Free The Last Chance Ranch by D.G. Parker Page A

than later, indeed.
    * * * *
    It was late in the evening before they heard the wagons clatter up the trail. Peering out the window, Obie could just make out two points of light, bobbing wildly as the wagon's lanterns swung on their hooks. The first light stopped at the barn. The second paused for a moment, then continued up the path toward the house. Obie and Ben stepped out onto the porch, bearing their own lantern, and watched as Lonnie brought the wagon to a halt. Beside him, Juanita was slumped over asleep, with Rosie dead to the world in her lap.
    The big man all but fell out of the wagon, his usual easy grace a casualty of his fatigue. “Hey, boss, Obie,” he called quietly. He gave a great yawn and leaned his forearms heavily on the porch railing, letting his chin rest on top. “Mr. Barstow sends his thanks. He sent a case of whiskey too. It's in there somewhere.” He gave a lazy nod toward the wagon and its load of cooking gear. “He says to tell you he'll replace the lumber soon as he can. They had a right mess over there, boss, but we got ‘em through the worst of it. Said they could handle the rest."
    Lonnie's eyes were drifting closed, and his voice was petering out to a murmur. Ben clapped him on the arm, making him start. “Go on, get your family to bed,” Ben told him. “Don't worry about that wagon. Me and Obie'll unload it in the morning. All you boys have a lie-in tomorrow. You've earned it."
    "Can't,” came the drowsy answer. “Gotta feed the horses."
    "It won't hurt ‘em to eat a few hours later. God knows it's been a long day for everybody. Go on now, get to bed."
    Lonnie gave in with a nod and went back to the wagon, shaking his wife awake. Juanita couldn't seem to get her eyes open more than halfway and barely noticed when Lonnie took her daughter from her arms. Finally, they were all up and moving toward the foreman's house. Ben and Obie brought the wagon around back to the kitchen door, set the brake, and unhitched the horse. “You too, Obediah. Go on to bed. I'll see to this old gal and come join you.” He took the mare by her bridle and snagged the lantern with his other hand. He'd only gone a few steps when he stopped. “Huh.” Reaching into the wagon, he pulled a dark bottle out of a crate.
    "Good stuff?” Obie asked, rubbing his gritty eyes with the back of his fist.
    "Kentucky sippin’ whiskey. Finest kind."
    "Sam's good people.” Obie yawned so hard his jaw cracked.
    "Bed, now, before you swallow your own head,” Ben ordered, putting the whiskey back and getting the horse moving once more.
    "I'll wait for you."
    "Like hell. You'll be asleep soon as your head hits the pillow."
    "Naw, I'll wait for you."
    The older man smiled knowingly. “All right, then."
    Obie watched him for a few minutes as his lantern moved back down the hill to the barn, then turned and went inside. He sat down on the bed to unbutton his shirt, and that was the last thing he knew until morning.
    [Back to Table of Contents]

Chapter 6
    Obie wasn't surprised to wake up in an empty bed. Ben was an early riser by nature and didn't seem capable of sleeping in, even when he'd gotten little sleep the night before. Obie got out of bed and stretched, rubbing his lower back with a wince. “Gettin’ old,” he muttered to himself as he slowly got dressed.
    His first stop was the kitchen and the pot of hot coffee waiting for him on top of the cast-iron stove. He drank half of the first cup before he even put the pot down, scalding his tongue but not caring. Ben must have been up for some time, he realized as he looked around. Everything from the wagon had already been put away.
    Obie wasn't the only one getting off to a slow start. The sun was well up and the feed wagon was just now making its way up to the north pasture. Exhausted from the long hours and physical labor of the day before, the hands looked slow and clumsy as they went about their tasks. Besides the daily chores, there were still a number of large