Benedict and Brazos 16 by E. Jefferson Clay

Author:E. Jefferson Clay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: colt 45, cattle barons, action heroes, piccadilly publishing, the wild west, ranch wars, best western ebook, western fiction ebook
Publisher: Piccadilly

It was just after nine the following morning when Ethan Kilraine, Tracy and Hank Brazos came onto the front gallery of the Golden Hoof ranch house. A surrey was drawn up before the steps with cowboy Biff Briggs standing beside the horse. Kilraine spoke to his daughter, then went down the steps to talk to Briggs.

Hank Brazos looked unhappy as he gazed down at the girl. Tracy was dressed in a tailored blue travelling outfit. She carried a small bag over her arm and her small boot tapped the gallery floorboards restlessly.

“I still don’t figure it, Tracy,” Brazos said, thumbs hooked in his shell belt and his hat perched precariously on the back of his head. “This is the first time in months that you can look forward to a bit of peace and quiet hereabouts—and you’re takin’ off on some fool shoppin’ expedition down south.”

“Please, Hank, we’ve been through all that.” Tracy’s voice was tight, and her expression tense. In all the good cheer and optimism circulating around headquarters this morning, Ethan’s daughter was a small, lovely island of reserve.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” Brazos said. “Benedict could easily handle things here for a few days now that we’ve straightened things out with the Shotgun crowd. I’d sure admire to escort you down to Carrington.”

She turned to him and touched his arm. “That’s very sweet, Hank. But Biff will look after me.”

Brazos took off his hat. “Well, I guess this is goodbye for the time bein’ then, Tracy?”

She took his big hand. As she did, Duke Benedict appeared at the far end of the gallery. Suddenly the girl stood on her toes and kissed Brazos on the mouth. “Goodbye, sweet Hank. Take care.”

He stood watching in awe as Tracy’s father handed her up into the surrey. Biff Briggs climbed up beside the girl and untied the lines from the whip socket. Ethan squeezed his daughter’s hand, then she waved to Benedict as he came along the gallery to join the Texan. Suddenly the surrey was wheeling away, bright wheels glinting in the sunlight.

Brazos lifted a hand to his lips, and was still looking a little dazed as the rancher climbed the steps.

“I never will understand that girl,” Kilraine sighed. “But then that’s women, I suppose, eh, boys?”

“Indeed it is, Ethan,” murmured Benedict, leaning against a stanchion. “Mystery, thy name is woman ... Wouldn’t you say so, Johnny Reb?”

“Huh?” said Brazos, coming out of the clouds. “What was that?”

“Never mind.” Benedict smiled and looked at the cattleman. “Well, Ethan, what does it feel like to be at peace with the world?”

“Better than you can imagine, Duke. Are you boys riding the boundaries today?”

“Yes, we plan to move out shortly, Ethan. Why?”

“I was wondering if I might go with you. On your advice I’ve kept away from the border in case somebody decided to take a shot at me, but now that things are quiet, I’d like to have a look around the mountains.”

“I think that would be safe enough,” Benedict said.

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