"Boss," Tommy said right after breakfast. "Dr. Polson is here."
"And he wants to see you both."
"Okay," said Dante with a surprised look on his face.
So we headed for the corral, slowly. Jack was looking Spot over. He looked up upon hearing us. And he ran his hand along Spots flank as he came to the fence.
"Billy," Jack said in greeting. "So this is your Dante?"
"Yes it is. Dante this is Dr. Jack Polson," I said introducing them. "Vet extraordinaire."
"Nice to meet you Dr. Polson. So how's my little girl?" Dante asked, as Spot walked over to check Dante out.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Green," Jack started.
"Oh! Call me Dante."
"Sure thing Dante," Jack replied. "Spot is healing. By the end of the month you can ride her."
"That's if you are up to riding."
"I should be," Dante told Jack. "I just wish you could have done something for Mouse."
"Dante. Billy did the only thing that could have been done for Mouse," Jack told him. "She was too badly injured for anything more. Tommy showed me pictures of her and where she fell."
"Dante! I saw you and Mouse fall," Peter told him. "I thought you died that night."
Peter hugged Dante carefully but tearfully. The tears ran down Peter's cheeks.
"I'm sorry Peter," Dante said, returning Peter's hug. "Tommy, can I see those pictures of Mouse?" Tommy looked at me. I shook my head then Tommy looked my way.
"One day Dante," Tommy told him. "Just not today."
"Why not?" Dante demanded of us. Then. "Sorry. I need to let it go."
"Just for now," I told him with a gentle hug. "Because you're not ready yet."
"Dante. It wasn't your fault," Peter told him. "We want you to get better please."
"Peter's right," I told Dante. "You need time to heal."
"This will be painful for a while. But in time it will stop hurting."
The rest were gathering around us. Daniel, Angel, Bass, and Charlie to Dante's side. Amelia rushed down from the house seeing us. She glared at me suspiciously.
"What did you do Uncle Billy?" Amelia asked me rather pointedly.
"Amelia!" Daniel said stopping her. "Billy didn't do anything."
"Dante wanted to see the pictures of Mouse," Peter told her. "He still feels responsible."Amelia's head snapped around. But then she relaxed.
"It was my fault," Dante told her. Amelia hugged him. Then she kissed his cheek. And I smiled as he turned red.
"Uncle Dante," Amelia said calmly. "You need to let it go. We know you weren't responsible."
"Do you understand?" She asked him.
"Yeah Dante!" Peter said. "You're not responsible."
"Come here you two," Dante told them, holding out his arms. We had become a big family. You could see the kids all cared for Dante greatly. But I think those two the most of all.
Hugs were given by all to all. Even Alice, Katy, and Kevin joined in. Dante whispered something to Kevin, who smiled and nodded. Even Charlie, and Daniel's cousin Jeff Cromwell got a hug.
Bob had picked Jeff up last night. Jeff had come out to his parents. After he learned about his cousin Daniel coming out. He came to spend some time with Bob and Jean. So that his parents could tell his siblings. And absorb his coming out.
Dante said he wanted to watch the kids work their horse and see how far they had come. So we set Dante's chair up near the lower corral. Despite being at the hospital a lot. The kids had come far breaking and training their horses.
Amelia was up on her Dapple. Bass and the Leopard were doing great. He was earning her trust. Peter's skill was outstanding. He walked up to one of Dante's mustangs. A beautiful red roan mare that was calm with Peter's handling . She calmly took the hackmore Peter put on her. And she held steady while I put Peter's riding blanket in her.
Using the fence. Peter mounted her and walked her around the corral. I saw Ethan watching with pride as he walked down to the corral.
"He's a natural? Isn't he?" Ethan asked Dante and me. We both smiled as we looked at each other and nodded yes. Tally had walked over.
"Ethan, I love teaching him," Tally told Ethan. "He's a sponge." Peter walked the roan past, waving as he did.
When Peter kicked her in the ribs. She did, a short hop. But that was all. Tally put a hand on Ethan's arm to calm him when the mare took the hop.
"He's got this," Tally told Ethan calmly.
"She's got spirit Dante," Peter said, pulling up near us. A smile of utter pride on his face.
"Thank you for this Peter," Dante told him. "I can see she does."
"Have you put a saddle on her yet?" Dante asked.
Dante got up and patted her shoulder. The roan sniffed Dante as Peter handed him the reins.
"Well she doesn't like it too much," Peter told him. "But yeah. We've even put a saddle on her once."
"Well you rode her," Dante said. "Unsaddle her and rub her down."
"Sure," Peter said undoing the cinch Then he pulled the blanket off.
"Peter. What would you call her?" I asked. He screwed up his face in thought for a moment.
"Shouldn't you do that Dante?" Peter asked him.
"Well Peter you know her best," Dante told him. "A name would help tame her." Peter beamed at the honor.
"Well what about Erica," Peter said. Then he smile as we tried to figure it out. "Like Erica the red."
There were some chuckles. and Kevin called his little brother a goof. Which hurt Peter's feelings.
"What do you think Erica?' Dante asked the roan. Her ear perked up when Dante said the name. And Peter beamed.
"Erica it is," Dante announced. Peter slid through the fence to hug Dante. Then there was the crunch of gravel behind us.
We looked around to see several cars arriving. Andrew, Jimmy, and Jason with full vehicles. Then Henry and Rose followed by Juan Ortiz. Then finally George and Sherry with Lil Billy.
The girls all squealed when they saw Lil Billy. There would be no shortage of baby sitters here. But they looked at Daniel.
"Don't fight over him," Daniel told them with a smile. "But I will get him later ladies."
"Katy you drew first," Alice said, taking charge.
"Thank you Alice," Katy said stepping up to carry Lil Billy.
"Come on ladies," Alice said , giving orders. "Let's get Lil Billy squared away." Sherry smiled at them.
Katy headed inside with Lil Billy. While the girls divied up his gear. It was quite a site to see.
"Put his gear in our bedroom," I told the girls.
"Billy. I love these kids," Sherry told me. "If it's not the girls. It's Daniel and Angel."
"Lil Billy's going to grow up in a loving enviroment," I told her.
"And when you and Dante have kids," Sherry smiled at the look on our faces. "Oh! It's so obvious."
I kissed her cheek. Dante acted offended. While George chuckled at the scene.
"She's right," George said, kissing his wife as well. "We both owe you two and the kids a lot.
"Thank you George," Dante replied.
"I think we all owe the kids a lot," I told him.
I looked over to see the boys helping to unload Jason's car. It was all food. Jason and Peter had brought enough food to feed us all three times over.
"Hey Grandpa!" Andrew's grandson called out. "Come Look at these two. The chestnut and the bay."
We all walked over to the upper corral. Angel was just mounting the chestnut. He walked down and I opened the gate for him.
"Angel, she is magnificent," Andrew told him. "Where did you get them?"
"Mi Abuelo," Angel told him. "One is mine. But the other is mi hermana."
"He's cross breeding Morgan's with Quarter horses," I told Andrew. "Then the off-spring with each other."
"And look at the results," Dante said with a smile. "In a few years he'll have a new breed."
"Would you tell your grandfather they are truly magnificent?" Andrew asked Angel.
"I will Andrew," Angel said with a smile. "He'll be pleased to hear what you think."
"How about you let us know when your Abuelo is down for a visit?" Jimmy asked Angel. Who promptly smiled. "We'ld like to meet him."
"I think that might get my grandfather down for a visit Jimmy," Angel told him.
"Thank you Angel. By the way boys. This is my grandson, Matthew, " Andrew said making introductions. "We've called him Mattie since he was little." The boys shook hands.
"Mattie this is Angel Montoya and Daniel Driscoll," he told Mattie. "They're the boys I told you about."
"Do you ride Mattie?" Daniel asked, with a interested smile.
"Since I was four," Mattie replied with a smile of interest of his own. "Isn't that right grandpa?"
"Well if you if you don't count riding in my lap when you were younger," Andrew told us. "He started with ponies, and by Peter's age. He was on his own horse."
"Well let's get up to the patio," a hurting Dante said. "We can do the rest of the introductions up there."
"I like that idea," Jeff told us, smiling at Mattie. And getting a laugh from Daniel and Angel. All the while Mattie was smiling back at Jeff. Dante and I looked at each other smiling as well.
"So let's go," I told everyone.
The four boys talked to each other. As we headed for the house. They were talking and laughing. This was going to be interesting.
"We have a romance brewing," Dante said almost in my ear. But Andrew and Jimmy heard. And they laughed.
"My Mattie is very much like his grandfather and Uncle Jason," Jessica told us having heard Dante's comment as well. Then her husband smiled and kissed her.
"What if he wants to spend the night?" Steven asked his wife. Dante looked at me and I smiled . Mattie looked at his parents and smiled at the idea.
"Well if it's okay with you," Dante told them. "It's okay with us."
"Besides. Daniel and Angel know the rules," Bob told them.
"Are you sure?" Jessica asked us.
"I'll vouch for Daniel and Angel," Jimmy told her. So Jessica kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you Jimmy," Steven told Jimmy as he shook his hand.
Once on the patio. We introduced Jessica and her family to everyone. Andrew's two granddaughters made friends quickly as their brother had. Cheryl was 15 and Sondra or Sonny was 11. Poor Charlie, Kevin, and Bass got bounced for a while by the girls.
Judge Avelos and Troy showed up. Mary and Paula were not far behind. Paula had been talking with Jason's Peter. She brought a dozen Pies.
"Hey Billy, Dante," Daniel asked, walking up. "Mattie and Jeff want to go riding. Can Angel and I take them riding?"
"Who all is going?" Jean, who heard, asked her youngest.
"Me, Charlie, Bass, Angel, Peter, Mattie, and Jeff," Daniel told his mother a little hurt. "We know the rules."
"Sorry baby," Jean said pulling her son in for a hug. "It's just natural to ask."
"Go ahead Daniel," I told him. "But Charlie is in charge."
"Hey! Why is Charlie in charge?" an offended Bass asked. "I'm older than him by a month."
"Good point," I told him. "So how about you both be in charge."
"Now go have some fun."
The boys took off in a cloud of dust. Kevin and Amelia stayed to help Jason and Peter cook and prepare food. I at first thought that Kevin had stayed to be with Amelia. But the more I watched them. It was obvious that Amelia had stayed to be with Kevin. So I mentioned it to Linzie who smiled.
"I knew that the other day when they were in the kitchen," Linzie said. "Amelia hates to cook, until now."
"Ethan. It looks like you have a chef in the making," Linzie told him with a smile.
"Well I'm not the only one," Ethan told her with a smile of his own. "They're cute together."
"Oh! She's to young," Linzie said acting shocked.
"I'm sorry partner," I told her. "But Ethan's right. She is smitten."
"Dante what do you think?" Linzie asked him. Amelia who had been listening, looked up for a moment.
"They're right," Dante told her. "They are constantly together. Right Amelia? Kevin?"
"Mom so you know. Your voice carries," Amelia told her mother as she sat in my lap. Kevin stepped up to Linzie.
"Mrs. Graff," Kevin said. "I'll admit I like Melly. A lot. But we're more friends than well you know. For now."
"I'm her friend and she's my friend," Kevin told Linzie.
"Come here young man?" Linzie asked Kevin. She hugged him when he stepped close. "You're a good friend Kevin." Then she hugged him again and kissed his cheek. Kevin promptly turned red.
"Mom! Really!" Amelia said, rolling her eyes.
"It's okay Melly," Kevin told her. "I kind of miss it." Referring to his mom Sharon.
"Thanks Mrs. Graff."
Dante grabbed my arm. I could see he was hurting and tired. So I took him into our bedroom to lay down before lunch. But slipped out about an hour later. I heard the boys come back. So some of us went to greet them. They were laughing and roaring.
"Marshal Hickok!" Mattie said upon seeing me. "This ranch is great Sir."
"And Peter is just an Awesome horseman ."
"Thanks Mattie," Peter said with a grin. "Guys, aren't we going to rub our horses down?"
"Tickles quite!" We all laughed.
"Peter's right guys," Bass said, taking charge. "We need to do it."
"Well get to it," I told them. "It looks like we eat within the hour."
"We'll get it done," Charlie replied. "Come on guys."
With that the boys led their horses to their corrals. Mattie was patting Peter on the back.
Forty-five minutes later we were eating. But before we said grace. Jason and Peter gave credit to Kevin and Amelia. And what they prepared. They were both smiling as they took their bows. We all applauded.
"So Jessica," Mary asked as we were finishing. "How are you and your family enjoying New Mexico?"
Jessica looked over at the boys down at the other end. So she smiled at her son. Who was bumping between Jeff and Angel.
"Well Mattie is really enjoying it," she said with a smile to Mary. "But girls. What do you think?"
"Well Mattie's in love again!" Cheryl told us. "But yeah. We're enjoying New Mexico Miss Weathers."
"I personally hope we can spend the whole month," Steven told us enthusiastically.
"Remember, we have to be back for that man from Ecuador," Jessica reminded her husband.
"Who brought this one in?" Andrew, just had to, ask. Causing Jimmy to frown. But he remained silent, almost.
"Hey Andrew, You're retired," Jimmy reminded him with a kiss.
"I'm just asking," Andrew told Jimmy. Kissing him back.
"You remember Eric's friend from college?" Jessica asked her father. "Diego Cabral Sanchez?"
Causing Linzie to drop her glass. She quickly pulled out her phone. Calling up a picture.
"Is this Sanchez?" Linzie asked Jessica. She was showing a picture from her phone.
"Linzie! Relax!" Judge Avelos said. Several of us knew what was up. Including Judge Avelos.
"Billy," Dante said. "Why don't you guys take this conversation inside."
Dante didn't know the importance of Diego Cabral Sanchez. But he knew it had all our attention.
"Good idea," I said, getting up with a kiss to his cheek. "Jessica, Steven let's talk inside."
"You guys can follow me," Dante said as he rose gingerly. "Mary, Judge if you would as well. Join us inside." Linzies was inside in a flash.
"George if you'll keep everyone busy?" Bob asked him. "Jessie with us." This I should have known . Terry and Bob had been friends since training.
So when we closed the door to my office. It was a little crowded. We had Jessica, Steven, Andrew, and Jimmy. Judge Avelos, Mary, Linzie, and me of course. Along with Bob, Jessie and Dante. Dante shouldn't have been there. But it saved me from explaining it later.
"NOW can you please tell us what is going on?" Jessica asked, a little frazzled. Steven holding his wife with a look of concern on his face.
"I think Marshal Hickok should explain," Judge Avelos told them. Cutting Linzie off.
"He's wanted on a litany of charges," I jumped in saying. "Including the murder of a Federal Officer. FBI Special Agent Terrance Graff." They stared at me.
"Are we or the company possibly facing charges?" Steven asked, being the lawyer he was.
"Steven!" Jessica barked.
"Linzie? Was he your husband?" Jessica asked her.
"Yes," Linzie told her. "Terry was the love of my life. Terry was murdered by Sanchez."
"Terry was executed," I told them. "I saw Sanchez shoot Terry. Before he ducked behind a concrete wall."
"I'll show you the video when I can," I told Steven as he was about to ask the question. "Terry and I both were wearing body cams. He recorded it himself."
"How do we help you get him?" a determined Jessica asked us.
"Billy this is your case," Linzie told me as she rose to leave. "Thank you for asking Jessica. But I need to to step back."
"If you want a task force we can start on that Monday," Linzie told me, then she left.
"Jessica, you and Steven will be key," I told them.
"But your honor we need to get..."
"Gag orders will be issued to all six of you."
"But there are only four of them," Jimmy pointed out.
"Jimmy. His honor is talking about Jessica, Steven, Andrew, Jason, Peter, and you," Dante explained.
"That's right Dante," Judge Avelos confirmed with a smile.
"Well why doesn't Dante get one?" a hurt Jimmy asked.
"Because I'm not going to meet anyone that I give it away to," Dante told his friend.
"Jessica, Steven, we'll need to know everything about your dealings with Sanchez," I told them. "But that can wait until Monday. For the kids sake."
"But before you go back outside," I told them. "Your honor you can use that computer behind you sir."
Judge Avelos chuckled as he turned to the computer. He quickly drew up the gag orders. Jimmy went to get Jason and his Peter. We quickly explained what was going on to them. Before long we were back outside.
Thankfully the kids brought our mood back up. And we learned that we had to keep an eye on the four musketeers. As Dante christened Daniel, Angel, Mattie, and Jeff. As we caught them in the hay loft. Minus 'some' of their cloths.
Mattie even asked if he could spend the night at the ranch. He and Jeff even kissed right out in the open. To their families dismay. Well mostly. Because Daniel and Charlie cheered. And you could see that Andrew and Jason were proud.
"Billy. I'm sorry about all of this," Andrew told me later. "I guess that this could be worse."
"Andrew. You guys helped us find a man we've been seven years trying to find," I told him . "But you need to try to keep your grand kids here."
"He's a killer Andrew," I told him with a smile as Steven was watching. "Watch your grand kids. All of them."
"Amelia was only four when she lost her father. Bass was seven."
"And what about Eric?" Andrew asked me. I was silent for too long. "I see."
"We'll have to see how much he's involved ," I told him. "Hopefully he's co-operative when we arrest him. "
"Then it's up to the courts."
"If I can help with that," Andrew said as the girls ran onto the patio.
It seems we had a mare giving birth. So we all went to watch.
It was one of George's mares. Fortunately Jack was still there. And his three year old was so excited. George got a beautiful dun colt out of it.
"George he's fine," Jack told him as he carried his son out of the corral. Who was yelling to everyone. "It a boy! It a boy!"
"So who's the dad you think?" Jack asked with a smile.
"Funny Jack," I told him as we laughed. "But who gets him in a few years?"
"Well maybe Lil Billy," George said. "Or how about my lovely wife."
"I think I like that idea," Sherry told us as Lil Billy cooed in her arms. George walked over to kiss his wife and son.
All in all it was a good day. Dante behaved himself. Mainly because of his injuries. Many were still on the patio when Dante and I went to bed. Once settled in.
"Tell me about your friend Terry Graff, my love?" Dante asked as we lay there.
"Terry was the best," I told him. "He was a top notch agent, father, and friend."
"It was Terry who introduced me to Ann. But he would be happy for me now. I think anyway."
"He was the one who had found Sanchez the first time," I continued. "It lead us to Chicago . Where we thought we had him."
"But someone had to ..." I stopped.
"Had to what?" Dante asked me, knowing the answer.
"Had to of warned Sanchez," I told him. "And Eric Collins was part of that task force from CPD."
"So you think Eric Collins did it?" Dante asked me.
"Yes I do think," I told Dante bitterly. "If we can prove it he'll be charged as an accessory."
"Now to change the subject," I told Dante. " I'll have to go to Chicago for I don't know how long." Dante was quiet at that.
"I figured you would have to," Dante finally replied. "Can I call you at least?"
"No," I told him with a grin. "But I'll call you everyday. Okay?"
"Oh! Okay," he finally said. "So I don't give you away on a stake out. Right?"
"Right," I answered to receive a very passionate kiss.
"Well I guess I can agree with that," Dante said. "Because I want you back."
"Well that's good to hear," I told him. Getting a weak elbow.
"So who's going to take me to the Doctor the third?" Dante asked.
"How about your mom," I suggested. "After all she does know where Chris' office is."
Come Sunday and everyone was back. Alice and the girls took their parents on a ride around the ranch.
Angel let Andrew ride the chestnut. Because the boys took their parents on a ride around the ranch as well. Some of them seemed to relax. Linzie and Cindy were rolling when they rode back in. Dante pointed out that Wade was bright red.
Then on Monday we got busy. Linzie called Attorney General Ashworth. Then she conference called, with the Directors of the FBI, and the DEA. So we soon had a task force made up of the three agencies. But Mary was out as our AUSA. As she was involved in several cases she couldn't hand off. But since Miss Baker (Serena) had just come from Chicago. She was going to be our AUSA
Dante wasn't pleased when I told him. But Tuesday the Third we boarded a jet for Chicago. The AG supplied us with a Justice Department G-5. With it we could do some planning. There were ten of us aboard. Three from each agency and Miss Baker.
Later Miss Baker got me alone in the galley. I was expecting trouble from her. I knew Bob was watching carefully from his seat. And it turned out so was Jessie as well.
"Billy can we talk a minute?" Miss Baker asked me.
"It's still Marshall Hickok. Miss Baker!" I told her rather sternly. "But yes. We can talk."
"Okay. Marshal Hickok," Miss Baker said rather annoyed. "I'm on your team for this task force."
"Whatever you need of me. Just ask it."
"I want justice for Terry Graff and his family," she told me. I looked at her. Miss Baker was many things, but she was true to U.S. Law Enforcement.
"And I believe you," I told her. "But understand me. You, Me, and Dante are not open for discussion."
"Understood?"
"I understand," Miss Baker replied. "For now."
"I just want to say this. Then the subject is closed," she said.
"Okay. So say it," I told her.
"I made terrible mistakes where you were concerned," she said. "And for it I am profoundly sorry." Then she went and sat down.
Later Bob sat next to me. Looking as if he wanted to say something. I smiled at his hesitation.
"Say it Bob," I told him.
"As you can guess. I heard Miss Baker," Bob told me.
"And?" I asked him.
"I don't trust her," Bob told me. " I never really have. Truth be told."
"But I believe she wants to help get Sanchez," Bob told me. "Be careful though. She still wants you back."
"Well you and Jessie have my back," I told him with a smile. "Right?"
"Right," Jessie replied. Giving himself away.
"Everyone take your seats," said a voice over the intercom. "We'll be starting our final approach to Midway."