Moon Racer Read Online Free PDF

him that the Half-Moon was run-down. But the
house had a new coat of paint, and the barn and
stable looked like they were in good repair. "You
have quite a place here."

    "Actually, I don't live here anymore. My wife has
a nice spread, the Diamond C, and I moved there
after we were married." Quince watched his friend's
face. "You did know I'm married, didn't you?"
    "Yes. I had heard that. Congratulations!"
    "I'll tell you about my w e later. Right now I
want to hear about this lady you mentioned."
    "I don't think I ever told you about Patricia. She
is my fiancee."
    "That's what I thought you were saying." In a
teasing tone Quince said, "If you've ridden all the
way out here to invite me to your wedding, a
written invitation would have sufficed, but it would
have denied me the pleasure of seeing you again."
    "The wedding isn't until next June, but you'll get
an invitation."
    "I'm sure we can find your lady a suitable mount.
All you have to do is decide if you want a gentle
horse or one with spirit."
    "Gentle, I should think." Jonah thought about the
times Patricia had dutifully ridden beside him, until
one day he realized she was not enjoying herself.
After some tactful prodding, she had admitted that
she was not fond of horses. "Yes, definitely gentle."
    "We have two that might be suitable. When do
you need it?"
    "The general will be accompanying Patricia to
Fort Fannin for a visit next month. I had hoped to
present her with the horse at that time."
    "Your father is coming west?"
    "So it would seem."

    Quince knew that Jonah always referred to his
father as "the general," and he had often wondered
why, but was too polite to ask. "It's too late to ride
to the north pasture today. Of course, you'll be
staying here at the ranch for a few days."
    "If it wouldn't be an imposition."
    "Major, no one is more welcome on the HalfMoon than you are. When my family learns that
you have awarded us the contract for Fort Fannin,
they'll be even happier to see you."
    "Nonsense. Don't mention it. I chose you for the
contract because I need someone I can depend onyou have already proven that you can deliver
saddle-ready horseflesh on time."
    "Thank you anyway. Now, what would you like
to see first?"
    Jonah could almost feel life pulsing around him:
he heard the whinny of a horse, the wind in the
branches of a tree, and it stirred a strange
excitement within him. "Actually, I want to observe
the operations of a working ranch. I want to see
everything."
    Quince laughed. "Now, that will take some
showing, but I think we can manage it."
    Jonah looked up at the sun to gauge the time of
day and judged it to be midafternoon. "Who trains
your horses for the sidesaddle?"
    "My sister, Abby. She's one of the best trainers
on the ranch."
    Jonah watched Quince for a moment before he
spoke. "I heard your father is out of prison."
    "Looks like bad news travels fast."

    "I wonder if you remember telling me about your
family that night we got roaring drunk in Tucson?"
    Quince remembered the incident all too well
because it was the first time he had ever seen Jonah
drink. They had been tracking a band of banditos for
two grueling weeks across the Arizona desert. It had
been about dusk when they came upon a small ranch
situated a few miles from the Mexican border, where
they were met with a gruesome sight. The banditos
had murdered a whole family, including three
children. After burying the bodies, the soldiers had
ridden back to the fort, where Jonah had demanded
permission to track the raiders into Mexico. He had
been incensed when the commanding officer had
forbidden him to pursue them across the border.
    "It's funny what a man will talk about when he's
drunk," Quince said. "As I recall, we drank for three
days. Otherwise I would never have shared my
family secrets with you or anyone."
    Jonah expressed indifference with a shrug. "Why
not? I told you about my family."
    "Oh, yeah," Quince said' with