Julie R. Neidlinger: Lone Prairie Blog

Blogathon 2006: Chapter 32.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

"What are you planning on doing?" Brand asked as the story finished. The early hours of the morning were upon them, the night not yet having given up the darkness.

"I intend to make peace."

Brand looked at him, unconvinced and a bit disappointed. That was not the way his story would seem to end and probably wouldn't sell as many papers back east. "That's not the way it sounded. How do you make peace?"

"Simple. The same way you make war."

For the first time, Brand noticed Dove's duster was bulging on both sides of the hips. His eyes flicked up to Dove's, realizing he was looking at the Two-Gun Kid though not so much a kid anymore. Shooting your father down, even behind a silver star, takes the kid out of you.

"You're against the flow, Dove. Sons die for fathers, and sometimes fathers for sons, but sons never kill fathers."

"The law is always just, even if we don't understand it. I'd had enough of what ain't right."

Brand nodded. "Maybe. Either way, I'll write your story and whatever ending comes I'll tell the truth. I promise you that right now, no matter what might happen to me. What happened in Ruby Hills needs to be known."

"I'm chasin' men, Brand. Sometimes I just wish I was with 'em."

Brand was taken aback. "You want to join up with an outfit like Solitaire? That makes no sense after what you just told me."

"I'm not feelin' like a man now, but an animal-like. I'm after men and I wonder if I have to leave that behind every time I kill one." He paused, then rested his hands on his gun belt. "Where's Bliss, Brand. Kelton suggested something's happened to her and she's where the end starts. What have you heard?"

< Start . Next >

Labels: blogathon