Read Online A Texas Hill Country Christmas by William W. Johnstone - Free Book Online Page A

can pick up Black Moon’s trail.”
    â€œYou’re going after him by yourself?”
    Matt smiled.
    â€œLike you said, he’s only one man.”
    Matt could tell that the major didn’t like the decision he had made, but Macmillan had no way of stopping him. Matt was a civilian and subject to the officer’s orders only as long as he was riding with the patrol. He hadn’t signed a contract, so if he went off on his own it was none of the army’s business.
    Chadwick said, “You’ll wait and let us feed you a good meal before you set out, won’t you, Mr. Jensen?”
    â€œI reckon I can do that,” Matt replied with a smile. “And I’m obliged to you for it.”
    â€œNot as much as we are to you.” Chadwick put a hand on Tommy’s shoulder again. “You saved my son’s life.”
    â€œSergeant, have the men bring in their horses,” Macmillan ordered. “We’ll be stopped here for a while.”
    â€œYes, sir,” Houlihan said. He hurried off to carry out the order.
    Matt gazed at the wooded slopes of Dark Valley. He didn’t like the gloomy place any more than he had when he’d first laid eyes on it.
    In fact, he liked it even less . . . because he knew there was a good chance that somewhere out there was a crazed killer named Black Moon.

C HAPTER N INE
    The Texas Hill Country
    Â 
    Seth Barrett put his shoulder against the back end of the wagon and heaved. Beside him, a short, stocky boy of ten grunted as he threw all his strength into the effort as well. Charlie couldn’t help much, Seth knew, but the youngster thought of himself as the man of the family because his father was dead. It was important for him to try to do as much as he could.
    The wagon didn’t budge, though. Its wheels remained stuck in the mud.
    The blasted mud was the result of more than a week of intermittent, unseasonal downpours. Folks around here talked about how it never rained like this in December, nearing Christmastime. But it was raining this year, and that was all that mattered.
    Seth stopped pushing and straightened up to catch his breath. He leaned to the side to call to the woman who stood at the heads of the mule team hitched to the wagon, “We’ll try again in a minute, Mrs. Kennedy.”
    â€œI don’t believe this wagon is going anywhere, Mr. Barrett,” she replied in a despairing tone. “I’m afraid Charlie and I are just going to have to leave it here.” She sighed. “I should have paid more attention to where I was going and stayed on the drier parts of the road.”
    Seth put a weary smile on his face and said, “The Lord tells us to persevere. I’m prepared to take Him at His word . . . at least a few more times before I give up.”
    Charlie leaned over, put his hands on his knees and puffed for breath. He looked up and said, “No offense, Preacher, but I don’t reckon even the Good Lord His own self could get this danged ol’ wagon outta the mud.”
    â€œCharlie,” his mother scolded. “That’s no way to talk to Mr. Barrett. You shouldn’t be doubting the Lord, either.”
    â€œI just know how sticky this stuff is,” Charlie muttered.
    Charlie was right about that, thought Seth. The rain had turned all the roads in these parts into gumbo. It wasn’t raining now, but it had poured again earlier in the day and a thick overcast still covered the sky. Even if it didn’t rain any more for a while, it would take days, maybe even weeks, for the ground to dry out.
    Seth didn’t figure that would happen anytime soon. The clouds were still ominous as they roiled and scudded through the sky overhead.
    While he took a break from trying to free the wagon, he put his gaze on something a lot more appealing than the threatening sky.
    Delta Kennedy’s lovely face.
    It was heart-shaped, framed by thick wings of dark brown hair that escaped