The Man From Laramie by Flynn T. T

Author:Flynn, T. T.
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781477831434
Publisher: AmazonEncore
Published: 2009-03-31T00:00:00+00:00

Request immediate and unofficial report on Captain William Lockhart. Where stationed. Present status. Present whereabouts. Repeat: confidential and unofficial. Michael Lake, Colonel, Commanding, Fort Roxton, Territory of New Mexico.

In Coronado late the same day, Jubal Kirby’s dusty buckboard brought the mail again from Roxton Springs, and the astounding news that Will Lockhart, the stranger, was now foreman of Half-Moon. It aroused all the interest Jubal expected.

At home, Jubal found Barbara in the kitchen mixing a cake. Dusty, tired, and quizzically thoughtful, Jubal related what Kate Canaday had done. His expression grew reproachful as Barbara stood at the oilcloth-covered kitchen table and chuckled across the stoneware batter bowl.

“The poor man didn’t have a chance,” Barbara said in amusement. “Kate had her mind made up when she started to Roxton Springs after him.”

“You knew Kate was up to that and didn’t tell me?” Jubal accused. He shook his head and eyed his daughter dubiously. “If Kate wants trouble, she’s got the makings now.” Jubal ran fingers through his shock of Irish-black hair and considered his mirthful daughter warily. “Kate tell you what she’s up to?”

Barbara lifted the spoon and critically watched the creamy batter run off the end. “Barb and Alec Waggoman, naturally.”

“Kate,” said Jubal seriously, “had better keep her mind on Vic Hansbro and Dave. They’re the powder. This man Lockhart is the match.”

Barbara looked up, searching her father’s face. “Is Lockhart that bad?”

“Kate oughtn’t to put him that near Dave Waggoman and Hansbro,” said Jubal absently. His glance had turned forlorn as it wandered around the kitchen. “Be mighty lonesome here after the wedding,” Jubal admitted under his breath.

“You’ll live with us.”

Jubal made no comment, pretending not to notice the anxious look Barbara gave him. After a moment Barbara said slowly, “You don’t want me to marry Frank, do you?”

Jubal’s chuckle was rueful. “Only make you more stubborn if I said so, wouldn’t it?” He studied her, and asked abruptly, “What does Kate Canaday think about it?”

“The same as you do, I think,” Barbara admitted. “I don’t know why.”

“Kate knows there’s not a man in these parts good enough for you.”

“You’re evading,” Barbara said.

“A man with a spitfire daughter gets the habit,” said Jubal largely. He ended their talk by going to his room to change his dusty driving clothes and shave and bathe.

Barbara poured the batter into three square cake pans in a sober mood. The youthful, chuckling lightheartedness seemed to have left Jubal. He was absent-minded and thoughtful much of the time. He had not, so far as Barbara knew, been in McGrath’s saloon since his tremendously successful evening at poker. He was not Jubal.

Tomorrow, Barbara decided, she would ride out to Half-Moon again and talk with Kate about Jubal—And talk again about Frank Darrah. Kate was the one person in the world who would bluntly, unselfishly give her shrewd advice. Barbara, suddenly and rather desperately, wanted advice.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.