Southern Comfort (7 page)

Her stance changed. The defenses came down, along with her arms. "You are to me."

The moment the words were out of her mouth looked away, towards the window.

A few seconds later, the sound of feet pounding up the steps had her turning her gaze toward the front door. It banged open and the dark-haired woman skidded to a stop in the room, breathing hard. She looked from Riley to Analise.

"Analise?"

"Yes."

"I'm Cody."

That brought the first smile to her face since she'd entered  Cotton Creek. "Cody!" She ran to meet her and they collided in a bouncing, dancing hug. When they broke apart, Cody eyed her and grinned.

"Oh my god, I thought you'd be taller!"

"I thought you would too!"

"I haz a big aura." Cody grinned and cut her eyes at Riley. "What's up with you?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?  Then why're you scowling?"

"I'm not."

"Like hell. Okay, someone said something about an accident but ya'll look okay so what gives?"

"My RV broke down."

"Oh shit. Where?"

"At the edge of town."

"Well shit. Riley, did you call Jimmy?"

"No, I –"

"Well damn, why not?" She looked at Analise. "Jimmy Johnson. Yeah, really. Just like the Nascar racer. Anyway, he owns the body shop and he can fix anything."

"I don't know if he can fix this."

"Why?  You didn't total it did you?"

"No. The engine fell out."

Cody looked from her to Riley and back to her. "Say what?"

"The engine fell out."

"As in fell out?"

"As in laying on the pavement fell out." Riley offered.

"Well damn. Still, Riley call Jimmy and tell him to get it and take it to his place. If it can be fixed then Jimmy can fix it. Now, where were you planning on staying, Analise?"

"Is there a hotel here?"

"Nope."

"Oh, well, I'd planned on staying in my RV."

"Not gonna happen. You'll stay with me at the ranch."

"Cody I can't put you out like—"

"You're not. You'll stay with me and that's that. Now where are your things?"

"In the RV."

"Riley—"

"Cody, quit ordering me around."

Cody slammed her mouth closed and threw her hands on her hips. A second later she looked toward the front door."I can hear you Mama."

Stella and Hannah eased around from the front door. "We didn't want to interrupt." Hannah said. "You and Riley—"

"Her and Riley what?" Cody asked.

Stella and Hannah looked at one another and then at Riley. "Well?" Cody asked. "Will someone please tell me what's going on?"

Riley slammed his hat on his head. "Annie didn't realize I used to act."

"Oooooh." Cody drew out the word for a good three seconds and then frowned. "Why'd you call her Annie?"

"She looks like an Annie."

"Oooooh." Another drawn out syllable had Analise noticing the way  Stella and Hannah glanced at one another and then at Cody. That look said something but what? She made a mental note to ask Cody later.

"Yes. He neglected to share that irrelevant bit of information."

“Oooh sarcasm. I love it.” Cody laughed and looped her arm across the top of Analise's shoulders. "Come on. Walk with me over to the bar. W'll take my truck and get your stuff from your camper and take it to the ranch."

"But I called Doc." Hannah said.

"She's fine." Cody dismissed it but then looked at Analise. "I mean, you are, aren't you?"

"Yes. Quite."

"Well, all righty then. Riley, you're calling Jimmy, right?"

"Yep."

"Okay, then we'll see y’all later."

With that she turned Analise and steered her out of the door. Once they were on the sidewalk, Analise looked over at her. "Jesus, Cody. He's Nate Fucking Bridges!"

Cody burst out laughing. "Ah ha!  I knew it. You have a thing for him, don't you?"

"Who?  Riley or Nate?"

"Well both, but since you never saw Riley before, let's say Nate. He does it for you doesn't he?"

Analise blew out a breath. "You have no idea."

Chapter Seven

Rodrick's father, Robert, waited until dinner was concluded and the men were in his private study with brandy and cigars. He closed the door and took a seat in front of the fireplace. Rodrick and Rolf settled onto the sofa.

"Rodrick, as you know we've run into a spot of trouble." Robert opened the conversation.

His father’s description annoyed him. It was more than a spot of trouble."You mean the FTC charges."

"Precisely. It appears that indictments will be handed down and there's a strong possibility that we could suffer – what did you call it Rolf?"

"A raid." The expression on Rolf’s face heightened his irritation.

"Who would—"

"Department of Justice."

"You mean the FBI?" Rodrick struggled to keep the fear out of his voice despite the desperation that tightened around his chest

"Yes."

That word echoed like a death knell in his head and Rodrick turned his attention to this father. "The last time we spoke you assured me that you and Rolf had things under control and that even if indictments were issued, we were protected. Is that still the case?"

"Not entirely." Robert dragged on his cigar and exhaled a billowing plume of smoke. "Unfortunately, we can't prevent them from tracing certain transactions. Rolf is working to hide what we can, but if they look – and they will – there will be evidence that incriminates us."

"I hope you have a plan."

"We do."

"We?"

"Rolf and I have been discussing this at length for some time. We must preserve the company at all costs. That's priority number one. Just as we must insure that our more – shall we say – volatile clients see the return of their investments. But as your brother pointed out we also have to give the Feds something or someone to hang their hat on. Someone to, as is said in the movies, take the fall. "For the greater good, of course."

"You mean Rolf."

"No, Rodrick. I mean you."

"Me?  Why me?  Rolf's the one responsible for bringing in gangsters. Let him take the fall. Or you."

"I'm too old and have a long-standing reputation. And Rolf has children."

"As do I."

"One. In college. Rolf's family is much younger. They need their father at home. He needs to be there with his wife. Unless I’ve been misinformed, your wife has left you."

"That still doesn't mean –"

"I am not asking. We will make sure the company survives and you will be well provided for, but you must do your part."

"You mean go to prison for something I didn't do?." Rodrick slammed his brandy glass down on the table and stood. "I won't do it." He pointed his finger at Rolf. "This is your mess, you own up to it."

"You aren't without guilt, big brother. Shall I remind you of the millions you funneled off Moretti?"

"I didn't know he was a crime lord. You told me he was legitimate."

"Some of his interests are."

"But not all."

"No, not all." Robert agreed. "Nevertheless, as your brother stated, you are not without guilt. And Moretti poses as much of a threat to the family as the government. He's made his position clear. Return his investment – to the penny or he won't only help to shut us down, he'll eliminate us."

"Eliminate?  As in kill?"

"That was I took from the conversation, yes."

"So how are you going to get him his money?"

"Dear boy, I am not. You are. You took it, you put it back."

"I don't have it!"

"Then who does?"

"Analise. Well, actually David. She took half of it and put it into a trust for him."

"Then I strongly suggest that your first course of action is to get it back."

"And then go to prison?."

"If it comes to that, yes. Come now, Rodrick. Should you go to prison, it's highly unlikely that you'd be there for more than a few years. And it's not as if you would be sent somewhere that hardened criminals such as murderers and terrorists are housed. For god's sakes, act like a man for once in your life."

Rodrick was dumbstruck. "Act like a man?  How dare you?  How dare either of you sit there and tell me you're going to frame me for the shit you got us into?  What if I say no?  What then?"

“The decision has been made. If anyone looks, the trail will lead to you. Denying it will serve no purpose. It's done. You will be amply rewarded."

"Fuck you." Rodrick couldn't believe what he was hearing. What made it worse was the smug smile on his brother's face. "Fuck both of you."

With that, he stormed out of the house and jumped in his car. The moment he did, he pulled out his phone and called Gina. "I need to see you. Now."

Seconds later he roared down the drive of the estate, headed for the city. His mind whirled with futy. He had to come up with a way to thwart his father's plan because there was no way in hell he was going to prison.

*****

Riley spotted Cody when he pulled up at the ranch house. She was standing outside the paddock, one booted foot on the bottom rail of the fence, leaning on the top rail. He climbed out of the truck and made his way across the uneven ground.

He hadn't seen Analise since the day she arrived in Cotton Creek. They had texted a few times and had spoken once on the phone, but things felt strained and uncomfortable. That kicked him in the gut. Damn if he didn’t miss taking to her over the ‘net.

Cody said Analise had been pretty upset at first because she felt that he'd deliberately misled her. She confided in him it probably had a lot to be with Analise being such a big Nate Bridges fan. It's hard for anyone to come face-to-face with their movie idol. Finding out that the idol and the friend are one and the same might just throw anyone for a loop.

He was fair-minded enough to agree. Friends he’d had before he became a star had faded pretty fast from his life when he became famous. Some of that blame was his. He just quit calling. But he’d lost a few friends just because he was famous and they suddenly didn’t know how to be themselves around him. He’d not found a way to repair things back then and didn’t know how to now.

Once again, Cody came to the rescue.

As it turned out, Analise was gung ho about learning everything there was to learn about ranching and had been shadowing Cody day in and day out. Whatever work there was to do, she volunteered to help. Cody said that surprisingly, Analise had a real way with animals.

She was learning to ride, and Cody had joked that maybe she was practicing too much because there were some evenings she could barely sit – or stand for that matter.

When she had called Riley early that morning to ask him to join them on an afternoon ride out to Cotton Creek near Rascal Flats and have an old-fashioned camp out, he had almost begged off. She reminded him that if he wanted to mend fences he was going to have to start somewhere, so he agreed.

"What's up, half-pint?" He said as he came up behind Cody.

"Check this shit." She pointed toward the interior of the paddock.

"Is that…?"

"Hell yeah. Can you believe it? Twostep freaking loves her."

Riley shook his head and watched. Analise was in the paddock with a bunch of carrots in one hand stroking Twostep’s nose with the other. As he watched, she stopped rubbing the horse, and headed for the opposite side of the paddock, turning her back on Twostep.

The horse whinnied, pawed the ground once and whinnied again. She ignored him and kept walking. Twostep blew a breath, shook his head and followed. When he reached her, he bumped her in the back with his nose.

Analise turned and offered him a carrot. He munched it down as she petted him and then she stopped and walked away again. Twice more he followed and was rewarded. The third time there were no more carrots, but she rubbed his face and talked to him.

And then walked away. "Here's the real test." Cody said.

Riley didn't respond. They both knew that the chances of Twostep following her again were slim. Cody had tried the same thing and the dang horse just wasn't inclined to be sociable if there wasn't something in it for him.

"Well I'll be damned." The words were out before he could stop them.

Not only had the horse followed and not received a reward, but he was nuzzling Analise's neck like she was his best friend.

"I know. I swear to god she's a natural- born horse whisperer."

He scoffed at Cody's notion. "No way."

"As God is my witness. You just saw it. A couple of days ago the new mare got spooked by a corn snake and we couldn't get her out of her stall. Annie went in and talked to her and the mare just followed her out like a damn puppy. It's freaky, Riley. Freaky."

Riley turned his attention to Analise in the paddock. She petted Twostep some more and then turned and looked across the paddock. Riley could see the look of surprise on her face when she saw him.

She crossed the paddock with Twostep at her side and stopped at the fence. "Riley, what a surprise."

Riley cut his eyes at Cody. "She didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"He's joining us for camping."

Analise looked from Cody to Riley and he could see her unease. For a moment he wondered if she was going to beg off but then she smiled a weak smile. "Great. I – I didn't know what people eat for this kind of thing here, but I packed up some food that can be eaten cold and some things that can be cooked over a fire."

"Then let's get loaded up and head out."

This time her smile seemed more genuine. "Okay. I'll go get the food."

"Sounds like a plan." Riley opened the gate for her and watched until she was walked into the house before he turned to Cody. "What're you up to, half-pint?"

"Nothin'."

"Um hmmm." He followed her to the tack room and for the next little while they both focused on saddling their three horses and getting another ready to load up with the supplies.

"You need anything outta your truck?" Cody asked when they finished.

"Bedroll and jacket. You need anything from the house?

"Same."

"Take your mount and the pack horse and gimme the reins to the other two. I'll grab my stuff and meet you at the house."

She did just that and he led the horses to his truck. It took less than a minute to grab his jacket and an old bedroll from behind the seat of his truck and secure it behind one of the saddles. He then led the horses to the house.

Cody kicked open the screen door of the house, tossed two bedrolls onto the porch and then disappeared back inside. Riley secured the bedrolls. Just as he was finishing the door banged open again. Cody and Analise emerged, each with a sizable sack in their hands.

Riley couldn't help wondering what  was in the sacks but he didn’t ask. He just secured them to the pack animal and swung up into his saddle.

Cody cut him an evil eye when he grinned at the way Analise grimaced as she climbed into the saddle. He marveled that she even wanted to ride. He could remember what it was like to not have been in the saddle for a while. Getting back to it had cost him more than a few days of soreness.

For the first couple of miles no one said a word. Analise must have taken fifty pictures in that time and he couldn't help but be amused. For people who lived here there didn’t seem to be much to see, but for her it had to seem alien. The landscape of West Texas could best be described as unforgiving. Some saw the harshness of it and others the beauty. He wondered which camp she fell into.

Analise didn't know which emotion to go with – excitement or anxiety. It was exciting to be out riding across the barren landscape, watching the sky and searching the horizon that stretched out in seeming endlessness.

Not to mention the sight of Riley, riding a few yards to her right and a bit ahead of her. He rode with such ease and smoothness, it made her feel clumsy and awkward in comparison. But then so did Cody. She rode like she'd been born in the saddle.

Analise took a few dozen pictures of them. She loved the quick smile Cody would cut her, or the way Cody would gaze into the distance when no one was watching and the look that came over her face. It was like she was part of the landscape, joined with the land. Her expression seemed to convey reverence and love.

Riley?  God, how to even begin to describe Riley. The young handsome film star had matured into a man in his fifties whose expressions have the sense of someone who had found peace, to a man with some turmoil inside to a silly grin that could light up the entire state of Texas.

Whatever the years had taken from him, it had given back in spades. He was still a strikingly handsome man, one who had a timeless appeal she'd be willing to bet would last his whole life.

It still rattled her that he was Nate Bridges. ‘Shit on a stick’ as her dad was fond of saying. She'd been lusting after that man since his first film and here she was, riding alongside him on a horse named Apache. She chuckled to herself as she heard the words to the old song in her head. "I've been to the desert on a horse with no name."