Cut and Run 6 - Stars and Stripes

just hog-tie me and drag me behind you? I might enjoy it more.”
    “I don’t know, that’s awfully tempting.” Zane stopped in front of him, his hands in his pockets. “But I’m betting either way, your ass is toast.”
    “Don’t you have some sort of motorized . . . dune buggy thing?” Ty asked. “Or I could walk.”
    “Ty, is there some past history with horses here that I don’t know about? Like with motorcycles?”
    “No.” Ty lowered his head as a wave of embarrassment passed through him. Zane arched an eyebrow and waited. Ty shifted uncomfortably. “I just . . . really don’t like horses.”
    “Good. Then I can torture you without feeling bad.”
    Ty crushed what was left of his cheroot on the heel of his boot. “Jackass.”
    “What’d you find out at the Sanctuary?”
    Ty shrugged. “All the interns were scared shitless of me. They also smelled like granola. None of them struck me as the type to be part of this. Three of them were crying by the time I was done asking questions.”
    “Ty.”
    “I was nice, I swear! They don’t even know they’re suspects; they were upset about the tigers.”
    “But it screams inside job.”
    Ty shrugged. “A volunteer, maybe? I don’t know. It’s not exactly Fort Knox over there.”
    Zane nodded and sighed. Then he smirked and looked at Ty over his sunglasses. “Did you get to see your tiger?”
    Ty couldn’t help but laugh. “They’re tame, Zane. It’s amazing. I mean, I wouldn’t want to meet one on a dark mountaintop, but when they’re in their enclosure and feel safe, they’re like big kittens. Barnum even stood on his hind legs and hugged me.”
    Zane shook his head. “I refuse to live with any more evil cats. It’s him or me.”
    Ty made a show of thinking it over. Zane kicked dust at him and Ty laughed as he ducked away.
    “How is it that you can love cats so much and hate all other forms of animal?”
    Ty frowned. “I don’t hate all other animals.”
    “Horses. Dogs. Chipmunks.”
    “They’re twitchy, Zane. And chipmunks have shifty eyes.”
    “Moths?”
    “They have erratic flight patterns!”
    Zane doubled over, laughing so hard he couldn’t catch his breath.
    Ty glared at him. “I’m glad my phobias amuse you.”
    “Just the fact that someone like you has a chipmunk phobia amuses me,” Zane gasped.
    “What’d you find out from your dad’s guys?” Ty asked, raising his voice to get Zane’s attention.
    Zane wiped at his eyes, still chuckling. “Nothing. A couple of them said they’d heard rumors of weird things about Cactus Creek hands, but that was it. They’re pretty reticent to talk when they know I’m the law.”
    “Yeah, Big Iron,” Ty said with a grin.
    “Shut up. I thought maybe you could work your magic as we ride, see if you can get anything from them.”
    Ty stood and stretched. “I’ll give it a go.” He smiled slyly and added, “Let’s get this dog and pony show on the road then.”
    “Oh, come on,” Zane grunted. “I thought you hated puns.”
    “Not when I’m the one making them.”
    “How many horse jokes do you have stored up?”
    “So many.”
    “Christ.” Zane scrubbed one hand through his hair before turning to look down the dirt road that led up to the house and barns.
    “You make me ride a horse, you get unbridled puns.”
    “That’s clever, I approve.”
    “Thank you.” Ty said. He realized Zane was distracted, though, so he shielded his eyes to look in the same direction.
    Dust started billowing up the road. Zane turned his head toward the barn. “Dad, they’re here!” he yelled out as a truck drove into view, followed by two others.
    “Who’s what now?” Ty asked.
    “Dad told me while you were gone. He asked some of the family to go riding with us as well as some of the boys from the ranch.” He shifted his weight as the trucks parked around the front yard. It was a nervous habit he showed occasionally, and it made Ty anxious too.
    “Who?”
    “I’m not sure. If there are problems, I’ll let you know.”
    “Yeah, send up a smoke signal.”
    “Give me one of those cigars and I will.”
    “You want one?”
    “Yeah, I do.”
    Ty patted his pockets like he was looking for another, then shook his head sadly. “Aw, I’m all out.”
    “You’re an ass,” Zane whispered, though the words were uttered fondly.
    Car doors opened and closed, and then several men ambled up to them, giving Zane hugs and handshakes.
    “This is my partner, Ty Grady,” Zane