“Ms. Bass, we are going to be required to withdraw your admission for the events this evening. We have a policy for no violence from anyone on the rodeo arena property.” Mr. Johnson has never been a fan of mine. I look to Mr. Weeks and Mr. Clemons; they won’t even look at me. I know something else is going on. Then I see out of the corner of my eye and I see the black hair of Reba Flint, another barrel racer. We have been going back and forth in the points standing this year. If I don’t get to enter tonight that would give her an advantage and I see by the grin on her face that she is up to no good. This is the exact reason that I am ready to walk away from the rodeo life.

  “Mr. Johnson, my horse was in a rented pen and this asshole was hitting her with a crop. Blaze ended up with a bite wound from his horse. I do believe that doesn’t break just one of your damn rules but multiple rules. My horse is guaranteed humane handling in this arena, and when I file my grievances with the rodeo board, all of you, as the board of directors, will also be in that complaint.” I see Mr. Weeks and Mr. Clemons pale and take a step back from Mr. Johnson. I knew this was orchestrated by Johnson and Reba is involved somehow, or she planned it and brought him in on it, bitches. Both are too weak to come at me head-on but a damn sneak attack on my weakness is the only way they can get an upper hand and I played right into their hands. Mr. Johnson just doesn’t know that I am holding an ace up my sleeve and he is never going to see it coming. He wants to be a tool to me then I will show him how it’s played.

  “Ms. Bass that is why we have insurance for occasions just like this. You have thirty minutes to remove your equipment and yourself from the property and next year if you decide to return to our rodeo then do yourself a favor and read our rules.” Condescending ass. I guess he thinks I am going to fall apart.

  “That’s good with me but I will still be filing grievances and suing you, the board, and anyone else that pisses me off before I leave here.” I see over Mr. Johnson’s shoulder the man, I believe his name is Phil, that rented me the pen earlier and gave me my receipt. He starts talking before he even gets to us.

  “I told Mac where his pen was located, and Micah is right, he was in the wrong place and that isn’t even his horse. Look at his receipt. He’s a drifter that catches work by helping riders out by exercising their horses.” He called the man who was hitting my horse Mac. I would love to know who owned that horse. It’s not Reba’s or anyone’s I know.

  “We have taken a vote and Ms. Bass must leave.” I look at the three board members and I wonder when they had time to take a vote and why these three were together to be able to take a vote.

  “Bill has Blaze and all your things loaded. The vet is examining Blaze in the trailer where it’s cooler. I radioed the other two hands we have with us and they are loading the other horses now. It should be another thirty to forty-five minutes and we can roll home.” Henry has walked up to me and is whispering in my ear. When Mr. Clemson takes a step back up next to Mr. Johnson and says something to him, I give them both a wink and a smile. Mr. Clemson finally looks back at me.

  “Micah, I think we have been hasty in taking a vote without knowing all the facts and we may consider letting you stay and compete, but we will have to file papers about the incident and the sheriff’s department may need to speak with you over your assault of Mac.” I can barely hear Mr. Clemson by the time he’s finished talking. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and take it out and read the message from Aunt Deb. I put my phone back in my pocket.

  “Nope, I’ll be leaving, and all my stock will be going with me.” I wait for it. All three of the men’s phones are beeping. They each look at their own phones.

  “You can’t do this! We have a contract and there is no way that we can find replacement stock in a couple of hours. The liability you and the ranch the stock comes from will be bankrupted. Quit throwing a hissy fit and follow the rules like everyone else.” I laugh in Mr. Johnson’s face. The more I laugh the redder his face gets. Mr. Clemson and Mr. Weeks haven’t said anything. I know I need to keep my temper in check and let the lawyers fix this, so I take a step back but still stand tall. No man makes me cower.

  “I can do this, read your contract, even the small print. We take care of our horses and make sure that is covered in every contract. If my associates or I ever feel that our stock is in danger of being mistreated, then we can pull the horses out of any event immediately and without notice. I am invoking that clause now and the entire stock for the bareback riding are being loaded back in our trailers as we speak. We will be out of here within the hour. Pictures of Blaze will show the animals here are not treated with the care they deserve. I have my receipt for the pen I rented. I have a witness that will state the man knew where he was supposed to be. Then there is the minor problem of how did you three get here so fast and why you had already voted without asking questions or even knowing what the circumstances are.” I take a breath because the thought still pisses me off. “This has the hint of conspiracy to it and don’t think I haven’t noticed Reba slithering around.” I stop myself from accusing Reba outright.

  “Why weren’t we made aware that you had anything to do with the horse stock we are using? Don’t you think that is highly irregular? Should you even be competing where your stock is used? That can be construed as a conflict of interest,” Mr. Weeks speaks up.

  “Once again check the contracts but you can’t, can you?” I wait for an answer, but I know I won’t get one. These men are lackeys because the ones in charge of this event don’t want to get their hands dirty. These three come down here thinking they will be respected by people who they consider beneath them. I wait a few minutes while the men look at each other. “I will give you this though, I talked to the rodeo organization before I started competing and I have been a full partner in all the Bass Haven Horse Ranch businesses since I was eighteen with my aunt, Debbie Bass, and my twin sister, Maddie. The stock division is not something I handle but since I am here and have been in touch with my aunt, our vote was taken and we are leaving. Our attorney with be in touch with all the concerned parties and I will be stopping by the sheriff’s department to file those charges. My aunt Deb is taking care of the rodeo organization because we are pulling all our stock out of all rodeos. In my book that puts you in a checkmate. See how long the three of you keep your jobs.” I turn to Henry and he is on the phone and I can hear Aunt Deb shouting through the phone. Deb is as protective of our horses as I am, and heads will roll over this incident. I have no doubts about it. I am not happy about this situation, but I know it means that our ranch is going to be shifting our focus. It also means we won’t be keeping as many horses anymore. Maybe Aunt Deb can get a life and find someone to share her life with besides me and a herd of horses. I turn and leave the idiots standing in the middle of the pen. Henry follows me to my truck. I get to the truck and as I go to my trailer, I see that Blaze is in her spot and the vet has already left. I get inside the trailer and rub Blaze’s flank and I know she smells my scent. I don’t want to spook her. Henry stays outside the trailer. I make my way to the front of Blaze and check the bite mark. “Did they give her an antibiotic and a local?”

  “Yes, but the local is not going to last until we get home.” Henry answers.

  “I want the other horse tested for rabies and make sure that the horse has an up-to-date Coggins test. I don’t want that horse harmed in any way. We not only take care of our horses, but also make sure no animal is mistreated on our watch. The best way to hide anything about this incident is to make that horse disappear, the horse doesn’t deserve that, that Mac guy deserves it, but not the horse.” I tell Henry. He takes his phone out and checks it.

  “The other horse is in quarantine, Deb insisted on it. We will need to stop tonight instead of driving through. Shane can stay in here so you can sleep in a real bed tonight. I’ll doctor Blaze myself. The vet also gave Blaze a tetanus vaccination and a rabies shot just as a precaution. The vet left a note inside the feed storage. Shane says that Mac guy is in the wind.” That riles me up a little, but I bite my tongue. I will not let Henry take this over and try to handle it. I am the one that should be in control and it’s not in my blood to let someone else handle my responsibilities.

  “I’ll sleep with Blaze and I will change her dressing and give her some ibuprofen until we get home. It will be better than most painkillers especially for the swelling. Is the vet going to be waiting on us? I’ll be sure to tell the vet that there is no way we can know if that horse had a cogs test until we get the paperwork from the incident. I know what the rules state but not everyone follows them.” I let Henry know that there would be no arguing about the matter by the tone of my voice. “I will need someone to watch my trailer and keep an eye on Blaze while I file the report at the sheriff’s office. I’ll also need to take a quick shower in one of your rooms and get something to eat but after that you guys just take care of the other horses.” I think about it and I know Blaze is going be sore in the morning. A thought crosses my mind. “How many of the hands have CDLs?”

  “We all do. That’s why we chose who was to come with us,” Henry tells me.

  “I want you to accompany me to file charges so you can keep an eye on Blaze. The others can meet us at the truck stop outside of town. We’ll fuel up, grab some food to eat, and some snacks. We can take turns driving so we don’t need to stop to sleep. When we need to stop for fuel again then I will check on Blaze and doctor her. We should be home by mid- to late-morning that way. Tell everyone to observe the speed limit and we can stop at rest stops if need be for bathroom breaks. The sooner we get these horses home the better I will like it.” I want our vet to look at Blaze as soon as possible and I want to look over the rest of the horses to make sure they are alright too.

  “That sounds like a plan. I’m ready to get home. Your aunt Deb is fit to be tied. She is out for blood. I’m glad she was at home instead of here or I am sure we would be bailing her out of the pokey.” Don’t I know that’s the truth Aunt Deb knows that Henry has feelings for her, but she ignores the situation and makes it where she isn’t put in a situation that any lines could be crossed. For one time in my aunt’s life, I wish she would cut loose but then again maybe she is right. I can’t judge, my life just got blown the hell up again. No more rodeos. No more competing on my horses. I feel kind of melancholy. I guess it’s time for me to find out if as one door shuts another one opens. Only time will tell. “Text the others and make sure they don’t need any help so we can get on the road and Henry, I appreciate the way you always have my back.” Henry just waves me off. He’s not one for talking about feelings. He walks away from the trailer.

  “Don’t you worry Blaze; we will get you home and I am going to spoil the hell out of you.” I walk out of the trailer and close it back up. Henry is getting off the phone as I walk over to him.

  “They just finished loading the last of the horses, but they still need to get through their road checks on the trailer now it’s loaded. After the we eat and fuel, do you want the first shift driving or second?” Henry asks me. I laugh.

  “You think I could sleep now? I’ll take the first shift driving. I am getting plenty of coffee from my thermos.” It’s going to be a long night.

  “We better get on the road.” I follow Henry to my truck. Its time go home and face the messes I left behind me.

  6

  Sarge…

  Today started going to the crapper last week. Yes, that’s right, last week. A new club is trying to organize itself in Franklin County and that is a little too close for comfort. We have claimed the area between Sulphur Springs to Mt. Pleasant, but we excluded Mt. Vernon. It’s not a lot of area in miles but with all the small communities it is a lot of space to cover with the club we have right now. We’re growing and thought we would expand as our numbers grow. Cooper and Sean, whom we helped out last year when I was doing some work with Chief and the Demented Revengers MC, let us in on the information since they are the ones that keep an eye on the Mt Vernon and Bogata area.

  Sean and Cooper aren’t your regular small-town folks. They are half-brothers with different fathers but the same mom. Both Sean and Cooper have three sons. They all share a house, although two are currently serving our country. They’ve all served at one time or another so when someone sets up shop in their county, they usually have an in-depth file on the people before they can get unpacked. Did I mention they are also connected to the NSA and they ride motorcycles? The Legion MC had a fence and a huge metal building up within two days and they are erecting other metal buildings. It took a few days for Sean and Cooper to find out about the move-in because they are not in Saltillo but between Saltillo and Mt. Vernon and well back off the main roads. Sean and Cooper went to check them out, but the MC isn’t friendly and want nothing to do with anyone in the community. The Legion MC wouldn’t even let them on the property. I can’t say I would do anything different but it’s suspicious. The president of the club goes by the name of Priest and his VP is Bounty. The way Sean told it was they came to the gate and told them to beat it and not to return. There are no trespassing signs everywhere, but Sean and Cooper have them under surveillance. The club has no criminal background that has been uncovered so far. The women that are with them have been into Mt. Vernon looking for work and there’s no school in session right now, summer break, so we don’t know if there are children with them as well. The thing that has me riled up was they have talked to Mr. Brown, the man we are purchasing land from, and they are leaning on him to sell the remaining parcel of land. Priest let him know that he is also interested in purchasing the land for crops. He didn’t say marijuana, but what else would they be growing? Cooper and I both think the Legion MC isn’t looking to buy the land and wait for the legalities of distribution of recreational marijuana to happen. I don’t like most people and I always look at the negative first, but it has kept me alive. Maybe, I am wrong, but my gut tells me that I am right. Either way this has thrown a wrench in our plans which is why later this morning I will be finalizing the payment for the rest of the property we are buying at a higher cost than originally planned. Then Stealth, Shield, and I will be visiting Priest and his club. I don’t make a practice of giving warnings, but I can’t afford to get a police record now that we have a solid plan for our future. I am going to try this once, but I know sooner or later blood will spill, it always does. It’s the way of this life and this life suits me. I might as well get the day started. I slap Dee on the ass, so she knows to get to her room. I don’t know what I was thinking letting her sleep in my bed. I’ve never done it before, and it won’t happen again. I don’t like sharing my sleeping space with someone that is not significant in my life. I get up and walk into the bathroom and turn the shower on. I put my towel out and take care of my morning routine. I check the water and it is just right. I get in the shower and with the hot water running through my hair and down my body a thought of Micah sneaks its way in. That woman is insatiable in the mornings. When she had spent nights with me, I usually was woken up with her lips around my cock. I go instantly hard from just the thought of what that woman can do with her mouth. A blow job from Micah is the right way to start a morning. After she has made my morning right then she wants shower sex. That woman can climb my body and set a damn fire. I pull myself out of this train of thought. Micah has kept her distance since the afternoon she walked out on me. I think we’re done this time and that is as it should be. I should be happy. I am happy. I just need to get her out of my mind. I tried to booze her memory away and I’ve tried fucking it away, but I find flaws with any woman I am with. I find myself trying to find out where Micah is. I’m giving myself mixed messages and I am realizing that Micah was right in accusing me of just that. What surprises me is I miss that spitfire’s sassy mouth and I miss the challenges she gave me when she was around. I shut those thoughts down. The best thing is for Micah and me to keep our distance right now and then maybe one day we can be friends. That’s all this is, me missing her friendship or that’s what I try to tell myself anyway. I finish the shower, get out, dry off with my towel and then throw it across the hamper to dry.

  I go back to grab my clothes and I see that Dee has left as I expected. I grab a pair of jeans and t-shirt out of my closet. I make quick time getting dressed and putting my boots on. Time to come to an understanding with the new addition in our big neighborhood. I walk out of my room with a head full of what ifs. This president thing takes a different mindset than I like when it comes to dealing with our enemies. I like the lone wolf thing more than taking chances with my brothers’ lives. I did it when I was in the military, but I didn’t like it any better than. I am a work in progress. I walk out of my room and lock my door.

  I make my way into the kitchen and I can smell the coffee before I even get there. I know Shield is the one that’s up. Stealth is still wrapped around whomever he took to his room but then again, he hasn’t been acting normal the last few weeks. Who knows? He and I are overdue for a talk. I miss the days when all we did was take a day fishing to work through our problems.

  I hear two voices before I see anyone, and I see I was wrong. Stealth is leaning on the kitchen counter and Shield is waiting beside the coffee maker for the pot of coffee to finish. They look like they are in a deep discussion and I get close enough to hear Micah mentioned. I clear my throat, so they know I am here.

  “I figured you would be awake way before now. You’re the one always telling everyone to be prepared for whatever may come up and look at you only up a little over an hour before we leave.” I laugh, I know Stealth is trying to rile me up so early in the morning.

  “That’s because I took care of everything last night before I went to bed, smartass.” I give Stealth a glaring look. “Bike checked over, weapons cleaned and stored besides the two I carry on myself, smartass. I thought about every angle this other club can be working and I still have zilch. Too many variables still unknown. Today is more about talking to the president and sizing up what kind of man he is. I will be watching Priest’s every action. Paying attention to the words he says and the ones he doesn’t and the both of you need to do the same to the next ranking members. If one of them scratch their ass, then I want to know it. I want Wedge paying attention to the group as a whole and Keys checking out any security they may have. I know he won’t be able to tell the exact security system, but we need to know if they have cameras or sensors in place. Everyone else just be on alert for any sudden movements. We need to be ready for anything. We are going to go in friendly, but if they want a fight, then it’s on them, but keep your temper in check Stealth.” Straight and direct is the best way to handle this. I see Shield move to the cabinet and take out coffee mugs and start to fill them.