Between Hell and Texas Read Online Free

about the outcome.
    â€œI hope that’s all,” Reg said, looking sour about the whole thing.
    â€œHere on, we just need to go in pairs. We need to add a few more tough hands to help us and maybe that’ll stop their part of these ambushes.”
    â€œMaybe,” J.D. added.
    â€œIf we can’t stop them, we’ll be forced to move out of Texas and find some new country.”
    â€œI’d hate like hell to ever figure them damn worthless Reynoldses ran us out,” Reg said, and shook his head in disgust.
    â€œIt could be better than burying more of our own,” Chet added, and the heads around the circle agreed.
    The gray horse struggled on his side and everyone turned to watch him. This would be a long, exhaustive struggle to convince this horse that he belonged to—, and he might as well relax.

Chapter 3
    Late that afternoon, Chet noticed two riders coming across the valley. He thought he recognized one of them—Sheriff Bob Trent. Susie came out on the porch, drying her hands on a towel.
    â€œWho’s coming?” she asked with a hard look at the far-off pair.
    â€œLooks like one’s the sheriff.”
    â€œDoes my hair look alright?’ she asked, feeling to see if it was out of place.
    With a casual look at her, he nodded. “You look great.”
    â€œDamn you.” She gave him a shove on the back. “Chet Byrnes, you wouldn’t tell me a thing that was wrong.”
    â€œWhat am I supposed to do?”
    She smoothed down her dress. “Nothing.”
    â€œHe kinda stopped coming out here. You discourage him?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œSorry. Wasn’t digging into your business.”
    â€œThat’s alright. I’ll go be sure we have enough food for them for supper.”
    â€œI bet they’d eat fried grasshoppers and scorched armadillo if you served them.”
    â€œYuck.” She disappeared inside, and Chet smiled at his teasing her.
    He stepped off the porch and went to the hitch rail to greet the lawman and his partner when they finally arrived.
    â€œHowdy, Chet,” Trent called out. “This is Billy Moore, a new deputy of mine.”
    He moved in and shook both their hands. “What brings you two out this late in the day?”
    â€œThree dead men,” Trent said.
    â€œUnload, get down. We can go inside and talk. Susie’s busy adding more water to the soup.”
    Both men laughed and swung down.
    â€œHe’s teasing you, Billy,” Trent said. “She’s a damn good cook, and I’d bet good money she ain’t watering down no soup.”
    â€œGood,” the man in his mid-thirties said, sounding relieved.
    They took seats in the leather-covered furniture around the living room. Hats and coats on the wall pegs, they held a council near the crackling large hearth.
    â€œThey brought three bodies into Mayfield last night and I happened to be there,” the lawman began. “Tried to raise a lynch mob, buying whiskey for everyone, until I shut the damn saloons down and sent all of those drunks home.”
    Chet nodded, leaning on his knees. “Guess you want to know what happened?”
    Trent nodded. “We came out to hear your side.”
    â€œI was checking stock in the south end. It was a cold and windy mid-afternoon. A rifle shot popped off and I headed like a flushed turkey into a dry wash for some cedar cover. They exchanged some gunshots with me. I saw one in an open spot and picked Joe off.
    â€œThen the one named Claus come busting through the cedars shooting, and I got him. Number three was up on the ridge and swung around on horseback. He showed up in my gunsights and I used the Winchester on him. I think he was Carley. Happened so fast, I wasn’t sure of much but the fact they wanted me dead.”
    â€œWell, Carley, Claus, and Clayton are all dead,” Trent said.
    â€œYou see the corpses?” Chet asked.
    Moore nodded. “We did before they