Read Once a Ranger for Free Online Page B

for information. This horrendous crime was not thought up and managed by normal people. They were crazy, wolflike animals. Let’s not get people too upset; it could lead to innocent people being the subject of a lynch mob. I worry about that. We need a clear-cut trial for the ones who did this, despite the human emotions that will arise. Am I clear?”
    The sober-faced men in the group were, all of them, community leaders—they all nodded. In another hour the bodies were wrapped and bound in blankets and the horses arrived. Two of the men agreed to deliver them to the undertaker in Soda Springs. Guthrey told them he needed to hold a justice of the peace hearing on these deaths—something that hadn’t been done when Cally’s father was shot in the canyon. Guthrey had found that killer; he hoped he could get these killers as well.
    A quiet, somber party started out to leave the canyon with three corpses. Guthrey studied the towering walls. Erv told him he thought the killers had ridden out and headed north, but the tracks were ordinary enough it was hard to tell which ones belonged to who.
    Guthrey and Erv stopped by to thank Mrs. Haynes. Red-eyed, she came out to greet them.
    â€œI am sorry you had to discover them. It was a horrific scene. Did they have any enemies you know about?”
    â€œNo.” She wearily shook her head. “They were such gentle people. Always kind.”
    â€œMrs. Haynes, was the scene fresh when you found them?”
    â€œOh, it must have happened on Friday. They’d been dead awhile when I found ’em.”
    â€œI think so too. Thanks. We will do all we can to find the killers. I’ll put out a reward for information. You have any ideas?”
    â€œWas it Apaches?” she whispered.
    â€œNo. It was someone else.”
    â€œThank God.”
    â€œI’ve sent the bodies to Soda Springs. We’ll hold an inquest. Can you come testify?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI know this has been hard on you. I appreciate your concern. Thanks.”
    â€œTell your lovely wife, Cally, thanks. She was so kind to me.”
    â€œCally is a good woman, well beyond her years in her ability to help people.”
    â€œYes she is. I hope you find these vile people.”
    â€œI’ll try.”
    â€œGod bless you, sheriff.”
    He replaced his hat and nodded to her. Then he remounted and headed home. He was going by to check on his wife. His belly growling at his backbone, he short loped the borrowed horse to their place. Erv had said one of his boys would ride over and get the pony. The sheriff had enough to do.
    Skirt in hand, Cally rushed out to hug him as he hitched the horse. “You have any food?”
    â€œNo, I waited for you to feed me.” He kissed her and then she shook her head.
    â€œYou must be starved to death.”
    He slapped his muscle-corded belly and laughed. “I’m starved to see and hold you.”
    â€œCome in, I’ll fix you food.” She swung on his arm. Her enthusiasm for him always boosted his deep feeling for her even more.
    The smell of cooking soon began to fill his nose as Cally worked over the wood range and he filled her in on the murders while sitting at the table.
    She soon brought him a stack of hot pancakes, butter, and her syrup. He thanked her and started to fill his plate.
    â€œI can make some more,” she offered.
    â€œNo. I’ll take a shower and sleep a few hours.”
    â€œNice to have you home.” She reached over and squeezed his hand.
    â€œNice to be here.” He shook his head to try to clear the whole scene away. “Where’s Noble?”
    â€œLooking for a horse rustler. A man named Darrel Thayer came by looking for you. Noble and Dan went to see what they could figure out about who took Thayer’s horses.”
    â€œWhere does this man live?”
    â€œSouth and east of Stewart’s Crossing.”
    â€œDid you think I needed to back