The Ranch

The Ranch
Written By Lady Cat

CHAPTER 55

Once the group and finally come up with a plan, it was decided the girls

would stay at the ranch, at least for a few days. Once Cat had completely

sobered up, she was let in on the plan. Cat looked at Taker

skeptically. "Do you think it wise?" Taker eased his face close to

hers. "Don't think it isn't tempting," he said. The group looked back and

forth between the two of them. "You know, you might be right," Betty said

to Kane, who had explained what happened when they had visited the ranch

one night.

Bradshaw sat in his office and looked out the window. He was thinking a

certain someone should be at his office by now giving her answer. "Shit!"

he mumbled to himself. "She should have been here by now." He tapped his

fingers on the desk for a bit. "Doug, take a ride out to the cabin. It's

time for the Undertaker to start earning his money." "Boss, why don't you

let me and my brother do it," he said. "Hell, you're just wasting

money." Bradshaw glared at him. "Just do as I told you." Doug left the

office.

Bradshaw grabbed his hat and was right behind, feeling the need to head to

the saloon. He saw Mick and Nash coming back into town. He then noticed

Mick pulling a folded paper from his jacket. "Bradshaw is looking this

way," Mick told Nash.

Taker and Kane finished putting their horses away. "When do you think

Bradshaw will show up?" Kane asked. "He's not going to wait three days. I

look for him to show up soon. He'll want to make sure she makes the

'right' decision," Taker replied. They headed back to the cabin and had

just gotten inside when they heard the sound of horse hoofs. Kane looked

out the window. "You're right. His boy is here."

Both men went out on the porch. "What is it?" Taker asked. "Bradshaw says

to start earning your money," Doug said. Taker and Kane looked at each

other. "Is there any particular way he wants it done?" Taker asked. "He

didn't say," Doug replied. "Just do whatever you have to." Doug rode off.

The rest of the group was sitting around the kitchen table. Nash had left

to go back to town. Jade sighed sadly. "I wish he could have stayed

longer." Sandra snickered. "Why? Ready for a roll in the hay?" Jade

grinned. "Now that's not a bad idea." Kal rolled her

eyes. "Figures. She's horny all the time." Judi shook her head. "Do you

girls talk like this all the time?" "No," Betty replied with a

snicker. "Only when Jade gets in that mood." "God, she must be like that

all the time," Judi said in amazement. "Close to it," Sharon said. Jade

stuck her tongue out at them. Cat managed a faint smile at the

conversation. The plan that had been hatched up by the others was going

through her mind. She said a silent prayer hoping it would work.

"Jericho," Judi said. "Don't you and Christian have some chores to

do?" "Yes, ma'am," Christian replied. "Come on, Jericho." The two went

out the back door, with Show following.

Judi went about cleaning up the kitchen while the girls sat. Judi looked

out the window and saw Taker and Kane come riding in. "Well, our company

is back sooner than we expected," Judi said. "Taker and Kane are here."

She went to the back door and let them in. "That was fast," Betty commented.

"Bradshaw sent his boy out," Kane said. "To put it in his words, we're to

start earning our money, and we're to do it anyway we want." "Well,"

Dwayne said. "Time to put the plan into action."

Outside, Danny had ridden up to the corral to check up on what the group

was doing and report to him. He then spied Taker and Kane riding straight

to the back door of the house and walk right in. He felt a hand go over

his mouth and saw himself being lifted off the ground.

CHAPTER 56

Show came in the back door carrying Danny like a sack of potatoes. “Look

at what was watching the house from the corral.” Dwayne got up from the

chair. Show dropped Danny into the chair . He looked around at everyone,

especially Taker. “Hell, he does look like Bradshaw’s boy,” Kane commented.

“Just why were you spying on the house?” Cat asked. Danny didn’t

reply. “I would suggest you answer the lady,” Show said, placing his fist

in front of Danny’s face. Danny looked around the room, still not

talking. Then a pair of dark green eyes came into view. Danny slouched

down in the chair. “Alright,” he said. “I was checking up on him

(pointing at Taker). I was to go back to Bradshaw and let him know what

happened.”

“And this is what you’ve doing all this time out here even when my uncle

was alive.” Danny slowly nodded.

“Why didn’t Bradshaw tell us the old man had died?” Taker asked. “Bradshaw

thought he would go after her and get the ranch by courting her. You were

kept just in case it didn’t turn out.”

“It’s just like you thought,” Sandra said to Cat. “So what do we do with

him?” Kal asked. “We should string him up,” Judi replied. “Lock him up in

the bull pen,” Dwayne replied. Cat gave him a quizzical look. “That’s

where we keep Bruno when he gets a little ‘anxious’,” Dwayne said with a

knowing smile. “And lately he has been getting a little ‘anxious’.”

Danny’s eyes bugged. “You’re not goin’ to put me in with…with…!” He

looked at Cat, who nodded with a big grin. “I…I…I’ll do anything you

want!” he stammered. “We’ll think about it,” Cat said. Show picked Danny

up by the scruff of the neck as Jericho went out the back door ahead of

them to the holding pen.

Bradshaw was about to leave his office when he saw Christian come riding

into town. “Go over there and see,” he told Doug. It wasn’t long till

Doug came running back. “Well?” Doug took a deep breath and exhaled. “It

was about the Benson woman,” Doug replied. “The Undertaker killed her.”

“HE DID WHAT!” Bradshaw shouted and paced. He turned abruptly. “Are you

sure?” Doug emphatically nodded. “Yep. I heard the man say he just rode

up to the ranch house. He found her sitting on the porch, shot her, then

just rode away like nothing happened.”

“OH HELL! He was just supposed to scare her, not kill her!” “But boss,”

Doug said. “You did say to tell him no matter how.” “Yeah, but not kill

her! Shit!” Bradshaw paced. He stopped, grabbed his Stetson and left.

CHAPTER 57

Taker and Kane were at the cabin. They figured once Christian had told the

marshal it wouldn’t be long before they were paid a visit. Kane was

playing solitaire while Taker was busy cleaning his rifle. Kane looked out

the window and spotted Bradshaw riding in. “He’s here.”

Bradshaw threw open the door. “Just why the fuckin’ hell can’t you follow

order! I meant for you to scare her, not kill her!” Taker kept on

cleaning his rifle while Kane continued playing cards. Both men pretended

they hadn’t heard. Bradshaw seethed. He pushed the cards onto the floor

and yanked the rifle from Taker’s hand. Taker jumped up and picked up

Bradshaw off the floor. “Don’t ever do that,” he said slowly and took the

rifle from Bradshaw. Bradshaw shook for a bit then straightened his coat.

“The bitch left me no choice. She had a rifle pointed at me so I shot her

in self-defense. Besides, your boy said you didn’t care how it was

done.” Taker went back to cleaning his rifle. “Now, give me the rest of 

the money.”

“Hell no!” Bradshaw sneered. Taker put his rifle down and peered up at

Bradshaw. “I would suggest you do as the word ‘no’ doesn’t set well with

me, especially when it comes to money.” The tone in Taker’s voice gave

Bradshaw good bumps and he knew that he dare not push it any further. He

reached into his coat pocket and took out the rest of the money and threw

it at Taker. Kane picked it up and counted it. “It’s there!” Bradshaw

scoffed. “Just making sure,” Kane said.

“Now, you two can leave,” Bradshaw said. Taker chuckled. “We’ll leave

when we get good and ready. I have a score to settle first.” Bradshaw

growled and stomped out.

Show looked out the front window. He spotted Bradshaw coming up the

rode. “He’s coming.” Everyone got into their position.

Bradshaw could see the marshal’s horse and Foley’s carriage out

front. Getting off his horse, he straightened himself and went up the

steps and knocked. The door slowly opened. The last person he had wanted 

to see at the door was Judi, who was dabbing her eyes. “What the hell are 

you doing here?” she asked tearfully. “I want to see Ms. Benson,” he 

hesitantly replied.

“What? How can someone be such a jackass!” she spat. “Don’t you know what

happened?” Foley came up from behind. “Go back to the sitting room,”

Foley said then turned to Bradshaw. “Ms. Benson has met with an untimely

accident.” Bradshaw feigned shocked. “Is she alright?” “She is

dead.” Upon those words Bradshaw could hear loud crying from just down the

hall. “I don’t suppose you would know anything about that, now would you?”

“Now how in the hell would I know? This is a complete shock to me. All I

wanted to do was apologize to Ms. Benson.” “Well, I’m afraid you’re too

late,” Foley said. “Would it be okay if I paid my respects?” Bradshaw

asked. “Of all the damn nerve!” Judi hissed. “Do us a favor and

leave!” “I suggest the same,” Foley said. To emphasize the point, Show

came out the door and stood in front of it. Bradshaw knew that was his cue

and went down the steps. Show stayed on the porch to make sure that

Bradshaw was completely gone.

Later on, after sunset, Taker and Kane arrived at the house. “What’s the

next step?” Kal asked. “Knowing Bradshaw as I do, unfortunately,” Foley

said. “He’ll probably inform the marshal, through an anonymous note, that 

it was Taker and Kane who did it and let Nash know where they are.”

Sure enough, the deputy rode to the house. “I found this note shoved under

the door when I came back from my rounds,” the deputy said. “Nobody saw

who did it?” Nash asked. The deputy shook his head and left for town.

Cat had been in the kitchen sipping on a cup of coffee, waiting till the

deputy had left. Kane and Taker had been waiting in a small room next to

the sitting room. Once the deputy was gone, Kane came in, but Taker went

to the kitchen. “You know, you don’t look much like a dead body,” Taker

commented. Cat looked up from her cup. “Too bad I can’t say the same

about you,” she retorted with a slight grin. “Now what’s that suppose to

mean?” “Take it anyway you like.” Cat was about to leave when he grabbed

her arm. “See here.” Cat arched her brows. Taker shook his head. “Why is

it you get on my nerves?” Cat licked her lips. “Maybe because you’ve met

your match.” Taker smiled and loosened his grip. “That’ll be the day.”

CHAPTER 58

The next morning, Foley was in the office going over some papers. He heard

his door open and looked up to see it was Bradshaw. “Well, what do you

want?” Foley asked gruffly. “I came to see if there was anything I could

do,” he replied. “Get off it,” Foley said. “You’re here for one reason –

the ranch. Bradshaw’s mouth set in a grim line. “Alright, so I

am.” “That is none of your business,” Foley said. “Now, kindly take your

ass out of my office. Have a nice day.” Bradshaw stiffened then turned

and left, slamming the door.

Once back at his office, Bradshaw threw his hat at the wall. "Get your ass

out of my chair!” he yelled at Doug. Doug immediately moved. “That

son-of-a-bitch lawyer of hers.” Bradshaw paced a bit. “Have you heard

anything from that brother of yours?” Doug shook his head. “Not for a

while.” “Figures.” Bradshaw sat in his chair and drummed his

fingers. “Get your rifle ready. We’re going to get rid of Taker and

Kane.” Doug’s mouth dropped. “Are you plum loco?”

“Since that brother of yours has ‘disappeared’, what about that friend of

yours that owes you a favor?” “He’s still around.” “We’re going back to

the cabin. I want you and your friend to get into the trees across from

the cabin. I’ll get Taker and Kane to come outside. As soon as they come

out, the two of you kill ‘em.”

At the cabin, Taker and Kane had Danny tied up in the corner. Danny at

first had been glad to get out of the holding pen but wasn’t as excited

when he heard where he would be next. Taker and Kane played cards and waited.

Bradshaw had Doug and his friend tie their horses further down the road and 

then sneak around the rocks to the grove of trees which were right across 

from the cabin. Once in position, Bradshaw rode up to the cabin. Kane 

looked out the window. “He’s back.” Taker stood behind the 

door. Bradshaw entered the cabin and didn’t see Danny at first. “Where’s 

your partner?” “Right here?” Take came from behind the door, his gun 

pointed at Bradshaw’s belly. “Now just ease your way in here.”

A muffled sound from the corner caught Bradshaw’s attention. Bradshaw 

swallowed hard to calm his nerves. “What’s going on?” he asked 

nervously. “A couple of hours ago, we found the marshal snooping around 

the cabin. Luckily he didn’t find us here,” Taker said. “Now how did he 

know we were here?”

Bradshaw heard the click of the pistol as he found it pointed near his 

ear. He shrugged and shook his head. “I don’t know.” “Why did you come 

back?” Kane asked. “It couldn’t be that maybe you wanted to find out if we 

were dead or alive, now could it?”

Foley paid a visit to Nash. “Bradshaw came by my office, asking if there 

was anything he could do. I told him all he wanted to know was about the 

ranch and that it was none of his business. I told him to get his ass out 

of my office.” “I wonder if I shouldn’t take a ride out to that cabin of 

his,” Nash said. “A little while ago I saw him and Basham ride out of 

town. I have a hunch they’re going to the cabin.” “I just got a thought,” 

Foley said. “You don’t happen to think they’re going to get rid of Taker 

and Kane, do you?” Nash arched his brows. “At this stage, Bradshaw would 

try anything, even that,” he replied. “I’ve known those two for a long 

time, Taker and Kane will know something’s up. We’d better take a ride out 

to the ranch first. I’ll need to get a couple of the men to go along with me.”

CHAPTER 59

Nash got Dwayne and Jericho to come with him. Betty and Kal were nervous

about them going. “Hey, we’ll be alright,” Dwayne assured Betty. “They’re

the ones that have to worry.” Cat told them where to go once they got to

the stream. “I hope you get there in time,” she told Nash with

concern. “You’d better not come back with a bullet hole in you,” Jade told

Nash sternly. Nash softly stroked her chin. “I’m not the one you have to

worry about.” They watched as the make-shift posse rode in the direction

of the stream.

Bradshaw was busy thinking how was he going to get out of this. Beads of

perspiration broke out on his forehead as his eyes shifted to the

window. “What’s out there?” Kane asked. “Or is it who?” Bradshaw shook

his head. “There’s no one out there? I was just lookin’,” he stammered

nervously.

“Let’s go out there and see,” Taker said. “But first, we change

clothes.” “What?” Bradshaw gasped. “Take your clothes off,” Taker

ordered. Kane went over to Danny and untied him. “Same goes for

you.” Danny did as he was told and soon was in his long johns. Kane gave

him one of his shirts and jeans to put on. “What are you waiting for?”

Taker asked Bradshaw.

Bradshaw hesitated till Taker put the gun against his

head. “Now!” Bradshaw quickly undressed and was handed a black shirt and

jeans. Taker took his hat and put it on Bradshaw’s head. Then Taker took

off his shirt and put on Bradshaw’s shirt and coat, which turned out to be

rather a tight fit. Kane chuckled. “A bit bigger and it would look better

on you than it did him.” Kane quickly put on Danny’s shirt, which turned

out to be quite a bit tighter.

Taker nodded toward the door. “Okay, Basham, you’re first, with Bradshaw 

right behind.” Bradshaw stood frozen. “No….no…..no!!” Danny

hesitated. Kane got behind them and pushed the both of them out the

door. “Get going!” With a gun pointed at their back, Bradshaw and Danny 

went out the door. As soon as they hit the steps, Danny tried to break 

away, but was immediately down with a bullet in the chest. “So, no one’s 

out there, huh.” Taker grimaced and pushed Bradshaw off the porch. No 

sooner was he off the porch when the sound of two more shots were 

heard. Bradshaw stood for minute in shock, then fell to the ground.

About that time Nash, Foley, Dwayne, and Jericho came down the trail and 

saw Doug and his friend running to get to their horses. “Hold it!” Nash 

yelled.

The two men began firing at the posse but found themselves soon in a cross 

fire as Taker and Kane came up the road. The men stopped firing and 

dropped their weapons. Doug’s mouth dropped. “You’re….your’re supposed to 

be dead!” he exclaimed. They went over to the cabin and turned over the 

bodies of Danny and Bradshaw. “Looks like you’ll be going to jail for a 

long time,” Nash said as he cuffed them. “If the judge doesn’t decide to 

hang you.”

CHAPTER 60

Cat paced nervously. “Sit down,” Judi said. “I can’t help it,” Cat

said. “I just hope they got there in time.” The sound of hooves had them

all running outside. The first thing Cat saw was the two bodies draped

over the horses.

“It’s not them,” Foley said as he got down off the horse. Cat looked up

quizzically. “It’s not?” Foley shook his head then pointed behind

him. Kal and Betty ran into Dwayne’s and Jericho’s arms. “Thank

goodness,” Betty sighed in relief.

“I see you managed to come back in one piece,” Jade said, eyeing Nash. “I

told you, did I?” he chuckled. Jade playfully slapped him on the

arm. Doug couldn’t believe his eyes. “What the…..?” “I am very much

alive,” Cat told him. “And intend to stay that way.” Nash gave Jade a

quick kiss on the cheek. “Have to get back to town.” “What happens now?” 

she asked Nash. “Well, I’ll get these two bodies back into town and have 

them buried as quick as possible,” he replied. “Basham and his friend here 

will await trial by the territorial judge.” “What about Taker and 

Kane?” “As far as anyone knows, they’re dead.” “What about 

Bradshaw?” “We’ll just say he left for parts unknown.” Nash got on his 

horse and left. Foley went with him.

Cat went over to Taker. “I see you’re in one piece” Taker got off his 

horse. “Sounds like you expected me not to be,” he said. “Well, after 

that time I surprised you….” “That was just luck.”

Kane got off his horse and went over to Sharon. “Thank goodness you’re in 

one piece,” Sharon said. “I’ll be better once I get out of this shirt,” 

Kane mumbled, and grabbed his saddle bag and headed to the house, with 

Sharon beside him.

“Ms. Benson, you might be needing someone as I will be leaving as soon as 

my house gets finished,” Dwayne said. Cat looked at him in 

surprise. “Before you came, I had bought some land, with your uncle’s 

help, and began building a house. He was going to give me a couple of 

breeder horses so I could start my own horse ranch.” He looked at 

Betty. “I’m kinda hoping that a certain someone will live there with me.”

“If Sharon and Betty leave, what’s going to happen to the dress shop,” 

Sandra asked. “We’ll still have that,” Jade said. “We’ll just have to 

hire a couple of seamstresses.”

“You think I should put him as foreman?” She looked at Taker. “I have my 

doubts about him,” Cat said. “It might not work out, and then again….” 

Taker became a bit agitated. “Are you saying I can’t handle it?” Cat 

smiled impishly. “Some things you could,” she replied. “But a lot would 

be having to work with me.” “I have to warn you,” Show told him. “I’ve 

been with Ms. Benson a long time, and she can be a handful.” Taker 

snorted. “Better listen to what he says,” Cat nodded.

“Lady, there’s nothing about you I can’t handle,” Taker said, then lowered 

his head with a grin. “And I do mean, can’t handle.” Cat put her face 

closer. “We’ll have some fun finding out then, won’t we?” Taker grinned 

at the possibility. “We will at that.” She headed up the steps. “Come on, 

let’s go in and celebrate,” she said as she opened the door. Judi rolled 

her eyes. “Well, let the fireworks begin.”

THE END

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E-mail Lady B at taker123@yahoo.com.