"Let's move this stuff from the back seat into the trunk," Donny said stretching his sore back.
He had been riding in the back seat, while Vincent had been driving.
"Thank God. I was getting tired of sitting back there with all of that gear," Vincent said.
The camping gear, clothes, and food had taken up most of the back seat. It had not been entirely comfortable riding back there.
"We all took turns," Rose said.
"You're all smaller than I am," Vincent replied.
He was feeling a little surly after driving for so long.
Pepper said, "What are you complaining about? I've been stuck in the trunk for two days."
"If you want to complain we can let you ride the rest of the way there, in the trunk," Donny said.
They had taken a lot of care to make sure that Pepper didn't suffer too much in the trunk. They had taken breaks every two hours to give him a chance to walk around, rehydrate, and take care of his bodily functions. During the heat of the day they had put a bag of ice in the trunk to help cool him off.
"I'm not complaining," Pepper said frantically.
He thought that another hour in the trunk would kill him.
It didn't take too long for them to transfer the gear from the back seat to the trunk. Pepper, still wearing his wrist cuffs, stood and watched them work. It had become obvious over the past two days that none of them were strangers to hard work. He couldn't believe how easily Rose pitched in to do physical work. He hadn't heard her complain once about something being too heavy.
Holding open the door of the car, Donny said, "You get to ride in the front seat from now on."
For the first time, Pepper wondered why they would let him ride where he could be seen by other folks. Almost as if reading his mind, Vincent said, "We're about an hour from home. We thought you might like to know exactly what you'll be facing in case you try to run off."
"People will see me," Pepper said. Almost as soon as the words were out of his mouth he wanted to kick himself. He wanted people to see him. That was his best chance of getting out of this mess.
Rose laughed and said, "Don't worry. These are our neighbors. Half of them are related to us by blood, or by marriage. Everyone out here already knows all about you. You're the guy who screwed over Sonny."
"A lot of folks are wondering why we didn't just kill you," Vincent said.
Donny gestured to the front seat while he said, "It was the preacher who suggested that an act of contrition would cleanse your soul."
Rose said, "It is a real shame you don't believe in God."
"He's a crutch that the weak use, because they aren't strong enough to face life's challenges," Pepper said.
He had been incredulous when they had said grace before eating.
"We've heard you say that a couple of times," Vincent said shaking his head.
He thought it was strange how people could believe in a human organizations and not God.
Holding up the ankle cuffs, Donny said, "We've got to put the hobbles on you."
"Why?" Pepper asked.
"You're going to be riding in the front seat. We wouldn't want you to get any funny ideas," Donny answered.
It didn't take long to get Pepper ready for the last leg of the trip. Sitting in the front seat, he looked around at his surroundings. After the first day in the desert, the wooded area was a relief. At least it didn't look so desolate.
Once everyone got into the car, Donny sniffed the air.
He said, "Oh man, you stink."
"What do you expect? I've been in the trunk of a car for two days," Pepper said.
"We'll just keep the windows rolled down," Donny said.
He rolled his window down before starting the car. Rose and Vincent followed suit. Vincent then leaned forward and opened Pepper's window. Once he was sure that everyone was ready, Donny pulled out onto the dirt road.
"It sure will be nice to be home," Vincent said looking out the window.
Pepper stuck his head out of the window. After so much time spent in the trunk, it was nice having a fresh breeze blowing in his face.
Donny said, "You can say that again."
Rose said, "I can't wait for a hot shower and a soft bed."
Turning onto a paved road, Donny said, "Back that way is the highway we were on. It is about a mile away from here. About thirty minutes up the road is our home town."
Pepper looked at the speedometer and said, "You're driving sixty miles an hour."
"That's right. It is only thirty miles up the road from here," Donny said. He pointed to a house and barn when they drove past. He said, "I see that the Hendricksons painted their barn."
"They were out there working on it when we headed out to Los Angeles," Vincent said. "We stopped to chat for a bit when we were leaving. Dale said that he had a number of boards that were beginning to rot and had to be replaced."
"He should have painted it last year," Donny said.
"Well, he had that accident and couldn't do it last year," Rose said justifying Dale's lack of action in taking care of the barn.
Donny said, "He could have asked for a little help. I would have shown up. We all helped bale his hay last fall."
"He didn't want to impose when it could wait," Vincent said. "He felt bad enough when Nancy and I stopped by to replace his hot water heater."
Pepper asked, "You drove thirty miles to help that guy out?"
Vincent said, "No. We drove fifty miles. Dale Hendrickson is my wife's uncle. He's family."
As soon as he heard the word, 'family', Pepper shut up and looked out the window knowing that future discussion would not achieve anything. Family justified a whole lot of things with these people. Back at home, he would have hired a painter to take care of the problem. He had a feeling that they would have laughed at the whole idea of doing that.
He was beginning to understand that he was entering an entirely different world now.
Donny pointed to another house and asked, "What do you think is going to happen to the Mueller place, now that the old man has passed away?"
"I heard that Skip Marks is thinking about buying it. He finally got around to asking Valerie to marry him, and wants to get his own place," Vincent answered.
"Really? How much are the Mueller kids asking for the place?" Donny asked.
All of Mueller's kids had moved out of the area more than thirty years ago.
Rose answered, "I heard that they wanted a million five."
"What?" Pepper asked.
His little store in Los Angeles had cost a third of that. He couldn't believe that these hicks were talking about that much money.
Vincent said, "He'll probably get it for a million three."
Donny asked, "What's he doing to raise the money for the down payment?"
"His family is kicking in some money," Vincent answered. "The Lord knows that he has enough relatives in the area."
"It is going to be rough for a while," Donny said.
Vincent said, "I know. He's got eight thoroughbred mares that are of pretty good stock. He's got that stallion that is worth more than seventy thousand. A couple of years of a decent breeding program, and he'll be established."
"His place is just up the road a bit. Maybe we ought to stop by and say howdy," Donny said.
"I'd like to see him," Rose said.
About five minutes later, Donny slowed down and turned into the driveway of a small place. A guy was on a riding lawnmower, taking care of the front yard. In Los Angeles they would have called it a park. The man stopped the mower and looked over at the sedan. Suspicious, he got off the mower and approached the car. By the way his posture suddenly relaxed, it was obvious when he recognized Vincent seated in the back of the car. His pace picked up a bit. When he reached the car, he bent down to look in Pepper's window.
He said, "Howdy."
"Hello, Skip," Donny said, and was echoed by Rose and Vincent.
Skip looked at Pepper and asked, "Is this the guy that screwed over Sonny?"
"Yes," Donny answered.
Skip looked down at Pepper taking in the restraints. Shaking his head, he said, "I'm really surprised that Dan didn't kill him."
"We talked about it," Donny said.
"I can't believe that you guys are actually doing it," Skip said with a chuckle. "Your whole family has got to be crazy."
Donny said, "The way we figured it was that you can always set a man free, but you can't unkill him."
"That's true," Skip said. "I didn't look at it that way."
Pepper looked at Skip and asked, "It doesn't bother you that they kidnapped me?"
Skip said, "Like Donny said, he can always set you free, but he can't unkill you. My daddy would have killed you if you did to me, what you did to Sonny. You're lucky to be alive."
Pepper slouched down in his seat. He couldn't believe these people. He wondered how anyone was still alive out in the country considering the ease with which they talked about killing someone.
Donny said, "I heard that you were looking to buy the Mueller place."
"Yes. I've got an offer in for a million and a quarter. We'll see if they accept this one. Those kids of his are awful greedy," Skip said.
Donny said, "Well, if you do get the place I wanted to let you know that I've got that old stallion you can use to improve your herd. He's only got about two years left on him, but he's of real good stock."
"Are you talking about Doug's Pride?" Skip asked with his eyes lighting up.
"That's right," Donny said. "I'll let you have him, free and clear, for one colt of his bloodline two years from when I bring him over."
"Mare or stallion?" Skip asked.
"I'd prefer a mare, but I'd be happy with a gelding. All of my stock is descended from him and a stallion wouldn't do me any good," Donny said.
"I made a deal with Hollander over in Great Falls. We swapped stallions for a year. He's getting the better deal, but I really need to breed my mares to a stallion of a different bloodline. I'll have a year's worth of foals from Morning Sparkle. How about you take a stallion from him instead?" Skip asked.
Donny reached out a hand and said, "You got a deal."
"That's if I get the Mueller place," Skip said shaking his hand.
"Of course," Donny said.
"It's always nice doing business with a Daniels," Skip said with a grin.
Donny said, "If you need a hand, you let me know."
"I will," Skip said. He looked over at Rose and winked. He asked, "When are you going to put your brand on this here broken down poor excuse for a stallion?"
"I've got the branding iron in the fire. It is just a matter of time," Rose answered with a smile.
Vincent drawled, "Talk about dragging down a bloodline."
Skip laughed and said, "I'm sure there are a few Daniels around who would argue that."
Grinning, Rose said, "Tell Valerie that I'm expecting to be a bride's maid at your wedding."
"She has been real busy planning the wedding with her mother. We're looking at a low cost affair. Money is going to be real tight if I manage to buy the Mueller place. I know she is planning on calling you once you got back," Skip said.
Rose said, "You're lucky. My Dad thinks that planning a wedding involves remembering where you left the shotgun."
Skip laughed and said, "Your dad is real piece of work. Is he still telling that story about getting the twelve point buck?"
"Nearly every day," Vincent said with a groan.
"I'm going to have to swing by when he gets back," Skip said.
Vincent said, "Why don't you come by during pheasant season? We'll go hunting one day."
"Sounds good," Skip said.
Donny said, "We better head home. You take care and let us know when you get the Mueller place."
"Will do," Skip said stepping back from the car.
Donny started the car and backed down the drive.
When they got back on the road, Vincent said, "You really got a good deal."
"We both did. He's getting use of Doug's Pride for two years," Donny said.
Not familiar with the intricacies of horse trading, Pepper said, "I don't understand. What's the big deal?"
Rose said, "Donny and Skip just made a deal that could be worth tens of thousands of dollars for each of them. They are both improving the bloodlines of their stock, without having to pay stud fees or buying a new stallion. It might kick up the price of their colts by five thousand dollars each. When you've got a bunch of horses, then that's a lot of money."
"He's getting my old stallion that I can't use anymore and I'll be getting a colt in two years that he won't need. Both horses are worth ninety thousand dollars," Donny said.
"You did that on a handshake?" Pepper asked.
"Yes."
"What if he doesn't deliver the colt?" Pepper asked.
There was no way that he would trust someone to deliver a colt two years from now without a battalion of lawyers working up a contract.
Donny said, "He will. His word is good."
"What if something happens?" Pepper asked.
"Like what?" Donny asked.
Pepper asked, "What if a horse dies or something like that?"
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. He's an honest man, and will make it right," Donny said.
Rose said, "It is all about integrity."