“I can easily come up with a half dozen, but the hay isn’t something we have to be concerned about until next week. Right now we have other things to worry about.”
“Such as?” Boone resorted to sarcasm and quickly bolted down a swallow of liquor to cover his own ignorance of the answer.
But Max was already aware of it. “Such as why Echohawk is here.”
Boone frowned, regarding the answer as obvious. “Just like he said—to take over the Cee Bar.”
“But why him? Why not one of their veteran hands with years more ranching experience?”
“I don’t know,” Boone muttered, irritated at how out of his depth he felt. “They were tied up and he was available.”
“It’s a possibility,” Max conceded. “But I’m convinced it’s a remote one. Somehow the Calders sensed the Cee Bar wasn’t having ordinary problems. That’s why they chose Echohawk. He was raised on the Triple C so he’s bound to know enough about cattle to handle that end of things. But it was the training and experience he had working for the government. They know he won’t accept things at face value. He’ll probe to find out why and how—and who.”
Understanding registered in Boone’s expression. “Then coming here to the Slash R could mean he suspects we’re behind it.”
Max raised an eyebrow in mock approval. “Well, well, you can add two and two after all.”
“That’s why you sold him the hay,” Boone realized. “To try to throw him off.”
“And four and four makes eight. Amazing. And?” Max questioned in a prompting fashion.
But Boone could only frown. “And what?”
Max sighed. “And that’s why I insisted you help him load the hay—so he wouldn’t have a chance to question any of our ranch hands and maybe get his hands on information that he shouldn’t.”
“They don’t know anything,” Boone declared with arrogant unconcern.
“They know enough. Don’t kid yourself,” Max muttered. “And there’s another thing that bothers me—he never said anything about needing a hired man. Twice I gave him a
chance to bring up the subject, and he ducked it both times. Why?”
“You already told him we were shorthanded, so he already knew you wouldn’t be sending anybody his way if they came here looking for work.”
“Maybe.” Max had considered that. “Or maybe he’s already hired someone.”
Boone released a scoffing laugh. “Not a chance. People around here know better than to go to work for the Cee Bar.”
Max didn’t dispute that. “Unless the man isn’t from around here.”
“Where else would he—” Boone cut off the question. “You think he might have brought one of the Triple C ranch hands with him?”
“You’ve added two and two again. Maybe there’s hope for you yet,” Max said dryly.
“But if he does, what then?”
“First let’s make sure that’s the case. Then we’ll decide what to do about it.” He wheeled his chair toward the desk.
Chapter Six
There is something about Saturday night that has always drawn a cowboy to the lights of town, and Quint was no exception. While drinking and carousing had never been part of his nature, a cold beer, a good meal, and a change of surroundings held a definite appeal for him.
Fort Worth with its array of nightspots sat northeast of the Cee Bar with other towns of varying sizes lying in between. Quint left the ranch with no particular destination in mind, but he turned in the direction of Loury. The Corner Café hadn’t crossed his mind until he saw the fluorescent glare of its lighted windows. The sight summoned up an immediate image of Dallas with her pale copper hair and unusual light brown eyes.
Quint found himself wondering whether she was working tonight. At almost the same moment, he remembered all the times in the past when he had been a stranger in a strange town and experienced the loneliness that could be found in a crowd. A familiar face suddenly had more appeal than a beer and a good meal. In the blink of an eye, the decision was made and he swung the pickup into an empty parking slot in front of the café.
Dallas saw him when he walked through the door. One glimpse of his high cheekbones, the slight bronze cast of his skin, and the black gleam of his hair when he slipped off his hat, and she identified him instantly. Oddly, her spirits lifted. The night suddenly didn’t seem to be as dull and ordinary to her as it had before he arrived.
The touch of his gaze was almost a tangible thing when he saw her crossing to a booth, a heavily laden serving tray balanced on one arm.