Killing Halfbreed Read Online Free PDF

like the pig he was.
    I wasn't sure whether to believe him or not.  He was of the quick-thinking, conniving sort, and it wasn't infeasible that he’d made up that story on the spot.  If he had, all I had to do was keep my eye on him and he’d make a mistake.  If he hadn't made it up, I was no closer to finding answers than when I started.
    I asked around and there had indeed been a man who'd worked on the ranch for a couple of months named John.  No one knew anything more about him.  So, at least that part of Byrd’s story checked out.
    I considered telling Logan about the rustling story, but decided against it.  I didn't have enough evidence to be convincing.  Plus, nobody knew anything about this guy named John.  I'd let Byrd sweat it out and worry if I was going to talk to Logan or not.  That could be more effective than actually doing it.
    In the end, my plan didn't pan out.  Byrd never made a false move.  Probably because he knew I was watching him.  Once again, I was making zero progress.
     
    ***
     
    Mitch Byrd had been in and out of tough spots throughout his short life, situations where he'd been forced to choose between his own well-being and that of others, and never had he failed to choose his own.
    Any other decision didn't make sense to him.  To Mitch, there was no higher calling than one's own self-preservation, and he would stop at nothing to fulfill that.  Today was no different.
    Jake Talbot had scared the living daylights out of him.  Byrd wasn't much of a fighter — he preferred using his head, not his fists.  Talbot had threatened him, and he couldn't let that stand.  Threats had a nasty way of becoming reality.  He had to be the first to yank the rug out from under Talbot somehow.
    That evening, Byrd called on Logan in his office.  Mitch had waited until his eye had fully bruised up, purple and ripe, maximizing the effect of what he had to say.
    "Mr. Logan."  Byrd stood in the doorway, hat in hands, rolling the brim of it nervously, a humble gesture.
    "Yes, Mitch.  What can I do for you?"  Logan was a kind man, but he wasn't stupid.  He knew Byrd's reputation.
    "Mr. Logan, I'm sorry to disturb you, but I felt like I had to talk to you about something."
    "Oh?  Is this about what happened to your eye?"
    "Yes sir, you see, earlier this afternoon, I overheard Jake Talbot laughing about how he'd been rustling cattle lately.  I didn’t hear him claim to have rustled any of yours, just the other ranches, but I know we’re missing some too, and if he’d rustled the others, well… 
    “So, I called him on it, and the man just went wild.  He hit me and kicked me a few good times after I was down.  I finally felt good enough just now to come and tell you about it."
    "I see.”  Logan leaned back in his chair and said nothing for several minutes.  Byrd waited expectantly.  “Well, I'm glad you told me, Mitch.  That's quite a serious accusation."
    "Yes sir."
    Logan thought Mitch was probably lying about what had happened, but if so, then what had happened?  That it had something to do with Jake Talbot, well, the man's eye and reputation left little to doubt.  He didn’t know the real problem, but decided to keep an eye on them both.
    "I appreciate you coming to me with this, Mitch.  Let me know if Talbot gives you any further trouble."
    "Whatever you say, boss."  Mitch turned meekly and quietly left the house. Once outside, he straightened and his face took on a hardened smirk.  He knew Logan hadn't believed him completely, but he’d planted the seeds of suspicion.  From now on, Logan would question anything Talbot had to tell him as well. That was enough.
     

 
     
     
    A man has to have a purpose in life, or he finds himself drifting dangerously.  I knew my purpose, but I couldn't accomplish it, which was almost as bad.  Frustration was building.
    I found myself drinking the hard stuff more and more often.  I knew Jinny didn't like it, but she didn't say