Lauraine Snelling - [Wild West Wind 01] Read Online Free

before the early diners got up to leave, Jason Talbot stood up from the table off to the north corner that had become his. “Folks,” he called. When the din continued, he raised his voice and clapped his hands. “I have an announcement to make.” He paused and waited. Slowly the troupe quieted and stared at him, waiting.
    “Much to my sorrow, I have to tell you that this has been the final performance of the Lockwood and Talbot Wild West Show. Pick up your pay envelopes. We are just not making enough money to cover expenses, and there is nothing else I can do but close the doors.”
    Cassie stared at him, her stomach wrapping around itself. Surely this couldn’t be.
    Not like this.

3

    W hy didn’t he tell me how bad things were?
    “You think he means it, Cassie?” Joe poked her elbow to get her attention. She nodded as she turned. “Did you know anything? No, from the look on your face, I guess this is as big a shock to you.” He thumped his fist on the table. “I knew we’d have a winter break, but this . . .” Tipping his head back, he exhaled, the sound effectively describing his feelings.
    Cassie looked over to Micah, knowing she might have to explain this to him. Where would he get another job? Half his life had been spent here. And all of your life.
    The little voice inside made her want to scream. What about all the money her father had invested in the show? What about all of her wages that she’d returned to Jason to invest in the show? Was that all gone too?
    Feeling as if she were slogging through watery mud, she pushed herself to her feet. The only way to find any answers was to confront Uncle Jason. Most of the troupe and the back-lot hands were lining up at a table set up at the opening to the outside, where darkness was creeping around the tents. Leaving Joe, who was heading for the tail end of the line, she made her way outside and strode over to the Gypsy Wagon.
    Right now, instead of calling Jason by his familial title, she wanted to scream at him. That would shock him for sure. He still thought she was the biddable little girl who doted on her uncle Jason. Somewhere along the way in the last couple of years, she’d left that child behind and was developing a reputation for a strong will.
    Othello sat as she stopped at the bottom of the three steps leading up to the door and took a deep breath. “Uncle Jason.” She could hear someone moving around in there, so unless it was someone else . . . She raised her voice. “Uncle Jason.”
    “Come back later, darlin’. I have things to do.”
    “No. We need to talk right now.” She started up the steps and nodded when he opened the door and motioned her to come in. The first thing she saw was two carpetbags on the lower bunk, pieces of clothing trailing out. “What are you doing?”
    “Gettin’ ready to move on, just like the rest of you.”
    “So soon? I mean what about all the animals and the tents and all the gear?”
    “There’s a man comin’ for it all. I suggest you take your horse and whatever else you need and hit the road yourself.” He stuffed more shirts into one of the bags.
    “But what about the money my father invested in this show?”
    “Gone. All gone. Too much competition, too many expenses, just couldn’t keep ahead of it all. Then when I borrowed more money, the creditors demanded it be paid back right away.”
    “And my money? All my pay that you said was safely invested back in the show?”
    “Same. I’m sorry, darlin’.”
    She noticed an open bottle of whiskey sitting on the table. He made a move for it but then stopped. She’d wondered at times if he had a drinking problem but had turned a blind eye, since there was nothing she could do about it.
    “So you are just leaving it all?”
    “That’s the plan, missy.” He stopped his feverish packing. “I got something to tell you that I been puttin’ off these last couple of years. Good thing you came by.”
    She nodded encouragement. Who was