Missing Patriarch (9781101613399) Read Online Free Page A

“I’ll buy all of you breakfast.”
    â€œYou mean it?”
    â€œI do.”
    The boy ran outside and came running back in with his sisters and brother. The other diners in the place stared at them as they sat with Clint Adams.
    â€œIntroduce me,” Clint said.
    â€œThat’s Jenny, Simon, and Jesse.”
    â€œHello.”
    They all nodded, stared at the food on his plate.
    Clint waved the waitress over. She was a pretty woman in her thirties who had waited on him each time he came in. Her name was Amy.
    â€œThese aren’t your kids,” she said.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWait,” she said, “you’re the McCall kids.”
    They all looked at her guiltily.
    â€œYou know them?” Clint asked.
    â€œI know the family,” she said. “But nobody has seen their mother or father for some time.”
    â€œBring them all the same thing I have,” Clint said.
    â€œComin’ up.”
    He looked around, saw the stares they were drawing.
    â€œWhat’s the matter with everyone?”
    â€œThe McCall family . . . they’re not exactly well liked in town.”
    â€œWell, these are just kids,” he said, “and I’m feeding them.”
    â€œComin’ up,” she said again.
    Clint looked around at the four young faces staring at him.
    â€œAre you really the Gunsmith?” Jenny asked.
    â€œYes, I am.”
    â€œWow!” Simon said.
    â€œYeah,” Jesse said, “wow.” Clint was sure from the way she was looking around the table, she had no idea who he was.
    â€œWhat was it you wanted to talk to me about, Jason?” Clint asked.
    â€œIt’s about our father,” Jason said. “His name is Jimmy.”
    â€œJimmy McCall?” Clint asked.
    All four of them nodded.
    â€œI’m afraid I never heard of him.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” Jason said, “he ain’t famous, or nothin’.”
    â€œHe’s just our dad,” Jenny said.
    â€œWell, where is he?” Clint asked.
    â€œThat’s what we want you to find out,” Jason said. He took the bag out of his pocket and put it on the table.
    â€œWhat’s this?” Clint picked it up, heard the change jingle.
    â€œThat’s nineteen dollars and fifty-eight cents,” Jason said.
    â€œThat’s a lot!” Simon said.
    â€œIt’s a fortune,” Jenny said.
    â€œI’m hungry,” Jesse said.
    On cue the waitress came over with four plates she carried up and down her arms. She set one plate in front of each child.
    â€œI’ll go get a basket of warm biscuits,” she said.
    â€œWow!” Simon said.
    â€œOkay,” Clint said, “go ahead and eat. We can keep talking while we eat.”
    â€œYessir!” Jason said.
    All four kids picked up their forks and dug in.
    â€œWhere is your mother?” Clint asked.
    â€œMa died,” Jason said.
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œMonths ago.”
    â€œAnd what did your father do?” he asked.
    â€œWell,” Jason said, his mouth full of eggs and steak, “at first he cried a lot, but then he told us he had to go away.”
    â€œWhere?”
    â€œHe wouldn’t tell us,” Jenny said, “but he said when he came back, we’d have all the money we need.”
    â€œAnd how long ago was this?” Clint asked.
    She looked at her old brother.
    â€œA few months.”
    â€œWait a minute,” Clint said. “Have you kids been living by yourselves all this time?”
    They didn’t answer, but all four of them looked guilty.
    â€œYou have, haven’t you?” Clint said. “And you haven’t let anybody know.”
    â€œNo sir,” Jason said.
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œThey’d split us up if they knew,” Jenny said.
    â€œSo how have you been living?” Clint asked.
    â€œI do odd jobs,” Jason said, “and I hunt.”
    â€œI been cookin’ and