"All right, Laurie, open your eyes."
Rick stood next to his wife, holding her hand as she blinked, then said "oh my" at the flower-decked carriage.
"Happy Valentine's Day, sweetheart." Rick took her hand and kissed it, then Laurie reached up and pulled his face down to hers. "Thank you, Rick. Happy Valentine's Day to you too! I love you, thank you for the surprise." She told him with a kiss.
"Well, you've been wanting a picnic…." He teased, winking.
"I'd picnic anytime with you." She replied, wriggling her eyebrows suggestively as he boosted her up onto the driver's seat. A sharp bark broke them both up. "Yes, Rex, you're coming too!" Rick picked the little dog up and put him in Laurie's lap.
Climbing next to her, Rick took the reins, then a shout of "Hey, Pop!" made them both turn.
Now it was Rick's turn to be surprised; as through the ranch gates came Robbie and Ramona and their children, followed by Robin and Ian carrying Petey and Katie.
"Rick, you didn't, what a great idea!" Laurie began, then laughed as she realized he wasn't expecting their children.
"Darlin', looks like your son did it again…Robbie, who's idea was this?" he asked.
"Mine and Robin's, Pop. You always do great holiday surprises, we decided it was time for us to give you a Valentine's Day picnic." Robbie answered, then Ramona added, " And since you asked Robin to help put the goodies together, I thought I'd add a few of our own treats."
"Now that's what I call a great idea!" Rick chuckled, knowing his daughter-in-law had brought roasted corn and tamales. Ian held up a straw basket with a knowing smile. "Got fry bread, too, Dad."
"Now that's the ticket, son." Rick crowed, pretending to grab for the fragrant container.
As everyone piled onto the wagon, Rick saw how happy his wife was to have all their family around them.
"Love, thank you for thinking of this …." She began, then took advantage of the kids getting settled to lean over and drop a kiss on his lips.
"Well, remind me to have more ideas like this." He snickered, then put his arm around her as he took the reins in hand and yelled "giddy up!"
Driving past the creek and down past Town and Temple's house, Rick stopped at their favorite picnic spot, a rolling piece of land with a few shade trees. While Robin bossed her brother around, setting up their lunch, Rick and Ian let Rex play with the kids while Laurie and Ramona supervised. As the two men watched Andy playing tag with the others, Ian told Rick, "Thanks for insisting that Robin see Dr. Allen about her feeling sick, I wouldn't have dreamed she'd have an ulcer."
"Well, son, she was so worried about feeling overwhelmed, she held everything in. I think you and she know better now, at least Father Nick gave you something to think about, I bet." Rick snickered as Ian looked pained. "Yes, Dad, he did. I'm not to be such a worrywart and Robin has to share when she's stressed."
"That's my boy." Rick patted his shoulder.
When everyone was ready to eat, Laurie noticed two figures over by the creek, then nudged her husband with a grin. "Darling, look who's keeping an eye on things."
"Well, I'll be…..Robbie, go get those two, I bet they haven't caught anything all day." Rick laughed, pointing at Oscar and Rob Gomez, fishing poles in hand.
Within minutes two wind burned fisherman joined them, giving hugs and kisses and gleefully plopping down on the ground.
"I was hoping to catch a couple of trout for lunch, but somehow I think this is better." Oscar told them, beaming at his heaping plate of ham and potato salad and Indian fry bread. Rick shook his head as Rob added, "Considering all Oscar had for bait was stinky cheese, we would have starved if we waited for a bite!"
"Well, Rob, somehow I don't think anyone's going to go without today." Robbie smirked, watching as everyone dug in to the feast. An hour later, the only remnants of the picnic lunch were the empty plates Ian carefully packed away. As everyone stretched and groaned, Oscar defended his choice of fish bait, only to face the younger men's ragging.
"Dad, one of these days you'll realize worms are the only way to go." Rick snickered, watching his wife breaking the children up with her "oooh, yuck!"
"Yuck, yourself, honey." Oscar teased, then whispered something to Rick.
"All right, you two, no secrets." Laurie wagged her finger at them, only for Rex to think she was playing with him. Barking and growling, he jumped in her arms and licked her.
"Rex! I love you too, now go kiss Daddy!" she giggled, then let out a squeal as Rick scooped her up, dog and all, and deposited her in his lap.
"There, isn't that more comfortable….Rex!" Rick sputtered as the playful dog licked him then vaulted over to Rob, who gave him a piece of meat.
"Rob, you're his friend for life." Laurie smiled, then felt a tug on her arm.
"Gramma, can you tell us a story, like you do for Mama?" Petey asked. At once the other children clamored for a tale.
Surprised, Laurie glanced over at her daughter.
"I told them one of your stories, Mom. They really are interested in hearing about Grandmother. Can you finish the one you started last week?" Robin asked hopefully.
"Sure, honey. I'll tame it down for the kids." She offered, then snuggled contentedly against Rick as she began.
"Where was I? Oh yes, Kasey found out that her uncle was really her father, during the reading of his will, and that she was the only one who didn't know. But that wasn't the only shock she had…"
"The day after the reading of my …father's will, I had a visit from Slim, the Double S's foreman. I'd known him since I was twelve, and he was the only one of the ranch hands who believed I could make the ranch as successful as my father. I was reading a wanted notice when I heard the office door open.
"Miss Kasey?"
"Hey Slim." I started to get up only to have him wave me back to my seat. "How are you?"
"I'm good, honey. Listen, I've got to tell you something, I was going to run it past Gene first, but you need to hear it." My heart sank as I saw the troubled look in his eyes.
"What is it? Is it about …my father." I couldn't help the hesitation; I still wanted to say "Uncle".
"Yes, Mr. Scott, Bob. I might as well just come out and say it, I don't think he died accidentally." Slim blurted, then sat down heavily next to my desk.
"You mean, he didn't get hit by a rockslide?" Now I was angry, the feeling I had had when I heard about my father's death was right An experienced rancher just "happening" to ride under a ridge that crumpled..no it didn't make sense.
"No, Miss Kasey. Your dad was too good a rider, plus the way we found him, I don't know, something looked odd about his body. I told Gene how I felt, but I had no proof but this…." Slim held up a black riding glove, dirty and torn.
I gingerly took it from him with my handkerchief, fearing I might damage evidence. As I turned the heavy leather glove over, I saw a crest, and I wondered where I'd seen it before.
"Slim, this looks awfully familiar. Do any of the guys wear black gloves?"
"No, except Long John, and he was with me when we found your father…. I think." Slim scratched his head as I asked "Long John was riding with you when you saw Dad's body?"
"No, he rode up to me after I rounded the bend, that's when I saw his, your father's body. The glove was in his fist."
I closed my eyes at the thought of what my father had suffered. Murdered. But who would have killed him-and why?
Wait a minute….
"Slim, I'm going to see Mr. Robertson, but, do you know what would have happened to the ranch if I didn't inherit it?"
Slim frowned. "You mean if you weren't around? Why, we would have owned it." At my look of confusion, he added, "Bob wanted to make sure the ranch would continue, so in case you didn't want to run it, or if you were hurt or something…well, he wrote up a document that the ranch would go in equal shares to the four of us. Me, Long John, Tim and Pablo. Mamacita would have had a home as long as she wanted"
I stood up and put my hand on his. "And that's the way it should stay, if I anything happens to me I want the ranch to keep going, and Mamacita to stay on with you. I'm going to make sure of that. But I'm not going anywhere, as long as I can I want to work the ranch and serve the town, too."
Slim shook my hand, a proud look on his face. "You will, Miss Kasey. I knew that's what you wanted,
but it's good to hear. Wait until I tell the others, they were a little worried you'd have to choose."
"Someone was more worried then the others." I thought, then smiled and said goodbye to Slim just as Deputy Pat came in.
As my shift was done, I grabbed my jacket then went over to Mr. Robertson's office. Fortunately he was in, and when I explained what I wanted to do, he pulled out the necessary documents.
"I think this is a wise idea, Miss Kasey. Now remember, this can't take effect until your ownership of the ranch is official, in two days. Until then, the original plan of your father's is in effect."
I nodded. Now I knew who killed my father. All I had to do was prove it.
As I left the lawyer's office, I decided to let Gene know of my suspicions. Knowing his phone was hooked up to the Sheriff's office directly, I went back only to find a note from Pat on the door, saying he'd be right back.
Lifting the receiver on the phone, I cranked it up, then heard a tinny "Hello" on the other end.
"Gene, it's Kasey, can you hear me?"
"Kasey, I just talked to Slim, stay where you are." I could hear worry in his voice.
"Gene, I know who killed my father.." Suddenly everything went dark, as something was thrown over my head. Instinctively I dropped the phone and tried to fight off the blanket or cover that was suffocating me, only to feel a rope wrapped around my arms. Kicking my legs against whoever had grabbed me, I managed to hit something hard, then a blow to my face dazed me for a moment.
"Help!" I called, my voice muffled as I was dragged across the floor, then I felt dirt under my boots. Someone lifted me up and dropped me, hard on a flat surface, then we were moving.
Frantically I struggled to free myself, calling out again for help, only hear the click of a gun against my head.
"Not one sound, or you'll join your father in his grave."
I froze, then a familiar voice chuckled. "That's better, now just relax."
Furious, I lay there as we bumped along for a short while, then the wagon turned and bumped up a hill. Sickeningly, I knew where we where.
Dead Man's Hill.
Praying I was wrong, I tensed when I heard the tailgate creak open, then hands grasped me and pulled me out. Rather then drag me as before, I was carried a short distance over rough ground, then over a creaking threshold and lowered onto the floor.
Abruptly the covering over my face was removed, and blinking, I caught sight of a face I knew, and my stomach dropped.
"Sorry I had to be so rough, Miss Kasey, but you left me no choice."
Tears formed in my eyes, as the gray-haired, weathered face of Slim stared down at me.