The Forbidden by William W. Johnstone

Author:William W. Johnstone [Johnstone, William W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2016-08-08T04:00:00+00:00

EIGHTEEN

Several of the town ladies met with Julie about the wedding plans, and Julie told Frank, in so many words, to go peddle his papers for a few days.

Frank did so gratefully, heading back to his place to check on things. Dog was glad to see him, and Frank spent some time playing and roughhousing with the big cur dog. He had just finished forking some hay for the horses when Harry Clay rode up. Frank greeted the man as he stepped from the saddle.

“Frank,” Harry said. “Can I talk some business with you?”

“Sure. You want some coffee?”

“That would hit the spot, I reckon.”

“I was thinking about it myself. Come on into the house and I’ll make us a pot.”

The men talked of small things while the coffee was boiling, then got down to business over mugs of steaming strong coffee.

“I got two sections of land, Frank. Good land, near ’bouts all of it, with good water.”

“I know that, Harry. I’ve ridden over it.”

“Me and the wife have talked it over and we want to pull out.”

“Oh? I’m sorry to hear that.”

“I got friends in Idaho who want me to come join them in a farming venture. I want to go.”

“Idaho is right pretty country, Harry. I’ve spent some time there.”

“You want to buy my land, Frank?”

“Well . . . I reckon I might, if the price was right.”

“I won’t hold you up on it. I’ll make it fair.”

“When do you want to leave?”

“The day we sign the papers.”

“All right, let’s talk about it.”

Five minutes later, the men had agreed on a price. Frank and Harry Clay would meet at the bank the next day to finish the deal.

“This makes you the biggest landowner in the south section, Frank.”

“I reckon that’s true. For a man who doesn’t know much about farming, I’m sure as hell land-poor.”

Harry smiled. “For a man who might suddenly have a whole passel of kids to look after, you’re gonna need it.”

Frank laughed at that. “News does get around, doesn’t it?”

“The boy and girl all right after them beatings?”

“Oh, yeah. They’re both up and around and healing. They’re young. They’ll heal fast.”

“Well . . . I’ll see you at the bank in the morning then.”

“See you there, Harry.”

The price the men had settled on for the two sections of land was more than fair, and wouldn’t even put a dent into Frank’s finances, but he had to shake his head as Harry Clay rode away, thinking: What am I getting into here?

Before he could further question his wisdom as a businessman, Dog began growling low in his throat.

“What’s wrong with you?” Frank asked.

Dog growled again, his ears laid back and the hair on his back standing up.

“Okay. I get the message.” Frank picked up a rifle from the gun rack in the living room and walked to a front window, looking out. He could see nothing out of place or anything that might pose danger.

Still Dog continued to growl low in his throat.

Frank eared back the hammer on the .

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