Guarding Hope

“Consider it a housewarming gift. It’s great to have you back.”

“Sign right here, and they’re all yours.” The man tapped his pen on the sturdy clipboard where Gage had to leave his John Hancock. The attorney in him scanned the documents to make sure there were no surprises. Feeling satisfied, he signed off on the delivery of forty-three heifers, four yearlings, and one bull.

Gage shook the driver’s hand and then watched him climb into his cab and drive off the property.

“Boss, they’re all loaded in their pens,” Bill said, dusting off his hands on his jeans. Colt had sent Bill over to help set up the ranch for his cousin. He’d worked as Colt’s foreman for three years when an injury left him unable to walk. Now that he’d gotten better, Colt thought he’d make a perfect foreman for Gage.

“Thanks, Bill.”

“Thank you for giving me another opportunity.”

If Colt trusted Bill, then Gage knew that he could do the same, although Gage made sure to run all the necessary background checks, getting information in hours with the help of some of his former colleagues.

Gage clapped his hand on Bill’s back and said, “Well, hell. We all need second chances. How about we get them fed and head back inside to plan out the number of employees I need to maintain this business?”

“Sounds good to me.” He grabbed his bandana, swiping it across the back of his neck for some relief. The sun, even in the early summer, could be unbearable.

By seven, they’d squared away the details on what type of hands they needed and how many, as well as housing them in the bunkhouse a thousand feet from the main house.

“I’ve got to hit the road. I’ll be back first thing in the morning with a couple of hands that are looking for work outside the feed store.”

“We can test them out and see if we can make them permanent. You know what I’m looking for.” They discussed the matter thoroughly, making notes of how much they would be paid by the hour and possible bunking if needed.

After a day full of hard work, Gage’s aching bones begged for the relief of a hot shower. Smiling to himself, he dried off, slipped on some boxers, and passed out, ready for another day.

Chapter 3

The ticking sound of an imaginary analog clock played in her head, waking Hope up in the wee hours of the morning. Her eyes widened as she observed the darkened room with just a hint of light coming from the moon. She stared at the bastard light with a vengeful mind. It marked how much time she had left of her innocence.

She would be moving from one property owner to the next. She rolled over, tucking one arm under her pillow, balling it up and testing the comfortability. Several times she readjusted, but nothing worked. Unable to fall back to sleep, she sat up and thought about her fate.

During that time, she came to an important realization. Her father held no control over her once she belonged to Navarro. If for whatever reason she couldn’t run away, she could use Navarro to destroy her father.

The single knock on the bedroom door resonated in her ears like iron bars slamming shut. Steeling her expression, she slid her purse across her body before opening the door.

“It’s time to go,” Cummings informed her.

She didn’t resist. Instead, she marched out of the room with her head held high. He could no longer destroy her. The sway he thought he held over her vanished the second he made a deal with Navarro.

“Wait,” he hollered, rushing down the steps to catch up to her. Cummings stepped up to his daughter and pretended to give her a hug, but instead, he leaned in to whisper, “You better still be pure, or your body will be on the slab. Don’t embarrass me and be a whore like your mother. She suffered those consequences.”

She gasped at the insinuation that he murdered her mother. Knowing that he inflicted pain, he smiled to himself as he opened the door, holding it for her to pass.

She nodded, a closed-lipped smile stretching across her face as she stepped in front of him. With her newfound confidence, she stared into his heartless eyes and said, “Smile away, Father. Remember…please do remember this. Once he takes my innocence and I make him putty in my hands, I’ll only have one request… One bullet to your temple.” She raised her hand, forming her hand into the shape of a gun and pointing it at his head. “Boom.”

Cummings flinched. Hope winked and blew him a kiss before striding over to the waiting goons. Her verbal jab hit its mark and stunned Cummings, creating a new paranoia. He closed the door, wondering if it was best to kill her after Navarro gave him the money.