OFF LIMITS
CORRUPT COWBOYS BOOK ONE
BY EMMA CREED
Chapter One
Garrett
“Tell him he’s crazy.” I look at my brother and wait for him to have my back on this.
“I’m with Garrett on this one, Pops.” Cole gives his answer, and our father shakes his head in disappointment.
“Half the herd hashave been taken, and we know exactly who’s behind it. If you go the official route and put in a complaint, I guarantee those cattle will be over the border by tomorrow. Give me five men from the bunkhouse, and I’ll have ‘em back by tonight.”
“There’s no way you’re getting that livestock back without a fight.” Pops creases his brow, the way he always does when he’s thinking something over.
“Oh, I fully intend on it. You think I’m just goin’ to get our livestock back? I’m gonna teach those rustlers a lesson.”
“And how do you suppose you’ll find them?” Our old man sits back in his leather chair and folds his arms. He thinks he’s got me beat, but he’s wrong.
“I’ve heard Trevor Henson takes his cut from the rustlers. He’s what they call a fixer, and I do know where to find him. I got Finn and Tate on standby, waiting to ride into town to pick him up.”
“Pick him up?” Pops’ eyebrows raise sarcastically.
“Yeah, they’ll take him out to the line camp so I can talk with him.”
“What kinda talk are you thinking of havin’?” Pops may disapprove of it, but he’s fully aware of the kinda shit that goes down at the line camp.
“Well, that’ll all depend on Trevor, and how willing he is to share his information.” I shrug.
“Call off the boys. I’ll contact the commissioner and have him send an agent to speak to Trevor.” Pops’ order makes me even more savage. It’s exactly why our family is failing. The old man needs to stop being so stubborn and find the sense in what I’m saying. But instead, he rolls his eyes and lights himself a cigar, acting like us losing fifty grand worth of cattle ain’t an issue. How the fuck am I supposed to drag us out the hole he’s put us in when this is his attitude? With Pops everything is financial. He measures a man’s power by his bank balance.
This family used to run Fork River. Thirty years ago, no one would have dared steal our livestock because we were feared.
And that’s how I measure a man’s power.
By those who fear him.
“Pops, I get your morals, and I know you like to stay above the law, but times are changing, and we can’t get left behind. No one plays by the rules anymore, and if we don’t react to this, it’s gonna be us that gets hit every single time.” I tap my finger on his desk to emphasize each of my words.
Cole remains leant against the wall, waiting on Pops’ reaction. He’s never scared to get his hands dirty, same as our other brother, Wade. Sometimes I have to wonder how we ended up the way we are when we got a man like Bill Carson for a father.
“Let me take care of this.” I take a calming breath and try one last attempt to get him to see sense. I’m not afraid to throw it all at the wall. This ranch has been part of our family for over 100 years. These valleys and trees ain’t known nothing other than Carsons, and as long as I’m breathing, that’s how it will stay.
“And, supposing there ain't five men in the bunkhouse prepared to risk their lives for half a herd?” He tries to be smart and fails. Mitch, who runs the bunkhouse, is on my level, and ever since my old man put me in charge of the hiring and firing, I can guarantee I got five men willing and waiting.
“Trust me. This will be Saturday night entertainment for those boys.” I smile to myself. The fact he don’t already know that only proves he has no idea how his ranch operates outside of his office. I’ve said all I can. Now all I can do is stand back and wait for his answer.
“Take the men you need,” he sighs in defeat. “But you keep it clean,” he warns with a stern look in his eyes. “I don’t want any comebacks from this, and I sure as hell don’t want anything ruining the wedding next Saturday.”
The disapproving growl Cole makes, from behind me, diverts Pops’ attention, and I prepare myself for some conflict. Cole ain’t one to leave his thoughts unsaid, and he ain’t taking the news that Pops is remarrying all that well. He always was Mom’s favorite, and it don’t matter how many years she’s been gone, he ain’t ever gonna accept another woman coming into our home. Especially a woman like Cora Wildman.
“I don’t wanna hear any of that shit, either.” Pops’ eyes home in on my brother. “You’re all gonna make Cora and her daughter feel welcome here, they’re part of this family now.” The way Cole stares back at him proves he has no intention of backing down.
“Don’t you worry about my shit, Pops, I’m taking it with me. I ain’t sticking around here to watch that gold digger get her claws into ya. I’m helping Garrett bring back the herd, then I’m out.”
The news comes just as much of a shock to me, as it does my father.
“What do you mean you’re out?” Pops makes that cocky laugh that gets right under my skin and when I turn around, I see my brother's determination grow even wilder as he moves closer and leans over our old man’s desk.
“I warned you that I wouldn’t sit back and watch you make a fool of yourself and this family. You barely know the woman, she comes from a whole different world to ours, and she’s young enough to be your daughter. Women like her feast on men like you. I’m leaving Copper Ridge.” He starts heading for the door, but I refuse to let him leave.
”Cole!” I step in his way and let him see how fucking mad I am.
“Let him go, son,” My stubborn-assed father acts like he ain’t bothered, but I pay no attention to him and shove Cole back into the wall so I can talk some sense into his head.
“You ain’t goin’ nowhere. We need ya here.”
“Better get used to not havin’ me around, Garrett, because as soon as we’re back from fuckin’ up those rustlers, I’m outta here.”
I raise my fist and prepare myself to put it through his face, and Pops stands up and rushes to grab my arm.
“Don’t ya remember what your mom always told you, boys? You raise all the hands ya want, but ya never turn ‘em on each other.”
“And what d’ya think Mom would say about you marryin’ a whore?” Cole stares our father right in the eye, and although I see the rage stirring inside them, I see a whole lot of sadness too. The same kinda anger radiates from our father, yet somehow, he manages to keep it contained.
“In case you hadn’t noticed, your mother ain’t here, Cole. Ain’t no one wishes that were different more than I do.” Pops slowly releases my arm and backs down, and when a deep-throated chuckle comes from behind us we all turn our heads.
My youngest brother, Wade, stands in the door frame, watching us with a smug grin on his face.
“Looks like I made it home just in time for the fireworks.” Taking off his hat, he tosses it at the table; then pushing his hand through his floppy, brown hair, he moves in to hug Pops.
“Good to have you home, son.” Pops wraps Wade up in his arms, and when he gives him a firm slap on his back, Wade flinches.
“I took a fall last weekend, still a little tender,” he explains.
“I didn’t think you’d make it.” This is the first time I’ve seen my old man smile in a while.
“Yeah, well, those buckle bunnies will just have to make do with riding saddles this weekend. I hear there’s a weddin’ here that needs crashin’” Wade seems supportive of the whole Cora situation, but that’s him all over. Unlike my brother and me, he’s a go-with-the-flow kinda guy. Guess he got that trait from our mother.
Cole's shoulder slams into mine as he barges past. He stops to hug Wade, then turns to Pops with a serious-as-fucking-death look on his face.
“Sorry, I won’t be around to watch your shit show.” He marches out the door, and when Wade calls out after him to ask where he’s heading, he gets nothing in response.
“That, right there, is called a quitter, boys. There’s always one in the family.” Pops retakes the seat at his desk and picks up a cigar.
