CHAPTER 4
LAPD Lt. Michael Hoyt drove along the steeply canyoned road through all the twists and hairpin curves. He wondered how many times he had made the trip now, thinking back to how much he had hated it at first. Now he understood why Houston liked it so much. It seemed to be a visual way of separating the work of the city from the more relaxing home that the transplant from Texas now enjoyed with his growing family.
As he pulled up and parked behind CJ's Navigator and got out of the car, the cop heard the sweet little voice of the now ten month old that he considered his niece. The little girl gave him a big smile and held her arms out to him. "How's my girl today?" He took the baby from Sheila, receiving a big kiss on his cheek.
"She's just fine – and acting more like her dad by the day." Sheila gave the cop a smile.
"Catey…" He gave the baby a stern expression and she got quiet and gave him a solemn look. "Have you been stubborn today?"
"Yes." The baby got a devilish grin on her face in a perfect imitation of her dad, causing Michael to laugh.
"You sure are like him…" He switched her to his other arm. "…And getting big, too." That earned him another kiss. It was then that he saw Tilly sitting in front of him offering her paw in welcome. He shook with her and patted her head. "Hello again, Tilly."
Sitting down at the patio table with Catey in his lap he asked Sheila, "What has she been stubborn about?"
"She got a little upset because Houston and CJ didn't take her down to the barn with them. He's working with Jasper and didn't want any distractions."
"So how's it going with him?" Michael remembered when Matt had first told him about the stallion that he had found half-starved, abused, and abandoned near Fresno. The cowboy had finally managed to get the horse loaded into a trailer and brought him to the ranch. After the vet was able to examine him somewhat, it was determined that he was about four years old and had never had any training. It took a while but after taking care of the horse and staying calm and gentle with him, Matt had reached the point where he felt the horse was ready to be trained. Both CJ and Matt swore that Matt's horse Cricket had been a calming influence on him. The two were now expecting a foal in August.
"Like I would know?" Sheila had never had anything to do with horses prior to coming to work for the Houstons.
"I need to get him to sign some papers. Do you think it would be okay if I went down there?"
"I would think so. He just doesn't want any loud noises or sudden movements." She shook her head. "Somebody abused that horse."
"Good thing the jerk's already dead." He handed Catey back to the nanny and began the walk down to the barn accompanied by Tilly. As the cop drew nearer to the barn he could see Matt working with the horse as CJ leaned on the fence watching. She turned to see Michael and gave him a smile while holding a finger to her lips signaling for him to be quiet. He nodded and stood with her as they watched the cowboy quietly speak to the stallion, holding the lead rope in his left hand as he stood at the horse's left shoulder. He moved a training stick down the horse's side and onto its hindquarters, speaking calmly the whole time. The cop could hear him praising the horse as he switched sides. Taking the rope into his right hand, Matt began lightly rubbing the stick down the horse's right side. After a momentary startled reaction, Jasper began to calm as Matt reassured him that it was okay. After finishing, the cowboy stroked the Buckskin's neck and told him how good he was doing. It was then that he looked over where CJ and Michael were standing. He made a kissing sound at the horse and led him toward the fence. "Michael, don't move but don't tense up, okay?" The cop gave a slight nod. "Jasper, meet Michael; Michael – Jasper." The horse cautiously sniffed at the cop's arms and hands.
"Hi, Jasper." Hoyt kept his voice light and quiet. The horse looked at him and nuzzled at his hand.
"Pat him real easy." Matt grinned at CJ as the cop reached over and gently stroked the horse's muzzle. "I believe he likes you." After a couple more minutes Matt backed the horse up and took the lead off. "Okay – go talk to your lady for a few minutes." The three watched as he trotted over to the side of the pen where Cricket had been silently watching. As the two horses nuzzled at each other Michael shook his head.
"I didn't believe it when you told me about those two – but now I do. That's amazing."
"Wanna know something else that's amazing? He'll only let three people touch him – and you're the third one." Matt smiled at the cop.
"I feel honored."
"So what's going on?" The cowboy climbed up and sat on the top rail.
"Oh – I almost forgot. I need you to sign these." He pulled three papers out of his coat pocket and handed his friend a pen.
"I need a desk, Cop." Matt gave him a grin and he turned so that the cowboy could sign his name using his friend's shoulder for a table. "Okay." He handed the papers back.
"So you're going to Texas tomorrow, huh?"
"Yep. We're hoping to take off around eight or so."
"Wish I was going, too. I kind of like it down there."
"Didja ever think you would hear that coming from his mouth?" Matt winked at his wife who laughed.
"Is there anything I can do on this end?"
"Not that I know of, but I might give you a call."
"Not a problem."
"Jasper…" Matt looked at the Buckskin and was pleased when he paid attention. Making the kissing noise again the cowboy tapped his thigh and the stallion calmly walked to him. After clipping the lead back on he once again praised the horse. "This guy right here is gonna be okay. He's gonna be better than okay…he's gonna be great. Are you going to tell Michael goodbye?" Matt tapped the cop on the arm and Jasper cautiously moved closer and nuzzled the cop again.
"See you later, boy. You're doing a great job. And you've certainly got good taste in ladies." He patted on the horse.
"Okay – time to get back to work." Matt walked to the center of the pen and Jasper followed.
CJ watched as Matt started going back through the training that they had covered so far. "It really is amazing how far they've come in such a short time."
"He's definitely got the touch. Guess I better get back to work myself. You have a safe trip…and don't overdo, okay?" The cop gave her a hug.
"I won't. You know he won't let me."
The Houstons took off from LAX the next morning at 8:15 and landed about three hours later at the William P. Hobby Airport. After arranging for maintenance and refueling, Matt got into the truck driven by ranch foreman Marty Hoffmann and they made their way to the sprawling ranch that had been Matt's home from the age of five. Madre Rosa was waiting on the back porch when they arrived. Matt gave the woman a big smile. "Catey's got a surprise for you."
"Oh? What have you got Catherine Rose?"
Matt set the baby on her feet a short distance from the housekeeper. "Got get her." He and CJ watched proudly as Catey walked to her.
"You're getting so big!" She swept the baby up into her arms and gave Matt and CJ a hug and then Sheila.
After lunch, Sheila put Catey down for her nap and the adults began talking in the kitchen. When the nanny reappeared, Matt poured her a cup of coffee. "CJ and I are going to be in San Antonio. Will you be okay with staying here?"
"Sure, we'll have a great time."
"Just wanted to be sure." Matt looked at his watch. "I'm going to go talk to Marty and the boys for a little while." He stood and gave CJ a kiss on the cheek.
"That's fine, hon – we'll just talk bad about you." His wife gave him an angelic smile as the other two women laughed.
"Uh huh." He walked out the back door and down to the barn where his four employees were gathered. "Pat, Ollie, Scott – how's it goin'?" He shook with the men.
"Pretty good." Ollie leaned on the bed of the pickup.
"So what do y'all think? Is this fella working out?" Matt nodded in the direction of Scott Tisdale, the newest cowboy on the ranch. The two had met on Christmas Eve and the billionaire had hired him immediately.
"Guess we're scraping the bottom of the bucket." Pat Hoffmann grinned.
"Nah, he's good. Better than Pat anyway." Ollie ducked as Pat threw a water bottle across the bed of the truck at him.
"At least I don't throw like a girl." Scott hammered back at Pat.
"So what brings you down, Boss Man?" Pat dropped the tailgate and he and Ollie had a seat.
Matt asked the four men to keep mum about the reason for the trip and then told them what was going on. The mood of the group got somber. "There really isn't a good time to get information like that but I sure wish it had happened a few months ago." He saw the questioning look and grinned. "CJ's pregnant – with twins." There was a collective whoop from the men and congratulations.
"I figured you would want to use Blue when you were here; the tank is topped off and she's ready to roll." Marty nodded in the direction of the truck that had originally been intended as a Christmas present for Hoyt; due to LAPD rules he couldn't accept the gift and Matt had shipped it to Texas.
"I appreciate it. So what about the herd?" Matt changed the subject and the cowboys began discussing the progress the ranch was making.
Later that night after a dinner of the promised beef fajitas, the women were sitting on one of the porch swings while Matt had taken Catey down to see some of the horses. A familiar pick up pulled in behind the house and CJ whistled at her husband who turned to see his childhood friend Chuck Wylie getting out of the truck. A big smile spread across Matt's face and he met the man half way.
"Catey Rose, what're you doin' hangin' out with riffraff?" Chuck cocked his head at the baby who began laughing. The two men shook hands and Catey ended up sitting on Chuck's shoulders as they headed back up to the house. Chuck gave CJ a hug and sat down on the other swing along with Matt.
"Hon, you oughta see if he can identify anyone in that picture." CJ gave her husband a little grin.
"Yeah, you're right." He stood up and pulled out his wallet. "Now I know it isn't a very good picture, but can you ID anybody here?" The cowboy handed over a picture of the twins' ultrasound.
"Oh-my-God! No! No! No!" The detective began laughing. When he had collected himself somewhat he asked, "When are they due?"
"September 24th." A smiling Matt took the picture back and put it in his wallet.
"Congrats to both of you." He stopped smiling as Matt froze and got a serious look on his face. The PI ran into the house. "What the hell?" He looked to CJ who had jumped to her feet.
Matt ran back out armed with a rifle and as he bounded down the steps he yelled, "Keep Catey on the porch!" Everyone was in shocked silence as Matt took off toward the barn. At that moment someone inside the barn yelled. The PI disappeared inside and a few seconds later a shot rang out.
Chuck handed the baby off to CJ and ran for the barn as Matt along with a shocked-looking Scott and Marty emerged carrying a large rattlesnake.
"Oh my God!" Sheila was standing with her mouth hanging open as CJ blew out a relieved breath and sat back down.
Marty pulled a tape measure out of one of the trucks and the men stretched the snake out on the ground and measured it. "Almost six feet."
"Thanks, Houston." Scott took a deep breath.
"No problem." He walked back up to the house whistling a favorite tune and went inside to return the rifle to the glass cabinet where it was kept.
All of the cowboys had now come up on the back porch, all looking surprised. Chuck spoke up. "CJ – how could he possibly know that was going to happen?"
"Matt kind of…" She looked at Chuck. "He sees things sometimes before they happen. Sometimes it's dreams and sometimes it's like what just happened." Smiling she laughed. "By the way, he says they're boys." She patted on her belly.
"Lord have mercy if they are." Chuck still in shock, began laughing.
Matt stepped up to the screen door. "Anybody want a beer?"
Simultaneously all of the men with the exception of Chuck answered with a resounding, "Yes."
"Not for me, thanks. I'm on call tonight." Chuck watched as his friend came out the door and started passing out the bottles.
As he popped the top Matt looked at Chuck. "I need to ask you something, pard."
"Sure." The detective followed Matt down the steps.
Leaning on the hood of Chuck's truck, the PI told his friend why they were there and asked if it would be against the rules of the Harris County Sheriff's Department if he looked up records in the database, even though the case wasn't being conducted by the department. "You're a sworn detective with the department…I don't think Sheriff Martinez would have a problem with it, but you should probably ask her."
"Alright, maybe she'll be there in the morning. If not, it will have to be a phone call." Matt took a long swig of the beer and the two were quiet for a minute.
"So how long have you been able to see stuff like that?" Chuck pointed to the barn.
Matt looked down. "Well, it started a few years back…I knew when the phone rang who was calling…and that was the same day I took a butcher knife to the chest." He drank more beer. "When CJ got pregnant with Catey I just knew it was a girl." The PI went on to explain the dreams that he had about the intended terrorist plot on the Twenty Nine Palms Marine Base, and how he had been alerted to a bank robbery a few months earlier. "And then there's the dream about the twins." He shrugged. "It's weird…but it does come in handy at times."
