Dashing Druid (Texas Druids) Read Online Free PDF

months ago.”
    “Did ye now?” Tye tensed, suddenly uneasy . His sister’s dreams and visions often showed her future events – some she ought not to see.
    “I saw ye in a dark place, a mine it must have been, and ye appeared to be trapped.”
    “Oh, aye? Well, there was a wee cave-in. I suppose that’s what ye saw.” He grinned, trying to make light of her dream. “Ye didn’t see me dead, did ye? I’m not a ghost standing here talking to ye, am I?”
    She laughed, seeming relieved. “Nay, you’re no ghost. You’re the same rascally devil as always, and happy I am to know it.”
    Tye managed a convincing laugh as they walked on. Then he sobered. “I, uh, was glad to hear of your visit with Da.”
    “Ye got my letter telling ye about it, did ye?”
    “Aye, ’twas the last one I received before leaving Utah.”
    “I’m glad it reached ye. And I’m glad David and I made the trip to Chicago with Nora. I wanted Da to see her.” Halting outside an open bedroom doorway, she added, “He’s aged a great deal, Tye.”
    “Aye, I know.” Tye glanced into the bedroom, noticing the bed had been turned down for him. Light from within the room set Jessie’s auburn hair aglow as she turned to stare at him.
    “What d’ye mean ye know?”
    He crossed his arms and smiled. “I mean I paid our dear father a visit myself before coming here. In fact, I spent over a month with him.” Giving his broken arm time to mend after the cave-in, he might have added, but then Jessie would ask how he got hurt. And he wasn’t ready to tell her the truth. Not now, maybe never.
    “Oh, Tye, I’m so glad!” she cried, pressing a hand over her heart. “I’ve prayed ye might settle your differences with Da.”
    He laughed dryly. “Well, I wouldn’t go that far. He still thinks me a fool for ‘chasin’ after a pot ’o gold’ as he put it, but at least he calls me his son now. I believe seeing you with a husband and a wee daughter mellowed him a bit.”
    Jessie laughed and hugged him. “As well it should, big brother. Without you, I’d never have found the courage to go west and I’d never have met David.” Kissing his beard-stubbled cheek, she added, “For which I shall be eternally grateful, my dear.”
    She stepped back, swiped away a tear and dug a bottle from her pocket. “Here,” she said, handing it to him. “I fetched my wintergreen oil when I looked in on Nora.” She smiled mischievously. “’Twill sooth those tender parts ye dared not mention.”
    Tye felt his face heat. “Which ye ought not mention, either, ye wicked baggage! Get ye back to your husband before I paddle your bum.”
    “Shame on ye, Tye Devlin, for threatening a woman in my condition.” Darting past him, she escaped down the hall, laughing.
    * * *
    Early the next morning, David led Tye to the barn and turned him over to a grizzled cowboy named Sul Smith, calling him the River T’s oldest and savviest hand. Taking in the man’s stiff gait, gray hair and leathery features, Tye didn’t doubt he was the oldest.
    Smith looked him over, wagged his head and laughed, instantly raising Tye’s hackles. “Got my job cut out for me with this’n,” he drawled.
    “First thing you’d better do is take him into Clifton and get him outfitted,” David said, chuckling along with the oldster.
    “Sure as shootin’ I’d better, before the other boys spot him,” Smith replied. “In that there getup they might take him for one of them circus clowns.”
    Tye glowered at him. “D’ye ridicule everyone ye meet, Mr. Smith, or are ye doing me a special favor?”
    His detractor scowled for a moment. Then his weathered face split into a grin and he nodded. “You’re Miz Jessie’s brother, all right. Yessiree, you’ve got sand, boy, I’ll give you that.” To David, he said, “We’ll get along fine, boss. Just leave him to me.”
    David slapped Smith on the back. “He’s all yours.” Giving Tye a pitying look, he turned and strode