Chapter XI:

Several days later Jamie stormed into Caroline Warner's office and said, "We need to talk Mrs. Warner."

She looked up from her desk and fixed him with a bemused look as Ellis Steel asked, "What could possibly have to talk about with you or any member of your family?"

Malcolm Beck said as he entered the office via an unseen side door, "As I have said before Mister Steel keep your mindless drivel to yourself and let the young man speak."

Jamie was stunned and rendered utterly speechless when he laid eyes on Malcom Beck. After several minutes he said in an uncertain and shaky voice, "I thought you were dead."

Malcolm Beck replied, "That's what I wanted you to think. Now what has you rushing in here?"

Jamie them about Kody hanging his father and burning Christina alive. But the real shocker came when he told them of his father running for Governor."

Caroline Warner asked, "What are you planning?"

Before he could reply Malcom Beck asked, "So it was Kody Dutton that killed them."

Caroline Warner snapped, "Yes it was now shut the fuck up and keep up."

He shot her a baleful look as Ellis Steel said, "We should inform the sheriff and have him locked up for murder."

The three other occupants just glared derisively at him as Jamie said, "I was planning on moving me and my son back onto the ranch and working from within to destroy John Dutton and his family."

Malcolm Beck smirked as said, "Very devious; I like it and once they're fractured, we pick them off one by one."

Jamie chuckled evilly as he said, "I'll finally have my revenge."

Malcolm Beck said, "Correction my friend... We will have our revenge."

They all laughed Ellis handed out snifters of Mexican brandy.

Kody, Rip, and Lloyd were riding fence when suddenly Kayce came racing toward them. The men reined up as Kody asked, "What's wrong?"

Kayce replied, "Felix called and said his herd of mustangs were scattered all over his ranch."

Kody said, "Well boys my other job is callin'."

Lloyd chuckled as he said, "We know your just wanting to get outta work."

Kody gave him the finger as he and Kayce galloped back to the lodge. They both dismounted and walked the horses into the MAVERICK 2 HORSE TRAILER and shut the door. Kody and Kayce got into the truck. They were about to leave when spotted Carter and yelled, "C'mon kid; you'll learn something."

Carter jumped into the truck along with Tate. Kody turned around and asked in a lightly teasing voice, "And who said you could along?"

Tate laughed as he said, "Mom."

Both Kody and Kayce said, "Alrighty then. That answers that."

And with they were off.

When they got to the long ranch Kody had Carter help him unload the horse as Kayce and Tate talked with Felix. Carter asked, "What am I supposed to ride?"

Kody pointed a grulla quarter horse and said, "Saddle up boy and I'll teach you how to rope a mustang. Carter climbed into the saddle as Kayce and Felix joined them. Kody asked as both Kayce and Felix got into the saddle, "Where's Tate?"

Kayce had an amused glint in his eye as he replied, "He's being watched by his grandmother and Felix's other granddaughter Brianna Long; she's Monica's cousin."

Kody nodded as he touched spurs to the flan of his Buckskin Quarter Horse and took off like a shot."

Carter asked as they followed Kody, "Does he always ride like that?"

Kayce chuckled as he said, "Yea; Kody always rides hell for leather."

Felix added, "I've only seen one man out cowboy Kody."

Carter asked, "Who?"

Felix replied, "John Dutton."

When they reached Kody, all talk ceased and the three men went to work rounding up the scattered herd. After they pushed back their corral Kody said, "C'mon boy I'm goin' t to teach you how to ride fence and fix it if possible."

Kayce said, "Why don't we go inside and get something to eat and drink."

Kody was about to refuse but one look at Carter's hopeful face and he relented. Both he and Carter dismounted and followed Kayce and Felix inside. The first person he saw was Felix's wife; she was at the stove fixing dinner along with Monical; who must have just got there. Kody kissed Monica and her mom on the cheek then took off his spurs, chaps and duster and caried them out to his truck then he had Carter help him tend to the horses. While they were working Carter said, "I think they wanna fix you up with Monica's cousin."

Kody said as he finished loading up the horses and taught Carter how to rub down Felix's horses with a handful of hay then give them a feed bag filled with oats, "That's what I was afraid of."

Carter asked as Kody lit a Parodi, "Why are you afraid; I didn't think you ever got scared."

Kody chuckled as he said, "Thanks kid. I don't if I'm... Never mind let's go get this dog n pony show over with yea?"

Carter nodded as they walked back inside.

When they walked inside Monica said as he grabbed Kody by the arm and drug him to the den and said as they stopped in front of a raven-haired beauty, "Kody this is my cousin Alexis Long. She goes by Lexi. Lexi this my favorite brother-in-law Kody Dutton."

Kody couldn't believe his eyes she was drop dead gorgeous. She was a strikingly beautiful statuesque woman with copper colored skin, long curly black tresses with green highlights that fell all the way down her back, full bee stung ruby red lips and almond shaped smoky mahogany eyes. She wore tight low rise black Cruel Girl jeans that hugged her curvaceous backside, black cowboy boots, a blood red halter top that clung to her very ample breasts and allowed a very generous portion of her luscious cleavage to be on display, a black Bullhide straw cowboy hat and a tight black denim jacket. She also had a Diamond Bar through her left eyebrow, a Diamond stud through her navel and a hook through the left side of her lower lip and various tattoos covering her arms and back. He took off his hat and drawled as he shook her hand, "Pleased to meet you ma'am."

She replied in a smoky voice, "You as well cowboy. Monica tells me you're a Livestock Agent."

He nodded as took a seat beside her, "Yes ma'am and what do you do?"

She replied, "I'm a bartender at here on the Res and I sing there too."

He asked, "What kind of music do you sing?"

She replied, "Country mixed with a little rock and a little blues."

He said as they headed into the kitchen to eat, "I'll have to drop by sometime."

She said as she shot him a wink, "You dot that cowboy."

He chuckled as he dug into his steak.

Do y'all like my idea for a new love interest for Kody or did y'all like Angela Blue Thunder