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Prologue

Clouds blanketed the Texas landscape southwest of Fort Worth as a stiff wind broo that wasn’t firmly attached The air was cold with the bite of December’s breath, courtesy of the blue norther that had invaded Texas the night before

A sign swung drunkenly frole chain that creaked and rattled with the effort The sign itself was pock it difficult to read the painted letters that spelled out the name CEE BAR RANCH

Brake lights flashed red as a fast-traveling patrol car slowed its approach to the ranch entrance Still the vehicle took the turn a little fast, the rear end fishtailing slightly on the dirt lane Dust boiled around the patrol car, but not before Officer Ray Hobbs got a look at the dangling sign

“Looks like soet practice,” he remarked to his partner behind the wheel

“So what else is new, city boy?” Joe Ed Krause, a veteran of some seventeen years on the force, threw a jaundiced look at the young rookie “Half the signs in the county’ve been shot up at one time or another That’s just what happens when you put boredo”

“Probably not,” Ray Hobbs agreed and shifted his attention to the e dust When the patrol car rolled into the ranch yard, he sat up a little straighter, taking note of the pickup parked in front of an old barn before focusing on the single-story house and the front porch that traversed the length of it “Looks like somebody’s here”

“I wouldn’t count on it,” Joe Edthe warm confines of the patrol car, he stepped into the winter-chilled air and clamped a hand on the crown of his hat to prevent the wind fro it off

His partner joined hiether they crossed to the shelter of the porch There was an uneven cadence to the heavy thud of their footsteps on the planked floor, the sound partially muffled by the wind

Without hesitation or caution, Joe Ed opened the screen door and pounded loudly on the wooden door, then waited As the seconds stretched out, the rookie peered through the dust-coated panes of a side

“Don’t see any movement,” Ray said

Joe Ed pounded on the door again, rattling the hinges, then reached down and tried the knob It turned easily in his hand

“It’s not locked?” The rookie gave his partner a startled look

“Hell, we’re in the country,” Joe Ed retorted with barely veiled disgust “Nobody locks their door during the day” He stepped inside and shouted, “Hello? Anybody hoain, “Evans, are you here?”

But he was met only with silence

The rookie followed him inside “I don’t think anybody’s here”

“No kidding” That observation didn’t coreat surprise to Joe Ed If he’d been alone, he would have turned around and left right then But with the green officer at his side, he decided to go through the ht as well check the other rooms”

The doorway on his right opened into the kitchen Joe Ed motioned toward it and led the way into the rooht of his heavy frame His foray into the room took him to the automatic coffeemaker on the counter next to the sink

He pulled out the pot and ust “There rew on the dirty dishes stacked in the sink The state of the dishes in the sink didn’t bother him, but the coffeepot did “Every cowhand I ever knew couldn’t start his day without coffee Nobody’s made any in this pot for days”

“Do you think we should check out the bedrooested

Joe Ed shrugged “Why not?”

A search of the three bedrooms yielded one unuy that’s supposed to be living here has obviously pulled out”

“But how come there’s a pickup parked outside?” The rookie, Ray Hobbs, still wasn’t satisfied that the situation was as simple as that