cattle on a small ranch. An inner voice urged her to continue. All she could think of was the bereaved look on Leahs face and the thought of what the McCaws might do to her sons. Charles had a wandering spirit. I knew it when we married, but his ways didnt matter. I knew how to take care of the ranch, and we had a neighboring boy and Papa to help when the work got to be too much for me.
Ive known a few men who couldnt handle being tied down. Parkers voice sounded gentle, coaxing her on.
He said he liked the wilds, to hunt and breathe in free air. And he loved northern Colorado. He always apologized when he rode off The suspicions that shed carried for years surfaced again. Was I a fool then to believe every word he said?
Excuse me for asking this, but do you think he ran with a gang of outlaws?
Hed spoken what shed feared, and it sounded viler than in her thoughts. I dont know. Ive been confused for so long about the things he kept from me. She took a deep breath to gain control. The more she expressed her deep-rooted fears, the harder it became. His killer said Charles had money that belonged to them. The men went through our cabin and tore it apart. Look, Parker, I was young, nave, and I loved a man who was different from anyone I knew. As children, we fished together and talked about all kinds of things. He didnt ridicule my Ute blood or make me feel less than a human being.
No need to get upset. Im just trying A stab of pain must have taken his breath. A moment later he attempted to speak again. Im just trying to make sense of our dilemma. He paused. We dont know each other well, and
We dont like each other much either.
He smiled, the first time all day. Ill grant you that one, but weve been thrown into an icy river headed for a waterfall.
One of us has to find a way to reach the bank.
So what else are you thinking? Parker said.
Sage wondered if Davis and John were still alive. The quiet streets of Rocky Falls didnt need any more bloodshed or missing children. Shed never spoken this freely to anyone about Charles, not even to Tall Elk or her parents. Papa never liked Charles. He said a man who stayed away from his wife was up to no good. He and Mama didnt grieve for him.
Im sorry. Parkers words were spoken softly, as if he understood a little of what shed gone through.
She stared out the window to where Hawk circled above.Sometimes she thought shed given all of her love to the birda predator who welcomed her affections. After I learned that Charles had lied to me about owning another ranch, I searched wanted posters for a picture or a description of him. She paused and remembered her relief in knowing he wasnt an outlaw. When I found nothing and I could not get the local sheriff to help me find his killers, I decided the only way justice could be served was for me to find the killers and bring them in. Thats when I traveled into the Rockies to search out some of my Ute people who still lived there. I needed to learn their ways.
If Im hearing right, Parker said, then youre having second thoughts about Charles. He might have been involved with the McCaw gangor a rival one.
And he may have gone to his grave with the knowledge of what his killers wanted. She swung back to him, suddenly feeling a kinship to a man shed otherwise dislike. But I havent figured out where you might fit in, or your brother.
Frank could have walked into something unaware.
Or hed become involved.
Parker pressed his lips tightly together. Finally he took another deep breath. Id sure hate to think my brother had turned outlaw. But he did have a problem with drinking and gambling.
Desperate situations breed desperate people. She watched how he reacted to her comment with the understanding that the truth about those a person loves can be the most difficult to bear. She should know because the truth about Charles might be the most difficult pain of all.
My grandfather used to talk about sheep being one of the dumbest animals on the face
Ive known a few men who couldnt handle being tied down. Parkers voice sounded gentle, coaxing her on.
He said he liked the wilds, to hunt and breathe in free air. And he loved northern Colorado. He always apologized when he rode off The suspicions that shed carried for years surfaced again. Was I a fool then to believe every word he said?
Excuse me for asking this, but do you think he ran with a gang of outlaws?
Hed spoken what shed feared, and it sounded viler than in her thoughts. I dont know. Ive been confused for so long about the things he kept from me. She took a deep breath to gain control. The more she expressed her deep-rooted fears, the harder it became. His killer said Charles had money that belonged to them. The men went through our cabin and tore it apart. Look, Parker, I was young, nave, and I loved a man who was different from anyone I knew. As children, we fished together and talked about all kinds of things. He didnt ridicule my Ute blood or make me feel less than a human being.
No need to get upset. Im just trying A stab of pain must have taken his breath. A moment later he attempted to speak again. Im just trying to make sense of our dilemma. He paused. We dont know each other well, and
We dont like each other much either.
He smiled, the first time all day. Ill grant you that one, but weve been thrown into an icy river headed for a waterfall.
One of us has to find a way to reach the bank.
So what else are you thinking? Parker said.
Sage wondered if Davis and John were still alive. The quiet streets of Rocky Falls didnt need any more bloodshed or missing children. Shed never spoken this freely to anyone about Charles, not even to Tall Elk or her parents. Papa never liked Charles. He said a man who stayed away from his wife was up to no good. He and Mama didnt grieve for him.
Im sorry. Parkers words were spoken softly, as if he understood a little of what shed gone through.
She stared out the window to where Hawk circled above.Sometimes she thought shed given all of her love to the birda predator who welcomed her affections. After I learned that Charles had lied to me about owning another ranch, I searched wanted posters for a picture or a description of him. She paused and remembered her relief in knowing he wasnt an outlaw. When I found nothing and I could not get the local sheriff to help me find his killers, I decided the only way justice could be served was for me to find the killers and bring them in. Thats when I traveled into the Rockies to search out some of my Ute people who still lived there. I needed to learn their ways.
If Im hearing right, Parker said, then youre having second thoughts about Charles. He might have been involved with the McCaw gangor a rival one.
And he may have gone to his grave with the knowledge of what his killers wanted. She swung back to him, suddenly feeling a kinship to a man shed otherwise dislike. But I havent figured out where you might fit in, or your brother.
Frank could have walked into something unaware.
Or hed become involved.
Parker pressed his lips tightly together. Finally he took another deep breath. Id sure hate to think my brother had turned outlaw. But he did have a problem with drinking and gambling.
Desperate situations breed desperate people. She watched how he reacted to her comment with the understanding that the truth about those a person loves can be the most difficult to bear. She should know because the truth about Charles might be the most difficult pain of all.
My grandfather used to talk about sheep being one of the dumbest animals on the face
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