Free Wild Borders by Cheyenne McCray Page A

biographical information.
    The helicopter searched for the missing man. The agents finally located him where he’d crossed Sweetwater, the ranch of the former county sheriff John “Bull” Stevens. The UDA was evacuated to Douglas Hospital, but he died from dehydration during the flight.
    “Damn polleros ,” Rick cursed to Sal and Don. He tossed his hat into his truck as they got ready to leave the ranch.
    “To hell and back,” Don replied. “Those coyotes deserve to die in the desert, instead of the people they leave stranded.”
    Sal nodded.
    Rick rubbed his hands over his face, trying to wipe away some of the exhaustion and frustration. “Only getting worse.”
    With a shrug, Don walked back toward the group of UDAs. “The coyotes run people and drugs. Both are profitable enough to be worth the risk.”
    “Need any help here before I take off?” Rick asked.
    “We’ve got it handled,” Sal replied.
    “I’ve got to head on home.” Rick climbed into his truck, lowered the window, and slammed the door.
    “How long is that pretty gal staying with you?” Sal’s dark eyes gleamed.
    The possessive feeling that grabbed Rick surprised him. “Not long enough.” He buzzed up the window, his friend’s low whistle fading as the glass rose.
     
    * * * * *
     
     
    After Lani settled at the dining room table for their interview, Sadie stretched a block of fabric across a hoop. “I hope you don’t mind if I quilt while we talk.”
    “Not at all.” Lani pulled her recorder out of her bag and set it on the table’s surface.
    She admired the furnishings, including an oak china cabinet filled with crystal glasses, goblets and decanters. It surprised her to see crystal on a ranch, one of her many preconceived notions of life in the country to be shattered since meeting Rick’s family.
    Margarita glasses caught her attention. Heat rushed through her at the memory of what her last margarita had led to. How could she be thinking of that in front of his Mother?
    Lani shoved thoughts of Rick from her mind, praying his mother wouldn’t notice the flush in her cheeks. She ran her hand over a quilt block, admiring Sadie’s work.
    “Incredible.” Lani traced one of the circles designed with small blocks of cloth. “I love the materials you’ve chosen and the way the rings loop together.”
    “You’re sweet.” Sadie slipped on a pair of half-glasses, adjusted the hoop, slid a thimble on one finger, and started stitching. “It’s a wedding ring quilt, and the materials are hand-dyed.”
    Lani picked up a corner. “The circles do look like wedding rings intertwined.”
    “I’ve been working on it for years, off and on. I keep hoping Rick will find a young lady he wants to settle down with, so that I can give the quilt to him and his bride as a wedding gift.” She glanced up and smiled. “There’s been no shortage of women who’ve been interested in Rick. He’s just never fallen in love with anyone.”
    Lani snatched her hand away like it had been scalded. An image of Rick’s kiss came to mind and a furious blush engulfed her to the soles of her feet.
    “Can you tell me about your ranch?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady as she steered the conversation to safer ground.
    Sadie quilted with deft strokes as she spoke. “Since Rick had no interest in going into the business, Chuck sold off all the commercial cattle a couple of years ago when we retired. We keep enough livestock for personal use, and raise most of our own vegetables and fruit.”
    Lani shifted her notebook. “Do immigrants travel through your land?”
    “We’re fortunate that illegals don’t cross our property as often as they cross the MacLeod’s, or the Grand’s.” Sadie adjusted her glasses and continued stitching. “And oh, heavens. Then there’s the Mitchell’s ranch—why, Don estimates five hundred or more go through their back pasture every night. Like a highway. Kitty put bars on her back window ‘cause she’s