{Chapter 1}

Wade had to smile in spite of the grave circumstances. His boss would not be happy with Tiny Morgan’s mistake.

“Tiny, do you see anything suspicious about these this horse here?” he asked the big, bald headed man who looked more like an ox on two legs than a man.

Too bad he didn’t have much of a brain.

“I think he looks good and fine” Tiny grinned, his chest swelling up in pride.

“Tiny, I sent you after one horse, do you remember why?” Wade asked patiently.

“Um… because you wanted to breed Abe?” Tiny asked quizzically.

“Exactly” Wade walked around to the back of the horse and motioned for Tiny to follow. “There’s a few problems with that. First, this here horse is of the male persuasion, did you happen to notice that?”

Tiny looked at the horse and frowned. “Oh.”

“Yeah. Not to mention that this is also a gelding, Tiny. That would put a kink in out plans even if Abe was a mare. That is, unless you got some sort of trick up your sleeve?”

Tiny listened to Wade and huffed. “I don’t know why I didn’t see that. It says right here on the receipt that he was a mare.”

Wade took the receipt and looked it over. At least Tiny could read decently. “You sure you picked up the right horse?”

“He was the only one that came in on the train today,” Tiny explained.

Wade took a deep breath. He had just paid twenty-five dollars for a gelding he didn’t even want. This was twisted.

“Where did this guy come from again?” He asked Tiny.

“Lovelace, Tennessee” Tiny answered.

“Looks like I’m headed back East. I’m gonna take this here horse back myself and tell that man just what I think of him. Well, no I won’t. I’ll just return the horse and be as nice as I can force myself to be” Wade decided.

“What about the boss lady?” Tiny asked.

“Well, you let me handle her. Maybe I’ll have Erik tell her all about it” Wade nodded.

The MC Ranch was run my Toni McBride and her uncle, Mark Curtis. Toni had just celebrated her 3-year anniversary to Erik McBride, so maybe she was in a good mood today.

“Uncle Wade!” Wade turned around when Toni and Erik’s two-year-old daughter came running toward him with her arms outstretched.

“What’s wrong, baby girl?” Wade asked, sweeping the little girl up into his arms.

“Mommy gonna catch me” Little Sandy said, nodding her head and bouncing her reddish-brown hair.

Just then, Toni appeared from behind the kitchen building and sent a look to her daughter.

“You little stinker” she giggled.

Sandy buried her head in Wade’s shoulder and gave a girlish giggle.

“I’m gonna get your daddy after you” Toni threatened with a smile.

“Did I hear my name?” Erik said as he came from the barn, pulling off a pair of tan leather gloves.

Wade had to admit that the threesome made a quite handsome family.

“What’s the deal with this thing here?” Erik motioned to the horse.

“It’s a bad idea gone worse. I’m gonna have to go to Tennessee for a few days, you can spare me, right?” Wade looked to Toni.

“Why did you get a gelding, Tiny?” Toni asked.

“We was cheated” Tiny said quickly.

“Well, I suppose we can spare you. Uncle Mark’ll have to keep a close eye on Gringo for you” Toni sighed.

Wade nodded. The new guy was all thumbs when it came to ranch chores, though he was good at herding cattle.

After switching to cattle three years ago, the MC Ranch had taken a turn for the better. They had made a good profit from their herd of horses, and after the grueling cattle drive to bring Mark’s herd from Arizona, things had settled into a new normal. They had taken on a new cowboy, Gringo, a Texan raised by a Mexican family. The man was a hard worker, and an answer to prayer.

Wade set Sandy on the ground and she walked over to cling to her father’s pant leg. He smiled watching Erik pick her up and set her on his shoulders. Wade knew that he would most likely never have a family of his own. A man so enveloped in ranch life as he was didn’t have time for a wife and kids. So he would just enjoy Sandy while she was young.

**********

“Erik, for once I can look at these books and see that we’re in the clear. We’re not scrimping by anymore,” Toni announced to her husband as she closed one of the ledger books at her desk in their home.

She was glad that Erik had built on to what used to be her little shack, adding on a room for Sandy and expanding the front room to accommodate their growing family’s needs.

“After three years. I didn’t think we’d be doing this good by now. The cows have taken to the land, and with my horse training bringing in more money on the side, I’d say we’re doing pretty good by this ranch.” Erik said, coming from Sandy’s room where he had put her to bed.

Erik had made a wonderful father to Sandy, better than she had dared hope. God had blessed her more than she could have ever imagined.

“I was thinking there for a while that I would have to resort to robbing banks for piracy” Toni smiled.

Erik laughed at her, and she turned in her chair. “You don’t think I could do it?”

“You? A pirate? Or even a bank robber? I’m not seeing it, sweetie” Erik said, collapsing into a chair by the fireplace.

“I’m as tough as you, and let’s not forget who stabbed you in the foot, shall we?” Toni teased him.

“That was an accident and you know it, Toni,” Erik said.

“Was it?”

“Yes. I saw your horrified face after you saw that knife sticking out of my boot. Then you ran around like a swarm of bees were chasing you. I’m quite confident that it was an accident” Erik rubbed his forehead.

“You gotta headache, hon?” Toni asked, standing to walk to him.

“Just a little one. I think I’m just tired” Erik said with a yawn.

“More’n likely. You need to lay off on busting Maverick, okay?” Toni sat in his lap and took off his hat. “I’ve told you about hats in the house, Erik.”

“Sorry, it’s a habit” Erik said softly.

He really did have a headache. Normally he would challenge the need to be hatless in the house. She kissed his forehead and stood up. “Why don’t you go on to bed? I’ll be along in a little while.”

Erik nodded and took her up on the offer. After he headed to bed, Toni made sure the door was shut and went to the closet in the front room. Her uncle had stored a few things in the closet, and she was certain that two fencing swords were among the items.

**********

Wade walked through the town of Desperado with a train ticket in his hand. He hated being in the lawless town with more outlaws than it had law-abiding citizens. Saloons were more common than average business, and Wade felt uncomfortable.

He crossed an alley and a young boy bumped into him, spilling apples all over the boardwalk.

“Sorry, mister! I’m so sorry” the boy looked terrified of him.

“It’s quite alright” Wade smiled, squatting beside the boy to help him retrieve the apples.

“I didn’t mean to. I’ll be careful next time, I promise” the terror in the boy’s eyes gave Wade chills.

“It was a simple accident” Wade placed two apples in the boy’s flour sack.

Blonde hair fell across the boy’s forehead as he clutched the bag to his chest, and Wade noticed the bruises on his face and naked arms. He was as skinny as a rake handle, and the sight tugged at Wade’s heartstrings.

“You gotta name, son?” Wade asked.

“J-Jay” the boy stuttered.

“I’m Wade” Wade smiled and held out his hand to Jay.

Jay reluctantly took his hand and shook it hard.

“Hey! Stop that kid!” a voice yelled.

Jay started to bolt, but Wade grabbed his arm out of instinct. “Somethin’ wrong, Jay?”

Jay shook his head, but his eyes were terrified.

A big, burly man came and shook a finger at Jay, getting up in his face. “You little welp! Stealin’s a hangin’ offence!”

Wade stepped in front of Jay to face the man. “You mind keepin’ a civil distance, sir?”

“This’n your imp?” the man took measured up Wade.

Wade looked behind him at Jay, so terrified he was shaking. “He is.”

Forgive me, Lord.

“Well, he done went and stole my apples. I expect you to do somethin’ about it, too,” the man said, folding his arms over his chest.

Wade looked to Jay. “You steal ‘em?”

Jay nodded solemnly.

Wade reached into his pocket and thumped a few coins in the storekeeper’s outstretched hand.

The man wasn’t satisfied until a few more coins were deposited into his greedy hand.

“If I’s you, I’d give that kid a good strappin’” the storekeeper spat out as he placed the money in his pocket.

“I’ll thank you to leave the boy to me. You’ve got your money, now git” Wade shooed the man off with his hand.

The storekeeper walked off without a backward glance. Wade turned toward Jay and squatted again to meet him in the eye.

“Pretty hungry, huh?”

Jay nodded.

“Well, how about we don’t steal anymore, okay?”

Jay looked down at his sack of apples longingly. He seemed to struggle within himself for a moment before nodding slowly.

“Okay” he muttered.

“Where’s your family?” Wade asked.

“Ain’t got none” Jay threw the sack over his shoulder.

He couldn’t be more than seven years old.

“None? At all?” Wade asked.

“Nope. I’m pretty much a loner,” Jay said nonchalantly.

Wade sighed. He couldn’t just leave the boy knowing that he had no one to take care of him in the terrible town. He told Jay as much.

“I’ll be fine, Mr. Wade. I can run fast” Jay took an apple out of the sack and took a bite out of it.

That didn’t help Wade’s feelings at all.

“I ain’t about to leave you here. I’ll… I’ll think of something. For now, while I’m waiting on my train, we’re gonna see that you get something in you besides an apple or two” Wade stood and motioned for Jay to follow him.

“But I’m fine, Mr. Wade” Jay protested.

“I’m not gonna take no for an answer, no come on” Wade waved the boy along.

Jay sighed and walked along with him.

So what do we think of Wade? Thanks for reading!! Best comment gets a dedication in Chapter 2!!