Free Texas Iron by Robert J. Randisi Page B

awake,” her father’s voice called. “How could I not be with so many people traipsing through the hall? Is that you, Sam
     McCall?”
    “It’s me, Dude,” Sam said.
    “Go on in,” she said, stepping aside. “I’ll get you some coffee.”
    “Thanks,” Evan said.
    They stepped into the room and Sam was shocked when he saw Dude Miller. The man had aged so. His hair was white, the bones
     of his face looked as if they were trying to push out through his flesh. Sam wondered…if his father were still alive,
     would he look like this as well?
    “Dude.”
    “Sam,” Miller said. “Boys, how are you?”
    “We’re fine, Mr. Miller.”
    “Jubal, is that you?” Miller said, peering at Jubal.
    “You’ve—”
    “Yeah, I know, I’ve grown.”
    “I wish I could get up and greet you proper but Doc insists I stay in bed. Got some cracked ribs.”
    “Do you know who it was did this to you, Dude?” Sam asked.
    “Didn’t see anyone’s face, if that’s what you mean,” Miller said. “Can’t describe anyone to the sheriff, not that it would
     matter.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “He means we know who did it,” Serena said frombehind them. “We can’t prove it, but even if we could, the sheriff wouldn’t
     do anything about it.”
    She entered the room carrying a tray with three steaming cups of coffee on it. Sam knew from the smell it would be better
     coffee than the sheriff’s.
    “Thank you,” he said, taking one. “You want to explain that to me a little better?”
    “They had to be Lincoln Burkett’s men,” Miller said from the bed.
    “Burkett,” Sam said. “I don’t know the name.”
    “I do,” Evan said.
    They all looked at him.
    “I was in the Dakotas when he had a spread up there. That was several years ago. What’s he doing down here?”
    “Who knows?” Miller said. “All we know is that he arrived with a lot of money, and a lot of men, and started taking over the
     county, and the town. He owns a big spread, some businesses here, he’s got the town council buffaloed, and the sheriff is
     his.”
    “That’s an awful lot for one man to bite off,” Sam said.
    “Well, he’s bitten it off, chewed it, and swallowed it, and he’s still hungry.”
    “Why would he send men to beat up on you?”
    “Because I’m opposed to him,” Miller said. “He’s got most of the people hereabouts thinking that he’s good for the town, but
     the only thing he’s good for is Lincoln Burkett.”
    “Sounds like you’ve got your work cut out for you, opposin’ him,” Sam said.
    “Us?” Serena asked. “What about you?”
    Sam looked at her.
    “Well, ma’am—Serena, what Burkett does ain’t none of our business. We just came to find out what happened to our Ma and Pa.”
    “They were killed, that’s what happened.”
    “Well, we know that, but by who and why? That’s our business.”
    “Then your business and our business is the same,” she said.
    “Serena—”
    “Papa, come on. You know that Burkett killed their parents.”
    Sam gave Miller a sharp look.
    “What about that, Dude?”
    “That’s something else we can’t prove,” Miller said.
    “But do you believe it?”
    “I…suspect it.”
    “Why? Did the death of our parents benefit Lincoln Burkett?”
    “Actually, if you look at it that way, no.”
    “He owns your father’s spread!” Serena said.
    “What?” Evan said.
    “He bought it,” Miller said. He looked at Sam and said, “He already owned it when your parents were killed. Killing them didn’t
     benefit him that I can see.”
    “Unless our Pa was opposing him, too,” Evan said.
    “Was he?”
    Miller looked away.
    “Dude?” Sam said. “There’s somethin’ stickin’ in Doc Leader’s craw. Do you know what it is?”
    “Again,” Miller said, “I suspect…”
    “Suspect what?” Evan asked.
    “Doc examined your parents,” Serena said quickly. “He knows your father didn’t kill himself.”
    Sam started to look annoyed.
    “There seems