The Ranch

The Ranch
Written By Lady Cat

CHAPTER 51

The entire group was silent after Bradshaw had left.

The guy stared at the

girls for a bit.  "Why couldn't you tell us?" Dwayne

finally asked.  "We

were told not to tell," Betty replied.  Foley nodded.

"I said it would be

for the best.  And if some of the shop's clientele

ever got wind of it,

they could cause a lot of trouble for the girls," he

added.  "And right now

is not a good time."  "If he's that bad, why doesn't

someone do something

about it?" Jade asked, looking at Nash.  "Couldn't you

have arrested

him?"  "Because he's smart enough to know how and when

to do it and not get

caught," Nash responded.  "Nobody is that damn smart!"

Jade scoffed.  "He's

got a weakness somewhere.  We just have to find it."

"What about that guy that was with him?" Sandra asked.

"Who's he?"  "He

works for him," Christian replied.  "His name is Doug

Basham."  "He don't

look too bright," Sandra said.  "Don't let that dumb

look fool you," Dwayne

warned.

The group saw Judi returning.  "Where's the music?"

Judi asked.  "We can't

let a jackass like him spoil all the fun."  The man

struck up the fiddle

and began playing again.  After awhile Cat returned to

the

group.  "Jericho, saddle a horse for me.  I'm going

for a short

ride."  Jericho got up and went to the riding barn.

In a few minutes he

was back.  Cat got on.  Sharon came over.  "Are you

sure you should be

going off by yourself?" she whispered.  Cat nodded.

"I need some time to

think.  Who knows, maybe I'll run into someone."

Sharon understood.  Cat

rode off toward the small stream.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

At the cabin, Taker and Kane had just returned from

doing another

job.  "Just why did we return?" Kane asked.  "Because

we're not finished

here," Taker replied.  "Bradshaw has some explainin'

to do.  Besides, he

owes us the rest of our money, and I'm not leaving

without it."  Kane

smirked.  "Sure it isn't something else?"  "And what's

that suppose to

mean?" Taker mumbled.  "Oh, maybe there's just a bit

of unfinished business

with a certain someone."  Taker growled softly,

throwing his saddle into

the corner and then going on to the cabin.

He was just about to the porch when he heard a sound

coming from the

trail.  He drew his pistol from the holster.  He saw

it was Bradshaw.  Kane

came up to the porch.  "What do you want?" Taker

asked.  "I'm here to tell

you to be ready," Bradshaw replied.  "Where's the rest

of our money?" Taker

asked.  "You'll get it when you've finished the job,"

Bradshaw replied and

rode off.

After they had finished eating, Kane was putting

things away and looked

outside.  "Hey, take a look outside," Kane nodded.

Taker went over to the

window.  "What the hell is she doing here?"  Taker

went out and stood on

the steps.  "I'll be," he said, noticing no gun this

time.  "To what do we

owe this visit?"  Cat ignored the sarcasm in his

voice.  "I was riding and

found myself wondering this way," she replied, and got

off her horse.  "You

just going to stand there or are you going to invite

me in?" Taker stepped

to the side allowing her to go past.

Kane pointed to the chair.  "Sit.  Care for something

to drink?  Coffee?"

"I would prefer something a little stronger," she

replied.  Both men arched

their brows in surprise.  Kane got another cup and got

out the bottle of

whiskey.  "Make it all the way to the top," she said.

"Wait a minute,"

Kane said.  "This stuff is a little strong.  Sure you

want it all the way

to the top?" Cat pointed at the cup and nodded.  Taker

sat back in the

chair.  "Now what really brings you here?"

Cat took a large sip. "Maybe I shouldn't have come,

but I had to go

somewhere to think."  "Does this have anything to do

with Bradshaw?" Taker

asked.  Cat sighed and nodded.  "He was just at the

ranch.  To put it

bluntly, he gave me an ultimatum.  Either I agree to

sign over the ranch

and the dress shop to him or he would cause trouble

for me and the girls."

"Maybe you had better explain," Kane said and sat.

Cat told everything about her and the girls.  Kane was

rather surprised to

hear about Sharon. "On his trip back east he ran into

some of my former

customers.  Now I have three days to agree to his

terms or he'll tell some

of the shop customers about us. He added that if the

shop was slow, the

girls could resort to their former line of work."

"Just out of curiosity,

what would you be doing?" Kane asked.  "Let's say I

would be the so called

'lady of the house.' I would be at his beck and call

anytime he wanted and

would do anything he wanted. There is one other thing

that he, the girls,

or anyone else for that matter, doesn't know," Cat

said.  "I killed a

man."  "Given the last time," Taker said.  "That

doesn't surprise me."  "I

was only sixteen when I did it.  It was my so-called

father."  "Shit!" was

all Taker could say.  "What the hell did he do to

you?" Kane asked.  "Do

you really want to know?" Cat replied.  "If Bradshaw

ever got wind of that

he would really make it rough on me and everyone

else."

"Bradshaw was here a couple of hours ago, telling us

to be ready," Taker

said, looking at Kane.  "Now we know."  "I don't see

where I have any

choice," Cat said dejectedly.  Taker motioned for Kane

to follow him outside.

CHAPTER 52

"What do you want to do?" Kane whispered.  Taker

looked over his shoulder

at Cat then turned back.  "I don't know," he replied

with a shrug.  Kane

blinked in surprise.  "I don't believe it. You don't

have a plan of any

kind."  "This job is not like the others.  We never

got involved

before."  Both men looked at Cat, who was downing the

contents of the cup

rather rapidly and pouring herself more.  "She's not

like a lot of the

other women we've met," Kane added.  "I agree there,"

Taker said.  Kane

looked closer at Taker and saw the steely glint in his

eyes had

softened.  Both men looked this time and found Cat had

passed out on the

table.  "Oh hell!" Taker muttered. Kane shook his

head. "I warned

her.  Looks like we'll have to get her back to the

ranch."

Kane left to saddle up the horses while Taker went

back inside.  In a few

minutes, Kane was back out front.  Taker lifted her

out of the chair and

carried her outside.  Holding her  by one arm, Taker

got on Satan and held

her against him.  Kane got on his horse, holding the

reins of Cat's

horse.  "Woman, you are getting to be more trouble

than you're worth,"

Taker growled softly.  As they rode toward the ranch,

Kane softly laughed.

Everyone decided to follow Judi's advice and get back

to eating and

dancing.  They all were having a good time till Show

spotted Taker and Kane

exiting the path.  Everyone stopped what they were

doing and watched them

ride in.  They rode to within a few feet of the main

table.  Nash was the

first to get up.  There was a tense silence.  "It's

been a long time,"

Taker said.  Kane had his hand on his pistol, ready to

draw.  "You can put

your hand down," Nash said.  "I had a pretty good idea

you were

here."  Kane eased his hand off the gun.  Nash looked

at Cat.  "What

happened to her?"   "She's just passed out," Kane

replied.  "Passed out!"

Betty exclaimed.  "From what?"  "Probably took one

look at him," Sandra

said nervously at Taker.

Jericho came over and took the reins from Kane and

took the horse to the

barn.  Taker and Kane got down from their horses.

"Get her into the

house," Judi said.  Show took Cat from Taker and

followed Judi to the

house   "God," she muttered, shaking her head.  "What

a day this has

been."  "The rest of you go back to what you were

doing," Dwayne told the

hands.

The three big men stood silent.  The rest eyed the

trio, wondering what was

going to happen next.  Finally Jade spoke.  "Just out

of curiosity, I take

it you three know each other."  "Yeah, we know each

other," Nash said.  "I

was one of them at one time. I was a gun for hire but

I got sick and tired

of it and left."  Taker snorted.

"Taker and I had some questions that needed to be

answered," Kane

said.  "She answered a lot of them when we were here."

Everyone but Nash

was surprised.  "Yes, they were," Sharon added.  "I

know, and not for the

first time either. "  "I think we'll wait until Ms.

Benson sobers up and

have her explain everything," Nash said.

Kane got down off his horse.  "Hey, I smell food."

Sharon took him over to

the food table.  The rest of the group sat in an

uneasy silence.

In the house, Judi was in the kitchen preparing a

drink that she had

concocted when her husband had been out on a binge and

would have a

hangover afterwards.  Show watched as she put the

ingredients

together.  Show shivered.  "The stuff stinks."  "It

may stink, but it will

help cure the hangover she's going to have," Judi

said.  They heard a slow

shuffling of feet and turned to see Cat was leaning

against the door like

death warmed over.

CHAPTER 53

Things were a blur to Cat.  "Where the hell am I?" she

squinted in a sickly

voice.  "You're back at the ranch," Show replied.  Cat

made her way to the

table and slowly sat.  "How did I get here?"  "You

were brought on

horseback by The Undertaker," Judi replied.  Cat

blinked.  "Who?"  Judi

snickered.  "You really tied one on.  Here, take and

drink this."  She

handed a small cup to Cat.  "Which one?  I'm seeing

three."  Judi shook her

head and placed the cup in Cat's hand.   "Drink it

down slowly."   Cat

sniffed it first.  "Phew!  What is this stuff?"

"Something to cure you,"

Judi replied.  Cat sipped the concoction, almost

spitting it out.  "Damn,

what did you put in this?"  Judi smiled at Show.  "Oh,

just stuff from here

in the kitchen.  It takes a while to work, but it'll

keep you from getting

a hangover."  Cat finished the concoction.  "Everyone

is outside," Show

said.  "I think they're waiting for someone to do some

explaining."  "Exactly," Judi added.  "I guess I do at

that," Cat said, and

proceeded to get up.  She swayed for a bit, gripping

the table for

support.  "Maybe you need a little help," Show said,

and took Cat's arm.

Cat made it outside and to the food table, sitting

next to Taker, who was

having a good time laughing at Cat.  "Serves you

right," Taker

chuckled.  "Oh, shut up!" Cat sneered.  "I think I

need to go back

upstairs.  My stomach is not feeling good."  As she

went to get up, Cat

turned and heaved.

Everyone got out of the way as quick as they could.

Unfortunately, Taker

was not quick enough. "Dammit woman!" he yelled.

Taker went over to the

trough to clean up.  The group laughed as they figured

he got what was

coming to him.  Cat went on into the house and

upstairs to rest.

Everyone sat back down.  "Well, that kind of puts me

off," Kane

said.  "Anyway," Jade said.  "What are we going to do

about Bradshaw.  We

can't let that turd get away with this.  Anyone have

any ideas?"  "Not at

the moment," Sandra replied.  "Get your thinking caps

on," Jade said.

"I don't know if this has anything to do with it,"

Jericho said.  "But that

guy with Bradshaw looked an awful lot like one of the

cowhands that works

here."  Dwayne furrowed his brows.  "You know, come to

think of it, he

does."  Dwayne looked at the cowhands over by the

corral.  "I don't happen

to see him."

"Hey cookie!" Dwayne yelled. "Yeah?" Cookie yelled,

and came over to the

table.  "I thought all the cowhands came in?"  Cookie

shook his

head.  "Nope.  One of them said he didn't feel like

comin'.  Said he was

going to town."  "Which one?"  "Basham," Cookie

replied.

The group looked at each other.  "I do believe some

things are now making

sense," Nash said.  "Out of curiosity, how long has

Basham been

here?"  Dwayne thought back.  "It's kind of hard to

say, but I would say at

least five years."

Bradshaw was meeting with the Basham brothers at their

usual meeting

place.  "You think she'll do it?" Danny asked.

Bradshaw was blowing smoke

rings from his cigar.  "Yep," he replied. "She doesn't

have much of a

choice."  "What about The Undertaker and Kane?" Danny

asked.  Bradshaw took

another puff.  "They're still at the cabin."  "I don't

trust them two,"

Danny said uneasily.  Bradshaw snorted.  "What's the

worry?"  Danny

shrugged his shoulders.  "I just don't trust them."

CHAPTER 54

Things were a blur to Cat. "Where the hell am I?" she squinted in a sickly

voice. "You're back at the ranch," Show replied. Cat made her way to the

table and slowly sat. "How did I get here?" "You were brought on

horseback by The Undertaker," Judi replied. Cat blinked. "Who?" Judi

snickered. "You really tied one on. Here, take and drink this." She

handed a small cup to Cat. "Which one? I'm seeing three." Judi shook her

head and placed the cup in Cat's hand. "Drink it down slowly." Cat

sniffed it first. "Phew! What is this stuff?" "Something to cure you,"

Judi replied. Cat sipped the concoction, almost spitting it out. "Damn,

what did you put in this?" Judi smiled at Show. "Oh, just stuff from here

in the kitchen. It takes a while to work, but it'll keep you from getting

a hangover." Cat finished the concoction. "Everyone is outside," Show

said. "I think they're waiting for someone to do some

explaining." "Exactly," Judi added. "I guess I do at that," Cat said, and

proceeded to get up. She swayed for a bit, gripping the table for

support. "Maybe you need a little help," Show said, and took Cat's arm.

Cat made it outside and to the food table, sitting next to Taker, who was

having a good time laughing at Cat. "Serves you right," Taker

chuckled. "Oh, shut up!" Cat sneered. "I think I need to go back

upstairs. My stomach is not feeling good." As she went to get up, Cat

turned and heaved.

Everyone got out of the way as quick as they could. Unfortunately, Taker

was not quick enough. "Dammit woman!" he yelled. Taker went over to the

trough to clean up. The group laughed as they figured he got what was

coming to him. Cat went on into the house and upstairs to rest.

Everyone sat back down. "Well, that kind of puts me off," Kane

said. "Anyway," Jade said. "What are we going to do about Bradshaw. We

can't let that turd get away with this. Anyone have any ideas?" "Not at

the moment," Sandra replied. "Get your thinking caps on," Jade said.

"I don't know if this has anything to do with it," Jericho said. "But that

guy with Bradshaw looked an awful lot like one of the cowhands that works

here." Dwayne furrowed his brows. "You know, come to think of it, he

does." Dwayne looked at the cowhands over by the corral. "I don't happen

to see him."

"Hey cookie!" Dwayne yelled. "Yeah?" Cookie yelled, and came over to the

table. "I thought all the cowhands came in?" Cookie shook his

head. "Nope. One of them said he didn't feel like comin'. Said he was

going to town." "Which one?" "Basham," Cookie replied.

The group looked at each other. "I do believe some things are now making

sense," Nash said. "Out of curiosity, how long has Basham been

here?" Dwayne thought back. "It's kind of hard to say, but I would say at

least five years."

Bradshaw was meeting with the Basham brothers at their usual meeting

place. "You think she'll do it?" Danny asked. Bradshaw was blowing smoke

rings from his cigar. "Yep," he replied. "She doesn't have much of a

choice." "What about The Undertaker and Kane?" Danny asked. Bradshaw took

another puff. "They're still at the cabin." "I don't trust them two," Danny said uneasily. Bradshaw snorted. "What's the worry?" Danny shrugged his shoulders. "I just don't trust them."

Part 10

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