Between Hell and Texas Read Online Free Page B

Chet that there might be a hearing. When they rode off in the darkness, he and Susie stood on the porch in the growing cold.
    â€œStill like him?” Chet asked.
    Holding her arms tight, she neither nodded nor shook her head. “He’s a good man, but we don’t have much time for either of us to have a life of our own.”
    â€œSusie, I can hire more help. We might not have as good a place as we have now with you in charge, but we’d live.”
    She shook her head, and in the light coming from the window he saw her bite her lower lip. Then she turned without a word and went back in. He followed her through the doorway and closed it. Going over the repercussions of the day before, he stood inside the warm front hallway. No time, she said—that was a big part of his life. Without Dale Allen, the shortage of leadership was there; this was so even with his brother alive. Dale had avoided it most of the time—lucky that he had two great boys to help him. But nothing ever relieved his needed command—his allegiance to the—and family kept him yoked as much as it did his sister.
    He looked around the living room at the checker players and readers. “Guess we know we may have some court time now.”
    â€œHow will you handle it?” Heck asked.
    â€œWhen they decide to hold one, then I better go to San Antonio and see a good lawyer.”
    â€œCan I go with?”
    He looked at the twelve-year-old. “We’ll see, Heck. We’ll just have to see.”
    Ready to turn in, he headed for the kitchen where the two Mexican girls, Juanita and Sonya, were finishing up the dishes. May busied herself sorting pinto beans at the table to be sure there was no trash or stones in them. She looked up at him.
    â€œSusie’s gone to bed,” she offered.
    Chet nodded. The evening must have knifed his sister deep with something she probably felt was over him. “Ring the breakfast bell. Good night, ladies.”
    The two teenagers giggled and he left them. Hat and jacket on, he told the crowd in the living room he was off to bed. The chorus told him good night and he headed for the bunkhouse. A sharp north wind cut his cheek under his right eye, walking in the starlight for the bunkhouse.
    How long since he’d been to see her—Kathren? Too long. Maybe he’d simply drop by and offer to get something for her from San Antonio. He rubbed his beard-stubble-edged mouth. Somehow, he needed to try and rebuild their relationship if it wasn’t too late.
    Susie wasn’t the only one having problems with old loves. He had his, right along with her. And there was that big charge Louise had made at Grossman’s on the ranch account—he still needed an understanding with her on that matter.

Chapter 4
    The village of Mayfield sat in the cool sunshine of that early February morning. A dozen houses, a small church, six businesses, and a blacksmith shop, smoke from the forge, and the sound of the new blacksmith, Harley Taylor, hammering on steel, rang out like a big bell. A brave rooster crowed while a red-tail hawk skimmed the ancient live oaks, looking for a meal. Chet arrived in town on Fudge, a sixteen-hand-high bay horse, and dismounted at Grossman’s store. He hitched him at the rack and said hello to the middle-aged man in the fresh white apron sweeping off the board porch.
    â€œIn town early, aren’t you?” The man, in his fifties with white sideburns, looked him up and down, leaning slightly on the broom.
    â€œEarly enough. I have a list of things Susie needs and I want to buy some candy.”
    â€œOh, I wasn’t complaining none about having your business.”
    â€œI know that. You’re one of my steady people on this world.”
    Grossman dropped his chin. “I’ve heard they tried you again.”
    Chet paused and nodded. “They damn sure don’t give up.”
    â€œI’ve been praying for the good Lord to