Read Online Riding For The Brand: Sage Country Book Three by Dan Arnold - Free Book Online Page A

bustling through a doorway at the back of the store.
    “Nonsense!” she snapped at me. “We’d better have a look at it, dontcha know?”
    “Now Lida, maybe the gentleman isn’t comfortable having a lady fussing over him,” the storekeeper observed.
    “No, it’s not that…”
    “Then we’ll see to it now, by golly.” She nodded at me, with a stern look.
    “Yes ma’am.” I said.
    I’ve been learning to pick my battles.
    I took off my suit coat and when I did, my badge and guns were clearly on display outside my waistcoat.
    “Yumpin yiminy! He’s a lawman!” she exclaimed.
    “Yes, ma’am, I’m the Sheriff of the county.”
    “Sheriff Sage? Are you Sheriff Sage?” The man asked.
    “Yes sir. I don’t believe we’ve met. Who do I have to thank for your kindness?”
    “I’m Henry Burke and this is my wife, Lida Burke. This is our store.”
    “…Pleased to meet you folks.”
    “Where are you hurting, Sheriff?” Mrs. Burke asked.
    I shrugged out of my shoulder holster, unbuttoned my waistcoat and gently eased out of it. I could feel my shirt stuck to my back, where I’d been bleeding. I carefully lowered my leather braces, and began unbuttoning my shirt. I’d taken off my tie and celluloid collar as soon as I left the abandoned ranch.
    “Tssk, tssk, tssk. Don’t take your shirt off, yet. I’ll getcha a warm cloth and we’ll soak it loose first.” Mrs. Burke instructed me. “Then I’ll be washing the shirt. Nice white shirt like that. Tssk, tssk, tssk.” She headed out through the back doorway.
    “What happened to you, Sheriff?” Mr. Burke asked me.
    “I got in a tussle with a pretty good sized fella, fell off the porch and landed on my back in the yard. I guess I opened up the bullet wound.”
    “This is rough country. You might not want to be riding around in your Sunday best,” he observed.”
    He had a point. I should’ve put on trail clothes before I left Bear Creek. I’d gotten used to life in the city where my appearance needed to be more formal.
    “Have you got anything more suitable, in my size?” I asked him.
    “Sure do. Cowboys around here get most of their gear from us. Let’s see, you’ll need some britches, a shirt, a work vest and a jacket. I’ve got a good canvas jacket just your size. Anything else you need?”
    “Yep, I’ll need some Arbuckle’s, beans, salt pork, some canned goods….”
    “Are you planning on being around for a spell?”
    “Now, papa, don’t you be a buttin’ in to this man’s business.” Mrs. Burke said, coming back with a bowl of hot water, bandages and what not.
    “I’ll be staying out at the Murphy place for a couple of days.”
    “Uhh, Sheriff, it’s not my place to tell you what to do, but I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Mr. Burke said.
    “Oh, why’s that?”
    Mrs. Burke laid a hot wet rag on my shoulder to loosen my shirt. It felt good.
    “It’s bad business being out there, dangerous too. It’s just awful what happened to those folks…”Mr Burke said.
    “That’s what I wanted to ask you about. Did you know the Murphy’s?”
    “Oh, yah, you betcha!. Such a nice family. Sad, what happened to em.” Mrs. Burke said.
    “What happened to them?”
    The Burkes exchanged looks.
    “I’d rather not say. Best to just let it all go on by.” Mr. Burke said.
    Mrs. Burke began to gently peel my shirt away from the wound.
    “You should tell him, papa. He’s the law, don’tcha know? It’s about time we had some law and order around here, you betcha!”
    “I intend to find out what happened to the Murphy’s. It’s why I’m here. Any help you can give me will be appreciated.”
    “Well they hung him, didn’t they? …Left a widow and two children, with no one to look out for em. She took it hard, the missus did, and her health wasn’t good to begin with. By the time we realized she hadn’t been coming for supplies… We buried her next to her husband. I don’t know what became of the children.” Mr. Burke