Page 21 of Vortex

Ghost walks to the edge of his responsibility and hands me over to Chips, who is immediately suspicious just by the look on Ghost's face.

“What? Tell me now. No bullshit, either, Vortex. What is it?” Chips has his hands on his hips and looks like a mother about to tell her kids off for something.

“Calm down, man. You’ll give yourself a heart attack if you carry on like this.”

“I need something to happen, Vortex. I’m not as patient as some.”

“Okay. Let me tell you why Ghost was grinning.” I explain about the guinea hens and to my surprise, Chips is all for the idea.

“I think that’s a great idea. I’ll speak to Silas later and see how we get them rounded up and moved over here. Right, let’s show you what’s what around my area.” Chips talks me through the plan for his area and where he would expect trouble to come from. He also shows me some simple traps and early warning devices he has set up.

“It looks like Rambo has been through here,” I quip at him.

“I’ll take that as a compliment. These things don’t just work as a physical deterrent, they play on minds equally well. Someone watching where they are treading isn’t watching what’s happening around them. That can only benefit us.”

“Got any blind spots that need Bull to fit cameras?” Ghost didn’t mention any on his tour so I know he hasn’t any.

“Give me credit, Vortex. That would have been my first call.” Chips gives me a scowl.

“Just asking. If I hadn’t asked you’d think I’d missed it.”

“No. I’d know that you trusted my thought process and decision-making. I did clear some brush in one area that encroached a little too close for my liking, but that’s all.” He points to an area between the house and the woods, but I can’t see anything obvious like a bald patch of grass or anything. If I can’t see it has been deliberately cleared, then hopefully an intruder won’t notice it and realize that the place is under surveillance.

Happy with his tour, we head back to the house to speak with Silas and see how we could get the guinea fowl moved. I’m having no part of this when he suggests Chips wait until dark, and then checks to see where they have roosted. “If they’re still using the coop, just shut the door and move it to their new home. That would be the easy way. If they are roosting in trees, it means taking them one at a time, they have poor night vision and freeze in place when exposed to a sudden light. Wait until full darkness, then approach quietly with a dim flashlight or headlamp. Do not shine a blinding light right away, or you might startle them into flying.”

“Let's hope they are in the coop then. I don’t want to spend the night chasing them through the woods.” Chips seems happy with the plan, and on that note, I wish him happy hunting and head back to the clubhouse to round up Allegra.

I hope she takes to the idea because it could be a good solution for the three of us.

Chapter 13

*~* Vortex *~*

Allegra insists on freshening up before going to the ranch, which means taking a shower, which means shower sex. Not that I mind, I love it, but I’m keen to get her out there and see what she thinks. I also had another thought as I was riding back to the clubhouse. If we were to take the ranch on, what would Silas do then? Like me, I know Allegra would not want him to leave the ranch to live out his days somewhere strange and alone. Living with Marisela, wherever that may be, isn’t an option either. She would bleed him dry financially and then just leave him with nothing.

Perhaps we could build a second home on the ranch? Would we have the money for that after just buying the place? Probably not. Or we all just live in the ranch house. It’s big enough, but would we be treading on each other's toes? Crap.

Pulling up at the ranch, I see Silas already at the door, waiting. I need to find out how he always knows when someone is coming. That could prove handy in this current climate, provided they come down the ranch road that is.

Allegra is out of the SUV before I kill the engine. She slams the damn door so hard the vehicle rocks on its suspension, then she dashes to the porch. By the time I catch up, she has introduced herself and is complimenting Silas on everything she casts her eyes on. I’m expecting him to be swamped by all this high-speed chatter, but he looks to me like he’s enjoying the attention.

“What can we look at first? The horses? The ranch house looks amazing. You have a barn! Look at that corral.”

Silas grins. “What would you like to see first, young lady?” He asks quietly.

“Oh, everything. Everything all at once. It’s all so amazing. If it gets any better than this, I’m gonna piss my pants with excitement. Vortex, how have you been hiding this place from me? This is my new favorite place. It’s even better than Victoria’s Secret!”

Silas mouths at me. “Who is Victoria?”

I mouth back, “You don’t want to know.”

“How about we start with the house, seeing as you’ve invited yourself for a tour of the place?”

“I’m so sorry, Silas. It’s just that I became so excited as soon as Vortex mentioned we were going to look at a ranch. I can’t contain myself. This is my first visit to a real-life working ranch. It’s…”

“Amazing? Come on. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for you peeing your pants.” He opens the door and Allegra dashes inside like a freaking tornado. By the time Silas and I close the door behind us, Allegra has done the tour of the living room and is in the kitchen. Squeals and cabinet doors banging shut tell us she likes what she is seeing.

A scream has us rushing into the kitchen where she is running her hands over a huge cooking stove and checking out a pot of something that smells suspiciously like chili. “Oh my God. I bet this has seen some stupendo meals cooked with it. And cakes! I bet there have been many meraviglioso cakes baked in this oven. Oh, your wife must love this thing. It looks very old but as new as if it had just been purchased.”