A Promise to Believe in Read Online Free PDF

the door. “He’s the dashing type—bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. Looks all duded up—probably another eastern city man, come to find his fortune in gold and gemstones. He brought his own horse and saddle. Nick just took them away.”
    Smiling, Gwen walked out onto the porch with her sisters as the man walked casually from behind the freight wagon. Joe waved from his seat.
    “I see you girls are still as pretty as a summer day,” he called. “I’ve been dreamin’ of some of your great apple pie. I hope I’m not going to be disappointed.” He jumped down from his side of the wagon and dusted himself off. “I’m gonna talk to Rafe for a minute—he’s got quite a few crates here. Then I’ll be back for lunch.”
    “Sounds good, Joe,” Gwen replied before turning her attention on the stranger. She sized him up as somewhat of a dandy. “Good afternoon. Would you like to clean up a bit and then have some lunch?”
    The man’s blue eyes stared a hole in her as he glanced from one sister to the next. “What I would like,” he said, narrowing his gaze, “is to know which one of you hussies married my brother, then killed him off.”

    Rafe was starting his day with a double bourbon when Joe walked through the front door. The glass was midway to his lips when Joe bellowed out his name.
    “I’m right here, Joe,” Rafe said, putting a hand to his head. “You don’t need to yell. My head already feels like it’s about to rupture.”
    “Didn’t see you sittin’ there in the dark. Sorry about that.” Joe made his way to Rafe’s table. “I have a dozen or so crates for you. Thought maybe I could get that boy of yours to unload them while I eat lunch. I’m on a tight schedule today and can’t waste any time.”
    Rafe nodded. “Cubby’s in the back. I’ll let him know.”
    “Good enough. Tell him they’re the crates at the back of the wagon. You got my money?”
    “Don’t I always? Drink?” Rafe questioned, holding up his glass.
    “It’s a little early for me, Rafe.” Joe shook his head. “I’d never make it to Old Town if I started drinking now.”
    “Suit yourself,” Rafe said, downing the drink. He got to his feet and yawned. “So what’s new in the world?” He went to the bar and grabbed the cashbox. Counting out the money due Joe, he added, “Any Injun problems?”
    Joe grinned. “Not betwixt here and Salt Lake. Had a few grizzlies givin’ folks problems down Ennis way. There’s some floodin’ on the Madison—the Gallatin, too—but I don’t reckon it to be too much of a problem here. Had a letter from my sister down in Fort Worth. Guess they’ve been havin’ a rough time of it with twisters and bad storms. Hail laid down their crops three different times.”
    Rafe yawned again. “Cubby!” he called out, forgetting about his head. He put one hand to his temple while handing Joe the cash with the other.
    “Yeah, Pa?” The boy came from the back room, broom in hand.
    “Go unload the freight wagon. Joe will show you what belongs to us.”
    The boy put aside the broom and nodded. Joe smiled at Rafe. “Pleasure doin’ business with you. I’m sure to see you on my way back. Save some of the good stuff for me.”
    Rafe nodded. “Do me a favor and see if you can’t get those Gallatin girls to sell me their place while you’re sharin’ lunch with them.”
    Joe and Cubby both turned at this. “Sell to you?” Joe asked. “I can’t imagine those girls selling out for any reason, least of all to you.”
    “Everybody’s got their price.”
    “Yeah, well, I doubt the girls can be moved that easily. It’s like I was tellin’ that young feller who rode up with me—those girls might have lost their pa, but they ain’t lost their minds. The roadhouse serves them well. I can’t see them leavin’ now.”
    Rafe narrowed his gaze and fixed the old man with a hard stare. “What young feller are you talking about?”
    “That city dude who asked me to ride him to the Gallatin