Chapter Forty-One More Troubles for Matt

“I’m going to stop the wagon and give you the reins.  I don’t know how the father’s death is going to affect anyone we see.  I just want to be prepared.”

Joshua hands over the reins to Andy and reaches in back and brings his rifle around front.

Andy moves the horse ahead slowly coming closer to the ranch house.

Matt sees them coming and wonders what is going on.  He steps out of the house and not recognizing them hollers out, “You need directions or something.  This is Circle J property.”

Joshua learned his name before he left town.  “Matt, my name is Joshua from Silver Lake.  I’m sorry to bring you bad news, your father died in town two days ago; I have his body here for burial.”

Exciting Review of Gateway to Terror

If you click onto Bruces Mideast Soundbites listed over on Other Interesting Links you will connect with Bruce's Review of my sequel to Behind the Lies. 

Gateway to Terror was recently released for publication and is book two of a trilogy.

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Chapter Forty Riding Back

Inside of the house, Joan and Carla want to know what happened at the council meeting.  “Did they understand what happened and more important did they accept your explanations?”

“Yeah, they accepted our explanations, especially after Henry commented on the groove mark found at the ravine where the sheriff was killed and the blacksmith identifying the same type of groove on Johnny’s horse when he re-shoed his horse for him one time.  Still I guess it’s hard for everyone to accept that the largest ranch owner in the area is out killing off his neighbors,” says Scott.

“Then…….”

“Then what?”  asks Joan.

Tyler looks off beyond Joan’s shoulders knowing she is not going to like what she will hear next.

Scott goes on, “As we were leaving Maggie’s to get our horses, John Peters steps out from behind the livery stable and threatens us.”

“Like what kind of threat, dad?”

“That he is going to kill us for killing his son and for Tyler taking his land which was the Martin’s property.

Chapter Thirty-Nine Peter's Revenge

Halfway across the street, the see a figure walk out from behind the livery.

“Hold it right there you murderers!”

Tyler is closest to John Sr.  He sees John is probably drunk from the night before.  Drunken men can still kill you.

“Who are you talking to, John?”

“You Martin, I heard you own their property now.  How did you manage to do that?  I should have been able to claim that land.  It doesn’t belong to anyone else.”

“John, go sleep it off.  You’ve been through enough.  Go get your wits about you before you get hurt.”

“You’re the one who is going to get hurt for killing my son and taking land that should belong to me.”

“Scott move off, get away from me.  If he fires I don’t want to have to worry about you.”

“I can move and distract him, maybe that will work?

“No, this man is not going to stop until one or both of us are dead.”

Scott starts moving off from behind Tyler.  John’s eyes watch him looking for any move on his part to draw.

Inside of Maggie’s, the general store and elsewhere along the street people are watching to see what is going on.

Chapter Thirty-Eight Meeting the Council

As they near the stage station, Henry comes out the door and says, “What brought you two out in this terrible weather?”

“We’re meeting with the council tonight,” says Scott.

“Oh, something must be real important if you came out in this.”

“I need this to go out on the mail run with the next stage, Henry.  It is addressed to the commandant of the fort,” states Tyler.

“Henry, you’ll hear the whole story tonight if you’re at the meeting,” remarks Scott.

“I’ll be there.  Something tells me this is pretty big.  Especially after the rumors I hear coming from what John Peters is saying every night in the saloon after he has too many.”

“See you then Henry, thanks for your help,” replies Tyler.