The Dakota Man by Joan Hohl Read Free Book Online

been born and raised. All of the Graingers, from Mitch’s father and mother, straight down the line of the kids, even Beth, who was three years younger, had taken the tall, lanky Ben under their protective wings.
    Over the years Ben had developed a real ability for handling horses. Although he wasn’t to the level of Justin, whose talent with horses was damn near uncanny, Ben had a solid working ability.
    As he matured, Ben’s good looks formed into sheer masculine handsomeness, and he was hell with the women. Three years ago, the eighteen-year-old daughter of an influential banker became pregnant and named Ben as the father. Ben denied it, claiming he had never been intimate with the girl, and insisted on a DNA study. It never came to that for, distraught and terrified of her father, the girl had swallowed a lethal dose of her mother’s sleeping pills.
    The traumatic incident had nearly destroyed Ben. Depressed, he began drinking, heavily. Afraid he’d wind up destroying himself, Adam had fired him from the homestead ranch, thenrehired and relocated him to the Montana horse spread Justin managed for the family.
    But that had all happened three years before, and Mitch had believed Ben had overcome his depression.
    “That’s the problem,” Justin said, breaking in to Mitch’s surprised ruminations. “He’s working out too well. Damned man don’t quit.”
    “And that’s a problem?” Mitch asked, thinking he should have that problem with—thankfully—a few of his less-ambitious employees.
    “Hell, yes, it’s a problem,” Justin said. “At least in Ben’s case it is. He goes nonstop, seven days a week, from before dawn until after nightfall. I don’t think he’s been off the ranch more than five times in the three years he’s been here. You…”
    “Just about the same could be said about you,” Mitch cut in to observe about the brother who had always been something of a loner, but even more so after the breakup of his early, ill-fated marriage. “How long has it been since you left the ranch, had a vacation?”
    “It’s my place, Mitch, my home, even if it is a part of the family business,” Justin retorted. “Besides, not that it’s any of your business,” he added in a one-upmanship tone, “but I took ashort vacation last week, spent some time in Wyoming with big brother Adam, his gorgeous bride Sunny and our adorable niece Becky.”
    A soft smile softened Mitch’s lips at the mention of the two-month-old baby; Becky was adorable. “I took a quick trip down week before last,” he said, laughing. “I’m afraid ole Adam is in for a time of it in about fifteen or so years, because our Miss Becky is going to be a beauty.”
    “Yeah,” Justin concurred softly. “Anyway, you should see Ben. He’s honed down to nothing but muscle and bone. The man needs a break.”
    “So, give him one,” Mitch said. “Tell him to take a vacation, get a little R and R.”
    “I did.” Justin sighed. “He refused at first, but I made it an order and he finally agreed. That’s where the favor from you comes in. Can you arrange a hotel room for him?”
    “He’s coming to Deadwood?”
    “Yeah. Said if he’s got to take a damn vacation, he may as well go there, hang out with you a little when you can spare the time, and lose some of the money he’s stashed away over these past three years.”
    “If he’s hell-bent on losing his money, why not go to Vegas, then?”
    Justin grunted. “Ben said it’s too crowded, too high-tech and too glitzy.”
    “He’s got a point,” Mitch conceded.
    “So, can you arrange a room, say at the Bullock Hotel, on short notice?”
    “Sure.” Mitch hesitated. “How short?”
    “He’s leaving tomorrow morning, should arrive late afternoon or early evening.”
    Mitch shook his head. “That is short notice. Why did you wait so long to call me?”
    Justin laughed. “I laid the law down just a half hour ago. Ben was not happy.”
    “Tough.” Mitch laughed with him.