"Harvest of Death"
**This story immediately follows "Hogtied"**
"Killing is not so easy as the innocent believe."
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
CHAPTER 1
"Matt, she's a big girl now." CJ looked over at her husband who had a worried expression on his face.
"I know."
"You know they love each other. Look at the two of them."
"Yep."
"She's not a baby anymore."
"I know." He leaned on the fence and looked down at his boots.
"I understand why you're worried, sweetie." She rubbed his back. "Matt, she's going to run off to be with him – why not just give them your blessing?"
Matt sighed and walked out into the pasture. "Come here, baby girl." Cricket came to him and he scratched her jaw and laid his head on hers. "Are you sure about this?" The horse nickered and nuzzled at him. "Okay. Stay right here, understand?" She whinnied as Matt turned and went to the gate that connected the two pastures. "Jasper…" He called the stallion over and he instantly obeyed - something that wouldn't have happened a month ago. The stallion had been rescued from his previous owner when it was found that the man was starving the animals. Several of the other horses had been put down. Jasper had been hard to handle until he was put into the pasture next to Cricket. Now after four weeks, he had calmed down and was well-behaved. Before opening the gate he stroked the horses jaw. "Boy, you better be good to her…or else. You understand?" The horse put his head on Matt's shoulder. "Come on." He opened the gate and led him into the pasture. Cricket's ears perked up and she whinnied at Jasper as he nickered softly. "I mean it, boy – you better be nice." He turned loose of the stallion and closed the gate and went back over by the fence where he and CJ had been standing. The two horses nuzzled each other and within a few minutes, Cricket and Jasper were mated.
"Well…" Matt climbed back over the fence, watching as the mare that he had saved with a Caesarian section when her mother was killed now stood with her mate. "Maybe…" He looked back down at his boots and over at CJ. "Maybe if it's a filly she can be Catey's."
His wife put her arm around him. "I think that would be great. You know, Jasper has calmed down a lot since he came here – and I think your little girl right there is the reason. I swear those two are in love."
"I was worried he would…you know." Matt actually blushed. "Might be rough on her." He looked back up. "I think maybe you're right about the two of them." He pulled out his phone and did some calculations. "Should be right around the end of August." Nodding, he wrapped an arm around CJ. "That's a good time for foaling I guess."
"She'll be fine, baby."
"I hope so. She's like her mama was - and her daddy for that matter. They were the two smartest horses I ever had until Cricket came along." They walked hand in hand back up to the house.
LATER THAT EVENING…
"And you're asking me?" Matt was absolutely astounded. "Vince, you've got three other boys; who told them?"
"I did. But I'm not going to be there – there's no way I can with the installations, and I sure don't want to do it over the phone. Besides, I'm actually helping you out: you're going to have to explain it one day to your kids." Vince was wishing he could see the expression on Matt's face at that moment.
"Well…CJ would be the one to talk to Catey, I mean…ya know." He thought for a minute. "Of course if we have any boys I guess…oh, boy." Houston had been completely blindsided by the request from his best friend, Vince Novelli. Since the former cop turned restaurateur was helping Matt's Uncle Roy along with his cousin Will install security systems in a chain of jewelry stores, he had been away from his home in Hawaii for several weeks. Vince wanted Matt to have a talk about the birds and the bees with his youngest son Tony. Matt and Tony had been best buds ever since they had met almost five years earlier. "Okay, uh, you said he's about to start fall break at school, right?" Matt was trying to figure out the best way to approach the subject.
"Yeah, he's out as of today." Vince hated to ask, but he and Matt were as close as brothers and he knew how much Tony loved the man.
"Alright here's my idea: I've got to go to Texas this week and check on the calving. That would be a good way for him to learn it. Is that okay with you?"
"That sounds like a great idea. He's wanted to go there anyway. I think that should work just fine."
"And I already promised he could come down and learn how to herd. Okay, I think I can do this." He was feeling a little better about the deal.
"Thanks Ace, I really appreciate it. I'll call Isabella and let her know you'll be there tomorrow." Vince was relieved.
"Okay, well you try to keep Uncle Roy out of trouble for me. I'll talk to you tomorrow. 'Bye." Matt hung up the phone and just looked at it for a second. CJ had been sitting across the table from him on the patio and had figured out from Matt's end of the conversation what was going on. She smiled slyly. Her husband put his phone on the table and looked up at her. "What?"
"Nothing." CJ gave a big grin and started chuckling, which turned into full blown laughter.
Matt gave her a raised eyebrow and nodded his head. "I think you're forgetting something, Mrs. Houston."
"Oh, what's that?" She was still snickering.
"Well after I tell Tony the way of the world, I'll be one up on you: you'll still have to tell Catey when the time rolls around." He was the one smiling and snickering now as CJ got a slightly shocked look on her face. "Uh huh, make fun of me all you want. It's gonna come back and bite you in the butt." Matt sat there grinning for a minute. "And maybe you haven't considered it just yet, but what if we don't have any sons – just daughters?" Her face really did change then. Matt burst into laughter.
"Oh hush." She got up and walked around the table and sat down in his lap. "So do you need a little refresher course before you start teaching, Professor Houston?" She leaned over and gave him a kiss.
"You know what they say – it's never too late to learn." He kissed her back and they sat there together watching the stars for a few minutes before heading into the house and checking on Catey Rose before going to bed.
Early the next morning, Matt and CJ packed for the trip to Texas. They had planned on leaving that afternoon to head down, but now that they had to make a run to Hawaii to pick up Tony, they needed to head out earlier. This would be Catey's first trip on the jet and CJ made sure to bring plenty of toys along to keep the five month old entertained. Lamar, one of Matt's ranch hands, drove them to the airport and helped to get the luggage loaded then waved goodbye as the family set off on their trip. Matt was alone in the cockpit as he took off: CJ had Catey in her car seat securely fastened in the passenger area. Once they were airborne, she brought the baby up to the cockpit. She reached for the yoke and CJ turned in her seat where the baby wouldn't be able to touch it. Matt laughed. "I don't think you're quite tall enough to drive this yet, Sweet Pea. Let's give it a few more years."
While he and CJ talked and Catey put in her two cents worth on occasion, the trip passed by uneventfully and before they knew it the five hour flight was over. As they taxied up to the hangar, Matt could see Isabella waiting with Tony. After shutting down the engines, Matt and CJ stepped off of the plane and the ten year old intercepted them before they got more than a couple of steps toward the hangar. "Houston! CJ! You're finally here! And you've got a beard!" Tony leapt up into Matt's arms, giving him a big hug and then leaned over to give his Aunt CJ a kiss. "WOW! Catey you're getting really big!" He reached over to squeeze the baby's hand and she squealed with delight.
Matt set the boy down on the ground. "I've got to see about getting some fuel in this plane. Want to help?"
"Sure." Tony walked along with Matt as he headed over to talk to Isabella for a minute, giving her a hug. Vince's wife took Catey and was treated to a slobbery baby kiss.
"If you ladies will excuse us we've gotta go see about some fuel." He popped Tony on the back of the head. "C'mon pard, we've got work to do." As they headed over to the office to arrange the refueling, CJ and Isabella watched the pair.
"I really appreciate Matt doing this. Vince just thought it would be better coming from a guy, you know how that goes." Isabella spoke as she and CJ walked back toward the jet.
"It'll be good training. Maybe one of these days we'll have a boy." She smiled over at Isabella.
A few minutes later, Matt and Tony returned and boarded the jet. "Hey CJ, where'd you put that package for Tony?"
"It's in the closet." She nodded toward the back of the plane and Matt and the boy headed that way.
Matt reached up on the shelf and pulled down a box and handed it to the boy. "This was going to be a Christmas present, but I think you'll need it this week." He grinned over at CJ and Isabella as the boy tore off the wrapping paper and opened the box. Inside was a white straw cowboy hat – that was exactly like the one that Matt was wearing.
"WOW! Thanks!" He put it on and turned to his mom. "How does it look?"
"Looks like you're ready to go to work for your Uncle Matt." She gave him a big smile.
"Let's go out and keep an eye on the refueling, whatcha say, Bud?" Matt patted the boy on the back and they stepped out of the plane.
"I'll be sure to get plenty of pictures this week. I know he'll want to show them to everybody." CJ grinned.