The Cowboy and the Angel | ✓

Chapter Twenty

Jason filled his lungs with the warm, albeit fresh, air. After riding with a handful of cowpunchers behind a herd of cattle, he was mighty thankful for a lungful of clear air. He threw a backward glance over his shoulder at the pack mule and, seeing all was well, returned his gaze to the upcoming town.

Dry Gulch. He grunted and ran his arm across his face. Ready, or not, here I come.

In minutes, Jason was riding into Dry Gulch, its squat buildings lining the roads on every side. Scruffy men walked to and from the saloon, stumbling haphazardly across the road to the brothel. Not a decent, respectable lady could be seen, only those sporting painted faces and revealing dresses.

With every plod of Raven's hooves, a dark thought from the past threatened to lodge itself into Jason's mind. He straightened his back in the saddle, sitting tall. "Not today, Satan," he mumbled under his breath. "Or ever again."

"Howdy, stranger," the grey-haired man greeted from the porch of the sheriff's office. A silver star glimmered on his shirt as he rocked in an old rocking chair. "Welcome to Dry Gulch. I'm Sheriff Reeves."

Jason dismounted with a smile and a dip of his hat. "Thank you, sir. I'm Jason Archer."

"Jason Archer!" Reeves echoed, standing straight up from his seat. "It can't be you! The last time I saw you, you were in that jail cell for the night for. . .what was it?"

"Fightin' in the saloon," Jason answered as Reeves shook his hand. "But I've mended my ways."

Sheriff Reeves boasted a smile from ear to ear. "I can see that! I'm proud of you, young man. Have ya started a family of your own yet?"

"No, sir," Jason grinned. "But I have the most beautiful girl in all of Texas, and we're gettin' hitched the moment I get home."

"Well, son, I wish you the best. And please, call me Jack." He clamped his hand on Jason's shoulder. "What brings you here?"

"I got an urgent telegram from my uncle askin' me to come here, but I have somethin' to report and I hope you'll be able to help."

Jack opened his mouth to speak, but decided against it and listened to Jason relate the happenings of Abilene.

"And now our sheriff is one of those crooks from the Crooked M. They call him Rawhide," Jason finished up with a scowl.

Jack shook his head, a steely sharpness edging his leathery features. "That's downright terrible, Jason, and I'm gonna do somethin' to fix it. And to think Thomas's younger brother lives here. Thank the Good Lord he doesn't act like his older brother."

"Thank you. I sincerely appreciate it." Jason shifted, looking to the familiar bars of the empty jail cell standing tall and solid in the corner. He brought his mind away from the memory the sturdy bars held and focused on what Jack had just said. Thomas's younger brother lived here, and wasn't the vile man Thomas was. Maybe he'd have a talk with the younger McGuire.

"Nelson, come here!" Jack called, and a man younger than himself arrived from the back door. "Send word to the Pink near Abilene that he needs to head there as soon as possible. He'll have a coded message waitin' there with instructions."

"Yes, sir!" Nelson acknowledged before heading back outside.

Jason couldn't believe his ears. Sheriff Reeves was sending a Pinkerton detective to Abilene. "Thank you so much, Jack. I can't say that enough to express my gratitude."

"Think nothin' of it. It's the least I can do." Jack waved his hand with a smile, shooing away Jason's appreciation like a fly. "Didn't you say you came to see your uncle?"