Ralph Compton Death Rides a Chestnut Mare by RALPH COMPTON Read Free Book Online Page B

“and you’re welcome to stay with us as long as you like, sharing what we have.”
    â€œLord,” Danielle said, “I haven’t had an egg since I left St. Joe, Missouri.”
    â€œYour home is there?” Mrs. Carlyle asked.
    â€œYes,” said Danielle. “My mother and two brothers are there.”
    â€œYou’re so young, your mother must be worried sick,” Mrs. Carlyle said. “What have those outlaws done to bring you this far from home?”
    â€œThey robbed and murdered my pa in Indian Territory,” said Danielle. “Jed and Tim, my twin brothers, are only fourteen.”
    â€œYou don’t look much older than that, yourself,” Mrs. Carlyle said.
    â€œI’m a little past seventeen,” said Danielle, “and there was nobody else to track down Pa’s killers.”
    â€œHe’s already killed two of them and learned the names of the others,” Tuck said.
    Danielle spread out the provisions from her saddlebags on the big kitchen table. Every eye was on the five-pound bag of coffee beans, and Danielle was glad she had bought them.
    â€œMa,” said Carrie, “I’ll make us some coffee. The rest can wait.”
    â€œIt sure can,” Tuck said. “Do we even have a coffeepot anymore?”
    â€œYes,” said Mrs. Carlyle, “but I have no idea where it is.”
    â€œYou can search for it later,” Tuck said. “For now, boil it in an open pot, and we’ll add some cold water to settle the grounds.”
    â€œI’ll go ahead and start breakfast,” said Mrs. Carlyle. “Carrie and I have already eaten, but I’d dearly love to have a biscuit.”
    â€œMa,” Tuck said, “I’ve told Daniel our problems here, and he’s come up with a way we can get our cows to market at Abilene. Tell her what you told me, Daniel.”
    â€œDear God, yes,” said Mrs. Carlyle.
    Quickly, Danielle repeated what she had suggested to Tuck as they had ridden in.
    â€œBut we have no money for an outfit,” Carrie said.
    â€œI have some money,” said Danielle. “It would buy enough grub to get you there with your herds.”
    â€œBut you’ll need what you have as you search for those killers,” Mrs. Carlyle said. “It wouldn’t be fair to you.”
    â€œI believe it would be more than fair,” Danielle said. “I think that bunch of outlaws in Indian Territory will come after the herd. So you see, I have a selfish reason for wanting you to make that drive to Abilene. I’ll be going with you.”
    â€œGod bless you for making the offer,” Mrs. Carlyle said. “Tuck, what do you think?”
    â€œI think we’d better talk to Elmer Dumont, Cyrus Baldwin, Enos Chadman, and Wallace Flagg,” said Tuck. “It’ll take all of us, I think, and since Daniel has offered to stake us with the necessary grub, the first hundred head of cattle we gather should be his.”
    â€œNo,” Danielle said. “You’ll need your money. Besides, your herd will be bait enough to attract that bunch of outlaws I’m trailing.”
    â€œNo matter,” said Mrs. Carlyle. “You’ve brought us hope, and there will be five of us small ranchers. Any one of us can spare you twenty head. Tuck, when you talk to the others, be sure you tell them Daniel has a stake in this drive.”
    â€œBut I feel guilty, taking some of your stock,” Danielle protested.
    â€œWithout your help, we couldn’t raise enough money for the drive, and neither could the others,” said Tuck. “I’ll want you to go with me and talk to the others. This sounds like the makings of a miracle, and I’m not sure they’ll take me serious.”
    â€œThen I’ll go with you,” Danielle said. “We must have a couple of pack mules, and each rider will need spare horses. We must see how many can be had.”
    â€œDamn the