The Cowboys Fire

Chapter 12

Connor POV

Coming back at lunch and seeing pots cleaned away but no dinner in the slow cookers my brothers couldn’t help but let disappointment show on their faces. I have to admit, last night meal was impressive. I even rang Jim at the Chinese two towns over, confirming Lilly hadn’t ordered it from him. I felt a bit guilty about doubting her, I’m not telling my brothers that.

I eat my lunch and do a walk through. She has taken the keys from the side but the car has moved and is now back parked out of the way. Considerate. The office is the disaster I left this morning. I gather a few bits of information I need and head back out to my truck. I’m heading to buy some more horses from an old friend of dad’s, his health is declining and he has a complicated family when it comes to who is inheriting his ranch. He was always passionate about looking after his animals. William is obviously coming with me but Jackson and Logan fancied a ride out too. Logan is driving the horse box with Jackson.

It will take us a few hours so will probably be my last task of the day. I always liked Mr Richard’s, he was a good friend to our parents and I know they still talk a fair bit.

William is excited to see some new horses and the potential that they hold introducing new blood lines to our stocks.

Arriving at the ranch, it’s not longer looking like I remember it did as a kid. Tired is the best way to describe it. I pull up in front of the porch and find Mr Richard’s sitting on his almanac. Looking fragile for a man I recall as a giant.

He takes us all round to his stable and we spend some time discussing all his beautiful animals. William looks like a kid at Christmas, no matter what he is going to want for these animals I can tell I’m going to be opening my wallet.

While William runs around picking who he wants to take home today and who he is coming back for tomorrow, the stable doors open and in steps a man I can only guess to be Mr Richard’s grandson, and he does not look pleased to see visitors.

“Pop, what’s going on? You buying more horses?” Buying, how could he be so out of touch with the situation. Mr Richard’s has spent the last hour regaling us with his plans to sell the live stock to keep them safe from his family after his passing, which he is reliably informed will soon.

“AJ, meet the Black Family, Connor, Jackson, Logan and William. Boys, this is my son, AJ” we all take turns shaking his hand though I can’t help feeling like he is looking down on us.

“What have you brought us?” AJ asks.

“AJ, they have come to look at MY horses. They run a very successful ranch and William trains and breeds horses”

“Pop, we talked about this? I told you if you sell them, then the deal I have arranged with Marcus Stanton will fall through” AJ whisper shouts. I turn away to leave them to talk, giving me chance to talk to my brothers.

“Isn’t Stanton’s that abattoir in Livingston?” Jackson asks innocently. I knew I’d heard the name but couldn’t place it. William pales.

“We have to save them, they are perfectly health and from good lines. There’s years of work I can do for us with the introduction of them. We can’t just let him..” i interrupt him.

“We won’t, how much we offering for all of them?”

“I don’t want this i***t to have all our money but if we offer too low her won’t allow Mr Richard’s to accept it” I ponder that thought, ideally we need the son to leave.

“Besides, there’s a mare over there that I have picked for Lilly. I’m not leaving without her”

“Lilly! Have you lost your mind. She doesn’t even know how to ride. Why are you all treating her like our long lost sister??”

“Because mom and pop sent her to us to keep her safe and protected. I spoke to mom, she loves that girl as she loves us. Lilly isn’t a fleeting troublemaker, she’s one of us now. Get your head out of your ass and deal with it”

“One of you boys finally found a woman?” Mr Richard’s asks and I realise his conversation with his son has finished. Logan answers first.

“No, mom and pop sent Lilly to us, she’s a pretty, young lady from Florida who cooks up a storm and looks after us and all the hands” that a good way of saying but also not saying what she is.

“Ah I see, and you’re buying her a horse?” Eyebrow raised, that was my point.

“Her face lights up when she looks at them, and since she has to put up with over twenty fowl mouthed grubby men everyday, if we have any hope of keeping her then I better keep her happy”

“No arguing with that logic, and I have to admit Summer is a gentle mate who would suit such a lady”

“William is happy, Mr Richards, but what’s your price?”

“Since it’s you boys, £500 suit you?” He asks and I realise he didn’t understand me.

“I meant for all of them Mr Richards, not just Summer” I reply.

“I have no use for the money when I’m gone, Connor, I meant £500 for them all” my eyes bug out of my head. There’s 10 hours here. He can’t be serious.

“Mr Richards, your son..”

“Is a problem I won’t have to deal with for much longer. If I could manage it, I’d take him with me and drop him off downstairs on my why up” Jackson has to turn around and snigger at that. My concern is he seems serious.

“I’ll tell him a lie and disguise it in the money of the estate. It’s fine” William pipes in.

“These horses would command $100,000, you have to be sure about this. It doesn’t feel right”

“They have been my life’s work, my life’s joy. That boy wants to have them all killed. I’m protecting them by giving them good lives in the care of boys I trust, boys that were brought up right”

We all look at each other.

“I have that on me in cash, William box up five now and call the ranch to send them this way with the other box. I’m afraid if AJ gets wind of this, those other horses won’t be safe if we don’t take them all now”

We all spring into action. I can tell it’s taking its toll on the old man so escort him back to his porch, putting $500 in his hand. He gives me a nod and I go back to helping my brothers. Just as we are finished with these five, the other box arrives, thank god. We get them all loaded up and William and I set off back to get the stable ready for so many new arrivals.

A few hours later, everyone is settled in their new homes, fed, watered and it’s safe to say it was a team effort. All hands and brothers stopped what they were doing to get it done in time for dinner. Clearly Lillys cooking has had an impact on everyone. We all stink so we head to get showered and cleaned up.

I come downstairs expecting to find my brothers huddled around the game with beers but to my surprise, the double porch doors are open off the kitchen and the entire veranda is filled with a large dining table laid with plates and cutlery and some sort of dip. What is going on?

The men are in groups chatting, all cleaned up. My foreman sees me and comes over.

“Lilly thought we’d all like a big dinner after working so hard to take in and look after all the new horses. So she set about setting this up”

Just then a few heads turn and I see Lilly pulling my old red cart, where did she find that?, and it’s filled with.. .. .. .. slow cooker dishes. Some of the hands get up to help her and carry the big pots on to the table. The smells are divine and I take my seat with my brothers. I love Mexican food. She heads inside and brings out dish after dish. It all looks so delicious. As she places the last dish;

“Right everyone, don’t let it get cold now, well done for all your work protecting those beautiful horses” instantly we all dive in, and god, who knew food could taste this good. Pitchers of beers keep getting placed on the table but I’m too distracted by the food to notice by who. How has she remained so skinny when she cooks like this.

Looking up and down the table I see everyone happy and enjoying their meal. But I notice Lilly isn’t here, and all the chairs are taken. Is she not eating with us? I sit back and look inside, finding her sat alone inside with a very small plate of food. Confused I stand up with my plate and go inside.