Forty-Four Caliber Justice Read Online Free Page A

deal, except for one thing. I don’t want a ten-year contract. We’ll just make it until you return and decide what you want to do. Does that sound fair to you?”
    “Yes, sir, that’s more than fair.”
    “Good. I’ll draw up the contract. We’ll sign it, and I’ll have Luke witness it. I’ll also make you a copy.”
    Hewitt came to his feet and extended his hand. “I hate to see you leaving, Clay. You’ve bitten off more than most grown men would want to chew. You sure I can’t talk you into staying?”
    “No, sir. If you don’t mind, I’d like to spend the night and leave for Uvalde in the morning. I also need a couple of your horses, if you have any for sale. The killers took the horses around the house, and I don’t have time to roundup any others.”
    “Sure, we’ve got some good stock in the corral. I’ll get Bo to pick out a couple of good ones. We’ll make them part of the deal.”
    Clay rolled and unrolled his hat brim. Then he ran his right hand through his black hair. “I’ve one more request, Mr. Hewitt. I hate to ask this, but I just don’t have time to do it. You know my grandparents live in D’Hanis. They need to know, but I’ve got to get after those killers. I’d be obliged if you’d send a hand over and tell them what happened. Also, tell them to come over, get the books, and whatever they want out of the house. What they don’t want, you’re welcome to.”
    “I’ll be glad to, Clay. Though it would be better coming from you.”
    “Yep, reckon it would.”
    “Papa, I know Clay must be starving. I’ll take him into the kitchen and get him something to eat.”
    Without waiting, Sarah turned and strode into the kitchen.
    Hewitt watched his daughter, then shook his head. “She’s upset, Son. Go easy on her.”
    Clay nodded, and followed Sarah into the kitchen.
    She looked up as he stopped at the door. “Why, Clay? I thought you—I thought we—it’s just not right. You don’t have to leave. The sheriff can chase the killers. You’re just seventeen.”
    Clay lay his hat on the table as Sarah continued to put food on the table. “Sarah, I’m really sorry. But it’s my folks who have been killed, not the sheriff’s. And I’m getting almighty tired of people telling me I’m ‘just seventeen.’ ”
    “Sit down and eat,” Sarah said. “Your ma and pa talked about you going back East to school, what about that?”
    “It’ll have to wait.” He picked up the knife and fork and cut a piece off the steak, following it with a bite of cold biscuit.
    “You were looking forward to going. Don’t you still want to be a lawyer like your Grandpa Barlow?”
    Clay looked up from the steak, the exasperation showing. “Sarah, do you understand my folks are dead? They were brutally murdered by scum that probably never worked a day in their life. That type of trash has to be stopped!”
    Tears were flowing down Sarah’s cheeks. “Must you be the one to stop them? What’s going to happen to you? What about us?”
    “I’m sorry, Sarah. There is no us. I’m going to see those men in their graves. I know I’m young, but I’m the only son my parents had, and it’s up to me to see that justice is served, no matter how long it takes.”
    Sarah ran from the room. Clay could hear her footsteps disappear into her room. Gloom settled over him. I’m only one man. Can I really do this? All I know is they left our ranch headed south. I have no idea where they’re headed. Am I too young?

CHAPTER THREE
    C lay stepped into the saddle. Dawn was just slipping over the cedar ridge. He was giving Blue a break and riding the sorrel. Blue and the buckskin were in trail. Hewitt, Bo, and Luke were out to see him off.
    “Sorry, Clay. I guess Sarah’s still upset. She’ll get over it.”
    “Mr. Hewitt, Sarah needs to forget me. I don’t know how long I’ll be. This could take years, and I might not even make it back. She needs to get on with her life.”
    “Son, that’ll be hard for