Read The Lonely Cowboy (Trace Atkins Family) for Free Online Page A

the deal.  You stay here, keep the place up, take care of the cattle until we merge them into the main herd.  After that, you can run your own cattle.  While you are taking are of our cattle, we’ll pay you $50 and found. 
    Clint, do you think that’s fair?  It’s more than we pay the hands at the main ranch, but out here, he’s going to have more responsibility.”
    “I think it’s more than fair.  What about you Rance, what do you think?”
    “Yes sir.  I think it’s good.  When can we start?”
    “You just did.  You can move in anytime you want.  Tomorrow if you want.”
    “Darcy is going to love this.  It’s the nicest place we’ve ever lived.”
    His enthusiasm was almost touchable.  Trace smiled at Clint, who said, “Thank you.  He’s a good kid and he’ll do a good job for you.”
    “I’m going to go through Cimmaron on the way back.  I need to see Jess Clayton and the sheriff .
    * * *
    Trace was heading towards Cimmaron at a nice easy trot when a shot rang out, the sound echoing off the rocks.  He didn’t hear the echo because the blow of the bullet knocked him from the saddle and he fell to the ground.  He lay still.  Bleeding.
    His horse, like any well trained animal when there was no grip or restraint on the reins, headed for home and food. 
    * * *
    Josh came into the kitchen.  “Ma, where’s Pa?”
    “He went to the other ranch with Mr. Clint and his nephew.”
    “They’re back.”
    “Why don’t you go find him?”
    They took off at their usual pace, a dead run.  “Mr. Clint, where’s Pa?” asked Josh.
    “He was coming back through Cimmaron.  He wanted to see some people.”
    “His horse is in the barn.  He still has his saddle on.”
    “I better take a look, he wouldn’t leave his horse saddled unless he was getting ready to ride him.  You boys go tell your ma.”
    Clint walked into the barn, and found the boys were right.  Trace’s horse was there, eating grain.  “Now ain’t that strange?”
    Sarah came hurrying out to the barn.  “Clint, has something happened?  Where’s Trace?  Didn’t he come back with you and Rance?”
    “No, we came back cross country because it’s quicker.  He wanted to go through Cimmaron and see Jess Clayton and the sheriff.”
    “We’d better backtrack to Cimmaron and see if he’s all right.  Let me get my bonnet and we’ll take  the buckboard.  The housekeeper will look after the boys.”
    “Sarah, there’s no need for you to go.  I’ll get a few of the hands and we’ll go back and find him.  He’s probably running late with the meetings and all.”
    “Then his horse wouldn’t be here.  I’m going.  Why don’t you send a couple of men on ahead and we’ll follow.”
    “Yes ma’am.”
    When the buckboard rolled into Cimmaron they were met by Clint and the other hand.  There’s no trace of him being here, Miss Sarah.  The sheriff hasn’t seen him.  I didn’t ask Jess Clayton. 
    Come with me and I’ll ask him and then I’ll go to the preacher’s.  Then we’ll head toward the other ranch.” 
    Sarah and Clint went to Jess Clayton’s office.  He was at his desk facing his door rather than the window.  “I’m Sarah Atkins, formerly Bartlett. Mr. Clayton.  I’m looking for my husband, Trace.”
    “He’s not here and I haven’t seen him.  If you can’t keep up with him, don’t expect me to do the job for you.  He’s probably at the saloon upstairs with one of the whores. ”  His two men in the office laughed along with him.  Sarah didn’t.
    “Jess Clayton, apparently my name doesn’t mean anything to you.  We own the Bar S.  If anything has happened to Trace, I will muster every resource the Bar S and the Kleburne ranches have and come after you.  Believe me, you won’t survive it.”
    “What do the Kleburnes have to do with this,” asked a now intimidated Clayton.
    “My father is a Kleburne.  Let’s go find my husband, Clint.
    “I haven’t seen your