Keeper Tyree by S. Cox & S. Cox

Author:S. Cox & S. Cox [Cox, S.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2021-06-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

The voice had Keeper jerking around. Surprise turned to anticipation. He reached the Indian in three long-legged strides.

Calm brown eyes stared into his. The man had taken a beating no doubt about it. He’d been dragged over stones and rough terrain and had the bruises and missing patches of skin to prove it.

In one swift move, Cathleen drew her knife from its holster. It gleamed sharp and deadly in the setting sun.

The man’s eyes lost their tranquility. Unease shone through.

With swift sure movements she began to slice through the rope.

“You know Pardee?” Keeper asked.

“Yes.”

“How?”

“I spend a good deal of time in the badlands.” His answer evasive.

By now the ropes had been cut. The man sat up then cautiously rose to his feet, wincing.

Keeper studied him hard. “Ain’t seen you on no wanted posters.”

“Good to know.” The man flashed him a white-toothed smile and held out his hand.

He had long black hair, now tangled with weeds, high cheek bones, a nose smaller than Keeper’s that looked like it had managed to stay unbroken. Keeper had a vague mistrust of men that managed to keep their nose in one piece, though this one did have a scar below his right eye an inch or so long that told him the feller had seen more than one fight in his lifetime.

“One of your parents white? You speak mighty good English.”

“Keeper!” Cathleen gave him a scandalized look.

“What?” Women. Wonderful creatures but you never knew what would set them off.

The man laughed, winced and touched a cut lip. “My daddy was school teacher to the Kickapoo tribe.”

Well, that should put him right up there with the lawyer in Cathleen’s book. For just a moment, Keeper regretted his lack of education.

“Sam Brown.” Sam held out his hand.

Keeper took it. Sam’s grip firm. The hand callused. He liked that in a man.

“Keeper Tyree.”

“I’ve heard of you.” The man’s grin fell away.

“Most have,” Keeper said in his gritty voice.

“I’m twice over relieved that I’m not on a wanted poster.”

“Lucky for you, you’re not.

“This is Cathleen O’Donnell.” He gestured in Cathleen’s direction.

He took her hand and bowed over it. “Ma’am.”

“Mr. Brown.”

“Sam please. I owe you both my life.”

“You owe her not me. I make it a habit not to interfere in another man’s business. She was the one that went riding to the rescue. If I’d been alone, you’d still be kissing sagebrush.”

“You may have been an unwilling participant but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m in your debt.”

“You find us Pardee and you can consider my half of the debt paid.”

“Mine as well.” Cathleen spoke up.

“I’ll find you Pardee.”

The sun that had been in a downward spiral hit the horizon, blazing off the sandstone, burning crimson and turning the sky a perfect blend of pink and purple.

“We won’t be going much further today. Let’s aim for that large boulder to break camp. It’ll cover our backs.” Keeper pointed at the pinto. “Want to take that hombre’s horse? He looks like a good one.”

“He’s my horse and he is a good one.

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