Blood Bond 3 Read Online Free PDF

better—how it is out here.”
    â€œOughtta let him go on and kill the dirty son,” Red said. “John Lee crossed the line a long time ago. He’s no good.”
    â€œMaybe that’s what the boss hired these two to do?” Bell spoke for the first time. He had not been overly friendly with Matt or Sam.
    â€œYou got something stuck in your throat, Bell,” Matt told him, “spit it out.”
    â€œI don’t like gunfighters. Never seen one yet who was able to do an honest day’s work.”
    â€œNeither me nor Sam asked for the name of gunfighter, Bell. And as far as work goes, both of us own ranches up north. Working ranches, paying ranches. I can ride anything with hair on it, rope just as good as the next man, and just to set the record straight, I’d rather take a beatin’ than have to string wire.”
    Bell looked at him for a moment, then a slow grin creased his lips. “I reckon you’ll do, Bodine. I’ve just heard some bad things about you is all.”
    â€œWhat things?”
    â€œThat you like usin’ them guns of yours.”
    â€œI can’t say that I haven’t enjoyed killing a few men. Child rapers and torturers. Back-shooting cold-blooded murderers. That type.”
    Bell slowly nodded his head. “I hope you gut-shot ’em,” he said and put the issue to rest.
    For the next several days, Sam and Matt rode the sprawling range of the Circle S, familiarizing themselves with as much of it as possible. They talked as they rode.
    â€œThere’s got to be more to it than what we’ve been told,” Sam opined.
    â€œMaybe not,” Matt disagreed. If he didn’t disagree most of the time Sam would have thought him ill.
    Sam waited, then looked at him. “Is that all? ‘Maybe not’ doesn’t tell me much. Of course, that may be all that you have on your mind—considering the usual state of your mind.” He smiled.
    â€œAll you have on your mind is Lisa,” Matt shot back. “And you’d better be careful, brother.” The last was said without a trace of humor.
    â€œI know,” Sam said. “It is very difficult being part of two worlds. It is a harmless flirtation, nothing more. I will not permit anything more.”
    â€œYou might not have a say in the matter if she begins taking it seriously.”
    â€œI know. But what am I to do, ignore her?”
    Matt grinned. “No. ’Cause if you do that, you’ll make her mad, and then you’ll really have hell to pay.”
    â€œAfter all is said and done, there is no difference between women, red or white.”
    They rode on for another mile or so in silence. Early summer, and it was already hot. After awhile they turned and began moving a herd of cattle—really more than two men could handle—heading them back toward a range closer to the big house. It had been a very dry spring, and the cattle were ranging all over the place looking for graze.
    Sparks and Dodge rode up and pitched in, giving the brothers a hand with the herd.
    â€œI got to sell some,” Sparks said. “Got too many on the land.”
    â€œLet’s round them up and drive them to market,” Matt replied.
    Sparks chuckled without humor. “Can’t get hands, Matt. Nobody wants to buck John Lee. He’s put the word out that ridin’ for me is dangerous for your health.”
    â€œHow long can you hold on, Jeff ?”
    â€œNot long. They cut back on the garrison at Fort Stockton, and Fort Concho buys beeves from ranchers around there. I got to ship them by railroad. That means a long drive. And I’d have to leave men behind to guard the ranch. John would burn me out.”
    â€œThen that doesn’t leave you but one option, does it, Jeff ?”
    â€œWhat do you mean, Matt?”
    â€œIf John Lee won’t let you and the others live in peace, then you’ve got to get together and take out John