Page 4

*~* Vortex *~*

Two days have gone by and, as expected, no calls from Chris about any potential real estate. I had a missed call that left a voicemail, but that was from Candi. I didn’t listen to the message once I recognized her voice. I don’t want to get involved in any of their shenanigans.

I spent some time with Mateo this morning, testing his knife skills. Now he is fully recovered and working full time at the club bar, he doesn’t get as much time with me as he used to. That’s okay though, because he’s a natural and there’s only so much you can teach someone. After that, it becomes a matter of practice.

I’m just debating whether to do a run to all the businesses, saving Pens a job, when my phone rings. Hmm. It’s Neil, and today is his turn for gate duty.

“Yo, Neil. Wassup, man?”

“Hey, Vortex. There’s a guy here asking to speak to you. Says he’s an old friend of yours. Goes by the name of Silas Booker?”

“Let him in. I’ll be outside before he gets parked. Thanks, Neil.”

Waiting at the clubhouse door while Silas parks and climbs out of his old truck, I wonder what’s brought him here? He’s never been here before, so it’s probably got something to do with me being his executor.

“Hi there, Silas. What brings you here?” I hold my hand out and get the usual firm shake in return.

“Howdy, son. I wanted to run something by you, if that’s alright? See if you have the same take on it as I do.” Silas walks into the clubhouse and gives it an appraising look. He gives a grunt, and I know from experience that that is all the acknowledgement I’ll get as to what he thinks of the place.

“Can I get you a drink? Coffee, water, or something stronger?”

“I’ll take a cold beer, if you have one. Thanks.”

Walking through to the back of the bar, I take a couple of beers from the fridge and pop the cap on the first one. I take a bottle of water for myself and then join Silas at the table he has settled himself at. I let him enjoy his beer before I ask what’s bothering him.

“Hell, son, nothing’s bothering me. I ain’t been bothered by anything for a long time. What it is though, I keep getting offers on the ranch. Low offers, too. I turned the first couple down, but since they haven’t taken no for an answer, I gave up responding. I’ve never put the place up for sale and have no intention of doing so. I don’t know where they’ve got the idea that I would be interested in selling.” Silas gives me a look that is a facial shrug, if such a thing exists.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Pres walking from the kitchen, mug of coffee in hand. I didn’t see the sneaky bastard go in there, so he was probably in stealth mode, being damn nosey.

“Pres, you want to join us a minute? This sounds like something you’d be interested in.” I grin as that’s the nearest I’ll get to saying, ‘I know you were being a busybody.’

Pres walks over and offers his hand to Silas. “Pleased to meet you, Silas. You can call me Whack or Pres. I’m in charge of this unruly bunch.” Once they’ve shaken, Pres asks us to go into his office where we can talk in private.

Silas empties his first bottle, and before I get to pass him the second, he takes it and pops the cap with just his thumb. That thumb has seen some work over the years, and the skin must be as tough as leather to pop that cap so easily. Silas follows Pres, and I follow Silas. I wonder how Pres knows Silas? Ha. I bet all the gatekeepers have instructions to inform him of any and all visitors to the club.

Once we’re all seated, Silas repeats what he’s told me so far and then continues from there.

“I got a visit yesterday from a couple of well-dressed gentlemen, and I use that term loosely. They were no gentlemen, unless I miss my guess. They were just hired muscle dressed up in some fancy clothes. They asked if I had reconsidered the offers I’d been receiving for the ranch. I told them straight that they weren’t offers, they were insults. One of them asked what I would consider an acceptable offer. I told him I’d find it acceptable if they got their fat asses off my land and told their boss to stick his offers where the sun don’t shine. They didn’t like that, so they thought it over for a few seconds and then one of them told me that when they returned, they wouldn’t be taking no for an answer, as there wouldn’t be an offer next time.”

“Have you got one of their offers with you, by any chance?” Pres asks and leans forward expectantly.

Silas slips his hand into his shirt pocket and hands an envelope, still unopened, to Pres, who takes it and goes to the door.

“Bull!” Seconds later, Bull appears at the door. “Take this and find out everything you can about the person named on it, their company, business dealings, partners, legal or otherwise. Dig deep.”

“Sure thing, Pres. How urgent is it?” Bull tips his head to one side.

“You put this above everything else, no matter what you have going on. Keep me posted as you find out stuff. Don’t leave it days before telling me anything. Get Pens and Bank involved, too. I want to know everything there is to know.” Pres gives him a stern look.

“Life or death then, eh? On it, Pres.” Bull disappears and Pres returns to his seat. “I don’t want to alarm you, Silas, but this sounds serious. Someone wants your land, and they mean to have it.”

“That was my take on it, but I wanted a second opinion. I was here to ask Vortex that very question. I trust him like I trust no one else. Well, I guess I’ll get back home and clean and oil my guns. Sharpen my other tools, too, and get forted up for a siege.”

Pres grins at this and then asks, “How many men work for you now, Silas? Men who are around the ranch house regularly?”

“There are no hands on the ranch anymore. Not enough cows to need anyone but me. I do what’s necessary and when.” Silas is too proud to let the place go to rack and ruin, but he is shrewd enough to know that he doesn’t need to pay men to sit around all day, either.

“Well, we need to address that situation. You can’t be left there all alone, twenty-four seven. Vortex, you can be the liaison between the ranch and the clubhouse. I’ll get Ghost and Chips out there today as security. You call me or Vortex if anything happens, and I mean anything. Vortex, make sure Silas has all the numbers he’s likely to need.”