Turn and Burn (Blacktop Cowboys 5)

As they’d walked out of the restaurant Arnie and Jet had called, asking them to meet at the diner. They hashed out an informal agreement and the wheels were in motion to combine four practices into one. They’d agreed to share the news with their employees and meet again at the potential business site at the end of the week.

He’d been so excited about this big change in his life, he’d found himself dialing Tanna to share the good news—but had hung up when he realized it was two in the morning. Oh, and she was pissed as hell at him.

So where was she?

As he scrolled through his contact list to call her, his phone rang. Unknown number. He answered it absentmindedly, “This is Dr. Fletcher.”

“Fletch? It’s Bran. I’m callin’ from Les’s phone. Holy shit, man, I’ve got a big f**king problem with my cattle. Several of them have died and I don’t know what the hell is goin’ on. Never seen this before. Any chance you can swing by? Like immediately?”

It was the first time he’d ever heard Bran panicked. “I’m on my way.”

Chapter Thirty-five

On the way back to the Split Rock late Sunday morning, Tanna turned on the road leading to Celia and Kyle’s.

A sleepy-eyed Celia answered the door. “Tanna? Whoa. Look at you all fancied up in a dress.” She smirked. “Am I witnessing the walk of shame? Or did you actually get up and go to church?”

“Neither. Long story.”

“Come on in. I got nothin’ but time to hear it.”

The dog promptly flopped in the middle of the floor and Tanna almost tripped over him.

“Sorry. Patches always has to stay between me and the door. Some protective thing.”

“How’s mama today?”

“Anxious to hold the little bugger in my arms rather than inside me. This last month is gonna drag ass, I just know it.” Celia pointed to the living room and sat on the couch, taking up most of the space, leaving Tanna with the corner. “I can’t sit in the recliner anymore because I can’t get out of it.”

“You are looking . . . rounder. But you do have that happy glow about you, so I feel entitled to hate you a little.”

“And you’ve got that little line between your eyebrows that tells me you’re upset, or annoyed, or pissed off, or all three.”

Tanna laughed. “Can’t pull one over on you.”

“So, what’s up?”

“Short version? I’ve been offered a chance to get back into training and possibly competing.”

“What? When did this happen? That is so great!” Celia pushed her feet against the outside of Tanna’s thigh. “Now tell me the long version.”

So she did.

When she finished, Celia was uncharacteristically serious. “I’m not surprised someone wants to showcase your skill on their horse, but I am thrilled for you, T.”

“Thanks. I really clicked with Madera. Even quicker than I did with Jezebel. It’ll sound corny, but it’s like we were waiting for each other.”

“Not corny at all. So, what are you gonna do?”

“I’ve got two options. Ask Chuck and Berlin if they’ll board Madera at Eli’s until I’ve fulfilled my commitment to the Split Rock. Which I don’t see happening. Or I can ask for two days off in a row, request the third day to work at the lounge. That’d give me two full days of training plus part of another the next three weeks.”

“How far is their ranch?”

“Four and a half hours. A hop, skip and a jump for an old road dog like me. And I heard from Garrett this morning. It’s official he’s settling in Colorado too.”

“Doing what?”

“He wouldn’t tell me anything except security. So it could be anything from bein’ a mall cop to working in an off-the-books secret military-type company, to bein’ a school crossing guard.”

“That’ll be good for you, having him close by again.”

“We’ve had several long talks and some things are clearer to me, as far as what happened with my dad before and after Mom died.”

“You gonna try and mend fences with him?”

“Nope. The ball is firmly in my dad’s court. But I’m gonna stop blaming him for the suddenness of the decision to sell the ranch when I was the one who missed the signs.”

Celia frowned. “I’m confused.”

Tanna patted her friend’s swollen ankle. “Forget it. I’m not confused and that’s a good thing. Where’s Kyle?”

“At Bran’s. He had a bunch of cattle get out and they ate . . . well, they’re not sure what they ate. But five have died, and some calves are sick and some aren’t. Fletch has his hands full so Kyle went to help. I don’t expect I’ll see him until later tonight.” Her eyes narrowed on Tanna. “Didn’t Fletch tell you where he was goin’?”

“I haven’t seen Fletch since Tuesday.” Lest Celia got it in her head to pry, she added hastily, “But I’ve been at Eli’s training when I haven’t been working, so we’re hit-and-miss.” She stood. “I did have another reason for coming by. I’m taking my horse trailer. It’s a mess. I’ve decided today is the day it gets cleaned out.”

“You don’t have to move it to clean it out. Do it here.”

“No way. You’ll volunteer to help and I’ll say no, and you’ll do it anyway, and your husband would get upset and have my hide.” She shivered. “Kyle is one scary dude when he’s upset.”