Page 18 of Kevin's Destiny

“Erin’s waiting for you in her office,” Duane said as he pointed to the back door of the main house.

“I’ll see you later, Ryan,” Kevin called out, and grinned when the other man only waved his hand in the air, never taking his lips from his wife’s. Instead of taking him into the main house, Duane waved him by, and Kevin started forward.

He entered the back door, wiped his feet, and proceeded into the kitchen where he paused when he saw someone pouring coffee into a cup. Reid looked up, gave a start, then grinned as he automatically brought down another cup and filled it for him. Before he told Kevin to grab both cups, and with Reid carrying the pot with him, they went down the hall to Erin’s office.

“You have a visitor,” Reid said as he poured coffee into Erin’s mug, and Julie shook her head, took the pot from him, and left.

Erin looked up with a frown, then grinned as she spotted Kevin. She also jumped to her feet, hurried around the desk and shook his hand. “Welcome, are you here permanently now?”

“Yes.”

“Did the problem that cropped up work in your favor?”

“It did. It happened right away, and arrests were made. Turns out the gang members that came after me all had several felony warrants out on them. They’ll be in jail for a long, long time. Oh, they still have to wait for their trial, but they will probably go away for life because of the three-strikes rule.”

“Guess they fucked around and were found out,” Erin said with a shake of her head. “Now, have you seen Caleb yet?”

“Not yet, I’d like to get settled first, because Ryan and I stopped for groceries back in Fool’s Gold.” He looked between Reid and Erin. “Hell, I don’t even know where my trailer of things are.”

“Over at New Double,” Erin said. “That’s where I had them deliver them when they called to ask.” She went to the corner of the office, picked up a long round tube, and nodded to him. “I’ll ride with you, to start explaining things, then Reid can follow.” She looked at Reid with a raised brow.

“Sounds good,” he grinned, and sipped his coffee.

“Do you remember how to get to New Double?” Erin asked as they walked back through the hall toward the back door.

“Vaguely.”

“Okay, I’ll take you over to RRR first, and explain what that will be about. Clark’s been working over there for a month now. It’s going to be muddy and messy.”

“I’m fine.” Kevin waved off her concern, and they went out to his truck. She directed him where to go, and then told him to slow down and pull into a certain driveway. As they drove the winding driveway, Kevin slowed to a crawl at the ruts he had to maneuver.

“Damn,” Erin said as she reached up to grip the handle above her head with her left hand. She shook her head. “It’s times like this that I miss having both hands.”

“Can’t Staci do anything to help you?”

“Yes, but she needs to do the military people first. Something about her contract, but she’s been taking measurements of my left hand, and right wrist and such. No clue what’s going to come of it, but I trust her.”

“Good, she’s a great gal.”

“That’s right, you knew her from her time in Seattle.”

“Some, I knew her more from the times Caleb worked with her.”

“Park up there,” Erin said as she pointed, and as he swung his truck beside another one, he looked out to stare in shock.

“Yeah, that’s where the arena is going to be, this was the only level spot on the entire property. Clark thought the working arena could be here, then way back will be where the animals will be kept. Between the animals and the arena, there will eventually be cabins like at Broken, Broken Two, and New Double.” She saw the fascination on his face and chuckled. “Thehorses will be on one side of the ranch, while the cows and bulls will be on the other.”

“What will I be doing?”

“This is my thought process for now. Duane will be the main security guard at Erin’s Way. I’m not saying you have to report to him, but I would like you to coordinate with him at least weekly.”

“I saw Jake Cogburn in town, he told me to reach out if I needed anything.”

“Good. Anyway, I have another security person coming any day now. They are like Duane, retired from the FBI. The two of you will be working side by side over at New Double. In the coming weeks, several people should be arriving, both for the horses there, and for this ranch here. You will have all of their information before they step foot on the property. If not, then they aren’t allowed until we can question them.”

“Where will I get the information from?”

“Cole, Naomi, myself, Duane, or Clem.”