Free Riders - Horizons (III) by K.M. Liss

CHAPTER ONE
    JOSHUA
    I was finally outside the Sheriff's office,
after the humiliating experience of vouching for the pair of idiots
he'd banged up.
    The words reverberated in my head.
    Drunk and Disorderly, Violent Behavior &
Causing Public Affray.
    What a pair of assholes.
    Over Col's shoulder, I noticed Kicker was
talking on the phone with his girl. He had the most stupid,
lovestruck smile on his face. I made a mental note to keep a decent
expression when talking to Tiffany in public. Kicker was as
sickening as sugar soup.
    I turned my attention back
to the reprobates standing before me.
“So, what happened guys? And it had better be good.”
    “We had a few words. It
got outta hand. I'm sorry to involve you in this Josh. It won't
happen again,” Col said with a rueful look of apology and a
meaningful sideways glance in Lucky's direction. I interpreted this
to mean 'I'll tell you later, pal, when HE isn't
around'....
    I played the game. “I
should damn well hope not. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves.
It doesn't look good for the ranch, does it? I've had enough coming
down here getting you guys off the hook. And I'm surprised at you
Col.” I looked to Lucky who was staring into space,
completely couldn't give a shit and fucked off he was being called to brook.
Especially by me.
    I wasn't at all surprised
by his behavior.
This was the third bar brawl he'd been involved in, in as many
months. He was an argumentative, confrontational and annoying
little bastard at best and alcohol fueled that temper of his
fast.
    I'd suddenly had my fill of his attitude and
didn't want his face and shit ruining my days.
    I didn't actually have any right, from a
point of authority, but I assumed it, and I fired him on the
spot.
    “Lucky, you're fired. I've
had enough of you brown-nosing my pa, grassing me up, lying about
what I do, and constantly undermining me in front of the guys. This
is the last straw. The third jail straw you've pulled. Clear your
room and go. Goodbye, and have a nice life elsewhere. Hopefully far
away, where our paths shall never cross.”
    “The fuck I will! I'll see
the boss when we get back.”
    “See who you like. But as
I'm running the cattle ranching, it's my decision.”
    Not entirely true, but Lucky was no longer
listening anyway. He'd turned his back on me and had stormed off in
the direction of Riders to retrieve his motorcycle.
    My father was out at a charity dinner with
his favorite son and daughter tonight, so Lucky wouldn't find a lot
of support when he got back.
    “You've done the right
thing,” Col said putting his hand on my back. “He's a nasty piece
of work, that guy. So bitter and twisted. Like the world owes him
something, y'know?”
    “Yeah, I do know. Couldn't
fail to notice.”
    Kicker ended his call and came to my
side.
    “Did I overhear you
right?”
    I snorted out a laugh. “I dunno, did my
voice actually penetrate the love haze you're surrounded by?”
    “Oh ha, fuck off...
seriously though...it's about time. No one liked him. He's an
absolute asshole. Actually, he ain't that good by a long shot. He's
the runniest, slimiest shit that could ever pour out of it,” Kicker
said, with his usual sweet descriptive.
    Col laughed and I grinned at him. You
couldn't help but smile at Kicker's thoughts.
    “I asked him how much
Charlie was paying for licking his ass. And whether he was sucking
up in any other way to keep the old guy happy?” Col said with a
chuckle.
    “I can see why that went
down well,” I snorted a sickened laugh.
    “Not so well, no... let's
say it hit a raw nerve. The motherfucker... I could see I'd hit the
nail on the head. He's your snitch. No question. And I swung the
first punch. He deserved it, man.”
    “It's okay Col. I
understand. No problem. I'll have to call on you for backup,
convincing Pa he's all round trash.”
    “Sure we've always got
your back covered,” Col agreed.
    Kicker punched my arm, over forcefully and
painfully hard, to prove his