Chapter XXI

The Rush to Judgment

"Leonard? Leonard? YES! SEND HIM UP, PLEASE!" I couldn't believe Leonard had flown down to see me. How did he know where I was? I opened the door and ran out to wait in front of the elevator. When I heard the click behind me I realized I had left that card thing in the room.

I was trying the door when the elevator dinged and the elevator door opened. Leonard was stepping out. "Leonard, don't let it go. I left my key in the room and we can't get back in."

Leonard had stepped out and he was staring. "Jake? Is that you?"

I pointed to the elevator. "Leonard, the elevator."

He caught it before the doors closed and I stepped on with him behind me. "Yep, it's you cowgirl. Left your key in the room, huh?"

He looked me up and down. "Didn't recognize you without your boots and spurs."

I laughed as I thought about it. "Why don't you grab my arm and see if it's me?"

Leonard shook his head. "I'll pass. Someone told me they would knock my head off if I grabbed their arm one more time. You know, I don't think I've grabbed anyone's arm since. I'm still quivering in my shoes afraid I'll get hold of the wrong person."

The elevator stopped and we stepped out in the front lobby. I walked over to the desk as the lady I talked to a few minutes before watched. "I'm sorry but I locked myself out of my room. Could you get someone to open it up for me?"

She smiled as she placed another card on the counter. "I can if you wish or do you want another key?"

"Oh, no if you don't mind another key would work. I didn't mean I needed someone to open…, I mean I can do it but the key…, room…, I'm sorry." I took the card and walked back over to the elevator where Leonard was waiting. I needed some lessons in etiquette.

"I have your suitcase at my hotel, Jake. The pilots who left you in Brazil figured you were off sight seeing some place. They didn't know you were in trouble until they were contacted the next day."

He pushed the button for the elevator. "We have a lot to talk about before David Homes from Phoenix Corporation meets you for lunch. You want to do it in your room or go to the restaurant, get a table, and talk about it over coffee?"

The elevator doors opened and I motioned Leonard on. "My room will work. I looked it over and it seems I have coke and liquor in a cabinet there. Never been in a place where the hotel furnished cokes along with the room."

Leonard shook his head as he stepped on the elevator. "The hotel does and Phoenix Corporation does. They are working on you Jake. Let me explain the aspects of the business world."

Leonard waited until we were back in the room before he motioned to a chair as he sat down in another one. "Take a seat Jake, this is going to take a little bit."

He waited until I sat down before he became all serious. "Your parents got all excited when news about your disappearance hit the papers. They called Bill Randall in a panic. Bill called Kevin Dalder and Kevin gave Bill my number. I don't know Bill. Never met the man and after that phone call I would hate to meet him if I thought he was mad. Bill told me in no uncertain terms I would find out what happened to you in Brazil and I WOULD make sure you were safe. He said if I didn't understand, there were thirty thousand cowboys who would be glad to explain it to me."

I couldn't help it, I broke up and laughed at the idea of the way Bill was talking to Leonard. Knowing Bill, I bet he did say exactly that.

Leonard laughed and shook his head. "The idea I could have thirty thousand cowboys angry at me for losing you didn't exactly appeal to me. What topped it off was Jerry Lacky from the State Department called me up within an hour of Bill's phone call. I can tell you that wasn't a pleasant call either. He was picking up heat from the news media about us losing their all around cowboy."

"As luck would have it, you called a little after those two calls. After putting you in touch with Albert I called everyone and told them you were okay. I didn't count on you and Albert disappearing for a week."

He stopped and studied me. "Jake, you dropped me into the fire with that little trick. I'm telling everyone you are okay and you disappear with no trace. Every day I expected to see thirty thousand cowboys show up at my door with a rope."

"I'm sorry, Leonard. I couldn't contact you. I sent a message to my parents I was all right but phoning anyone was out of the question. Albert was shot, I saw four men drive over a cliff, and someone wanted us very dead." I was sorry for what Leonard went through. I looked at his eyes and then at my hands in shame.

"I'm still alive Jake. Besides making me a nervous wreck, no harm done. It was the message to your parents saved my bacon. Again, they contacted Bill and he got in touch with me. He wasn't letting me off the hook. He said as long as you were alive I might manage to do the same."

Leonard leaned forward in his chair. "How big is that guy anyway? He sounds big on the phone."

"Honestly? Bill is six foot four and there isn't an ounce of fat on him. I've seen him pick up a two hundred pound cowboy with one hand." I winked at Leonard to take some of the edge off.

Leonard coughed. "Yeah, I bet he could too. Okay, here's the rest of it. Phoenix Corporation bought you from Kevin or a good share of you…"

"SAY WHAT! Kevin doesn't own me. You don't either. I shipped a horse for you and that’s as far as it goes. No body owns…"

"Calm down Jake. Let me finish." Leonard smiled as he shook his head.

"Okay, I'm calm but you don't own me." I was still hot over that one.

"Your primary contact was with Kevin even if you don't agree." He held up his hand as I started to say something.

"I know, Kevin doesn't own you. Even if you don't like it, you had a contract. It may have been verbal but it was a contract between Bill Randall, you, and Kevin. You were to ship one horse named Heater to Brazil. Your pay was four thousand dollars…, That reminds me."

He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a credit card and held it out to me. "American Express in your name Katrina. Four thousand dollars worth. Ecetra VanDuval said you needed some money."

Hesitantly I took it. "Four thousand dollars?"

"That's your base pay. If you kept any receipts for expenses then Kevin will reimburse you for that. Within reason of course. Meals, lodging, and necessary items are normal expenses."

"I don't have any receipts. Everyone was paying for my way, Leonard. I didn't have any money to pay them back and I owe a lot of people who made sure I stayed alive." I looked over at Leonard wondering if he would ever understand how much I owed and not all of it was money.

He nodded. "We'll make sure they get repaid one way or another. Let's forge ahead as we don't have a lot of time. Phoenix Corporation bought your contract from Kevin."

He held up his hand before I could grip about it again. "Okay, non existent contract. They aren't dumb. They know it's a non existent contract but they bought it. Word got out you were in the Embassy in Peru. Phoenix Corporation sends word they will pick up the tab on anything you need. They know you have an invite to visit the President of Mexico so they turn up the charm. I imagine a limo picked you up at the airport?"

Dumb founded I nodded.

"The penthouse is part of the package. They are going to wine and dine you today and push a contract at you. If you're feeling you owe them something in return, you will sign their contract without looking it over too close. For the rest of your natural life they will own you. You won't be able to work for anyone else."

I was in shock. "You're kidding!"

"Jake, these people play hardball. I'll make you a four thousand dollar bet right now, they have a full life history report on you and they are going over it to see how they can take advantage of you, 'farm girl'."

"But I'm not stupid!" Surely Leonard didn't think I would be grateful enough to sign my life away? Then again maybe I was. I was thankful someone had paid for my flight and my room.

"I didn't say you were stupid Katrina. I honestly believe you are the smartest person I have ever had the pleasure to meet. You are a country girl. Smart in the ways of horses, farms, weather, rodeos, and the things you have been exposed to."

He took in his breath as he shook his head. "This is a different breed of people than what you have dealt with all your life. They get up in the morning thinking how to hustle someone before they are hustled themselves. Kevin called Bill after he sold Phoenix your contract. Bill called me and told me to do something and if I didn't he would. Bill explained to me the reason he didn't put you in touch with Phoenix was because they weren't nice people. Heck that's not news. Every time we ship a horse with Phoenix we have to make sure we have all the i's dotted and all the t's crossed or they will do something wrong."

"Jake, when I talked to Ecetra she told me where I could find you. I caught a flight out of Atlanta last night and waited on you to show. Now listen to me. You don't owe Phoenix Corporation a thing. Don't sign a contract with those people. Stay with Kevin for now. You can trust him for the most part. To tell the truth, he didn't understand why he shouldn't have sold you to Phoenix Corporation. I think your friend Bill Randall explained it to him so there wasn't any doubt left Kevin understood he had made a serious mistake." Leo chuckled over that one after he said it.

"Okay, no contract with Phoenix Corporation. I understand that." Suddenly I was tired. It was hard to imagine signing a contract where I virtually gave up my life to a company. But then I didn't know law so I guess it would be possible.

Leonard nodded. "Now the good part. Georgia Atlanta Models wanted a five year contract with you. They are the company who took your pictures with the Ford and the horse feed among other things. They sent your parents a contract and asked for permission to sign you for ten thousand dollars a year for the next five years. Your mother called Bill and again, Bill called me. I guess it had to do with me being in Atlanta as much as I was partly to blame for you getting mixed up with Atlanta Models. I made a visit to their office and explained to them what I thought you were worth. Ronald Beckman is a nice guy. I like him but he's sure stingy with your share of what those pictures are worth."

A smile spread across Leonard's face. "Linda and I managed to get you a contract for two million for the first year. You will have to work one hundred twenty days. For single days you are obligated to put in up to eighteen hours. If two working days are together then you put in fourteen hours per day. For three days or more then you work twelve hours per day. Of course you don’t have to put in the maximum hours for any of the days. You are only obligated to if the pictures run that long. Any extra over one hundred twenty days are to be paid for on a contract basis."

"two million? this year?" I couldn’t believe it. That was more money than I could imagine.

"Jake, we didn't lock you in. It's your choice. I don't know your parents but they sound like nice people. I talked to them over the phone and they are a lot like you. I can see you came from good stock. The problem is, you believe and trust people. There are those you can trust but there are those who will take advantage of you when they can. Life is a game. If you don't think an opponent will try and kick in a scoring goal at every opportunity then you haven't played much sports other than rodeo. Some call it good business sense, others call it dirty tricks." He sighed as he shook his head.

This was more than I wanted to know. I guess, my parents and Bill Randall had been sheltering me from the hard knocks of life and I never learned. "Thanks, Leo. I appreciate the talk. I can't believe you flew all the way down here to give me a pep talk about business?"

"No, like I said, I brought your suitcase and other things. But this discussion was the reason I came. Jake, I didn't want you signing on with Phoenix without knowing what they were wanting out of you. Kevin thought it was kind of funny in the beginning and then I think he decided he may have not done such a funny thing. I don't know Bill Randall but I bet he let Kevin know what would happen to him if you signed a contract with those people. And another thirty thousand cowboys would probably help drive the point home." A smile spread clear across Leonard's face as he thought about it.

"Okay, I get the message, Leo. You don't have to tell me a dozen times for me to understand. How you been, how long you staying, and where are you rooming at?" I was ready to talk about something else.

"I'm over at the Marriot. Seemed like a good idea to keep a low profile until you checked in and I had a chance to talk to you. Like I said, I have your suitcase and your lariat."

He winked at me. "Although what you're wearing looks darn good on you."

I was wearing the brown suede dress Dalia had laid out for me that morning. Long sleeve and just above the knee hem, it wasn't bad as dresses go. Not really me though. "Thanks, I guess."

Looking at his watch he rose out of his chair. "I guess I better run. You have a luncheon with the Phoenix crowd this evening. I'll catch you later."

"Leo, wait. Would you mind going with me? I mean, you don’t have to if you don't want but…," I wanted someone there for support who was on my side.

"Are you sure?" Leonard was looking in my eyes for an answer.

"Sure, I'm sure. It's my life isn't it? I never promised those people anything. I may owe them for something but it sure isn't because they tried to blindside me. You game?" I rose out of my chair as I waited for an answer.

"Why not? Let's lay all the cards on the table. I'll run over to the hotel and change into a suit and be back in less than an hour. I can call you from the front desk when I get back." He was headed for the door as he was speaking.

"Do you mind if I come with you? I'll be bored silly waiting in the room and I would kind of like to see a little more of the city than what I saw coming in from the airport." I moved over to the door behind him.

He opened the door and motioned with his hand. "Grab your key and let's go."

I grabbed my purse and stuck both room keys in it as I followed him out the door.

Leonard caught us a taxi. It was amusing as most the taxi's in Mexico City were Volkswagens. I guess they are economical or something. Leonard and I fit in okay and it was fun but I didn't think Bill would have managed to get in one of those things.

We made his motel, he showed me his room, and before he started to change I walked down to the lobby.

Leonard was carrying the suitcase I had lost in Brazil when he walked into the lobby. We were back at my hotel before noon. Leonard offered to buy me lunch. I had no idea what Mexico offered in the way of meals. After dropping my suitcase in my room we headed for the lobby and Julio.

He was talking to a very well dressed Latino man and an immaculately dressed lady. We waited until he finished and the couple headed for the elevator. “Miss McDonald, what may I do for you and your friend?’

“We have a little time before the meeting this afternoon and wondered about looking around. Leonard mentioned a little earlier big cities always have areas tourists shouldn’t go. Can you tell us about some places to see? I also want to buy boots and a cowboy hat. I seem to have a habit of leaving clothes where ever I travel. My hat is still in Brazil.”

“Miss McDonald, we really aren’t as western oriented as many think. It is only when one gets further north close to Texas does the western cowboy trait become more the norm. However you might try Botas Pakoy and Mecado de Granaditas as they carry a selection of western wear. Those areas are not to be traveled lightly. Let me see if the embassy will furnish you and your friend a guide.”
He picked up the phone on his desk, tapped some keys and started speaking Spanish. ”Miss McDonald, necesita una quia…, Unos veinte minutos? Gracious.”

“Miss McDonald, the Mexican embassy is sending over a guide. Veronica Mendoza will be here in about twenty minutes. If you and your friend would like refreshments while you wait, the bar in the restaurant is open. Hand them your room key when you order and it will put on your tab while you are staying with us.” He pointed off toward an entrance to his right.

Looking at Leonard, I nodded toward the restaurant. “A coke while we wait?”

“Sure.” Leonard started to reach for my arm and then pulled back as he looked at me out of the side of his eyes. “Old habit.”

Laughing, I reached over and took his hand. “A lot has happened since we first met. I’ll let you lead if you want.”

His grip tightened a tad as he laughed with me. We walked into the restaurant to wait on our guide.

A couple hours later we were back at the hotel and I was feeling a whole lot better. I had a hat and boots. They might not have been Montana cowboy style but they were close enough. Leonard went with me back to my room where I changed into jeans and denim shirt from my suitcase before the meeting. This was the first time I felt more natural since I had left Mike and Albert on the ranch. We walked into the restaurant before anyone from Phoenix showed up. I could tell they weren't happy about Leonard joining the group when they finally did show. There were four of them who walked in together. I guess they were going to try and impress me with numbers?

They introduced themselves. Duwayne Hulst was thin faced, receding hairline, and had a gravelly voice. Clyde Borger wasn't that tall of a man. I guessed him about five seven or eight. He had a weak handshake and laughed with a snort. Roger Harris was Mr. Diamond. He had big diamonds on three of his fingers on his right hand and two on his left. A diamond tie tack so big it looked like glass and diamond cuff links that looked fake. The last man, Melvin Orand was wearing a shinny suit that looked like it belonged in the gangster movies. His hair was slicked down to match the image.

I guess I was probably being overly tacky in how I looked at them because of what Leonard had told me up in my room. Instead of thinking of them as gentlemen, I was thinking of them as weasels or rats.

All during dinner they kept asking me how I liked the 'Penthouse', with emphasis on the penthouse. I was told in an off way it was the most expensive room in the hotel and only VIP stayed there. Was the limousine satisfactory and did I enjoy the first class cabin in the airplane?

Halfway through the dinner I wanted to throw up. I like to think I would have figured it out on my own without Leonard's help. Maybe they thought the country girl had come to the big city in wide eyed wonder? It might have happened like that if I hadn't been riding the rodeo circuit with Bill the past three years. But even some cowboys are bad seed. You get where you can pick them out before you are taken in by them. These men from Phoenix Corporation were bad seed. They were snake oil salesmen trying to soften me up before they lured me into the trap.

Without asking me what I wanted, Duwayne, ordered me a Kansas City Steak big enough for Bill Randall to eat. He also ordered enough side dishes to be a meal by themselves. The champagne was the final item but I was terribly unimpressed. Duwayne was sitting on my left as Leonard had taken first option on my right. I would have hated to think I would have been sandwiched between two of Phoenix Corporation's henchmen.

After the food had started arriving and the champagne had been poured, Duwayne leaned over in my direction. "Bet you don't get food like this up in that Montana state. Pretty nice huh? When you work for Phoenix, you don't have to watch your budget.'

Nodding, I was wondering if he really thought Montana was a third world country?

Across the table, Melvin Orand was smiling from ear to ear. "You can expect this kind of life everyday when you work for Phoenix Corporation."

I turned to look at Leonard. He was keeping a straight poker face and not showing one way or another what he was thinking. This was getting a little too deep in the horse manure department for me to handle. I knew when I was being handed a line of bull. Dragging up my most innocent smile, I looked over at Melvin. "You mean, when I'm transporting horses, they will serve this kind of meal on the plane? I mean, I don't see how they could serve this if we were moving those horses by truck."

Clyde Borger was over to Duwayn's left. "I think you misunderstood, Miss McDonald. Melvin meant you could order anything you wanted at any café or restaurant you stopped at without having to worry about checking the prices. I bet you haven't been able to do that too often. That is up until now. Working for Phoenix Corporation means you get to stay in the Penthouse, travel in style, and not worry about money. You see, we take care of all your expenses when you're shipping horses for us."

"Oh, well, yes, I guess I did misunderstand. You'll have to excuse me. I really haven't had much experience in dealing with these business matters. Being from Montana and all, you know we aren't used to them big city places like New York or Dallas."

It was time to smoke these varmints out as to what they were trying to weasel me into. "You know I'm working for Kevin Dalder. I guess I owe him for giving me my first job shipping horses. He's such a nice man to work for. That horse, Heater was such an easy job…,"

Leonard had taken a bite of food and he coughed as he choked on whatever it was he had in his mouth. He covered his mouth with a napkin as he leaned over the side of his chair and hacked and coughed.

Reaching out with my right hand, I whacked him on the back hoping he hadn't got it hung up in his windpipe and died on me right then. "Leonard, you all right?"

Finally he straightened back up and turned his head to look me in the eye. He had tears in his eyes. I didn't know if it was from what I said about Heater being such a nice animal or if it was from the pain of swallowing his food wrong?

Clyde was looking at Leonard and then at me. "We can offer you a substantial amount over what Kevin was paying you, Miss McDonald. Of course for that kind of courtesy on our part we would need a commitment on your behalf. We would need you to sign a contract."

Roger Harris put some papers on the table. "Really it's only a formality. You can see how we treat our help. First class tickets, the best suite in the finest hotel, the finest cuisine that can be offered and it's all on us. All you have to do is turn in your expense receipts and we will reimburse you on your next paycheck."

Duwayne picked up the papers and handed them over to me. He flipped open the last page and pointed to a blank line. "Sign here, Miss McDonald and you'll be flying all over the world at our expense. The only thing you have to do is baby sit a horse or two on the trip. Think of visiting Ireland, France, or Belgium and we are paying for it. Believe me, this is a golden opportunity. This kind of offer doesn't come along once in a lifetime. It's a once in a million offer."

I took his contract and glanced down to the bottom of the page. "Okay, you have a pen?"

Leonard was coughing again.

Duwayne handed me a pen. "You are about to become one of the team members, Miss McDonald."

I made a mark on the line and stopped. Leonard was about to scream as he was rising out of his chair. "Sit down, Leo. Uh, gentlemen, I think I'll look over this contact before I sign it. All that legal stuff kind of goes past me."

Now it was time for the four men from Phoenix Corporation to look like they were in panic mode. Clyde was shaking his head. "Oh, there's no need Miss McDonald. You can trust us. It's not much of a contract and really only a formality for insurance and all in case something happened while you were handling a horse. You have to be an employee for our company insurance to cover you in case of accident and that's basically what it's all about."

Roger was nodding his head yes. "Sign the contract, Miss McDonald. There's no need of worrying about any of the legal stuff. We'll make sure you get what's coming to you. I mean we can change it later if you don't like the way it's worded."

I folded the contract up and slipped it into my purse as I handed Duwayne his pen. "Well, silly me, I guess I don't understand all them legal things. I'm sure it's okay. I'll sign it and give it back to you after I look it over. We don't want to have to go back and make any changes later do we?"

Duwayne looked stunned for a sec and then he smiled ear to ear as he held out his hand. "No problem making changes, Miss McDonald. Sign the contract and let me take care of it. I will make all the changes you want."

Thinking of the graduation where I blindly followed someone without asking questions, I shook my head as I smiled at Duwayne. "Actually gentlemen, it would be foolish of this poor ol country gal to make you go to the trouble of rewriting the contract on the parts I might want to change. So I’ll just keep it and make sure to get it all corrected the first time we do this. I have a friend, Bill Randal, you might know him. He and I do head and heel roping together. I’m positive you will agree it would be good business to have someone else look it over.”

Roger Harris looked at the others before turning his attention back to me. “Miss McDonald, I hope you don’t take this the wrong way. We can’t keep paying for your lodging if you aren’t an employee. If you will sign the contract we will take care of your room fees tonight and from now on when you are moving a horse for us.”

“Well, since you put it that way. Um…, let me think about it. Um, no. Gentlemen, I must say I’ve seen some good cowboys and some sly cowboys in the years I’ve been on the rodeo circuit. That includes the cowgirls too. You men aren’t really gentlemen and I didn’t fall off the turnip wagon this morning. I may be green but I ain’t that green. I’ll leave your sweet tonight and you are welcome to stay there since you paid for it.”

“Miss McDonald, I think there has been a misunderstanding.” Roger was trying to salvage the meeting.

“You bet your boots there was a misunderstanding. You men tried to fast talk me into a one sided contract. I haven’t read all the contract. What I scanned on that last page where you wanted my signature was enough to choke a bullfrog.”

I rose up from the table. “This wasn’t a pleasant evening. We are finished. I don’t need your money, your hotel, nor your offer for employment. I’ll pick up my suitcase out of your room and the room is yours. Enjoy.”

Leonard was hurrying to catch up as I left the dinning room. “Whew, and I thought Bill Randall was tough.”

Shaking my head I looked sideways at Leonard. “Not nearly as bad as I wanted to lay on them. They are pit vipers, everyone of them. Know any good places to stay? I think I’m a street urchin again. I’m going to get my suitcase out of the room.”