Page 16 of Cowboy

“Red went over to the park store and picked up some food. We’ve got breakfast going, and we can make a plan,” said Mo.

“Any news on the dead guy?” asked Cowboy.

“Nothing yet,” said Mo, “but we’re still working on it. We heard him say he wanted his pack. Did you find a pack?”

“No. There were two suitcases, but they only had men’s clothing in them. She had a small purse and a tote bag with magazines, but that was it. Nothing else was in that plane.”

“The old man from last night, Trigger, he got Clarice to the funeral home for us. They’re making arrangements. She wanted to be cremated, and her ashes spread on the ranch.” Cowboy nodded again, looking back toward the tent.

“Someone shot the plane out of the sky,” he said, looking at the others. “If you wanted what was in that plane, why would you shoot it out of the sky? You risked the whole thing blowing apart.”

The men all frowned at one another, shaking their heads.

“You’ve got me,” said Red. “Unless. Unless it was in a fireproof box.”

“I didn’t see anything like that,” said Cowboy. “Like I said, just the suitcases and tote. She had a small box that we got out earlier with candy bars, granola, snacks, that sort of thing, but it was all food.”

“Well, until we know who these guys are, we aren’t going to be able to figure this out,” said Ethan. “The problem is, they know who she is.”

Cowboy respected all of the men they worked with, but Ethan was on an entirely different plane. He was like having Trak, Zeke, Nine, and Gaspar rolled into one. He’d been through hell and found the love of his life in the form of Noa’s niece. Now, they were raising a daughter together.

“I appreciate all of you for coming out,” said Cowboy. “I know you have family back home.”

“Not me,” smirked Moose. “I’m a single man and happy about it.”

“Me too,” smiled Red.

“Oh, damn,” muttered Mo. “You say that around Mama Irene, and you’ll be in trouble for sure. That woman cannot let a single man alone.” They all chuckled, nodding their heads. It was of no surprise to any of them when the text message came through that Annette Liconitis had succumbed to cancer the day before. It was, however, a surprise when it was noted that her grieving husband took his own life to be with her.

“Shit,” muttered Cowboy. “I really thought the old man might have something to do with all this or that he was kidnapped. To know that he got out of that plane wreck, but no one got her out, pisses me off.”

“He still could have something to do with all this,” said Mo. “Maybe he had something on that plane that belonged to the man. Or his bodyguard was doing something shady. Speaking of, where the hell is he? I mean, if Liconitis was pulled out, probably by his own people, where is the bodyguard? And why leave Autumn in the plane?”

No one had an answer to that as they frowned over their coffee. When the old pickup truck pulled up, they knew exactly who it was.

“Mornin’,” said Trigger. “Just wanted you all to know we got Clarice taken care of. I’ll hold onto her ashes until Autumn is ready to let ‘em go. We found all but one of the horses and have them in our pens. No rush on gettin’ them. How is she?”

“Devastated,” said Cowboy. “She’s lost her plane, her boss, her grandmother, and her home all within a few days. I don’t know a lot of people who could survive that.”

“She will,” said the old man, nodding. “Look. I’ve known Clarice nearly my entire life. When she and Francis bought that place, it was a dump. Just when they were gettin’ it fixed up, he got called up to Vietnam. She was pregnant. Less than a year later, she had a baby, a ranch, and was a widow. That woman worked harder than ten men, even though she had a loser for a son. When Autumn came to live with her permanently, it was like seeing a younger version of Clarice. Autumn worked right beside her. I’m not sure what makes the Zeller’s men weak as shit, but it makes the women strong as an ox.”

“I’m not sure I would consider a man getting killed in Vietnam weak,” frowned Ethan. The old man looked at him, stepping closer.

“He was shot by his own men for trying to run away,” whispered Trigger. “I should know. I was there. I wasn’t in the same outfit, but we heard the story. I couldn’t believe it.

“He got scared and kept trying to fake injuries to go home. They were in a firefight, and he said he wasn’t gonna die in that place. Stood up and started screaming, waving a white flag. He was gonna give away their position. So, his teammates shot him.”

“No one questioned it?” asked Ethan.

“No one cared back then,” said Trigger. “Autumn doesn’t need to know that. She never knew him, although her daddy was just like him. A runner. That girl is just like her grandmother. And whoever earns her love and trust is one lucky bastard.”

Cowboy stared at the man, swallowing hard, then looked down at his feet. Mo nudged Ethan. Moose and Red stared at their friend.

“Well, I’ll let you get back to your breakfast. Here’s my card if you need anything. Just let Autumn know I’ve got Clarice.” They noticed the man said the last words with emotion, his old eyes watering.

“You were in love with her,” said Red. He stopped, staring at the younger man with his head cocked to the side.

“Everyone was in love with her. It was hard not to love a woman like that. But you can’t love someone that just wants to be free,” he said. Turning, he walked back to his truck as the others just watched. Ethan turned toward Cowboy.

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