New West Read Online Free Page B

was strong.
    “What? You’re like a greenhorn, you been living underground so long.” Ez wasn’t just strong. He was hot as fire and smelled of horse and sweat. Not an unpleasant combination. Manly.
    “You’re carrying me. These yahoos are going to beat me down.”
    “Anyone who tries will have to go through me. I have rage, Jess.”
    Ezrah put him down next to a fire, a single tent, the dark green Ez’s mom’s favorite color. There was no one around to give them shit, and their chow was already there in a covered Dutch oven.
    He could smell the stew, rich and savory, and the scent took him home, in a sudden, painful rush. God, how long had it been since he’d had real food?
    Sweat popped out over his skin, leaving him chilled, shaking.
    Ez eased him down on the dirt, then went to dip him a cup of water. “Here, man. You need to drink more.”
    “Thank you.” The water was sweet, clean.
    “You’re welcome.” Ezrah sat across from him, staring a little.
    “They want your land. You know that, though.”
    “I do. I’m not sure why except we’re the last holdout.”
    “You’re the one at the mouth of the river. You have control of the dam.” It really was that simple, right?
    Ezrah blinked, as if that hadn’t even occurred to him. Maybe it hadn’t. The boys’ momma was still alive, and she and their dad had always run things. Besides, if it had always been yours, you didn’t think about it.
    “Shit. No wonder. God. Mom.” Ezrah looked downright gray.
    “She’s got to have folks with her, doesn’t she? Someone?” Surely Ez wouldn’t leave her without protection.
    “I left my most trusted men with her, except Cyrus. I just figured they’d come after me. She’s not a rider; she’s not going to be out with the cattle. He’d have to come right up to the front door of the house and kill her in cold blood. You can’t do that.”
    “Then they’ll hold it there. If he’s hunting you, he’s looking to take the land without the sheriff involved, without the law. There is still some back home.”
    There wasn’t a lot of law in the world, but there was more where Ez lived than in this desert. Enough of a society left where they wouldn’t just murder an old woman in her parlor.
    Nodding, Ezrah sighed. “I just can’t lose anyone else, Jess. I just can’t. Christ, Em had his whole, long life ahead of him. We’re just starting.”
    “Well, Ez. You’re down to one family member, a bunch of drovers and me. There’s not much left to lose.”
    Ezrah’s mouth flattened into a straight line. “I should never have gotten you into this.”
    “But you did, and I came.” And he wasn’t useless, right? He’d already given Ez more to think about than not.
    He had skills. Talents.
    “I appreciate it more than I can say.” Rising, Ez came to sit next to him, dishing out bowls of stew. “I’m selfish enough to be glad you’re here.”
    “We were friends, once upon a time. Good friends. I wouldn’t turn you down, even though neither you or Em seem to have done your duty and giving your momma grandbabies.”
    “Grandbabies? I ain’t… We weren’t. I just rounded twenty a few years ago.”
    “Uh-huh. Still, you’re the oldest.” Jesse winced. Oh, that had been Em. Damn.
    “Thanks.” Ezrah touched him, just a simple hand on his leg, but it sent a shock of electricity through him.
    His body reacted immediately, instinctively, and he fought the urge to pounce, to take the hard, needy kiss he craved. He wanted. This wasn’t another Grounder, though, someone who could let go of all the old prejudices. This wasn’t a connection inside where he came back to reality, his body covered in seed.
    This was sun-lit life, and men didn’t do that, especially not cowboys.
    Ez glanced at him sideways. “You okay? You jumped about a mile.”
    “I’m good, good. Someone walked over my grave, is all.”
    “Oh.” Ez grinned. “Like the one you actually live in, or figuratively?”
    “I’ll have you