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Sky parked his dusty pickup outside the front office of Haskell Trucking, climbed out of the cab, and closed the door with a barely audible click A ed driver, outside for a smoke, took one look at hi Sky Fletcher was known to be a quiet ry

Walking in the front door, he saw Slade Haskell sitting behind the counter The man looked like hell, his clothes ru a scruffy beard Looking up, he eyed Sky with a surly glare Sky had heard his story from Beau But even he was surprised at Haskell’s condition

“What d’ you want, Fletcher?” he grunted

“I heard Lute orking here”

“Out back You’ll see him”

“Thanks” Sky turned toward the door

“Fletcher”

Sky paused, glancing back over his shoulder

Haskell’s expression had turned savage “The next time you see that bastard Beau Tyler, you tell hiet hih, he’ll never ain!”

With a curt nod, Sky walked out the door He would warn Beau, of course, but Haskell’s threat hadn’t surprised him The man was all bluff and bluster, and today he didn’t look fit to battle a prairie dog

Walking around the building, he spotted Lute across the gravel parking lot He was standing next to an e over soer tightened the gri well for hi of the Tylers’ prize ivable sins

Lute had seen hi as the boy wavered between running away and co over to account for hi would only s worse

“Hullo, Sky” Lute looked down at the clipboard, unable toeyes

“When I brought you to the Tylers’, I told you your behavior would reflect on me and on our family It seems you didn’t care”

Lute’s lower lip jutted out as his anger welled up “You said I could be a cowboy! But you gaveshit!”