AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ll have it ready for you.”
“A cold burger would be fine.”
“I’ll leave the ranching to you, if you leave the cooking to me.” She arched her brow and I felt like that was a challenge. Somehow, I figured she could probably handle the ranching too, but I wasn’t sure why.
“Yes, ma’am.” I smiled as I walked to my room. It was far too early to go to bed, but I didn’t trust myself to be close to her.
CHAPTER TWELVE
KIPP
My phone ringing was rare. My phone ringing all the way out here was even rarer. “Hello?” I answered as I rode through a thicket of trees. Looking for calves was the most peaceful job on the ranch. All it required was riding. No paperwork, no office, no people.
“Hey, it's Phil.” His voice was flat, it was who he was. Nothing riled him, which made him good at his job.
“Hey, so what did you find out?” I pulled my horse to a stop, and waited.
“Nothing. Are you sure that’s her name?” He sounded a little confused. “She’s the first person I haven’t been able to find anything substantial on. It’s like she just popped up out of nowhere.” I heard his desk chair squeak and the clack of the keyboard as he typed.
“Yeah, man. That’s all I have to go on.”
“She’s been in and out of small towns a lot over the last four years, always working at some dive, but only sticking around a few months, and then moving on. The only pattern of her moves is that it’s always on a bus route.” He sighed and sounded tired of having to deal with all this.
“She said she didn’t have a car, so that makes sense.” I nudged my horse and she started walking again. I hated staying in one place for any length of time when I was supposed to be working.
“There’s nothing else I can tell you. She’s a tumbleweed blowing in the wind.” He chuckled to himself and I shook my head. Him and his stupid sayings.
“All right, thanks for the help. I’ll send payment tomorrow.” Ducking under a branch, I turned west and headed for home. She might not have a past that I know anything about, but her future looks mighty fine to me right now.
“I feel bad taking your money. I didn’t find anything for you.” I heard his fingers snap and figured someone came into his office. I’d worked around him long enough to know how he operated. If I didn’t send payment, he’d wipe my debt off the books.
“Still, it took your time. You have a business to run, and I won’t take any handouts.”
“You should. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here.” His voice cracked and when he talked like this was the only time I heard emotion in his voice. The years had been good to Phil since I found him, but his past was always knocking on the door.
“Well, you are, so let’s quit talking about it. You coming up for branding?”
“No, not this year. I have a few leads I need to follow for other cases, and they are taking me south. Sure wish I was, I would like to meet this mystery girl of yours. How’s your mom?”
“Mom’s good. She’s going to be disappointed you aren’t here, but the door’s always open, you know that.”
“Yeah, I do, and I’ll see you as soon as I can get away.” The line went dead and I pulled the phone from my ear to see if I’d lost service, but I had full bars. Phil was done talking, so the conversation was over.
Riding over the ridge, seeing the house, had become routine, but this time I was happy to be home. As I got closer, I saw her on the porch and Cooper was running around on the grass. I’d longed for a day like this, to come home and have someone waiting. Even though she wasn’t waiting for me, she was still here. “Kipp.” Cooper waved as I got closer. Nora looked up from whatever she was doing and stood, wrapping her arm around the post.
“Cooper, don't you go running up in front of that horse.” I heard her call to the boy.
“I know, Mom. Kipp told me that.” He stopped and waited where I’d told him to. “Did you find any calves?” he asked, bouncing around.
“Not a one.” I smiled. “Are you coming with me?” Cooper looked back to Nora and she nodded, smiling at her son.
He walked over to the large rock that marked the edge of the sidewalk and climbed up. It was what I’d done when I was a child and wanted to ride with my dad. He grabbed onto my arm and I lifted him up in front of me. “Ready?” He nodded and I tipped my hat to Nora and kicked the side of my horse and we were gone.
Cooper’s laughter filled the air around us, and it was contagious. We laughed together as we rode. I needed to get him working on his own horse, but these moments were beginning to be what I lived for. Having a kid in my life wasn’t something I’d ever considered. It was too much of a distraction when we were on the security team. I didn’t want anyone to be able to use them against me, but now life was different. There was no danger, nobody to worry about; just me, the guys, and the cows.
Slowing my horse, I turned back to the barn. “Kipp, can we see Cimmanim?” he asked, turning to look up at me.
“Of course we can. Let's get Pepper brushed down and we can go see her.” Riding up to the door, I swung off my horse and led her into her stall. Reaching up, Cooper launched himself off the saddle into my arms. “You’re the best, Kipp. Thanks for picking me up.”
