Longarm on the Overland Trail Read Online Free Page A

you do remember, if you're up to talking more about it, now."
    She said, "I've recovered from the first shock. It hit me a lot worse when my husband died not long ago. As you see, I've gotten rid of the well-meaning friends who were more in my way than any real help, and now I'm trying to tidy up the house a bit."
    "I noticed, and I think you're dealing with family troubles smart as well as brave, Miss Flora. I've had more experience in these matters than I ever wanted to, and carrying on as usual is a lot less hurtsome than just brooding about things as can't be helped. I suspect I know just how you must feel right now."
    She stared up at him sort of glassy-eyed. "No, you don't. It wasn't your brother who went crazy and started to kill people for no reason at all!"
    He put a gentle hand on her upper arm to steady her and sit her down. He remained standing. "Easy, now. The boy thought he had a reason. Those gents from the provost marshal came here to arrest him. Can you tell me anything about them? I mean before, not after."
    She shrugged. "There's nothing much to tell. I had no idea Joseph had deserted the army until they told me. He said they let him out early because he was sickly, and that hardly seemed like a fib, knowing him as I did. The older officer did most of the talking. He was very pleasant and understanding when I told them I'd had no idea my brother could be in trouble. I offered them some coffee and cake and went to fetch Joseph as they sat here on this very sofa. The rest you know, and- Heavens, what's come over me? I seem to have forgotten my manners, and I've a pot on the stove I just brewed."
    But as she rose to behave more graciously Longarm told her, "I just ate, and this ain't a social call, Miss Flora. I see no reason to poke about your own quarters, even though I'm sure you've dust-mopped in every corner. But I'd sure like to snoop about your old carriage house some more by daylight, if you don't mind."
    She said she didn't mind at all and that she'd been meaning to get to that chore in any case. He followed her out the back as she grabbed a broom on the fly. He'd noticed the night before, that the back yard seemed well tended. As he spied the gay flower borders all about he commented on them and said, "You sure keep your property up nice, ma'am. Did your brother help with all this?"
    She sighed and said, "Surely you jest," as she led him back inside the carriage house.
    The bottom level didn't look as much like a cave with the daylight streaming through the one window facing the house. There was a faint, very faint smell of oats and horse. He dropped to one knee to run a thoughtful finger along the sand between the paving bricks. She asked what he was looking for and he told her, "It ain't delicate to say. But I see you told the copper badges true about that horse your brother is said to have stolen. It ain't hard to clean up after one horse on short notice. But you can't hardly swab out a stable without water, and it's my considered opinion this paving ain't been wet down in recent memory."
    "Thank you. I didn't know I was a suspect as well," she said.
    He got to his feet, dusting off his knee with his hat as he told her, "Close kin are allowed a few fibs in cases like these. It's only human. I'm only doing my job when I cover all bets."
    "Then search his quarters again, so I can clean up the mess he left behind. He wouldn't let me in there to clean when he was still here."
    Longarm nodded and led the way up as she followed, broom in hand, like a pretty little witch. She stood in the doorway as he went over the untidy room again by better light. He didn't find anything new and said so, adding, "I'd like to take some of this reading material along with me, if you don't mind."
    "Take it all, if you like," she said. "I mean to throw it all out in any case. I've never understood how anyone could spend good money on such trash."
    He picked the ballad of Black Jack Slade and a couple of Ned Buntlines to go