Dodge the Bullet by Christy Hayes Read Free Book Online Page B

you an idea of what you may need
in terms of fencing.”
    He continued blocking off parcels on the
aerial photo. He’d arranged a series of pastures in 50 to 100 acre
parcels that included most of the land except the main entrance,
caretaker’s house and storage barns. The cabin had been fenced
during the building process and abutted one of the largest pastures
he’d drawn. Once she got the fences up and had the grass seeded and
weeded, she’d have a fine piece of cattle property.
    He sighed wistfully. Hers was the kind of
ranch he’d been raised on. His family’s property had been almost
twice the size, with the river running along the northern border
and a few ponds near the house and barn. He’d always thought his
family would own the land forever, but his dad had had to sell most
of it when times got bad and his health declined. He’d always
wondered if maybe his dad wouldn’t have sold out like he did if
Dodge had been around to help.
    No one ever expected him to come back to
town. The icy reception he continued to receive from the old timers
sometimes made him wonder why the hell he stayed. But he was tired
of running from the past. He needed to face his demons and learn to
live with what had happened years ago because whatever distance he
put between himself and his sleepy hometown hadn’t helped.
    Sarah put the last dish away and closed the
cabinet just above her head. “Looks like you’ve made some progress
here.” She slid into the seat next to him.
    He straightened and passed the papers to
her. “It’s just a start, but I think getting a look at the other
side of the river will bring it all together.”
    A small smile crossed her face as she
studied his work. “I like it.”
    “That’s it?” he asked. “No questions?”
    “Nope. I think I can tell what’s what from
what you’ve done.”
    “Good.” Dodge stood and stretched his back,
moved toward the stairs that led to the garage and picked up his
hat and jacket. “Thanks for dinner. I’ll call you when I’m on my
way out Thursday, probably late afternoon.”
    “You brought dinner and cooked it yourself
so I’d hardly say you owe me thanks. I appreciate all your help
with this, Dodge, I really do.”
    With a nod, he placed his old Stetson on his
head and started down the stairs.
    His cell rang as he climbed into his truck.
He flipped it open when he saw Tommy’s name on the display.
    “Where the hell have you been?”
    “Have you missed me?” Dodge maneuvered the
rutted road and gunned the engine when he finally hit pavement.
    “In case you can’t tell, I’m not really in
the mood for games.”
    “ You’re not in the mood? I’m the one
who should be complaining.” But he couldn’t muster much energy with
his stomach full.
    “That’s why I’ve been trying to reach you.
Burwick wants you away from Mrs. Woodward.”
    “What do you mean?” Dodge pulled the truck
off road that led to the Rifle Range. “He’s the only reason I’m out
here in the first place.”
    “You’re there now?”
    “I’m just leaving. The place is a mess. I
told her I’d help rearrange the pastures a bit.”
    “Well, you’ve got to stop and I mean stop
now. I don’t know what you did to Burwick, but when he found out
you were the one looking after Mrs. Woodward he ordered me to get
you away from her. I swear Dodge, you’ve got more enemies than I’ve
got friends. And I’ve got plenty of friends. Burwick isn’t someone
I’d want as an enemy.”
    Dodge thought about the Machiavellian
Senator and the tract of Wyoming pasture land he’d bought before
Burwick could get his hands on it for development. It had been
nearly a decade since he’d put the tract under easement to protect
it from development and Dodge wasn’t surprised the Senator hadn’t
forgotten.
    “Why the hell did you tell him I was helping
Sarah?”
    “Who’s Sarah?” Tommy let out a breath so
loud it sounded like a hiss. “Don’t tell me you’re interested in
Mrs.