A Man Called Justice: A Classic Western Series with Heart (Silent Justice Book 1) by Deacon John

Author:Deacon, John [Deacon, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-04-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

O ver the next week they visited two dozen small ranchers and made their case. It helped being able to share the signature of Chester Robinson, and by the time they had completed their circuit, sixteen ranchers had signed on.

Justice figured half of the holdouts, including the blustering Junior Martin, would soon join them, too. The frontier was a hard place, much farther from polite civilization than anything measurable in mere miles, and men strong enough to stake and defend a claim upon it tended to be suspicious, strong, and fiercely independent.

Justice couldn’t blame them. He had a wide streak of those qualities himself.

Diego’s lawyer, David Spencer, notarized the paperwork and promised to file a copy with the courthouse, along with an application that would legitimize the River Valley Cattleman’s Association in the eyes of the territory and the law.

That was good enough as far as Justice was concerned.

Hiring Hector and Jorge turned out to be a great decision. They earned every penny despite their high salary, seeing to the small herd of cattle and various chores around the ranch while focusing primarily on expanding the stable.

Hector had a good deal of carpentry experience, and Jorge listened well and learned quickly.

When he wasn’t visiting other ranches, Justice worked alongside the men enjoying their company, and at night they took turns standing watch while the others bedded down in the barn. Justice took his turn on watch, too, and slept better with a guard posted at all times.

He was mildly surprised that Tucker’s raiders hadn’t tested the ranch. Nor had they attacked any of the other ranchers.

Sooner or later, however, they would strike, he knew. Here, elsewhere, everywhere.

And when they did the response of the River Valley Cattleman’s Association would either embolden or discourage Tucker and men like him, affecting the future of the whole region.

Justice took time to practice with his weapons. He was already highly proficient with every firearm he touched, but that didn’t stop him from practicing his quick draw every day, again and again and again.

“Whatcha doing, Justice?” Eli wanted to know one day when Justice stood behind the barn, outdrawing invisible opponents.

“Practicing.”

“You sure are fast.”

“I want to be faster. There is no second prize in a gunfight.”

“I’ll bet you’re already faster than anybody in the whole world.”

“Well, I don’t know about that, son. I’d best keep practicing anyway. You never know when two men might draw on you at the same time.”

The boy’s mouth dropped open. Suddenly, he was offended as only a pure-hearted child could be. “That’s cheating!”

Justice chuckled, reminded of the boy’s youth. It’s easy to forget sometimes, when you spend a good deal of time with a smart child, how intelligence is not the same as hard experience.

Part of him wanted to launch into a life lesson right then, explaining how fairness and rules of conduct went out the door as soon as a fight began; but he didn’t want Eli blinding neighbor kids the next time they got into an argument,

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