Read Online The Devil You Know by Jo Goodman - Free Book Online Page A

built, broad and big-boned. He held himself erect, although not stiffly. It was the natural posture of a man always at attention, but the effect was that he drew attention. He had a presence beyond what could be accounted for by his physical size. When she was a child, Willa had imagined that he could suck the air out of a room. As an adult, she knew it to be a fact.
    Willa steadied Felicity as the riders drew closer. They had slowed once they recognized her. The follower in the pair was wearing a thick leather coat with a lamb’s wool collar turned up to his ears. The coat added bulk to his lean, compact frame, but he still did not approach the size of his companion. Willa wondered if that had been the intent when he purchased it. Eli Barber had never really tried to step out of his father’s shadow, and whatever space he had created for himself, the shadow he cast was in Malcolm Barber’s image.
    They wore identical hats, silver-banded black Stetsons that bore none of the sweat stains and grit of the hats worn by the men who worked for them. They shared the same coloring, fair skinned, sandy hair, and green eyes, but for all of that, they were not peas in a pod. Eli’s features were better defined, not like his father’s, whose were broad and flat. He had a narrow face with a clean jawline, full lips, andfaint hollows under high cheekbones. Eli’s hair brushed his forehead while his father wore his swept back under his hat, and although Malcolm’s face was carved by a less deft hand, he was as handsome as his son in a roughhewn way.
    Willa tugged on her scarf, lowering to just under her chin so she could greet them. It was her practice to never give either of the Barbers the first opportunity to speak, and if she could have the last word as well, so much the better.
    â€œMorning, Mal. Eli. What are you doing on my land?”
    â€œNow, Willa,” Malcolm said patiently. “Is that really how you want to begin? A debate over whose land this is?”
    â€œI said ‘Morning’ first.”
    â€œSo you did.”
    â€œAnd there’s no debating it,” she said. “The only person questioning the survey, the government land office, and the judge’s ruling is you.” When Willa saw Eli casually raise his hand, she added, “And your son. So I’m asking again, what are you doing on my land?”
    â€œLooking for rustlers, or at least trespassers. Haven’t determined if there are missing cattle, but my fence has been cut, so it seems likely. My men are counting head now. Trail led us here.”
    â€œHuh. Rustlers. As it happens, I’m looking for a couple of cows that wandered off from the north pasture. I didn’t consider rustlers. It’s been a while since we had that kind of trouble.”
    â€œWell, it’s never not a possibility.”
    â€œTrue.” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder to indicate the ground she had already covered. “There’s no point in the two of your troubling yourself any further, especially seeing as how you are three miles deep onto my land and how I’ve been where you’re heading and saw no evidence of rustlers or your cattle. I don’t suppose you’ve seen my cows?”
    Malcolm Barber’s expression turned regretful. “Sorry, Willa, but no. No sign of them.”
    â€œBut you’d send them this way if you did see them.”
    â€œOf course. I’ll deliver them to your front door if you like.”
    She shook her head. “You get within forty yards of the front porch and Happy will shoot you. You know that.”
    â€œYour father could give lessons on how to hold a grudge.”
    Willa said nothing. She looked pointedly to the ridge where they had first appeared and waited for them to leave. It was only when they brought their horses around that she spoke. “Always nice chatting with you, Eli.”
    Yes, she reflected, as they rode away. She’d had