The Cowboy and the Angel | ✓

Chapter Twelve

"Are you sure you wanna do that?" Leroy asked over his scrambled eggs. "It's like diggin' your own grave."

Jason looked up from his cup of coffee, his expression unreadable. "I ain't diggin' anyone's grave. I'm just takin' care of business."

"That 'business' may very well get you in a heap of trouble, Jase," Annalyn pointed out, in full agreement with Leroy. She sighed. "I know it's gotta be done. Please be careful, for Ma's sake."

"Can we go with you?" Laramie and Cohen asked together, their eyes sparkling like dewdrops in the sunlight.

Jason dashed out their hope with a shake of his head. He plopped his cup down on the table and stood up. "No. I'm goin' alone."

Annalyn left her chair and stopped Jason at the door. She threw her arms around him, her voice suggesting she was at the verge of tears, "I love you, bubba. Be careful, and stay safe."

Jason gave her a squeeze. "I love you too, sissy," he said as he ducked out the door. He took a moment to give Hank a scrubbing.

"Here ya go, Boss," Hyde greeted as Jason walked up to the barn. "Raven's tacked up and ready to go."

Jason took the reins from Hyde with a grim smile. He mounted up quickly, glancing back at the house before looking down at his foreman. "Keep an eye on them, will ya?"

Hyde nodded deeply. Even though he was nearly eighteen years Jason's senior, he had no problem taking orders from his much younger boss. "Yes, sir."

"And Hyde?" Jason paused, looking back over his shoulder while Raven flicked his long black tail. "Keep an eye out."

"Will do, Boss," Hyde acknowledged, watching Jason plod off atop the dark, shiny stallion.

***

Jason was in no hurry to arrive at the Crooked M headquarters. Sure, he could just stop by one of their many ranch houses positioned around the cattle fields, but he wanted to make absolutely sure that Thomas got his drift. He wanted nothing more than to just have one of the mangy cowpunchers pass down a message, but he knew that simply would not do. Thomas McGuire owned all the land around Abilene, with the exception of the Double A and Broken H at opposite ends of town, and he knew just a 'passed-down message' would get blowed off. He had to be sure he left a lasting impression.

With a gentle tug, Jason steered Raven to the closest Crooked M property. If Thomas thought the Archer's would give in to his desires, he had another thing coming. Giving in was the last thing on Jason Archer's mind.

Raven snorted, pinning his ears back at the sight of a couple of riders tagging along with a scatter of cattle.

"Yeah, I see 'em." Jason patted the horse's shoulder, squinting his eyes against the sun to watch the cowpokes. He noted the scouts riding about, and the exact moment they saw him and began riding his way. "I think they recognized you, old boy."

Raven tossed his head. He gave a half snort before quickening his pace, the scouts not far behind.

"That's exactly how I feel." Jason laughed, urging Raven to pick up some more speed. He grinned back at the riders without a care in the world. He could care less about the fact they had mean expressions or were carrying carbines. He put his hand on the butt of his pistol. They were not the only ones armed.

The farther Jason traveled to the main ranch house, the more scouts he seemed to pick up. Before he knew it, he had eight Crooked M workers tailing behind him. And if his guess was correct, one had already rode ahead to forewarn the Big Man himself. Not only had the number of those following changed, but the scenery changed as well. Instead of grassy hills littered with trees, he was now riding through rocks and dirt with a spattering of bushes.

"You better be waitin' for me, McGuire," Jason growled through clenched teeth. He was close enough now to see the squat, two-story ranch house in the distance. His stomach felt queasy as his temper grew. How a man could cheat, steal, and kill to get what he wanted was something Jason couldn't understand.

As the distance to the McGuire's house closed, Jason could see people both on horses and on foot milling around in the yard. He gave a dry laugh. "Looks like we get a welcome party, Raven," he said to his horse as if talking to the big creature was completely normal.

By the time Jason made it to the front yard, a line of men on horseback blocked any further entry to the house.

Jason surveyed the line of men, instantly spotting Thomas on a large white horse in the middle of them all. His eyes narrowed as he trotted closer, the scouts that followed him fanning out to circle him. His temper seared white-hot in his chest when Nathaniel rode up beside his father, riding tall and proud on a high-strung mare the same red color as his hair.

"Jason Archer," hailed Thomas as he leaned over the saddle horn, his tone of voice making Jason's skin crawl. "What a pleasant surprise."

"McGuire," Jason returned through clenched teeth. He held his head high, eyes leveled on the sneering man in front of him with salt-and-pepper hair and clothes too fancy for ranch life. His business was with Thomas, not Nathaniel, and that was how he was gonna keep it.

Thomas smiled, his gray eyes boring into Raven. "What brings you to my lovely ranch? Do you wish to return my stallion?"

"Your stallion?" Jason asked in near disbelief, trying to rein in his wrath quickly before he got too carried away. "If my memory serves correct, I earned him fair and square. No one could touch this horse. You said if I could catch and break him, he would be mine. I did exactly that. You were the one who didn't live up to your word."

Thomas pursed his lips, brushing off Jason's rebuttal like dust on his pants. "I assume you have come for another matter then."

Jason stirred in the saddle with a grin that more closely resembled a wolf baring his fangs. "Now there's a smart man."

"What do you wish to discuss?" Thomas's eyes flashed, and his tone held an edge.

"What I'm gonna tell you is about the Double A."

"Oh, so you finally want to sell it?" Nathaniel piped up, unable to keep his peace any longer.

"No!" Jason exclaimed, causing the ones around him to flinch and grab their guns. "And that's exactly what I'm here to tell you. The Double A is NOT for sale, and won't ever be, so you best keep your greedy fingers off and your thugs away."

"Then so be it. I will not ask you again, and will not send my men to ask. But you will change your mind," Thomas sneered, pulling the reins and spinning the horse around. He signalled two of his scouts, sending the rest away. "You may leave now. Snake, Rawhide, escort him."

"Thank you kindly, but I can escort myself," Jason retorted as he began to turn Raven around. His jaw nearly dropped when his gaze met one of the two sent to see him off. His shock instantly turned to wrath and he hissed, "Slick."

Slick said nothing. He gave a grin and tipped his hat before replacing the cockiness with an obviously put-on look of bewilderment. "I think you have the wrong man."

Jason's eyes blazed with fury. "No, I know exactly who I'm talkin' to. You're gonna pay for what you did to Pa."

"You do have the wrong man," Thomas cut in with a smug look. "That's Snake, and he's never set foot on Archer land."

"You'll lie about other things," Jason spat out. "Mark my words, McGuire. You will pay, and so will everyone of your so-called men."

Raven reared, and just like that, Jason was galloping off at a blistering speed, leaving those at the McGuire homestead to eat his dust.