Massacre at Lonesome Ridge: A Zombie Western Read Online Free PDF

sighed and changed tactics. "I just worry about you is all. You're my sister, Cora. I almost lost you once. I don't want to do it again."
    She forced a smile onto her face and settled back onto the desk. "I know, and I appreciate all you've done for me. After Michael left for the war, I don't know what I would have done without your help. And when I got sick, and the kids, when I lost them... if you hadn't been there for me, I would have died. I'm sure of it." She reached out a hand and he gripped her fingers gently.
    Silence fell over them for a moment as they both remembered the day Connor went to check on Cora. She lived miles outside of Lonesome Ridge on a ranch owned by her and her husband. Michael Monroe had left her to run it alone when he went off to fight for the South in the Civil War. She was six months pregnant at the time with her third child and had been against slavery since she was a child. She had begged him not to go, but he ignored her pleas.
    Two years later, sickness came to the ranch fast and furious. When Connor finally came for his weekly checkin, two of her three children were already dead, taken by the fever, and she and her eldest daughter were not faring much better. He found them huddled together in a corner, shivering as sweat poured down their bodies. The sheriff brought them to town, but it was too late for the little girl. She died on the trip in. The animals had suffered greatly with Cora out of commission and the ranch fell into disrepair. When Cora was healthy again, she took up dancing at the saloon to make enough money to support herself until her husband came home. When he did, he was a different man, a broken man.
    "I'm a grown woman," Cora said to break the sadness that threatened to overwhelm them. "And I can take care of myself, Connor. I need to take care of myself. I make good money at the saloon and Neil Avery takes good care of me. He makes sure nothing bad happens and I help him sell more drink."
    "Ain't that the truth of it."
    Cora shot a glare at Ed Finch to silence him before she continued. "Look, you're the only family I have left, and I know you worry about me, but I worry about you, too." She picked up the nearly empty bottle and wiggled it in front of his face.
    The sheriff rolled his eyes in irritation, but refused to cave to Cora's taunting. He had his vices, just like everyone else. At least, that's what he tried to tell himself when he wasn't deep in the bottle.
    "Amos and I are headin' over to the Gaines' place today," he said to change the subject as he tore his eyes away from the sloshing liquid in front of him.
    Cora stiffened and set the bottle down. "Just the two of you? Are you sure that's a good idea? I don't trust those boys as far as I can throw 'em. Especially that darned Jedidiah."
    Connor snorted a laugh. "I remember a day when you thought Jed was the greatest guy in the west."
    His sister's lips tightened into a thin white line. "Yes, well, we all change. And he did not change for the better. As much as I hate to say it, it's a good thing we went to live with Aunt Ivy after Ma and Pa died, to get away from them. I can't imagine what would have happened to you had you boys stayed friends."
    Connor bit his lip. Jed Gaines was yet another subject he didn't like discussing. The morning was not starting out very well for him. His eyes roved his desk until they found the bottle. It was on the other side of Cora, just out of his reach. He wouldn't be able to get to it before she did. He was contemplating the risk of pulling another bottle out of his desk when the door opened again.
    "Morning, Amos," Cora sang as she rose from the desk. "How are you, darlin'?"
    The young deputy blushed from the collar of his shirt all the way up to the tips of his ears. He doffed his hat and offered the dancing girl a little bow of the head. "Mornin', Miss Cora. I'm doing' all right. I hope you're well." He shuffled his feet like a school boy with a serious crush, but didn't step