"You, too." With a farewell wave to him, Tara slid into the seat.

As Buck moved to shut the door, he got a good look at Ty's face. There was something just a little too pleased and a little too confident about his expression in Buck's way of thinking. He had a feeling that his employer had just found out what it was like to tangle with the Calders.

After he had climbed into the driver's seat, Buck flicked a quick glance at the rearview mirror, inspecting Tara's reflection in it. But he could tell little from her expression.

Buck waited until he was headed down the forty-mile-long lane to town before he asked, "How did it go?"

She met his reflected glance in the mirror, her gaze cool and sharp. "That is really none of your business."

Buck grinned. "That bad, huh?"

In a burst of angry frustration, Tara snapped, "If you must know, yes!"

"That's what I thought." He nodded in amusement.

"I don't understand," Tara murmured in irritation, an intensity and determination to her expression as she mentally searched for an explanation. "It was a sweet deal. Why didn't they accept it?"

"Just out of curiosity, ma'am, exactly what did you offer 'em?"

She shot him an annoyed look in the mirror then relented. "A year's lease to the property for ten dollars, excluding the fifty-acre building site, of course. It was all very straightforward, completely in their favor."

"Except for one thing, I'm guessin'."

"What?" Her gaze sharpened on him.

"I'll bet there was a clause in there somewhere that gave you access to the property. Right?"

"Naturally. I expected it to be an issue, but they didn't raise any objection to it. It was almost as if they had decided to turn down any offer I made before they even saw it," Tara mused, mostly to herself as she replayed the meeting in her mind. "And you think access alone killed the idea?"

"Deader than roadkill," Buck confirmed. "It's just my opinion ma'am, but as long as you have title to the Wolf Meadow range, the Calders won't give you access to diddly-squat."

"But why? What can they possibly gain from it? It won't stop me from building. I should think they would have already realized that. I have been flying men and equipment in for a week now. If necessary, I can continue to do it until the lodge is finished. It will likely double the construction costs, but I can easily afford it."

"While you're at it, you might as well figure on buying yourself a flock of those whirlybirds. Because you can bet those Calders plan on makin' getting' to or from that property as inconvenient as hell."

"I can deal with it," she stated firmly.

"Sure you can." Buck nodded in agreement, the same amused smile edging the corners of his mouth. "But it's gonna get mighty old after a while. It wouldn't surprise me if the Calders aren't counting on that."

Clearly irritated by his obvious insight into the Calders, Tara challenged, "Do you have any suggestions, Mr. Haskell?"

"Not off the top of my head."

"If you should come up with anything, let me know." After delivering the sentence with a curt finality, she turned her gaze out the window to stare at the night-darkened grass sea beyond it.

"I'll do that," Buck replied. "Just one question, though."

"What's that?" Disinterested in any further conversation with him, Tara didn't bother to glance his way.

"If it should come to it, are you prepared to go to war with the Calders?"

For a long run of seconds, she remained silent. "Not yet," was her ultimate decision.

Buck drove another mile before curiosity got the better of him. "If you don't mind me asking, what are you going to do now?"

After a thoughtful pause, Tara replied, "Perhaps make a point." Buck could tell that she had a plan formulating in that brain of hers. "Step on it, will you? I have some calls I need to make."

"Yes, ma'am." Buck pushed the accelerator pedal a little closer to the floorboard and the vehicle surged forward, leaving a dust cloud behind it to linger in the night air.

The two cowboys, Jobe Garvey and Kyle Sullivan, followed Ty into the den. Chase waited behind the desk for their report on Buck's movements, nodding to them when they entered.

"What happened?" He glanced sharply from one to the other.

"Nothing really, sir." It was Jobe Garvey who answered. "When we showed up, he kinda acted like he had been expecting us. He hung around the Rover for a while then ambled off to the cemetery."

"You went with him?" Ty sought confirmation.

"Like a couple of puppy dogs," Kyle replied. "He spent some time at Ruth's grave then headed straight back here and climbed into the Rover. He never budged from it until she came out to leave."

"So he didn't say anything to you, ask you any questions," Chase said thoughtfully, not actually phrasing it as a question.

Garvey answered him just the same. "He never said one word."

"Good." Chase nodded in satisfaction and smiled. "Thanks for coming out tonight, boys. We appreciate it." As soon as the two men had left the den, he switched his attention to Ty. "Did Tara say anything outside?"

"Just the usual small talk." Ty settled back in his chair and draped a bent leg across his knee. "But you can bet she was confused and annoyed that we didn't accept the deal. She'll be back. Probably not for a few days, but she will be in touch."

"I'm sure she will," Chase agreed absently, a slight frown creasing his forehead. "There was one thing she said tonight that rang true. Outside of our own men, no one knows the Triple C better than Buck Haskell. He has ridden every hill and gully on this ranch-and can tell you every back trail and which one is the quickest or shortest way to anywhere." He swiveled the leather chair around to stare at the framed map. "And she has him planted damned near in the middle of it all."

Ty studied the map as well. "I still can't believe he would be fool enough to try anything."

"Maybe. Then again, maybe not." Chase swung his chair back around. "The smart thing is to play it safe and pass the word tomorrow for everyone to keep an eye out for any strange vehicles traveling over the ranch roads."

"Consider it done." Ty idly adjusted the hem of his jeans, smoothing its line over his boots.

But Chase wasn't finished. "Does O'Rourke still prowl around?"

"Not as much as he used to. Every now and then, you'll catch sight of him, usually if Cat's in the vicinity. Why?"

Chase reached for the telephone. "I think I'll have Cat ask O'Rourke to keep his eyes peeled for anything unusual or suspicious. He is one man who could teach you, me, and Buck a few things about moving from one end of this ranch to the other without being seen."

"Do you think that's wise?" Ty questioned the decision. "Buck used him once before. And O'Rourke has never had any love for either one of us. He only tolerates us for Cat's sake."

"Good point. Just the same, I think Cat can handle him and make sure nothing like that happens again." Chase slipped on his reading glasses again to punch his daughter's telephone number.

The next morning Ty spread the word for everyone to keep a lookout for any strange vehicle traveling within the Triple C boundaries. He also made a point of mentioning that Tara had offered to lease them the Wolf Meadow range-and they had refused.

Each time the reaction was the same. After a moment or two of stunned disbelief came the smile and the wry shake of the head. The message was clear to all-the Calders would not be dancing to whatever tune Tara chose to call, as many had feared. Just how Chase and Ty intended to get the land back, no one knew. But they were confident that the Calders would find a way-their way.

Within days after the word went out, the telephone at The Homestead was ringing off the wall-not with reports of unknown vehicles being sighted, but with complaints over the marked increase of air traffic over the ranch's north and east quadrants.

Shortly after lunch on Thursday, longtime ranchhand Jasper Karlsen stomped into the dining room, each heavy step punctuated by the harsh chank of his spurs. He walked straight to Chase's chair, the angry scowl on his face was as black as a thundercloud.

He didn't waste time coming to the point, exploding, "Dammit, Chase, you've gotta do somethin' about those damned choppers! They're flying in and out of Wolf Meadow in swarms now. The cattle over on Long Creek pasture are flighty as hell from bein' spooked all the time. In the last couple days they must have dropped nearly a hundred pounds just from runnin' when those damned choppers fly over."

Ty spoke up. "I have already left a message for Tara to call me right away. When she does, hopefully I'll be able to convince her to have the pilots fly at a higher altitude."

"In the event he doesn't succeed," Chase inserted, "I already have Stumpy checking to see if he can handle any more cattle at South Branch in case we have to move them."

"If you do, you'll play hell roundin' them up," Jasper warned. "About the time you get 'em bunched together, the helicopters fly over and scatter them to hell an' gone. What the hell is she doin' over there anyway?"

"Ferrying in equipment and supplies for the house she's building, I guess." That was Ty's supposition.

"More'n likely she's flying in her own damned army," Jasper retorted, then sprang to his own defense. "You think I'm exaggeratin', but if you were out there with me, you'd swear, too, that the military must be holdin' war maneuvers."

"Until we get this handled, just do the best you can," Chase advised.

The cowboy snorted in disgust. "I might as well piss up a rope. At least I'd stand a chance of accomplishin' that," he grumbled and stalked out of the room.

He passed Cat on her way in, grunting a response when she greeted him. "What's wrong with Jasper?" she asked curiously. "He looked as grouchy as an old bear."

"He's having trouble over at Long Creek with the helicopters spooking the cattle," Ty explained as the twins clamored for Cat's attention.

"Uncle Culley mentioned last night that he had seen a bunch of them flying toward Blue Moon." Cat paused by the highchairs to give each child a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Hi, sweeties."

Jessy frowned. "I don't understand why she needs so many."

"Presumably, to haul all the construction workers she has hired." Cat picked up the insulated coffee carafe and gave it a shake, checking for the telltale slosh of liquid within. There was none. "Do you have more coffee made, Sally? I could use a cup."

"There's some in the kitchen." The woman rose from her chair, gathering a few plates to carry with her. "I'll get it."

"Thanks." Cat pulled out an empty chair next to Jessy and sat down. "According to Logan, she is bringing in workers by the droves. I guess it's absolute chaos in Blue Moon-even worse than when Dy-Corp opened its mining operation. Every time I think about her buying that land away from us, I get so mad I could personally strangle her."

Jessy glimpsed some of that anger in Cat's eyes. Truthfully she felt the same. Unfortunately it didn't solve anything.

"Isn't there some way we can stop her from building on it, Dad?" There was a hint of desperation mixed in with the frustration in Cat's voice.

"As long as she has the necessary permits, which she does, she can do anything she likes. We can only step in if she attempts to cross our land to get to it," Chase stated what they all already knew.

When the telephone rang, Ty excused himself from the table to answer it and crossed to the dining room extension. "Triple C Ranch, Ty speaking."

"Ty. It's Tara. You left an urgent message for me to call you. I-"

"Yes, I did." He cut across her words, wasting no time with preliminaries. "It's about your helicopters. They are flying so low over our range, they're spooking our cattle."

"Ty, I'm sorry. I had no idea," Tara rushed in apology. "I'll put a stop to it at once."

"I'd appreciate it if you would."

"As you pointed out, we are neighbors." Her voice softened, all conciliatory. "If I had given it a moment's thought, I would never have allowed it to happen in the first place, but it never crossed my mind that I would need to warn the pilots about flying too low. By the way," Tara continued without a break, "would it be convenient if I came by the ranch tomorrow morning? I took the liberty of picking up the sale catalogs from the printers and thought I would drop them off."

"What time?"

"Between ten-thirty and eleven. Would that suit you?"

"I'll be here."

"Good. I'll see you tomorrow then," she said and rang off.

Chase glanced at him expectantly. "Tara?"

"Yes." Ty turned from the phone. "She said she would take care of the problem with the helicopters right away."

"Let's hope she does," Chase grunted.

"She will," Ty said.

"How can you be so sure of that?" Cat challenged, voicing Jessy's very thought.

"Because I don't think she wants to do anything more to cross us, at least not intentionally." Ty resumed his seat at the table. "And all those helicopters indicate to me that she isn't going to make an attempt to cross our land-and probably won't for a good long while."

"Just the same, I asked Uncle Culley to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary," Cat stated. "He promised he would."

Stars dusted the night sky, glittering brightly amid the darkness. Culley O'Rourke knew them all. They had been his companions on many an evening ride; they were as familiar to him as the gelding he rode. It was that familiarity with all things of the night that made him quick to notice the faint glow in the distance.

He reined his horse to study it. As dry as the land was, fire was Culley's first thought. He tested the wind but detected no trace of smoke in it. The glow was steady, without the wane and leap of moving flames.

"That's no fire," he murmured to his horse. "Let's go take a look-see."

The decision was born out of his own curiosity reinforced by the remembered request from Cat to keep an eye out for anything unusual.

In no hurry, Culley swung the gelding's head toward the distant glow and urged it forward at an easy shuffling trot. Culley and sleep had never been frequent companions. As he had gotten older, it seemed he needed less and less of it. A couple three catnaps a day seemed to do him just fine.

These night rambles had become a habit with him. Culley liked having the sky above him and a wide stretch of land on each side. Nothing made him restless quicker than being confined within four walls, shut away from the wild smell of the wind.

Over the years Culley had learned the slow and the fast way to just about anywhere on the Triple C. Tonight he chose the easy way, seeing no need to tire either himself or his mount.

It didn't take him long to figure out the glow was coming from somewhere on the Wolf Meadow range. He couldn't help smiling at the recollection that Tara had bought that land out from under Calder's nose. He knew Cat had been mighty upset over it, but Culley figured Calder had been due for a comeuppance. Because of Cat, he didn't take as much pleasure in it as he once might have. But he definitely didn't lose any sleep over it.

The closer he got to the light, the bigger and brighter it became. It reminded him of the glow from a city, reaching out to dim all but the brightest stars. As near as he could tell, it was coming from the area of that old windmill not far from Antelope Butte. If he remembered right, Cat had said something about Tara planning to build a house out here. But that still didn't solve the puzzle of the light.

Less than a mile from its source, Culley reined his horse to a walk. The rolling terrain still blocked his view, but he began to pick up the low rumble of machinery.

Following a fold in the plains, he worked his way around to approach the site from the far side of the bluff. The noise was louder now, the light reaching out to deepen the shadows around him. Turning cautious, Culley pulled his horse up behind a low rise and dismounted, dropping the reins to ground-tie the gelding. On silent feet, he moved toward the rise.

"Well, well, well," a familiar voice drawled on his right. "If it ain't Culley O'Rourke himself."

Culley froze on the spot. With a fractional turn of his head, he swept his gaze over the shadows, searching for the owner of that voice he couldn't quite place. There was a whisper of movement, the grass against a leather boot. Culley zeroed in on the sound just as a figure separated itself from the darkness. The reflected glow from the other side of the rise touched the face of an old man. The features weren't quite the same, but Culley was quick to recognize that grin. It could only belong to one man-Buck Haskell.