind,” Mrs.Justice said.“We’ll deal with it.”
Sawyer swallowed hard.“That’s just it.You shouldn’t have to.”
“Is this about your dad?”Chip interrupted.
“Yeah.You know he came here wanting money.Well, Dad has a gambling problem.He always has.Can’t stay away from casinos, horses, dog tracks, you name it.There were times when I was growing up that he’d gamble away the food money.”He really didn’t want to think about those times and how the only food he got all day was lunch at school.“And when he lost, he got mean.”
“And Sawyer thinks his father owes the wrong people money,” Randall explained.Sawyer was grateful that he didn’t have to say it.“And it’s possible that could put him as well as the people here in danger.”
Mrs.Justice picked up the phone, dialed, and within seconds was speaking to the sheriff.“I need you out at the ranch, Johnny.”She sounded like she expected him to jump now.“It’s not a crime, no.Not yet.”She hung up the phone.“He’s on his way.”
“Good,” Claude said, putting an arm around her as she settled next to him once more.“I can make a few calls to some friends if needed.They run a security firm out of Dallas, and they’ve protected people against worse folks than gambling debt collectors.”
Sawyer nodded.“Thank you.But I don’t want to put all of you out like this.”
“We look after our own.”
“Yes, we do,” Alan said.“Look, Sawyer, you need to move into the house.It will be safer, and there are folks close by all the time.”
“But—” he began.
“It’s a good idea,” Randall said.“These kinds of people wait until you’re alone and at your most vulnerable.Then they spring themselves on you.”
Chip cleared his throat, and Sawyer saw him and Alan exchange glances and darting looks.
“Behave,” Mrs.J told them.“Yes.We have room, and you’re not to go anywhere alone.And if your father comes back again, we know how to deal with deadbeats.As for his issues, we can see to it that they stay his and don’t become yours.”She leaned back.“I’m sorry, Randall.When we invited you here, we didn’t mean to get you in the middle of a squabble.”
“It’s not your fault.It’s mine,” Sawyer said.
