Blood Bond 3 by William W. Johnstone Read Free Book Online Page A

shouldn’t have shot that gunfighter this morning,” Lia said. “I may have gotten us all killed. But no man talks to me like that. Especially some low-down hired gun who’s out to destroy everything my family has worked for.”
    â€œI think you did just fine,” Matt told her.
    â€œIt might just make John Lee step back and think about what he’s doing,” Sam said. “Or,” he added, “he might decide to attack the ranch tonight.”
    â€œYou’re just a real bundle of joy, aren’t you?” Lisa asked.
    Sam smiled. “I wouldn’t use that term around Cindy if I were you.”
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    Jeff was shocked when Lia and Lisa told him what had happened on the range, and he was speechless for a few minutes after they told him—at their mother’s urgings—that it was a good chance his best friend’s daughter was pregnant by the son of the man who had vowed to destroy both ranches.
    â€œEd’ll kill that snot-nosed smart aleck,” Jeff finally said.
    â€œOr get killed,” his son told him. “Nick’s fast, Dad. Real fast. And he likes to use those guns.”
    â€œWho knows about this?” the father asked.
    Lia said, “Me, Lisa, Matt and Sam, Noah, and now Dodge.” The foreman was in the living room with Matt and Sam. “But it’ll get out, Papa. You know that. Tomorrow, next week, next month. She’s gonna start pokin’ out any time.”
    Jeff grimaced at his daughter’s language. None of the others dared tell him what she had suggested that John Lee do with ranch, opinions, gunhands, and horse.
    â€œI have a suggestion,” Sam said.
    â€œI’m sure open for one,” Jeff looked at him.
    â€œWe can’t bunch the cows close in; it probably takes fifteen acres of graze for one steer in this part of the country. Let Matt and me ride for hands. If you’re willing to pay fighting wages.”
    â€œGunhands, Sam?”
    â€œNo, sir. Just punchers who are willing to ride and fight for top wages.”
    â€œWe need ten, but eight will do it,” Matt said. “I know you’re paying the hands that are left top wages, so they’ll be no hard feelings there.”
    â€œWhere will you go?”
    â€œEast. Dodge says there’s little settlements all along the stage road east of Pecos. If you decide to do it, we’ll leave first thing in the morning. We’ll have to have some cash up front so the punchers will know we mean business.”
    Jeff sighed heavily and pushed up from his chair. He went into his study and came back with a small leather sack filled with greenbacks and gold coins. He tossed it to Matt. “Don’t whitewash nothin’, boys. Level with these men. Tell them there’s a damn good chance they’ll be buried right here on Circle S range.”
    â€œWe’ll leave before first light,” Sam said.
    â€œI’ll have Conchita fix you a bait of food,” Lisa said. “We’ll have breakfast ready for you at four.”
    Jeff turned to Dodge. “Have the boys stay on our range, Dodge. Ride in pairs and have plenty of .44’s and .45’s. Tell them to put an extra six-shooter in their saddlebags, loaded up full. You and me, ol’ hoss, we’ve seen range wars in our time. I don’t think any of them have. Not like the bloody one that’s about to erupt around these parts. I want every barrel filled with water and situated around the buildings in case John tries to burn us out. Get to it.”
    Matt and Sam left their own mounts stabled and chose two horses out of Jeff ’s herd. They were animals bred in and for this part of the country. They were gone long before first light.
    They crossed the Pecos and headed south by southeast, moving across country. By midafternoon they swung down from the saddles at a small settlement many miles from the home range of John Lee. They walked into the saloon