Free Grace be a Lady (Love & War in Johnson County Book 1) by Heather Blanton Page A

his
shoulder. “She was best friends with my ma. She was there for us when Ma
contracted a fever and passed. We were there for her when her husband was murdered.”
He swished the quirt a few more times at the heifer then reined in again beside
Greg. “I owe her. She’s had some hard times and worthless help since Jake died.
But you,” he tsked, “I’ve got a feeling you might work out. Your sister is a
bonus, I hope.”
    “I
told ya she’s married. Do you not understand the meaning of the word?”
    “Women
can get divorced when they’re in bad situations. If the two of you are out
here, it must be pretty bad.”
    The
kid’s mouth fell open, apparently in shock, but then he shifted his gaze back
out over the living river of animals. “You don’t know anything about . . .
things.”
    “So,
tell me.” Greg dropped his gaze to his saddle horn. Thad reached out and firmly
lifted the boy’s chin. “You’re on the back of a horse in the middle of a herd
of cows. Do your thinkin’, but never take your mind off business. I should
know.” Greg accepted the advice with a subtle, humble nod.
    Thad
withdrew his hand, but, for the sweep of an instant, recalled with perfect
clarity, eyes as green as Oriental jade, silky, strawberry hair touched with
honey, and a pretty, pert nose. The resemblance between brother and sister was
downright spooky. Probably not something a young boy wanted to hear. Except for
the short, scraggly hair, bony frame, and floppy hat, he was the mirror image of
Grace.
    He
scolded himself for forgetting his own advice, and went back to the job at
hand.
    “Is
that how it happened?” Greg asked gently. “You took your mind off your
business?”
    Thad
exhaled and searched the grassy plains in front of them. Watching the herd
should be second nature, and yet, he found himself fighting a distraction. He
couldn’t afford that.
    “I
thought we were gonna talk about you.” Silence met his comment, and he knew
Greg was waiting. Thad fought the urge to talk, but something about this kid
pulled it out of him. “My brother Nick and I had a fight. Over nothin’ really.
I was mad at him for coming home half-drunk. I accused him of letting me do all
the work while he chased skirts.” It seemed like such a stupid complaint now,
certainly nothing to forfeit lives over. Thad resituated his hat again and
chided himself for the nervous habit. “Anyhow, I was busy counting the ways I
was going to murder Nick when the storm hit. I never even noticed till the wind
changed. Then the lightning struck, and all hell broke loose.”
    “I
don’t know much about cattle, but don’t stampedes happen? What were you
supposed to do?”
    “I
sent three men out to turn the herd. We all should’ve gone. I don’t know what I
was thinking.” For the millionth time, Thad second-guessed the decision. “I can’t
afford any mistakes like that again. Life is hard enough out here without being
stupid.”
    The
pause in the conversation lasted a spell before Greg finally asked, “Speaking
of a hard life, that fella that lost his wife yesterday. Is he all right?”
    Thad
sighed. He heard Pa’s voice reminding him about the dues Wyoming demanded.
Sometimes, they were mighty steep. “My pa is gonna to talk to him. I don’t know
what Bill’s gonna do. Without Maggie, I think we’ll be hard-pressed to keep him
from blowing his brains out.” He continued scanning the area around them like a
soldier on guard-duty. No clouds. No coyotes. A content herd. “Pa might offer
to buy his spread. I know he’d like to have it. I have a feeling Bill might
sell it and high-tail it out of here.”
    “Just
like that fella, Nate, said.”
    Thad
whipped his head around. “Nate Champion is a trouble-maker.”
    Greg
seemed to weigh that then took his attention back to the herd in front of them.
Angry he’d let the mention of Nate disrupt his focus, Thad did the same.
    “Raney
thinks highly of him. You think highly of Raney. That seems