Big Sky - 5. Chapter 5 Mike is ran out of town

BIG SKY

Chapter 5

Mike Is Ran Out Of Town

Hunter made it to the lower east pasture and decided to ride the fence line to see if anybody had been messing with the fence. He was about 30 mins into it when he thought he had saw something, he got off Cope and walked over to the fence post to look at it. Cope walked up behind him and Hunter took a hold of his reins so he would stay with him. Hunter reached in his saddle bag and took out his flashlight so he could see the post better, which was fine upon looking at it. Hunter went ahead and walked the fence instead of getting back on Cope.

Hunter was thinking so hard about everything that had happened and wasn’t paying attention around him. One of the heifers walked up to Hunter, curious and started sniffing Hunter’s leg. Hunter jumped so high he almost fell on his ass, “What the hell?” Hunter yelled as he looked at the heifer, then he started laughing thinking he could not believe that damn cow scared him.

He decide to get back on Cope and ride for a bit longer then head back to the ranch. As Hunter was getting back on Cope a gunshot went by his head, almost hitting him and Cope. He jumped in the saddle and took off across the pasture trying to dodge the cattle. The cattle were running full blown across the pasture scared out of their minds. Hunter got to the well house and jumped off Cope and took cover behind the building and grabbed his gun off his hip.

Hunter looked around but didn’t see anything out there in the dark. He had been using the moon to see where he was going when walking the fence line but just at that moment a cloud moved over the moon which did not help him see who was shooting at him. Hunter set there thinking what to do to get out of this mess in one piece, just then he heard a vehicle start up but with it being so dark he couldn’t see what direction it was at. As the noise of the vehicle was fading he put his gun back in its holster, got back on Cope and took off at a full run for the ranch.

Hunter and Cope came to a stop in front of the main house and he jumped down, went to the front door and knocked. Ed answered the door seeing Hunter there breathing hard grasping for air, “Hunter what is wrong?” Ed asked Hunter

After Hunter caught some air he told Ed, “I was walking the fence line, somebody shot at me. The shot just missed my damn head, I took cover behind the well house and waited to see what they were going to do. Whoever it was took off in a vehicle.”

“Are you ok? Did you shoot back? Did you see who it was? ” Ed asked

“No it was too dark to see who it was and where to shoot at and I didn’t want to hit any of the cattle,” Hunter said

“Ok, we don’t have to worry about calling the sheriff tonight with it being so late and being so dark we wouldn’t be able to see anything anyways, I’ll just call them in the morning.” Ed said to Hunter grabbing his shoulder. “Why don’t you come in and have some coffee with me so we can talk some more.”

Hunter looked at Ed trying to calm himself down some, “No thanks, I need something to eat and then some sleep, I’m going back out there at daybreak to see if they did any damage or if they left anything behind to help us figure who is behind all the missing cattle.”

“Ok get some rest, but I want you to take one of the men with you. I’m going to have that meeting in the morning when I can get ya’ll together and we will discuss a new rule that I’m putting out there for everybody to follow till these assholes are caught. I’ll see you in the morning.” Ed said to Hunter then closed the door thinking that he was glad that he had already called some of his old military buddies, with what happen to Butch and now Hunter, whoever these guys are they don’t care if they hurt or kill to get what they want.

“Night” Hunter said to Ed as he was walking away from the door heading to the kitchen house to find something to eat, hopefully Tom had something in the icebox he can heat up fast, Hunter was dead on his feet.

Hunter got to the kitchen and found Tom standing at the sink when he walked in the door. “Hey Tom, would there be something in the icebox to heat up? I haven’t ate since this morning and I’m starving.” Hunter asked Tom

“Ya there is some leftover meatloaf in there you can heat up in the microwave.” Tom smiled at Hunter.

Hunter went to the icebox and got out the meatloaf, heated it up. He sat at the table with his food, Tom brought him a cup of coffee but Hunter turned it down with it being so late he would not sleep if he drank it. Hunter got up and just got him some water from the tap.

“Hunter are you going to tell me what is going on or do I just have to start guessing?” Tom looked across the table at Hunter with a frown on his face.

“Tom if I knew what was going on I’d tell you but so much has gone on today I wouldn’t know where to start.” Hunter said to Tom with a tired look.

Tom leaned back in his chair with frown on his face, Hunter finished eating then said “Tom just let me get some sleep then catch up with me in the morning and I’ll tell you then, ok. It’s not that I’m not wanting you to know it’s just I am dragging my ass right now, and I still have to go unsaddle, brush down and feed Cope then try and get a couple hours sleep before heading back out again.” Hunter said to Tom as he was getting up from the table.

Hunter put his dishes in the sink, “Night” Hunter said as he was walking out the door. Hunter untied Cope and took him to the barn to bed him down for the night.

As Hunter was going in the barn to take care of Cope, Mike was making his way back to town.

As Mike was getting back to town he called The Boss to meet up at the old cemetery just outside of town. Mike pulled in and saw The Boss was there waiting on him, Mike got out of his truck and walked over to The Boss’s car and got in.

“I did something real stupid and I hope it don’t backfire on me!” Mike told The Boss

“What the hell did you do now Mike, you have been ranting all over town about Ed firing you and I’m getting worried if you don’t keep that mouth shut you are going to bring trouble our way? Those cattle are bringing in a lot of cash for all of us, so I know you don’t need cash. So tell me what you did and since you still have not told me why Ed fired you, I am going to get the answer to that before you get out of this car.” The Boss said looking at Mike with a serious look on his face.

“I was out at Big Sky and seen Hunter walking the fence where they put all the cattle and I took a shot at him, I was just trying to scare him but I think I hit him, I just took off not checking if I did or not.” Mike told The Boss

“Now why in the hell did you do that? What! Are you going stupid on me?” The Boss yelled at Mike and then was thinking that Mike is becoming a liability that can bring him down if he doesn’t get control of the young punk.

“You are leaving town tonight for a while no questions asked, I want you out of town till things cool down. I can’t understand why you would go out there and try and kill Hunter when we have the people of this town not looking in our direction.” The Boss said grabbing Mike’s arm and squeezing it hard.

Mike winced trying to get his arm out of the Boss’s grip. “You have no idea what that stupid wanna-be cowboy did to me, let go of my arm you are hurting me.” Mike screamed at The Boss.

“I am going to do more than that if you don’t get out of town, I don’t care where you go, just leave.” The Boss told Mike while letting go of his arm.

“What did Hunter do to you? Is that why you got fired? I helped you get that job so I could have an inside man on that ranch, now with you not working there I don’t know what is happening on Big Sky day to day so you had better tell me what happened right now?” The Boss yelled louder at Mike.

Mike looked at the Boss shaking real bad on the not knowing. “MMM, Hunter and I had a compromising situation and it got out of hand. Hunter blew me off and I felt used so I went to Ed and told him to fire Hunter and it got blown out portion and he fired me instead.” Mike said

“What kind of compromising situation?” The Boss asked Mike looking at him in the eye.

“Well we were in the truck coming back from town and one thing lead into another and Hunter went down on me.” Mike said

“You mean you are a FAGGOT,” The Boss screamed at Mike.

“No I am not a faggot, I am bi-sexual there is a difference.” Mike said

The Boss looked at Mike like he was ready to beat the crap out of him. “I don’t care either way it is still the same, YOU ARE A FAGGOT. You leave Hunter and everybody on that ranch alone, do not go near that ranch again. You are so god damn stupid, now I am going to have to go out there and clean up your damn mess. Get the hell of my car and get the hell out of town, stay gone till I call you and keep that big mouth of yours shut.” screamed The Boss

Mike got out of the car and walked over to his truck thinking he screwed up big time, if only Hunter would have done what he wanted him to do then everything would have been good. Mike thought he would just go back to his parents’ house and lay low for a while. Mike went to the hotel he was staying at in town, packed his belongs and put them his truck and left town. With it being so late at night nobody would see him leaving town.

As Mike was high tailing it out of town, Hunter was coming out of the barn after bedding down Cope. He headed over to the bunkhouse to check on Butch and go to bed. As he walked in the door Sam was heading to his bunk, “Hey, how’s he doing?” Hunter asked as he was walking over to Butch’s bunk, he looked down at him and seen that he was asleep.

“He just fell back to sleep, I had to give him pain meds for a headache, but other than that he’s doing ok.” Sam said to Hunter as he was making it over to his bunk to lay back down.

“Ok, I’m going to lay down, have to get up in a few hours to go back out to the east pasture and check on a few things. Do you think you would feel up to it to going with me? Ed doesn’t want any of us to go out to the pastures alone for right now, have to have two going or don’t go.” Hunter asked Sam as he set down on his bunk to take his boots off.

Sam looked over at Hunter, “Ya I will go if I can get Tom or one of the other men to keep an eye on Butch, Doc doesn’t want him by his self for the first 12 hours.”

“I will wake you up and we can see if one of the men can do that, Night!” Hunter said to Sam as he was stripping down to his boxers and climbing into his bed.

“Night!” Sam said.

Hunter was laying there thinking if he had not had to get that flashlight or had not moved in the right direction he would be dead right now. He is going to find out who shot at him and when he does, whoever it was better run for the hills as fast as they can cuz he was coming after them. Hunter was trying to shut his brain down so he could get some sleep but every time he closed his eyes all he could see is his life pass him by. He knew he still had a lot he wanted to do before that happened. He wanted to find a partner to fall in love with and grow old together. Hunter closed his eyes and felt sleep coming on.

Hunter is going to get his wish but it might not be so easy for him to get it.

Note: Will Hunter find out who shot at him? Will Mike stay out of town? Will Butch tell Hunter who hit him over the head? What will Hunter find out at the watermill? Coming chapters will reveal the answers for you….stay tuned.