Tall, Dark, and Determined Read Online Free PDF Page B

surprise in his eyes and no air left in his lungs, the wind knocked clean out of him.
    Chase waited for the rooster to turn to him before letting fly with a right hook to the jaw. Stepping over the chicken now crumpled in the mud, he offered his hand to the fallen German and pulled him to his feet. “Leave it be, next time, yes?”
    â€œJa.”
A shaky nod belied a hearty handshake. “I’m Klumpf. Friends and men who knock over Williams call me plain Clump.”
    â€œDunstan.” He pulled back his hand. The rooster—Williams, he now knew—didn’t stir. Perhaps when he woke, he’d crow less.
    â€œRiordan.” Another handshake, this from the redheaded giant. “Most call me Bear, but I’ll answer to either, ya ken.”
    â€œKen?” The word caught him. “Not Irish?”
    â€œAh, a canny one.” A broad smile split his face. “Scots-Irish I be, and you’ll hear the lilt and the brogue and a whole hodgepodge of phrases from me. Most never notice.”
    â€œWhen Riordan gets riled, no one understands him.” Granger clapped him on the shoulder. “Good to see you, Dunstan.”
    â€œLikewise. Hadn’t heard you were back in Colorado.” Chase raised a brow but held his tongue. Whatever his old friend’s reasons for calling himself Creed, it wasn’t his business.
    Not yet.

    Why now?
Jake Granger eyed the newcomer warily, doubts warring with relief.
There couldn’t be a better time for Dunstan to blow into town, but that’s what’s suspicious. Why does he show up now, when
I have most use for him but didn’t send word for him?
    â€œYou didn’t hear I was back in Colorado for good reason.” He addressed the question behind his old friend’s statement, glad he’d taken Bear and Clump aside earlier that morning to fill them in on his real identity. The men leaving town hadn’t known. Any hint that Jake wasn’t whom they thought, and their pride over being lied to would rile them even more.
    â€œNo one knew. I’ve been going by Creed to keep it quiet.”
    Dunstan’s short nod affirmed Jake’s memory of the man. Observant, Dunstan noted the name change. Quick thinking, but methodical, he chose not to ask in front of others.
    â€œThe others still don’t know.” Clump nudged Williams’s arm none too gently with one overly large boot. The man didn’t stir.
    â€œWith the rabble-rousers gone, the rest won’t prove problematic. Worst case, they won’t believe I’m a Granger. He”—Jake jerked his head toward Dunstan—”can help there. I’ve worked with Dunstan before—three years back. He hires out as a guide, hunter, tracker, you name it, along this stretch of the Rockies. Some of the others will have heard of him. McCreedy and Lawson will vouch for me, and Lyman always knew.”
    â€œThe name Granger holds clout.” Bear nodded. “Once it’s established that you’ve finished your family business to reclaim your name, things will go smooth again.”
    â€œHold it, Bear.” Clump stepped forward, thumbs threaded protectively through his suspenders. The other man clearly hadn’t forgotten when Jake dangled him by those same suspenders and interrogated him. “Just what kind of business did Creed finish? He didn’t get around to explaining that part, and I want to know why he lied and why he doesn’t need to anymore.”
    â€œGranger.” Dunstan’s amused correction marked his first, and possibly only, contribution to the conversation at hand.
    â€œNow, I’m going to level with you three. “Jake cast a swift glance to ensure Williams was out cold. “The men in the bunkhouse will only hear what I’ve already said. Understood?”
    â€œJa.” Clump nodded for good measure. “This has something to do with your strange questions yesterday about the square