Billings, Montana, 2002
Chris shuddered as he pulled the truck to a stop. He swiped at his forehead and was surprised when he found dry skin. He reached for the air conditioning, but found it was already at the highest level.
“Something wrong, Chris?” Tanner asked.
Larabee frowned and finally shook his head. “No, not really. Just thought it got hot in here all of a sudden!”
“See, told ya you’re gettin’ old!”
“Tanner!”
“Hell, Larabee you’re sufferin’ from hot flashes.”
Larabee couldn’t help but laugh at his friend’s teasing voice. “You know, Vin, I could make you walk from here?” he said as he continued the drive towards Tanner’s ranch.
“Ya could, but ya won’t. You’d probably lose your way seein’ as how you’re gettin’ old and all!”
“Tanner, I can still ask Buck to go with me next week.”
“Nah, ya wouldn’t do that to me, Cowboy.”
“I wouldn’t?”
“Nope, me and you are gonna be like them folks at Mystery Inc.”
“What?”
“Yeah. I figure we’ll be huntin’ ghosts just like Fred, Shaggy, Daphne, Velma and Scooby.”
“Vin, we’re not going ghost hunting.” Larabee said as he pulled into the sharpshooter’s yard.
The tracker smiled and raised his eyebrows. “Maybe you’re not, but I will,” he laughed.
“You’re too much, Vin. I’ll come by to pick you up in the morning,” the blond offered, knowing his friend left his jeep in The Firm’s parking garage after the movie.
“Alright, Cowboy and thanks for the movie and dinner.”
Larabee drove away and frowned as he remembered the sudden feeling of heat rising in his body. ‘Hope the hell I’m not coming down with a summer cold,’ he thought as he pulled into his own yard.
~~~~~~~~
Reno, Nevada, 2002
Mark Winston watched as his employer printed article after article on Christopher Adam Larabee. Two days had passed since their return to Reno with the treasure his employer sought. Since that time he’d flown back to Santa Fe and discovered a few important things. He knew Robert Maguire had found things in The Book and that he was formulating plans to continue something that started many years ago. Winton shuddered at the thought of what his friend was capable of. He’d seen him kill for the sake of killing and not show any remorse for what he’d done. Maguire’s victims were normally people he found on the streets. Homeless men or women and once in a while runaways who would do anything for a little food or a place to sleep. The man he was planning on taking as his next victim was high profiled and Winston knew it could be both of their downfalls. This didn’t scare him, he knew he would follow Maguire to the ends of the earth if need be. This was a man who knew what he wanted and took it. Robert Maguire wanted to complete a destiny that was formed when his great, great grandfather entered a dusty town called Four Corners. He briefly wondered if the long dead Maguire was anything like the man seated before him. If he was then the Chris Larabee of old had suffered immensely before Robert Maguire’s death.
“Did you find out anything, Mark?”
“I found a couple of things,” Winston answered as he placed the papers in front of his employer. “Four Corners was nearly destroyed by a twister in 1906. The town was abandoned soon afterwards.”
“Is it still there?” Maguire asked, anticipating a visit to the town where his ancestor had the ill-fated meeting with the gunslinger turned lawman. There was so much more in The Book than he originally thought. Finding the formula for an old drug made from the nightshade plant was an added bonus and something he planned to improve on.
“Some of the structures are still standing, but they are in bad shape. I didn’t get to see much from the air, but most have fallen on hard times.”
“A ghost town. The place where this all started. I wish to see it for myself. Make arrangements for us to leave in two days. I have a couple of meetings I need to attend tomorrow. Everything else can be put on hold indefinitely.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Make sure you contact the old woman. I want everything ready when I decide to bring Larabee to her home.”
“Are you sure we can trust her? She wasn’t to cooperative with the last one.”
“Don’t give her any details. Just make sure she has everything ready and we’ll take care of her when we get there. I think,” He picked up the picture of Chris Larabee standing beside a black Ford crew cab. “This will be the final time I use her home anyway. I have a feeling once this man dies by my hands I will have little use for the old woman or her home. In fact we will need to get rid of all the evidence she has there.”
“How long do you plan on keeping him alive?”
Maguire smiled as he answered, “as long as it takes!” He ran his fingers down the front of the picture, feeling the strength he knew was in this man. “See to it that everything is in place.”
“Yes, Sir,” Winston said and left the room.
Robert Maguire lifted up the article on the death of Larabee’s wife and son. He held the picture in one hand and the article in the other. He looked from one to the other, his eyes wide with excitement and anticipation. ‘This is it, Chris! This is what I’ve wanted and dreamed of, but never actually understood. This is our destiny. Yours and mine! Not our great, great grandfathers. This time you will be the one to die and I will be free of the need to kill!’ he thought. ‘Soon, Chris, very soon!’
~~~~~~~~~~
Albuquerque, New Mexico 2002
The nine days passed slowly for both Chris and Vin as they waited for the adventure to begin. Josiah was on top of things at the office. Buck and JD were due back by Monday morning. Nathan and Ezra were staying over in California for a few days to make sure their testimony did its job. The two, would be ghost hunters were relaxed when Josiah dropped them at the airport. He wished them luck and felt a slight shudder run down his spine as they boarded the airplane. He shook it off, knowing the two men had their cell phones in case anything came up.
The flight from Billings to Albuquerque, New Mexico was relaxing and the two men enjoyed talking about the plans for the trip. The only thing Chris didn’t reveal to Vin was how they were going to check out the towns of Eagle Bend and Four Corners. Vin knew they would be driving from Albuquerque to Santa Fe, but from there he had no idea what his friend planned. The seatbelt light winked on and he watched Larabee secure the lap belt. He did the same and returned the table to an upright position.
The plane landed smoothly and the two friends grabbed their carry on luggage from under the seat in front of them. They waited for the line of people to ease up before stepping into the narrow aisle.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robert Maguire paced back and forth as he waited for his luggage to arrive. His face lacked emotion, but the anger seethed inside the calm exterior. His plans had gone up in smoke when the meetings he attended went badly. He knew it was his hotel and casino, but he still needed a few investors to keep ready cash on hand. The meetings continued to be postponed because one of the biggest investors, a multi millionaire named Reginald Cromwell the third, was in the hospital suffering from a heart attack. Maguire smiled as he thought of Winston taking care of things for him. Mark understood him and knew he could only kill if and when the need struck him. It was easy for him to convince Winston of the need to dispatch Cromwell and now the old man’s body was being invaded by the mortician’s tools.
He watched Winston wait for the arrival of their luggage. He hated the waiting, but again the events of the last week had conspired against him. His plane was damaged during a break in at the private airstrip and he’d been forced to make other arrangements. He didn’t want to wait to see Four Corners. He needed to reach the town and see what lay ahead of him before he made the move to pick up Chris Larabee.
He watched as a new load of passengers arrived from the newest flight. He grew bored quickly and looked for a place to order a drink. He walked towards the small vending machines, swearing at having to stoop so low in his life.
Chris stepped off the escalator and was shocked as his shoulder was struck and nearly sent him flying. “Dammit!” he swore as his carry on bag flew from his arm.
“Hell, Chris, what did that waitress put in your drink?”
“Shut up, Vin,” Larabee grinned as he turned to the man lying on the floor. Chris’ eyes narrowed as he saw the spark of excitement in the man’s cold eyes. He shook off the feeling of emptiness and reached out to him. “Are you alright, Mister?”
“Y...yes, I’m fine,” Maguire assured him, his eyes slowly raking over Larabee’s lean body. He reached up and accepted the hand, feeling the strength in the firm grip. “Thank you. I’m sorry about that,” he said pointing at the spilled luggage. “I should’ve been watching where I was going.”
Larabee released the hand and nodded. “Yeah, but no harm done.”
‘Not yet,’ Maguire thought, keeping the excitement in check. “Can I buy you a drink? I mean I know there’s nothing much here, but soda...”
“No, thanks, mister. We’re in a hurry,” Larabee said as Tanner handed him his bag.
“Oh, okay, I’m sorry.” He watched the two men walk away, a chilling smile spreading over his face. There was no warmth in his eyes as he struggled to get his emotions back under control. Again he was caught up in a sense of destiny. Somehow things were happening around them and he knew Chris Larabee would soon be in his hands. He forgot the drink and hurried back to the luggage carousel. His eyes were riveted on the blond head moving out into the airport.
“Sir, are you alright?”
Maguire didn’t answer until Larabee and his friend disappeared. “I’m fine, Mark.”
Winston saw the change in his employer and wondered what was the cause of it. “Did something happen, Sir?”
“You could say that, Mark. Guess who I just ran into?” He laughed at his own pun.
“Who?”
“Larabee.”
“What?” Winston looked around frantically. “Where?”
“He just left. He was with that long haired friend of his Vin Tanner.”
“Do you want me to find out where they’re going?”
Maguire smiled at his employee and walked towards the exit. “Do you believe in Destiny, Mark?”
“I’m not sure, Mr. Maguire.”
“Mark, we’ve been together a lot of years now and I want you to call me Robert. We’ve come far enough that you are more friend than employee.”
“Yes, Sir, ah Robert.”
“I think destiny as just reared its ugly head.”
“How so?” Winston asked as he carried the three medium sized bags out the door to the waiting limo.
“Destiny caused Reginald Cromwell,” he raised the pinky finger on his right hand and smiled. “The third to have a heart attack and delayed my initial trip to Four Corners. If Cromwell hadn’t died we would’ve arrived here last week in my private plane. I would’ve missed the fact that Christopher Larabee is here. Santa Fe has just handed me what I need and now it’s simply a matter of bringing him home.”
“How do you plan on doing that, Sir, ah, Robert?” he asked as the limo driver opened the door for them. They climbed in out of the heat, knowing the driver would take care of their luggage. He’d already been informed of the hotel they would be staying at.
Maguire reached for the bottle of Sherry in the open bar and poured two drinks. He handed one to Winston and smiled. “I don’t have to plan anything, Mark. Destiny seems to be taking care of everything for me. Christopher Larabee will be in Four Corners at some point in time and that’s where we will take him.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Mark,” he pushed the button that would ensure absolute privacy and smiled at his friend. “Haven’t you noticed anything since I retrieved The Book? I mean so many things just seem to be falling into place. Finding The Book, searching the web and finding a direct descendant of Christopher Larabee from Four Corners. Cromwell causing my delay in coming here. Christopher Larabee arriving within minutes of my flight,” he whispered in awe. “He will be in Four Corners and we will be waiting for him!”
“What about his friend?”
“Vin Tanner?”
“Yeah.”
“We kill him before we take Larabee.”
“I’ll need a high powered rifle.”
“That’s easily arranged, Mark. You’ll have what you need,” he said. ‘So will I’, he thought as they drove out of the airport.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2002
Vin drove the Jeep over the deepest ruts he could find. He fought back his own laughter as he heard Chris hiss under his breath as he was bounced around in the dust and dirt. They were taking a back trail from Albuquerque to Santa Fe and he was enjoying every minute of it.
“Chris, why aren’t we keeping the jeep? It’s great on gas and we’d be able to drive anywhere we want to go. Hell we could even drive into the surrounding hills and canyons.”
“No.”
“Come on, Cowboy, live a little,” he laughed as Larabee choked on a mouthful of dust. “Imagine driving into those ghost towns in this rig.”
“No.”
“Is that all you’re gonna say?”
“Yes!”
“Chris, ya know I love jeeps.”
“No,” Larabee laughed as he thought of Tanner’s pride and joy at his ranch back home.
“I take it that means your mind’s made up.”
“Yes.”
“So how are we getting there?”
“We’re going in style. You might say we’re going four by four.”
“Four by Four? A Jeep Cherokee? A Dodge Ram?”
“Wait and see, Tanner, you won’t be disappointed.”
“Chris,” the tracker said in exasperation.
“Vin, you’re supposed to turn here.”
“I know that,” Tanner said as he turned onto the road leading into Santa Fe. “Where do we go from here?”
“We’re staying at a Bed and Breakfast place.”
“We are? Damn, Chris, ya must’ve been reading my mind. Those places serve the best breakfasts around. What’s the name of the one we’re staying at?”
“Four Kachinas Bed and Breakfast Inn. Turn onto Webber Street. It should be the next street.” Larabee watched as the light turned green and Tanner turned onto Webber Street. “We’re looking for 512. There it is!” he said as they spotted the well-manicured gardens and New Mexico Territorial building.
“Nice place.”
“It came highly recommended.”
“Oh? By who?” Tanner asked as he pulled into a parking spot.
“Jake.”
“Then it must be a hell of a fine place.”
“That’s what I figured.” Larabee opened the door and climbed out of the jeep. They walked up to the building and in through the main doors. Chris smiled as the cool air hit him. “Air conditioning was a priority.”
“Wait till it gets hot, Cowboy,” Tanner explained.
A woman stood behind a small desk as they entered. Her brown hair was streaked with gray and pulled back in a tight bun. Her dress was a simple garment seen on any rack at any K-mart store all over the US. Her eyes danced as she looked over the two newcomers. Her smile was one of welcome and the two men felt at ease as they stopped before her.
“Can I help you, gentlemen?”
“Yes, ma’am, we have reservations. Chris Larabee and Vin Tanner.”
She opened her logbook and nodded her head. “Ah yes, we’ve been expecting you. Your rooms are on the ground floor. My name is Cassandra and my husband, Rafael and I own this place. If you’ll follow me I’ll show you to your rooms.”
“Thank ya, Ma’am,” Tanner said as they followed the woman through the building.
They stopped before a door and watched as the woman slid the key inside and opened it.
“This is yours, Mr. Larabee. Mr. Tanner yours is right next door. These two rooms have private patios, this one has a queen sized bed and yours, Mr. Tanner has a king size bed. There’s cable TV and direct line telephones should you need them, you have your own bathrooms. If you need more towels just let me know. Breakfast is served promptly at seven and ends precisely at eight.”
“Don’t let her fool ya, Gentlemen,” Larabee and Tanner looked towards the door to see a man in his mid fifties, well muscled and dark tanned standing there. “My wife has never turned away a hungry patron yet and I don’t expect she’ll start now.
“Rafael, you know me too well,” she laughed.
“Well, My Dear, it comes with being married for thirty two years.”
“Wow, thirty two years,” Tanner exclaimed. “I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone married that long. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Mr. Tanner. Come along and I’ll show you your room. It’s right next door.”
“Vin, I’m gonna grab our bags.”
“Ya sure ya don’t need me ta help ya?”
“Vin!” Larabee warned as he left the room. He walked out to the jeep and picked up the luggage. He brought the bags inside and dropped Tanner’s in his room. The owners were no longer there and the two men were alone.
“Hey, Cowboy, ya ready to get somethin’ ta eat? My treat?”
“Give me long enough to take a shower and you’re on. I think it’s time to seek out a big juicy steak,” Larabee answered.
“What, no ribs?”
“Not this time, Tanner.” Larabee smiled as he looked at the younger man. “By the way, Vin, it wouldn’t hurt you to take a shower either. You’re kinda ripe.”
“Ain’t no riper than you, Larabee,” Tanner said as his friend closed the door.
Chris walked into his room and closed the door behind him. He sat on the edge of the bed and opened his overnight bag. He smiled as he pulled out the pamphlet from Tiny’s Livery. He knew it wasn’t a livery, but the man he’d talked to knew a lot about blacksmithing. Chris talked with him many times over the phone and assured the man he was well versed in handling horses. Tiny agreed to rent Chris a pair of geldings named Thunder and Lightning. The Firm’s leader thought this was funny and agreed on the deal. Saddles and everything they needed to outfit themselves for the weeklong outing was also discussed and the price agreed upon by both men. Chris ran his hands over the picture on the pamphlet. “See New Mexico as it was meant to be seen. Guided tours for greenhorns or ramrods alike.”
The blond sighed and placed the Pamphlet back in his overnight bag. He left it on the bed and took a shower. It wasn’t long before he was dressed in his favorite attire, black jeans, Charcoal gray T-shirt and black Nike runners. He walked out of his room, locked the door, and wasn’t surprised to find the sharpshooter talking to the owners of the B and B.
“Hey, Chris, ya still in the mood for a mean steak?”
“Are you still buying?”
“I said it was on me, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, but your idea of steak tends to run towards the steak sandwich at Buck’s place. I want a real steak.”
“We were just telling Vin the best steak in New Mexico...heck, probably the best steak in the USA can be had at the Cowgirl BBQ and Western Grill. It’s done in mesquite and cooked to perfection. Comes with onion rings, baked potatoes or steakhouse fries and just about anything else ya desire.”
“Rafael, you forgot the Corn on the cob slathered in fresh butter.”
“Oh, Cassandra, you’re right. Can’t forget that.”
“That sounds perfect,” Larabee’s mouth watered at the thought of a steak dinner. “Where is this place?”
“319 South Guadalupe. Now you boys have a good dinner,” Rafael told them.
“We will. Thanks.”
“Ya got yer teeth in, Chris?” Tanner asked as they walked out of the bed and breakfast.
“Ya know, Tanner, I really oughta leave you out in the middle of nowhere and see if you can find your way back.”
“But you won’t.”
“Why?” Larabee asked as he slid into the jeep.
“Because then you’d have to pay for your own damn steak.”
“At least I could eat it in piece and not watch you scoffing down the food like you were the world’s largest human garbage disposal.”
Tanner laughed as he slid the key into the ignition. “Hey, Chris, I’m a growing boy.”
“Boy, my ass. You’re thirty four, Vin, but ya know something?”
“What?”
“I wouldn’t trade the last few years for all the tea in China.”
“Me either, Cowboy,” Tanner said and frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just don’t get that saying. How much tea does that country have? I mean I thought it was England who had the market cornered on tea.”
“It’s a saying, Vin. Like when you say flies on honey. ”
“Yeah, but that makes sense, Chris. If the saying was supposed to mean something why don’t they say all the tea in England and we could all stick up our pinkys when we say it.”
“Vin?”
“What?”
“Just drive.”
“Okay.” He smiled at his friend, happy to see the other man relaxing and enjoying himself.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris plumped the pillows behind his head and flicked through the channels on the TV. He wasn’t interested in what he was seeing, but was unable to sleep. His mind was filled with images of what the next day would bring. He arranged with the Hertz rental car agency to have the jeep picked up at Tiny’s Livery. While Vin was busy talking to one of the waitress’s at Cowgirls he’d secretly called Tiny to confirm the horses and tack would be ready for them when they arrived. With the hour closing in on two am he turned off the TV and tried to sleep. When he finally succumbed to his body’s need for rest at a little after two it wasn’t a restful one. He dreamed of the man who ran into him at the airport and his body trembled even in sleep.
Chris awoke to a loud knocking on the door. For a few minutes his sleep-dampened mind couldn’t comprehend the unfamiliar surroundings. The knocking continued and a soft Texan drawl cut through the drowsy feeling. He shoved back the blanket and sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
“Hey, Chris, you gonna sleep all day?”
“Hang on, Tanner,” Larabee smiled as he stood up and pulled on his jeans.
“Ain’t got time, Chris. Times wastin’ and I ain’t had breakfast yet,” the sharpshooter growled as the door opened. “Shit, Chris, ya look like somethin’ the cat dragged in. Didn’t ya get any sleep?”
“What time is it?”
“Seven thirty. Ya’d best get a move on or ya’ll miss breakfast. I can smell those flapjacks already.”
“You go ahead, Vin. I need to get a shower before I do anything else. He shivered and frowned as glimpses of his nightmares flashed across his mind. The man from the airport was a star player in those and he wondered why this man could have such an impact on him.
“Nah, I’ll wait for ya.”
Larabee smiled tiredly at the longing in the other man’s voice. “Vin, I’m not gonna be responsible for the noises your gut will make if you don’t feed it.”
“What noises?” Tanner asked indignantly.
“Ah, Tanner, let’s just say when you’re hungry everyone in Billings knows it. Now go eat, just save me some of those flapjacks.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able too. It’s gonna take a lot to stop this hungry bear from growling. I mean we wouldn’t want to wake up all of Santa Fe,” Tanner laughed as he headed for the door. “Don’t be long, Cowboy, or you’ll just have to eat crumbs.”
“Go, Tanner and enjoy.”
Half an hour later Chris Larabee joined his friend at the pine breakfast nook. He reached for the coffee pot and filled his cup. He took a sip of the strong black brew and smiled appreciatively at the owners.
“Did you sleep well, Mr. Larabee,” Cassandra asked.
“Very well, Ma’am, thank you,” the blond lied.
“Chris you just gotta try these flapjacks. Ain’t had nothin’ like ‘em since we helped Nettie with the repairs to her house.”
“Help yourself, Mr. Larabee. There’s Canadian bacon and honey glazed ham as well,” Rafael told him.
“Thanks,” Larabee said as he helped himself to the breakfast. He watched as his friend loaded his plate again and smiled at his hearty appetite. It amazed him how the tracker could eat just about anything and not seem to gain an ounce. He looked at his own plate and dug in. He smiled appreciatively at the owners as he savored the cinnamon flavoured flapjacks.
“Well?” Tanner asked.
“Yep, I have to say they are excellent.”
“Thank you, Mr. Larabee. So what are your plans while you’re in Santa Fe?”
“We’re going ghost hunting.” Tanner smiled as Larabee choked on his flapjack.
“We’re not going ghost hunting, Vin. We’re gonna visit some of the ghost towns north of here.”
“Ah,” Rafael smiled at the two men. “Just be careful out there. Some of those towns are nothing but accidents waiting to happen.”
“This from the man who goes out to Eagle Bend every other week,” Cassandra informed them of her husband’s love of the ghost towns.
Rafael grinned at his wife and kissed her cheek. “I can’t help it, Cass, you know how much I love the Old West.”
“I certainly do. So which towns do you two plan on visiting?”
“Eagle Bend and Four Corners,” the tracker answered.
“There’s some pretty rugged terrain out that way. It’s a good thing you’ve got that jeep. It’ll make travel easier,” Rafael told them.
“See, Chris, we need to keep the jeep.”
“Sorry, Vin, I’ve already arranged transportation.”
“Ah hell, Oh sorry, Ma’am,” Tanner apologized. “Come on, Chris. The jeep makes good sense.”
Larabee smiled as he finished his coffee. “No,” he answered simply.
“There’s that word again. I really gotta teach you a better vocabulary.”
Chris just continued to smile at his friend as he finished his breakfast. He knew Vin was going to enjoy what he had in mind for them, but he wasn’t going to let him in on the plan just yet. The two men finished eating and checked out of the bed and breakfast. They were due to return in one week and were assured their rooms would be ready for them. They carried their luggage out to the jeep and threw it in the back. Chris frowned as he saw a box on the passenger seat. He looked at his friend and saw the smile on his face.
“What’s this?”
“Ya got eyes, don’t ya? Open it up and see.”
Larabee opened the box and smiled appreciatively at the contents. “When did you have time to get this?”
“Ya ain’t the only one who couldn’t sleep last night. There’s a place over on Galisteo called Overland. They got all kinds of things. Ya gonna just gawk at it or are ya gonna try it on?”
Chris lifted the black leather swagman hat from the box and settled it on his heads. He smiled appreciatively at the feel of the smooth leather on his head.
“Now you’re a real cowboy, Cowboy,” Tanner laughed as Larabee ran his fingers over the flat brim and grinned cockily.
“Thanks, Pard,” Larabee threw the empty box into the back and watched as his friend reached behind his seat.
“Got one for me too,” Tanner pulled a second box from the back and opened it. “This baby is called The Traveler, figured since that’s what we’re doing it’s perfect.” He placed the chocolate brown hat on his head and smiled. “Where to, Pard?” he asked.
“We need to get on St. Francis Drive and go north till we’re out of Santa Fe. There’s a small ranch just north of here.”
“A ranch?”
“Yeah. We need to stop there.”
“Why?”
Larabee grinned at his friend. “You’ll see, Cowboy.”
“Chris!”
“The faster we get going the faster you find out what I have in mind, Vin.”
“Shit, ya know I ain’t got no patience, Chris.”
“You’re gonna have to get some. I’m not telling you anything else.”
“Shit!” the tracker hissed as he drove away from the bed and breakfast.
~~~~~~~~~~~
They drove north until they reached the outskirts of Santa Fe. Chris kept watching both sides of the street for signs of the livery. The day was heating up fast and he was anxious to get underway. He knew his friend shared his love of horses and would enjoy the freedom this would give them. He spotted the sign and smiled as he told Tanner to slow down and turn into the driveway.
“Tiny’s Livery and guided tours?” Tanner read. “I thought we weren’t doing the usual tour?”
“We’re not.” Larabee answered as the jeep came to a stop before an Adobe house. Native American tapestries were in abundance and a dozen horses stood inside a large corral.
“Then what are we doing here?”
“We need to pick up our Four by Four?”
“Here?” the tracker asked incredulously.
“Yep,” Larabee said as he climbed out of the jeep. He smiled at the large man walking towards him. “Tiny?” he asked.
“You must be Chris Larabee,” the man said, his voice soft and lilting in spite of his size.
“That’s right,” the blond reached out and took the beefy hand in his own. He pointed to his friend as he joined them. “That’s Vin Tanner.”
“Nice to meet you, Tiny.”
“You too, Tanner.”
“Is everything ready?” Larabee asked.
“Ya sure yer gonna be able ta handle it?”
“Did you get the documents I sent you?” Larabee asked.
“Sure did and I am impressed. You know your horseflesh.”
“Horseflesh? Chris, what’s going on? I thought we were going with a Four by Four?”
“We are. Thunder and Lightning are known around here as Four by Four,” the blond answered.
“Thunder and Lightning?”
“Two of my best geldings.”
“Geldings?”
“Horses, Vin.”
“I know what geldings are, Larabee,” Tanner’s exasperated voice muttered impatiently. “Just wondering what you’re up to.”
“Vin, I thought you said I was the one getting old.”
“Ya are, but what’s that got to do with this?”
“Well, it seems to me you’re the one suffering from memory loss. We’re touring Ghost towns.”
“Shit, Chris, ya know ya really can get on a man’s nerves. Why are we here?”
“We’re going to explore those ghost towns the way they were meant to be explored. We’re going to...”
“Become real cowboys,” Tanner laughed as he touched his new hat. “It’s a good thing I bought these. Wouldn’t want ya to go gettin’ sunburned what with that delicate skin of yours.”
“Ya, well, your delicate butt had better be up for the job.”
“You two finished?” Tiny asked with a grin.
“Yeah,” Larabee answered.
“Good, cause I got things ready fer ya and I got other things ta do. Ain’t like I get ta go with ya.” He looked at the two men hopefully. “Unless ya changed yer mind about the guided tour.”
“Sorry, Tiny, this is something we’d like to do. Guided tours just don’t cut it. We know where we’re going,” the blond told him.
“Shit, guess I gotta finish painting the damn house after all.”
Larabee and Tanner looked at the large man sympathetically.
“I don’t envy you that job,” Tanner told him. “Especially in this heat.”
“Yeah, but the missus says it’s gotta be done. There she comes now.”
Larabee and Tanner were surprised to see a petite figure walking towards them. Where Tiny was over six foot and probably weighed in at over two hundred and fifty pounds his ‘missus’ was barely five foot and probably weighed less than a hundred pounds. Her red hair hung below her shoulders and framed her face. She wasn’t beautiful by any standards, but she was pretty and her smile lit up her face.
“Honey, these are the gentlemen I was telling you about.” He pointed to the blond as he wrapped his arm around her. “That’s Chris Larabee.” He pointed to the second man. “That’s Vin Tanner. My wife Eugenia Martin.”
“Nice to meet you,” she said as she shook each man’s hand.
“Ma’am,” Chris and Vin tipped their hats to the woman and smiled at the couple.
“Would you believe she doesn’t like my nickname for her,” Tiny explained as they walked towards the stables.
“Tiny!”
“Come on, Darlin’, just think of the irony. I mean Pop started callin’ me Tiny as a joke.”
“Tiny!”
“Why don’t we ask these guys what they think? What do you guys say? I mean I’m Tiny shouldn’t her name be shortened from Eugenia to Huge?”
The two Firm employees couldn’t help but laugh and they tried to hide it by coughing into their hands.
“Tiny, quit that. I do not want to be called Huge and you’re embarrassing these gentlemen.”
“See what I gotta put up with. You boys married?”
“No,” Tanner answered.
“Not any more,” Larabee answered without thinking and turned away from the others. They gave him a couple of minutes as he composed himself. He turned back to the three people and smiled. He knew Vin saw the moisture in his eyes, but the younger man didn’t say anything.
The four proceeded to the stable and walked into the slightly cooler interior. They stopped before two stalls housing two dark brown horses.
“You gentlemen are gettin’ two of the best damn horses in New Mexico. Thunder and Lightning are sometimes skittish, but they are reliable,” Eugenia told them.
“Beautiful animals, “ Larabee said as he ran his hands through the dark mane.
“That’s Lightning. He’s a four year old. Thunder is five, both are easy to handle if you know what you’re doing,” Tiny explained.
“We do,” Larabee assured him.
“Yeah, I read what ya sent me. Alright, why don’t we get these two ready so’s ya can get on your way,” Tiny smiled as he pointed to the well worn saddles hung over the side of the empty stall next to Lightning.
The Martins stood and watched as the two men expertly saddled the horses and made sure the cinches were tightened. They talked softly to the horse they’d be riding and ruffled the manes as they did. Each man checked the saddlebags and canteens to make sure they had what they needed before turning back to the owners.
“Not bad,” Tiny grinned and felt his wife relax beside him. He knew Larabee hadn’t exaggerated when he said they knew good horseflesh and how to work with them.
“You boys do know yer way around horses,” the woman said, her voice filled with open admiration.
“Thanks,” Chris said as he took the items from his carry on and placed them in his saddlebags. He knew Vin was doing the same in the next stall. He took the reins and led the animal out of the oversized stall and smiled as Tanner joined him. They walked out of the stable and into the hot afternoon sun.
“So we’ll expect you boys back a week from tomorrow. I’ll drop the jeep at the Hertz car rental for you,” Tiny assured him.
“Thanks, Tiny, Ma’am,” Larabee said as he tipped his hat to the two people.
“You’re welcome. Oh, here, take this,” Eugenia said as she passed a rolled paper to Vin. “It’s a map showing the ghost towns in the area.”
“Thank you, Ma’am,” Tanner said and also tipped his hat.
“You boys have fun and enjoy yourselves,” Tiny called as the two men rode away.
“Do you think they’ll be okay, Tiny?”
“They seemed ta have good horse sense ta me. Why? Ya gettin’ one of them feelin’s of yours?”
“Yeah, I don’t think those two are gonna have an easy time of it.”
“Maybe we should’ve warned ‘em?”
“It wouldn’t have done any good. They wouldn’t have believed me.” She felt her husband’s strong arms reach out and wrap around her. Again a shiver ran through her as she watched the departing men. ‘Go with God,’ she thought as they rode out of sight.
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