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He’d devoured his way through three platefuls of bacon and eggs, two cups of coffee, and a small mountain of pancakes when aas a barn door, with a bristling mustache and the fiercest, bluest eyes Sky had ever seen

Sky had possessed the presence of mind to stand

The man had looked him up and down “Good I like a boy withfor a job But you look too scrawny to do a man’s work How old are you, boy?”

“I’ as he answered “I’ as you’ll have me”

“Sit Finish your breakfast” The man had taken a seat on the opposite side of the table Even sitting down, he’d loomed like John Wayne on steroids “The naive you a try atstables—but only a try, , you’re done, hear?”

“Yes, Mr Tyler But I’et on with horses You’ll see”

“Fine What’s your name, boy?”

“Sky Sky Fletcher”

The big man’s expression had frozen, but only for an instant “What about your folks? Can I expect the for you?”

“No, sir My mother died when I was three Her brother’s family in Oklaho the sting of the welts on his back “I don’t belong there anymore”

“And your father?”

He’d shrugged “I never knew hiood”

“Why no good?”

“Because he didn’t give a daood man would have taken care of us”

“And as your mother’s name?”