Cord’s Redemption by Jaxson Kidman

Chapter Four

No matterhow much whiskey he drank the night before, Cord was always the first awake, the first to drink a cup of coffee and the first to ride.

This was taught to him by Leroy, a real man who knew when his place was to sleep.

In a grave.

And as long as Cord could ride and breathe, the path to the grave seemed a little less likely.

Down at the bunkhouse he found Morsey and Felix outside, each with a cup of coffee.

“Morning, Cord,” Morsey growled.

Cord gave a nod. “Who’s sleeping?”

“Nobody,” Felix said. “We got ‘em awake.”

“Good. Everyone whole?”

“We’re all here,” Morsey said. “Worried, Cord?”

“Not at all.”

The bunkhouse door flew open and Des stepped out.

His eyes were torn up and bloodshot, but he was standing and ready for anything.

“Cleaned out their paychecks last night,” Des said. “Started up at the cabin then came down here. Tripp is still up at the cabin. He made a few phone calls and brought some entertainment.”

“I don’t want to hear a thing,” Cord said.

“You missed it,” Des said. “Those women were something else. How about it?”

Des nodded at Morsey and Felix.

The two old men grinned.

Cord lifted an eyebrow. “You both too?”

“I mean, Cord, I’m old, not broken,” Felix said.

Cord pointed to Felix’s crooked fingers and mangled hand that wrapped around the coffee mug. “Can’t even play guitar anymore with those hands.”

“Trust me, these women weren’t interested in my guitar playing,” Felix said.

“Christ,” Cord said. He looked at Morsey. “What about you?”

“I don’t kiss and tell,” Morsey said with a wink.

“The old man has a hickey on his neck,” Des said.

“That ain’t from a woman,” Morsey barked.

“What’s not from a woman?” Kemen asked as he walked out of the bunkhouse, yawning. “Hopefully not some disease. I had a buddy who hooked up with the wrong chick and he had a growth looking thing on his dick.”

“By I had a buddy you mean yourself, right?” Des asked.

“That would imply Kemen could get a woman to fuck him,” Cord said.

“What the hell did I do to piss you off?” Kemen asked.

“You woke up,” Cord said. “Saddle the rest up. Got it?”

Kemen gave a nod and walked off.

The sun broke from the horizon and the day began.

Cord barked the orders for the day.

Des, Tripp, and River all had their own jobs too.

Lost on the other part of the ranch in his beautiful house, Cord knew his father sat around reading the newspaper like some big city elitist. Splashing fancy cologne on his neck and picking out a nice shirt, never wanting to get his hands dirty ever again.

To him, the money was in the land.

Which it was.

The land was worth more than the ranch could ever make.

But that wasn’t the point.

Funny enough, on the other side of the ranch stood an old but well-kept house.

That’s where Cord figured his grandfather was.

Battling time and age, chasing his coffee with whiskey, eventually hobbling his way around with Mat Cassidy at his side, ready to call out his own orders.

The ranch used to work with a straight path in mind.

Then it began to move with more of an ebb and flow.

A push and pull that came from three generations battling for their position.

Now it felt more like a war.

A war everywhere.

In the valley, out of the valley, and each day brought a new threat.

Yet it was all Cord Lynot knew.

Forever riding the path toward his grave.

“Cord,”Tripp said with a wave.

Cord commanded his horse to move.

He rode toward the sun as it began to set, putting to end another long day of working and thinking.

Cord closed in on his brother, and Tripp began to ride.

Fast.

“What the fuck?” Cord growled.

Cord’s horse ran just as fast.

A minute later he spotted Kemen trying to ride along the cattle they were supposed to be moving to one of the pastures. Cord wanted them up near the ridge to have space to wander around.

Now here was Kemen, Leeam, and Max pushing them down toward the creek.

Cord heard a whistle and looked back to see River and Des riding toward him.

Des caught up and Cord called out, “What the fuck is going on now?”

“Got a problem,” Des yelled back.

The four brothers - led by Tripp - went up the ridge.

Barrett and Mahon stood with their hats in their hands, staring at the ground.

Cord pulled on the reins and jumped off his horse.

He grabbed for his gun and approached the ranch hands.

“What is it?” Cord asked.

“Lost one here,” Mahon said.

“That wasn’t lost,” Barrett said. “That was killed. On purpose.”

Cord walked up to the calf and had to look away.

“Mahon and Barrett, get out of here,” Tripp said. “Right now.”

“Yes, sir,” they both said.

Des jumped toward Mahon and Barrett and grabbed their shirts. “Nothing up here to see, correct?”

“Nothing to see,” Mahon said.

“Poor thing died for some reason,” Barrett said. “No fucking idea what happened.”

Des pushed the two men away.

They hurried to get on their horses and rode off.

“What the fuck is this?” Des asked.

“Looks like a dead calf,” River said.

“No shit,” Tripp said.

“It’s money lost,” Des said.

“No,” Cord said and he crouched down. “This is a message.” He looked up at his brothers. “This is a clear fucking message.”

“Can’t be Ain,”Des said. “He’s not man enough for this.”

“He hired someone,” Tripp said.

“What do we do here, Cord?” River asked.

“Need to clean this up, then make sure nobody else gets word of it and gets spooked.”

“That’s it?” Des asked.

“What do you want us to do, Des?” Cord asked. “Start slinging bullets? Where? Who? Huh? We’re fucking divided as it is.”

“It’s getting a little more dangerous around here,” Des said.

“It’s always been dangerous around here,” Cord said. “It’s not as quiet now. We need to run point at night. Midnight sessions through daybreak. Tripp, figure out the schedule for the guys.”

“What are they going to do?” River asked. “If they see someone…”

“They handle it,” Cord said. “What do you want me to do? I’m not either one of them.”

Thembeing his father or grandfather.

“Letting the guys in on this is risky,” Tripp said.

“Everyone knows what it means to walk this land,” Cord said. “This isn’t for show. This isn’t for fun. Figure out a schedule and tell them to bring their rifles.”

“What is this, a war zone now?” Des asked.

“Maybe it is, Des. You okay with that?” Cord asked his brother.

Des cracked his knuckles and curled his lip. “I’ll take the first night. Midnight to daybreak. Give me two men to work with. If I see someone on this land, I’ll put his skull out his ass.”

“Or be logical,” River said.

“What’s that?” Des asked. “You want to go make friends with them?”

“No, Des,” River said. “Shoot for the legs. Take them down but not out.”

“River is right,” Tripp said. “What do you say, Cord?”

Before Cord could answer, his cellphone began to ring.

That was as much technology as Cord Lynot cared to deal with.

Only because it was necessary.

The ringing was actually a text message.

From someone outside the ranch.

“Fuck,” Cord growled.

“What’s wrong now?” Des asked.

Cord curled his lip as high as it could go. “Our fucking grandfather is trying to ruin everything for good.”

The last placeCord wanted to ever be was at the fancy country club.

To get there he had to trade his horse for his truck.

Sure, the truck had more space, a comfortable seat, looked badass, and had a ton of horsepower.

But it wasn’t the same as riding.

The massive truck took up two parking spots.

Cord jumped out of it.

One of the dishwashers for the country club waved to Cord.

Mikey knew to keep Cord in the loop if there was ever any trouble at the country club when it came to the Lynot family.

“What’s up with the old man?” Cord asked.

Mikey took one last deep drag on a cigarette and flicked it to the ground.

He stepped on it and exhaled smoke. “He’s in there trying to buy women.”

“What?”

“He’s drunk, Cord. He’s trying to pay women to come back to the ranch and sleep with him. He’s throwing cash around, stealing drinks and food. They’re trying to keep it calm in there but you know how it goes. Eventually they’ll call the police. Or someone else to come take care of it.”

Wade Ain.

“Let me get him out of there,” Cord said. “Thanks, Mikey.”

Cord growled under his breath and walked toward the front door of the dining area for the country club.

He was met by Mat Cassidy.

The big airhead stood in black jeans, a gray shirt with the Lynot ranch logo on the right breast. He smiled at Cord, but it wasn’t a friendly smile.

“If you don’t move, I’ll make you,” Cord said.

“I’d love to see that,” Mat said. He made fists. “Want to do it?”

“You know what we’re all up against here, right?” Cord asked. “Pop making himself look stupid only hurts all of us. I know you’re fucking stupid but you’re not that dumb, are you? We lose the land and the ranch, where do you end up, huh? You think Pop is going to keep you around? Not a chance. Now step to the fucking side before I break your legs.”

As much as Mat hated Cord, he knew his position.

Mat moved to the side and Cord was finally able to get into the country club.

He saw his grandfather standing at the bar, balancing a shot glass on the top of his head.

“Now if I don’t break this glass, you’re going to come home with me, sweetie pie,” Leroy barked in a slurred voice.

“Pop, time to go,” Cord announced.

Leroy turned and the shot glass fell to the floor and smashed.

“My grandson is here now!” Leroy yelled. “Look at this place, Cord! This is what my son wanted, right? He got it!”

“Shit,” Cord whispered.

He hurried toward his grandfather and grabbed his right arm.

“Pop, we’re leaving. You get picked up here and you know what happens.”

“I just wanted a little drink,” Leroy said. “And a whole lot of pussy.”

Leroy laughed.

Cord looked at two women nearby and he apologized for his grandfather.

He took two steps and saw someone from the corner of his eye.

He froze and pushed Leroy toward the door.

Cord took his hat off and blinked a few times.

“Josie,” he whispered.

There she was.

Josie Porter.

The last Cord really knew of her was that she had left to become a nurse. There had been a rumor that she was back in town to care for her grandmother. But her grandmother had since passed. Most of the Lynot family sent their regards as there was no actual service. There were other rumors too, but none of them made all that much sense.

For all Cord knew, after that Josie left town.

What the hell is she doing here carrying a tray full of drinks? He thought to himself.

Cord swallowed hard.

Josie looked more beautiful than he could have ever imagined. All that last little bit of changing she needed to become all woman had occurred since he last saw her. With black pants and a white buttoned-down shirt, she was made from curves that made Cord forget why he was there in the first place.

Not to mention those calm, chocolate-colored eyes of hers.

And her curly hair.

That was always Cord’s favorite part.

Playing with her hair. Sitting in the bed of the truck. Looking at the stars. Listening to the coyotes singing. Sipping a little whiskey. Exploring what two people in love were supposed to explore…

Cord heard a glass shatter.

He snapped out of his trance and saw his grandfather standing over another broken glass.

Cord had to get them out of there.

Leroy had to leave before he got arrested.

Cord had to leave before he walked up to Josie and kissed her.

“Let her go, brother,”Des said.

“I didn’t know she was back,” Cord said.

“I told you she was back,” River said. “And that she’s hanging around with Wade Ain.”

“That was all bullshit,” Cord said.

“Says who?” Tripp asked.

“Says me,” Cord said.

“Cord, I think she’s serious with him,” River said. “I’m sorry. She came back to take care of her grandmother.”

“Man, did that woman bake one hell of a chocolate chip cookie,” Des said.

“She was a good woman,” Tripp said.

“I thought Josie left town after,” Cord said. “For good.”

“You know how plans go,” Des said.

“I just didn’t realize…”

“It’s got you beat up,” Tripp said.

“That’s his girl,” River said. “Cord and Josie. Everyone knew that.”

“That was a long time ago,” Cord said. “I just didn’t know.”

Cord finished his drink and placed the glass down next to the fire.

“Running off?” Des asked.

“Need to get back home,” Cord said.

“Hold up,” River said. “Don’t get all bent out of shape over her. Okay? I’m sorry, brother. I thought you knew. I mentioned it a long time ago. You never said anything about it.”

“It’s not your business. Not mine either.”

“Listen, Cord,” Des said. “Go home and jerk off. Okay? Think about all those wild times, finish yourself and let it go. Let her go.”

“She left to become a nurse,” Cord said. “She was going to stay away.”

“There you go,” Des said. “You don’t need that kind of heat right now. Think about it. What could make her come back and get stuck?”

“Cord, forget about jerking off,” Tripp said. “Let me make a call. I can have someone stop over and-”

“Leave the diseases for the bunkhouse,” Cord said.

He walked away from his brothers as they argued over which guys in the bunkhouse had the most fucking sicknesses as they called them.

The walk back to his house took maybe twenty minutes.

That was twenty minutes of memories dedicated to Josie.

From the day Cord met her when they were kids and boys smelled and girls were prissy and annoying. All the way to their final goodbye. When they both knew why Cord had to stay and why Josie had to go.

Memories turned into questions and the questions had no answers.

Cord wasn’t sure he’d ever have the chance to get those answers.

At least not until the surprise of a lifetime was waiting for him.

Sitting on the second-to-top step of his house.

She looked at him, her hands kind of folded, near her mouth.

“Josie,” Cord whispered.

She was right there. Waiting for him.

Cord took another step and paused again.

In a perfectly heartbreaking moment, the moonlight kissed the huge diamond on Josie’s left ring finger.

Glistening proof that Josie was no longer Cord’s.