Texas Tough Read Online Free

can stay awake. We’re hoping you can join us.”
    Could he handle that? Sharing an evening with his half brothers? But nothing had changed except what he knew, Sky reminded himself. He’d already made the decision to carry on as usual. That would include joining Will and Beau in the house for pizza and beer.
    â€œThanks, I’ll plan on it,” Sky said. “And tell Jasper I’ll stop by and see him tomorrow.”
    After Will ended the call, Sky stood by the paddock fence studying the colts. He could learn a lot just from watching them—which ones were bold, which ones were docile, which ones were light on their feet . . . Knowing each horse was essential to training. Most days he had no trouble staying focused on his work. But today was different.
    Your father was Bull Tyler .
    Jasper’s words burned like a fresh brand, still smoking from the iron. When he saw the old man again, should he ask for more details? Or would he be wiser to let those secrets stay buried for good?
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    Beau and Will drove in around six, bone tired but in good spirits. Jasper was doing better. The bullet wound had missed his vital organs, and his pneumonia was responding to treatment. If he continued to improve, the doctors would let him go home sometime next week.
    â€œDid the sheriff come by?” Sky asked as Beau slid the pizzas into the oven to reheat them.
    â€œ Acting Sheriff Sweeney showed up this afternoon.” Will fished three cold Tecates out of the fridge and popped the tab on one of them. “He asked Jasper a few questions and took the slug as evidence—from what I could tell it looked like a 32-20 from one of those old lever action rifles. I told him about the tire tracks and cigarette butts I’d found on ranch property, but all I got from him was one of those blank looks. Hell, I don’t even know if he recognized the bullet.”
    â€œAbner Sweeney isn’t exactly the brightest bulb in the pack,” Beau said. “Axelrod may have ended up a crook and a murderer, but at least he wasn’t stupid. He caught some bad hombres over the years, before he crossed the line.”
    Sky nodded his agreement. Sweeney, a former deputy, had been appointed to replace longtime sheriff Hoyt Axelrod, who was awaiting trial for multiple murders—including the deaths of Natalie’s estranged husband, Slade, and Sky’s young cousin, Lute. Axelrod had shot Sky as well and nearly killed him. The wound, from a high-powered sniper rifle, had left a scar that still throbbed after too many hours in the saddle.
    If convicted, Axelrod could face the death penalty. But there were rumors that he might take a plea deal—a life sentence in exchange for what he knew about organized crime activities in the county. Not that a man with Axelrod’s law enforcement background could expect to live long in a Texas prison.
    â€œI hear Sweeney’s running for the permanent job this fall,” Will said. “My vote’s going to whoever runs against him.”
    â€œSweeney and Garn Prescott. The cream of our fair county’s political crop.” Beau took his beer and wandered into the office. He came out a moment later with something in his hand. “Looks like Lauren was here,” he said. “I recognize this little gold earring of hers. What I can’t figure out is what it was doing behind the computer.”
    Sky willed his expression to freeze. “She was here most of the afternoon, working on your spreadsheet. I stopped in and said hello to her.”
    Beau grinned. “So the two of you finally met. It’s about time. That young lady’s been mighty curious about you, asking me all sorts of questions.”
    â€œDon’t get any ideas, Beau. Lauren’s a sharp girl, and damned good-looking. But I know better than to mess around with Garn Prescott’s daughter.”
    The lie made Sky cringe, but he could hardly tell the truth. Beau and