Free Blood Bond 3 by William W. Johnstone Page B

house in one hour. I’ll give you money to get you a room at Fanny’s. She takes in boarders from time to time. The baby I could live with and love, if that was all there was to it. It would be my grandbaby. Your treachery is something I can’t and won’t abide. I’ll arrange to have money sent to you from time to time—”
    â€œI don’t need your goddamn money!” she screamed at him. “Nick will take care of me.”
    Ed shook his head. “You poor little fool. That punk doesn’t care about you. He used you like a whoor. He told ever’body in the damn county about it. I’ve known it for months. But I never let on to your mama; I didn’t know that she knew too. Now listen to me. I’ll see that you get proper care and arrange for you to go on to an unwed mother’s home. I think there’s one in Fort Worth. I—”
    She started cussing her father. She cussed him until she was breathless. She sucked in air and started all over again. She was still cussing and screaming when Ed left the room, closing the door behind him.
    â€œHitch up the buggy for your sister, Noah,” he told his son. “She’ll be leavin’ us.” He turned to go into his office to get Cindy some money.
    â€œFor how long, Papa?” the young man asked.
    â€œForever.” The man’s words were just audible over the sobbing of his wife in the bedroom.
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    â€œBoss,” Red said, standing in the doorway, hat in hand. “I was over by the road about an hour ago. Cindy Carson come along drivin’ a buggy. Eyes all red from cryin’. Buggy was loaded down with trunks and valises.”
    â€œWhich direction was she headin’?”
    â€œToward Crossing.”
    â€œShe’s either run away from home or Ed’s tossed her out. Thank you, Red.”
    The puncher nodded and walked back to the bunkhouse to clean up for supper.
    Jeff turned to his family. “I’d like to comfort my old friend,” he said. “But I don’t know what to do or what to say.”
    â€œIf Cindy thinks Nick is going to welcome her,” Lia said, “she’s sure in for a rude surprise there.”
    â€œI think we’re all in for a whole bunch of surprises, girl,” father said, his face grim. “None of them are goin’ to be much fun.”
    The drovers hired by the Army showed up early the next morning and that day was a busy one, with no one allowed much time to ponder the fate of Cindy. Jeff put the money from the sale of his cattle into his big safe and breathed a little easier. Now he had some working capital, hands to help fight John Lee—whenever the man made his move—and a thousand less head of cattle to worry about. There was nothing he could do now except wait. And worry and wonder.
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    John Lee sat behind his desk and smiled at the news. His son sat before him, looking very unhappy.
    â€œI guess you’re gonna tell me marryin’ her is the honorable thing to do?” Nick finally broke the silence.
    â€œHonor has nothing to do with it,” his father said. “But you are going to marry her.”
    The young man cussed.
    â€œUse your head for a change,” John admonished his son. “Think. If something were to happen to the Carson family, you would own the Flying V.”
    Nick lifted his head, and the eyes of father and son met. Hard eyes, cruel eyes.
    John said, “It’s a good thing to have a wife and children. Makes a man respectable. After a time you can keep you a woman in town for variety. Just as long as it’s a discreet affair. I’ll ride in and talk to Cindy. It wouldn’t be proper to have her staying out here before the wedding. But the wedding will take place here, of course. We’ll invite all the townspeople. They’ll come, don’t worry. Is Cindy showing yet?”
    â€œHuh?”
    John grimaced. “Is her condition