At Long Last; Book 4 of the Long Ranch Series Read online

  At Long Last

  Book Four

  Long Ranch Series

  By

  Michel Prince

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system-except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the web -without permission in writing from the author.

  SMASHWORDS EDITION

  At Long Last

  Book Four

  The Long Ranch Series

  Copyright © 2016 Michel Prince

  Cover Art

  By

  Dusk Til Dawn Designs

  * * * *

  Photo Credit

  Royal Touch Photography

  * * * *

  Edited

  By

  Leanore Elliott

  * * * *

  Book Format & Design

  By

  Wicked Muse

  DEDICATION

  I no longer do dedications in every one of my books. It’s hard to put into words what these characters become to you and how much the readers mean to writers. This series was started on a dare. What can I say? I’m the girl that chooses the dare over truth nine times out of ten. Why? Dares make you challenge yourself. Truth is necessary to have a relationship, but if we’re close enough to play the game, you’ve already learned my truth.

  There have been fewer things further from me than cowboys. Although, I liked country music growing up, I wasn’t the girl that got to ride a horse or hang out with cowboys. I love westerns and the cowboy code Sunshine speaks about in the beginning of the series I tried to stay true to. When I wrote One Last Rodeo, I never expected to follow up with any book, let alone a full series.

  I’ve enjoyed the Long family and their crazy world of cattle and the trials they had over the years. As one of my more popular series, I have to thank the fans that kept me from walking away from them. Their story needed to be told. It is American history. Not all cowboys are and were white. I’m thankful for those who love cowboy books that took a chance on a new author and those who love my books that took a chance on me writing a cowboy. I truly hope you enjoy this series for years to come.

  Chapter One

  “What was that?” Ashleigh Wood choked, not sure if what her boss Harper Maxwell had just told her was real or imagined.

  “There’s been a shooting at the courthouse and I need to get you down here.”

  “No,” Ashleigh said. “Why were you at the courthouse?”

  Harper was an assistant district attorney and being at the courthouse wasn’t strange, but Ashleigh swore she said she’d gotten married.

  “Monty and I were getting married.”

  “Are you married now?”

  “Yes. It was after that—”

  “You bitch.”

  “Excuse me?” Harper snipped.

  “You got married without me?” Ashleigh threw down the pen she’d been taking notes with. Sure, the only thing she actually wrote down was Miles Long after that it got a bit fuzzy for her. Harper was more than her boss, she was her friend, not an office one, a real one. She’d seen Harper through her divorce and Ashleigh had just gotten over the shock of Harper’s announcement that she was pregnant by…Ashleigh let out a sigh of relief. Harper married Montgomery Long, not Miles. Racking her brain, she tried to place the name from the files she’d been researching for Harper.

  “Earth to Ash,” Harper’s voice carried over the phone. “I need you to meet me at the courthouse now. I have to recuse myself, but you can find out what they have on him.”

  “Him?” Ashleigh picked up her pen and tapped the name on her scratch pad. “Miles Long right? And he’s…”

  “My brother-in-law now. If it just would have happened a half hour earlier, I could do something.”

  “Harper, are you really married?” Ashleigh looked at the calendar on her desk, it was too early to be April fools, but still she couldn’t understand how Harper had shifted gears so quickly. She’d told Ashleigh that she wasn’t going to marry Monty just because she got pregnant.

  “Yes, I’m married and I need you to help me. So hang up the phone, grab your keys and get your skinny white ass down here.”

  “Why it gotta be racial?” Ashleigh joked in broken English she only used when Harper called her out for being white. It had been their go to way of saying something was serious when the other got sidetracked, but how could Ashleigh not be sidetracked? She’d seen Montgomery and most of his family when they were prepping for the Vasquez case. Their younger sister, Melody had been one of the victims, but she couldn’t pick out which one Miles was. Since the case pled out, meeting the actual family members hadn’t been a top priority for her. Her mind flipped through all the men and each one had been like a box of chocolate with each piece more delectable than the one before. “I’m on my—”

  “We’re here to execute a warrant for Arthur Connelly,” a man in a windbreaker said as he entered the office with four uniformed state police.

  All Ashleigh could do was point to the closed door of the District Attorney. “Harper, did you file some charges this morning with the federal marshals before you got married?”

  “Shit,” Harper spat. “Is Art getting arrested?”

  “Yes.” Ashleigh drew out the word. She knew Art’s name had been on the documents, but she didn’t expect that he’d actually be indicted. Ducking her head back into her cubical, she tried to not watch as his voice boomed through the open door to his office. “You’ve had a big morning.”

  “The federal DA said she might file.” Harper paused and Ashleigh watched the show as Art barked out orders to his secretary June who sat at her desk looking like a Mac truck hit her.

  “Harp, I need to help June out. She looks…do you know what a stroke looks like from the outside?”

  “She’s not having a stroke.” Harper groaned. “I’m sure June is trying to decide if she should dance a jig or actually do what Art’s saying.”

  “Possibly,” Ashleigh replied. “I think I saw a little smile before she finally started looking for some guy named Tory’s number. Isn’t that—?”

  “Yes, one of Federated’s lawyers and he’s a bit tied up right now too, I assume.”

  “Damn girl, you used both barrels when you shot didn’t you? I’m a little hurt, did you use another paraslave?”

  “Only because my current paraslave isn’t listening to me.”

  “Right, I need to come to the courthouse. Sorry.” Ashleigh refocused and scooped up her purse and keys. “I’m on my way.”

  “I doubt he wants you there,” Hamilton Boyle said as he rested his arms on the top of Ashleigh’s cubical wall. “So, what do you think he did?”

  “I’m on the phone, Hamilton.” Ashleigh kept her head cocked to the side and pointed with her free hand at her cell phone.

  “Bring him,” Harper ordered.

  “But we don’t like him,” Ashleigh whined as she looked at the preppy wanna be with his dark hair slicked back with some sort of industrial grade Brill cream. He was barely a lawyer and spent most of his time pleading out cases to avoid the courtroom. Art wouldn’t give him anything above a misdemeanor.

  “Oh, Art isn’t that bad,” Hamilton scoffed and gave a condescending, “I’m sorry�
�Mr. Connelly. I suppose he doesn’t let you call him Art.”

  “We really don’t—” Ashleigh said in a low growl.

  “I know we don’t like him, but he’s got a JD and a bar card.” Harper paused. “At least, I hope he completed his CEU classes, so they didn’t revoke it.”

  “He did,” Ashleigh grumbled. “I filled out the paperwork.” As much as she hated to do this, she had to. Even though Harper didn’t invite her to the wedding, she was her best friend. “Harper, you owe me. Hamilton…Come with me. We’re going on a field trip to the courthouse. You’ve been there before, right?”

  * * * *

  Unbeknownst to Miles Long’s parents, this wasn’t his first time in handcuffs. Sure, a few months ago there was that time in Mexico, but his friend Sherriff Rust had put them on him and had been generous. The cops of Las Cruces, New Mexico didn’t know him or his family. Cold metal and hard steel cut into his wrists. This arrest he couldn’t hide from his parents. Not on his brother’s wedding day when the courthouse was where the crime had occurred and Montgomery Long had just been married by a judge.

  “MeMaw got shot,” Monty said sobering Miles as they sat in the back of the squad car.

  “What?” Miles had taken off the second there was a break in the gunshots. He hadn’t thought to look back. His only instinct was to get the men who threatened his family.

  “Harper and Melody were taking care of her when I took off.”

  “This is gonna fuck up your wedding night, huh?” Miles tried to lighten the mood.

  “Not exactly the bang I was hoping for,” Monty retorted.

  Miles knew his little brother was covering his nerves. Bad puns were his go to air filler, although speaking with two cops within earshot could be troublesome. “We were defending ourselves. I’m sure once we get back to the courthouse, they’ll see that.”

  “They were dead,” Monty spit under his breath.

  “That’s one of the side effects of a bullet entering your body.” Miles rested his head against the barred window. Between the four men, his father, uncle, Monty and him, they would have to wait for ballistics to say who actually killed which man. Worse yet, they’d all be charged. It wasn’t like when these assholes would attack them on their ranch. There, they could shoot back.

  Mayhem was slightly under control as court officers and paramedics swarmed the steps of the courthouse. His new sister-in-law, Harper looked panicked on the steps and in fear as they approached. She fought with the officers and he could hear the pain in her voice.

  “I did it,” a voice called out and Miles realized it was his. “I said I did it, just me. These two are too old and blind.” He arched his head toward the patriarchs of the family handcuffed behind him. “And it’s this one’s wedding night.”

  “Seriously Miles,” Monty protested.

  “Best man duties,” he stated plainly. “Although, you asked a bit late…you did ask.”

  “Come on guys,” the main officer said. “That’s not good enough to not book you all.”

  One of officers locked his hand on Miles’ upper arm and led him up the steps to the booking area. Miles supposed he should be happy that the county jail was connected to the courthouse, but walking handcuffed in front of his mother had to be the most heartbreaking thing he’d ever done. She wasn’t upset that his father Henry was cuffed. In fact, she looked as if she’d seen it enough times before that she wasn’t even phased, but when she looked at him…well, him and Monty, he could see the hurt on her face.

  “Can you let them go?” he asked while being told to sit on a bench.

  “No.”

  “Why didn’t you arrest the white guy with us?”

  “What white guy?” the cop spit out.

  “Old Blondie, I know he was around.”

  “There was a guy about a block behind you.”

  “That’s it,” Miles said to Monty. “Sunshine needs more cardio.”

  Monty let out a chuckle.

  “Look,” the officer confessed. “I get it, I understand your reaction, but we would have caught them. Being a vigilante just endangers more people. Whatever gang war—”

  “We’re not a gang,” Miles snapped. “We’re a family.”

  “Family, gang, whatever. Protecting your turf is important.”

  Miles ground his teeth. This cop was treating this as some stupid gang dispute over three blocks. His brother just married a fucking district attorney. Not really a gang like thing to do. What part of his cowboy boots made him think gang? Only his black skin and the Hispanics he just killed. It couldn’t be because Miles’ family was one of the oldest landowners in New Mexico. The Long Ranch’s property lines encompassed over half the county in Tender Root, New Mexico. Especially since, they recently purchased most of the neighboring ranch.

  No, this cop could only see that four black men, two of which were almost sixty, shot back at a drive-by. One, instigated by Harper Long’s filing of federal charges against the energy company Federated Gas. They’d killed before to cover up their illegal activities. This was nothing different, but who would ever believe board members would order hits on those who got in their way? God knows, Miles didn’t until his now sister-in-law was run off the road and left for dead.

  The men they killed today were trying to silence the Longs. He just hoped his new sister could get them all out of this. More importantly, lock up the men and women responsible for destroying his ranch and his future.

  “Let my brother go,” he pleaded. “You can have the rest of us, but that’s his pregnant wife down there who’s wedding was just shot up.” Miles stared at the two officers who both sported wedding bands. “You got us and his gun. We’re not a flight risk. She’s an officer of the court. Please, if that was your wife who just got shot at…what’s the one thing she would need more than anything in the world?”

  The officers looked at each other and one turned to see Harper trembling on the steps below as she tried to stay strong. With a click, Monty’s cuffs were undone.

  “Harp’s gonna get you guys out,” Monty assured them.

  Miles grinned. “I know and if not, tell ‘em Sunshine did it, so at least, I can get a cute celly.”

  * * * *

  “Any chance you’re going to tell me why we are running over to the courthouse?” Hamilton asked.

  “Well, it’s this magical place where judges and defendants are.”

  “I still don’t know why that involves me.”

  Ashleigh rolled her green eyes and let out a cleansing breath. “Who do you work for?”

  “How about you lose the condescending attitude. I’m not Harper, I don’t find it amusing.”

  “There’s been a shooting.”

  “A shooting?” Hamilton bristled. “It will be blockaded.”

  “Probably,” Ashleigh snipped. “Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be there.”

  “I like to stay away from places where there’s gunfire.”

  “And yet, you chose to live in the southwest.” Ashleigh put her car in gear and pulled out of the parking lot. Her brain was processing what all Harper had told her, although it was hard to get past her getting married. It had been less than a week ago when she wouldn’t be tied down again. Baby or no baby, she would only be with Montgomery Long on her terms. Nothing else.

  “It’s a little early to be pulling in the guys who did it. You can’t tell me they caught the men already,” Hamilton retorted.

  Ashleigh cocked her head to the side as they parked three blocks away from the courthouse. Police cars were blocking the street and she wasn’t in the mood to go in search of rock star parking just now. “Somehow, Harper’s new brother in law is involved.”

  “Sampson?”

  “Not Dylan’s brother,” Ashleigh bit out. “Harper got remarried this morning, or afternoon. Pull out that little I’m a DA badge and get us past this blockade.”

  “You want me to walk?” he balked. “It’s hot out.”

  “Haven’t you learned by now,
it’s a dry heat. And don’t you run ten miles every day or were you just bragging to that burglary victim?”

  “Why…were you listening?” he leered over at her.

  “Couldn’t be because I wanted to be a witness for the sexual harassment suit?” Ashleigh let her lips pout a bit. “No, that wasn’t it.”

  “The building will be in lockdown.”

  “Badge. They already have the suspects in custody and it’s your civic duty to provide a fair and speedy trial.” Ashleigh tried not to choke on her sarcasm with that one.

  “I doubt the police have even filled out the two-ten form.”

  “Technicality.”

  “Yeah, there are those,” Hamilton bemoaned.

  “I heard it’s a slam dunk on a manslaughter case that can be bumped up because of the whole public safety implications.” Ashleigh knew Hamilton’s two favorite things involved success with little to no work. She watched as the hamster that powered Hamilton’s brain ran on his wheel to help with the calculations. “Let’s go inside. With Mr. Connelly under arrest and the shooting at the courthouse, we’re all scrambling. We need a leader to step up and take his place. A strong one.”

  Hamilton scanned her. “You really think I should be in charge?”

  It took every drama class she attended in high school to keep up the façade that she actually meant what she was saying. “If not you, then who?” Ashleigh asked.

  “Harper’s your best friend.”

  “Her brother-in-law is being charged.” Ashleigh had laid it all out there for Hamilton and now it was his move. Without him, she couldn’t get inside and help Harp. “Three blocks, your badge and the sixth district could be yours.”

  “You have to work with only me on this case,” he ordered as he finally got out of her car. Barking orders as if Ashleigh was a first year law student assigned to him for an internship.