Page 317 of The Texas Sterling Collection
The hoofbeats faded, leaving only the dust trail as Felix and his father rode off.
“We’re going after Felix, Joey. But we need to let them get back to town. I don’t want a confrontation out in the country without witnesses.” Grover put his arm around Joey’s shoulders. “Don’t worry. Cornelius won’t hurt Felix. You go saddle up our horses, and we’ll ride into town to the sheriff’s office.”
As Joey hurried off to get the horses ready, Mabel asked. “How can I help? You need something to eat before you go?”
“I don’t think either of us could eat, Mabel.” Grover put his arms around her. “What kind of man threatens to shoot his own son? The quicker we get Felix away from him, the easier we’ll all breathe.”
Joey rode up on Lightning, Patches in tow. “Pa, I want Felix to be okay.” His voice trembled. “Do you think he knows we’re coming after him?”
“He knows, Joey,” Grover climbed into the saddle. “I saw him turn to you and say he loved you as he got on Sparkle. He also knows how I feel about his father. He’s waiting for us to rescue him, and we will bring him home.”
Mabel gazed at her two strong men. “I hope Cornelius doesn’t hurt him.”
“His father won’t hurt him,” Grover assured her and Joey. “His lifelong plan of having Felix take over the family business disappeared when Felix chose the ranch over the store, and he’s angry at his loss of control. Cornelius won’t harm the one thing that could make his dream come true, even if he found you two in bed together.” Grover winked at Joey.
Joey’s face flushed. “Sorry, Pa. You and Ma knew we were sharing a room. I never figured on you seeing us in the same bed.”
“It’s okay, Joey.” Grover chuckled. “I was more worried about Bonner waving that gun than your sleeping arrangements. Now, let’s focus on getting Felix back. We all know running a store is the last thing a champion calf roper wants to do. First stop, the sheriff’s office.”
“Sheriff’s office?” Panic flowed through Joey’s words. “Aren’t we going to save Felix?”
“Joey, forcing himself into our house and threatening my family with a loaded gun is illegal. Bonner must be arrested. If we go in there without Sheriff Jackson, Bonner will likely shoot both of us. We must tell the sheriff what happened and let him handle things.”
“I understand, Pa. Let’s get going.”
Mabel watched her two men ride off toward Blackfield.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
After a fast ride, Cornelius and Felix tied their horses to the rail in front of the Bonner Store. It was eight o’clock.
Cornelius unlocked the front door. “You mind the counter,” Cornelius said in a gruff voice. “And try not to break anything.”
“I’m not three,” Felix grumbled.
“What?” His father raised his voice, irritated at the retort.
“You brought me here at gunpoint, so don’t expect me to be respectful.”
“You’re my son, and you will respect your father.”
“I was never your son. I was only your property. You even said so this morning. You have no respect for me.”
“I don’t like your attitude, boy.”
“First, I’m not a boy. I’m a man. And as for respect, what are you going to do about it? Order me out of the store?” Felix felt a surge of confidence. If part of becoming a man meant standing up to an overbearing father, he learned that part. He was a gnat’s whisker away from shoving over every shelf in the store, but figured his father would file charges against him. Better to wait until his personal posse showed up.
Cornelius huffed and balled his fists, then turned and stomped upstairs to his office to work.
Felix won that battle. If he had to work with his father for a few hours while Pa and Joey negotiated for his return to the ranch, he would lay down his own rules. For the next hour, he worked at stocking the shelves and tidying up the displays, replenishing from the back room when display shelves were almost empty. It would be a long, hot day.
* * *
Grover and Joey rode to the sheriff’s office when they arrived in town at nine o'clock. They tethered the horses to the hitching rail.
“Mornin’, Grover.” Sheriff Jackson greeted them as they entered. “Howdy, Joey.”
“Mornin’, Sheriff.” Grover extended his hand, and the sheriff shook it.
