Good-time Boys: Garron's Gift

Excerpt From: Garron's Gift

Garron was leaving the police station when his cell phone rang. Looking at the display he smiled. “Hey, hot stuff.”

“They shot him,” Sonny yelled into the phone.

Garron’s stomach bottomed out as he stopped in his tracks. “Shot who?”

“Buford, someone killed him.” Quickly searching his memory, Garron came up blank. “I’m sorry, cowboy, but I don’t know a Buford.”

“He’s my goddamn prize-winning Blank Angus bull.”

“Shit, I’m sorry. Did you call Rawley?” Garron hurried to his black Harley and climbed on.

“Yeah, he was going to stop and get Jeb and head this way. How long before you get here?”

“I can make it in about fifty minutes. Will you still be there?”

“Yeah, it’ll take a while I’m sure. We’re just passed the pond on Jeb’s side of the fence.”

“All right, I’m leaving now. Love you.”

“Love you, need you here.”

Sonny hung up and Garron looked at the phone a moment before slipping it back into his pocket. Starting his bike, he roared out of the parking lot toward home. Funny how the Flying G had become home after only a month, of course a lot of it could be because his heart lived there. Garron decided to take the interstate to shave off a few minutes. Usually he took the back roads, but he had a feeling Sonny needed him as soon as he could get there.

Riding down the road, he thought about the phone call. He knew Sonny was supposed to go into town to pick up some new fencing material. Garron wondered if something had happened. Lionel Hibbs used every chance he got to run the two of them down to the rest of the town. At first it was just little comments here and there, but it had moved into shouts of vulgarity as soon as Lionel spotted one or both of them in town.

Garron had to quit bartending two weeks early because Lionel made such a scene every time he came into the Dead Zone, Jim, the owner, thought it was best. Sonny tried to act like the name calling didn’t bother him, but Garron knew it did. Sonny’d grown up in Summerville, and for him to suddenly shy away from going into town was a sure sign.

The closer he got to the ranch the faster he went. Something had to have sparked this sudden change in Lionel’s behaviour. Killing ranch animals was a big step from bigoted words shouted across the street.

Garron parked his bike by the shed and drove the four-wheeler to Sonny. Topping the slight rise in the landscape, Garron spotted Sonny, Jeb, Rawley and another man surrounding what he guessed was Buford. Slowing down, he stopped just inside the broken fence. Rawley looked up and walked over.

“Glad you finally made it. My brother’s going off the deep end.” Rawley rubbed at the back of his neck. Garron could tell there was something else Rawley wanted to tell him.

“What?” Garron asked as he started toward the broken barbed wire fence.

“Sonny and Lionel got into a fight this afternoon in town. I think Lionel ended up with a broken nose, but Sonny came away with a black eye.” Rawley said as he followed Garron over to the fence.

Turning back toward Sonny, Garron pointed to the broken wire. “You look at this, it’s obviously been cut. I’m gonna go check on Sonny.” He walked toward the man he loved, fire heating his veins. How dare Lionel touch Sonny. He had half a mind to go into town and find that bastard right now. The only thing stopping him was the look on Sonny’s face when Garron neared. Opening his arms, Sonny immediately walked into them. “You okay?” He looked down into Sonny’s bruised face.

“No, but I’m better now.” Sonny looked over at Buford. “He just killed him, for no good reason.”

Rubbing his hands up and down Sonny’s back, Garron looked over at Jeb. “The fence has been cut.”

Jeb nodded, “I figured as much.” Jeb pointed toward the older man. “This is our vet, Dr. Mac Whitcomb. Mac, this is my brother Garron.”

The two men shook hands. Although his hair was totally grey, Mac didn’t look much over forty-five. He looked Mac in the eyes. “Can you tell how long ago this happened?” Scratching his jaw, Mac looked back at the dead bull. “Hard to say with this heat, but my guess would be only a couple of hours.”

Looking back down at Sonny, Garron kissed his forehead. “What time did you get in your fight?”

Garron noticed Sonny’s jaws tensing. “About the same time, I reckon.”

“How’d it happen?” Garron kept his arms wrapped around Sonny’s waist.

“Well, I guess he must’ve seen me walk into the feed store from his office across the street. When I finished up and left, Lionel was waiting for me. He started saying some stuff that I didn’t much care for, and then he pushed me.” Sonny gave a slight grin. “That’s when I showed him I may be small, but I can still throw a punch.”