Beside Still Waters Read Online Free PDF Page B

down and tell me what happened.”
    “Thieves.” Nathan swiped the back of his hand across his forehead. “Two of Pa’s hands were murdered. One got away.”
    “Did he say how many there were?”
    “Said he counted seven.”
    Seven men shouldn’t be too hard to find, provided they stayed together. “How many of your horses did they make off with?”
    “No more than five, near as we can figure.”
    “Five shouldn’t be too hard to track.”
    “These fellas are wily. They’ve stolen from at least a half-dozen families over the past year, and no one has been able to catch them.”
    “Then it’s time someone did. You headed to the sheriff’s office?”
    Nathan nodded. “Times like this, I think the farmers have the right idea.”
    “Why’s that?”
    “Nothing to steal. Unless you’re a bird.”
    “I’d rather take my chances on a ranch any day.” Jonesy flapped the reins, and the horses moved forward. Nathan’s mare kept pace.
    “Me, too. But seeing Shem and Booker dead like that sure shook me up a mite.”
    “No one could blame you.”
    Nathan frowned as he glanced at the road ahead. He jerked his chin. “What’s going on up there?”
    Jonesy’s heart nearly stopped when he noticed Patches standing at the side of the road. Three men, two on horseback. A third one standing over Eva, brandishing a knife, poised to …
Oh, Lord, help me
.
    “You packing a rifle?” he asked Nathan.
    “Yeah, and a pistol, too.”
    “When I give the signal, fire into the air. Once. Just to get their attention.”
    Jonesy pulled his pistol from his holster and urged the wagon forward. “Now, Nate.”
    Gunfire blasted the air. Eva’s would-be attackers swung around.
    “Throw down your weapons,” Jonesy warned the men. He aimed his pistol at the man on the ground next to Eva. “Step away from the lady and drop that knife before I send a bullet into your skull.”
    “Take it easy now, mister,” the man said, tossing his knife into the dirt near his feet. “We didn’t mean the girl no harm.”
    “You filthy, stinking liar!” Eva’s outrage shot through the air. “Don’t believe him, Jonesy. He was just about to slice my throat.”
    The man glared at Eva. “You ain’t got no proof of that.”
    “What I saw was proof enough,” Jonesy said. “Eva, kick that knife far from his reach, and then come to the wagon.”
    She did as he instructed. Relief spread through him when she came close enough for him to confirm that she was unharmed. He hopped down and helped her to the seat. He handed her his pistol. Then he pulled some rope from the back of the wagon. “Cover me.” He walked halfway to where the three men were—two still on horseback, the other standing in the road.
    He looked first at the scraggly-bearded redhead on the black-and-white paint. “All right, Red, slowly dismount and make your way over here. And don’t try anything. Nate wouldn’t hesitate to shoot.”
    “Neither would I,” Eva called.
    Jonesy’s lips twitched.
    The burly man dismounted, and Jonesy tied his hands behind his back. Jonesy eyed him carefully. “Slowly walk to the wagon.”
    With a snarl, the bound man shuffled toward the wagon.
    “Nate, once he’s in there, tie his feet.”
    “I’ll do it,” Eva piped up. “Nate needs to cover you.”
    “No, Eva. Stay away from him.” When Jonesy turned to reiterate his words, the other horseman kicked his horse’s flanks and took off at a gallop, nearly knocking the third man to the ground.
    “Stop!” Nate fired into the air, but the rider didn’t slow. “Want me to go after him, Jonesy?”
    “No. I’m going to need your help getting these two to the sheriff.” He grabbed the knife off the ground, stuffed it into his waistband, then tied up its owner with the remaining rope.
    “You’re making a big mistake, fella,” the man said, squirming. “You ain’t got no proof that I did anythin’ wrong.”
    “I saw you standing over this young lady with a knife in your