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Straightening, he turned away froraves From the hilltop, he could look out over the heart of the ranch—the house, which he’d finished in grand style for Susan, the barns and sheds, the bunkhouse for the hands, the hayfields and pastures, and the teeht down for calving

In the thirteen years since he’d left the rodeo and coinal acreage, adding enough land to run 4,000 head of cattle He’d built a small duplex behind the house, half for Jasper Platt, the mentor and friend as now his foreuests

After Susan’s death, Jasper’s ed sister, a plump, cheerful woman named Bernice, had come to keep house and look after the boys She’d moved into Jasper’s old apartment in the rear of the house and had proven herself to be a treasure

Bull closed the gate on the sad little graveyard and moved down the hill By now, Bernice would have fed the boys their supper and sent the in the oven He would eat it alone, or maybe with Jasper if they needed to talk He didn’t see much of his sons; but then, he’d never had much use for children When they were older, he would teach theht now thehe could do for theacy

Fa else counted

Jasper aiting at the botto sky Knowing that Bull liked to be alone here, he wouldn’t ordinarily have come this far Not unless there was trouble

“What is it?” Bull sensed that the neouldn’t be good

Jasper scuffed out the cigarette he’d been se We’re short six head since last n of carcasses anywhere, not even bones”

Bull mouthed a curse “Rustlers Got to be”

“Rustlers—or hbors as much as Bull did

“It doesn’tour cattle when they’ve got so damned many of their own,” Bull said

“That doesn’twouldn’t do it just to rile you,” Jasper said “He’s hated your guts ever since you stole his girl and married her”

“I’ine Ferg would risk going to jail for a fes” Bull began walking back toward the house “First thing in the et somebody out here pronto”

In his younger days, Bulldown the rustlers hiers orked for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association were hired to coh professionals who kne to handle dangerous thieves and deadly situations This was their job, not his

Jasper nodded “Good idea I’ll go on ahead to” Jasper see toward the headlights that were coravel drive from the main road “Noho the devil could that be? You weren’t expectin’ a visit, were you?”