Read Missing Patriarch (9781101613399) for Free Online Page A

joined him at the bar. It was the lawyer, Hackett.
    â€œThere you are,” he said. “I’ve been looking for you.”
    â€œBuy you a beer?” Clint asked.
    â€œWhy not?”
    Clint signaled the bartender for two more.
    â€œWhat’s on your mind?”
    â€œThat poker game I promised you?” Hackett said. “I’m having some trouble coming up with players.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” Clint said. “I may not be around that much longer.”
    â€œOh?” Hackett said. “Is the sheriff running you out of town?”
    â€œNo, nothing like that,” Clint said. “Just time to be on my way.”
    â€œI see,” Hackett said. He finished the beer, set the empty mug down. “Well, I’m sorry we couldn’t square off again at the table. Maybe another time.”
    â€œMaybe,” Clint said. “Oh, and by the way, thanks for the help with the sheriff.”
    â€œNo trouble,” Hackett said. “I just told him what I saw.”
    Hackett waved and left the Spur.
    *   *   *
    Jenny got out of her bed, saw her brother Jason standing by the front door. The door was open and he was staring out.
    â€œJason, what’s wrong?” she asked.
    â€œNothin’.”
    She came up alongside him.
    â€œSomethin’s on your mind.”
    â€œI just wish I could go lookin’ for Pa myself,” he said.
    â€œWe need you here, Jace,” she said, taking hold of his arm.
    He looked at her and said, “I know. It’s just . . . he’s out there somewhere, probably in trouble, tryin’ to get some money for us. I just wanna help him.”
    â€œYou are,” she said. “You’re helpin’ him by takin’ care of us.”
    He looked back out the door.
    â€œClint will find him,” she said. “I know he will.”
    â€œI wish he could leave right away.”
    â€œHe’ll go as soon as his horse can,” she said. “I trust him, Jace.”
    He looked at his sister again.
    â€œYou better get some sleep.”
    â€œYou, too.”
    â€œI will,” he said. “I promise.”
    The cabin had two bedrooms. Jenny shared one with her sister, Jesse. Jason shared the other one with Simon.
    Jason stood in the doorway a few minutes longer, then closed it and went back to his room. He tried to get into the bed he shared with his brother without waking Simon, but the boy stirred.
    â€œWhat’s goin’ on?” he asked.
    â€œNothin’,” Jason said, “go back to sleep.” He settled on his back.
    â€œJace?”
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œYou ain’t gonna leave us, are ya?”
    Jason turned his head to look at his little brother.
    â€œWhat makes you think I’d leave you, Simon?”
    â€œMa left,” the boy said, “and Pa left.”
    â€œMa died, Simon,” Jason said, “and Pa’s comin’ back. And I ain’t leavin’.”
    â€œPromise?”
    â€œYeah, I promise. Go to sleep.”
    â€œYes, Jace.”
    Simon closed his eyes.
    Jason stared at the ceiling for about ten minutes, and then his eyes closed.

THIRTEEN
    Clint went back to Amy’s later that evening and knocked on the door. She opened the door and smiled at him.
    â€œI was hoping you’d come back,” she said. “Are you hungry?”
    â€œI could eat.”
    â€œCome in,” she said. “I have something on the stove.”
    He walked in and took a deep breath.
    â€œIt smells great.”
    â€œStew,” she said. “I made it myself. Sit.”
    He sat at the table and she returned with two bowls of fragrant, dark stew.
    â€œCoffee?”
    â€œPlease.”
    She set it in front of him.
    â€œI made it the way you like it,” she said. “Dark and strong.”
    â€œWow,” he said after one taste, “this stew is great.”
    â€œSecret ingredient,” she