Early Dawn Read Free Page A

probably feel dizzy and sick to his stomach more times than not.
    Even so, Matthew was determined to be up and about. While lying helpless in bed, he’d had a lot of time to think, and he’d kept coming full circle to the undeniable fact that no man worth his salt allowed a bunch of low-life bastards to cruelly rape and murder his wife. It was too late now for Matthew to undo the events of that terrible afternoon, but as God was his witness, it wasn’t too late to avenge Livvy’s death.
    Matthew managed to saddle his horse, Smoky, that first day and ride into Crystal Falls to stock up on ammunition for his .44-caliber Winchester rifle and his Colt revolvers. Before heading back home, he stopped at the jeweler’s, where he’d left his gold pocket watch for repairs a couple of weeks before the attack.
    The proprietor, a balding, middle-aged man of considerable girth who wore a black bib apron over a white shirt, the bosom and collar of which were polished to a high sheen, looked startled when he first saw the marks on Matthew’s face. Then he nodded solemnly and placed his plump hands palms down on the wooden counter.
    “Matthew,” he said by way of greeting. “Glad to see you on your feet. You look like you tangled with a grizzly bear and lost the battle.”
    “Wasn’t a grizzly, and there wasn’t a battle. I wish to hell there had been.”
    The jeweler nodded again. “The wife and I attended the services. I can’t begin to tell you how sorry we are about Livvy. Known her since she was no bigger than a grasshopper. Such a pretty little thing, always ready with a smile to cheer people up. She’ll be sorely missed.”
    Matthew touched the brim of his Stetson, his only response. He couldn’t speak of Olivia without his voice shaking.
    “I reckon you’re here for your watch.” The jeweler opened a small wooden drawer behind him and plucked out a manila packet. “Just needed a good cleaning. There’ll be no charge.”
    Matthew met the older man’s gaze. “Us Coulters don’t take charity, Paulson. Your time’s worth something.”
    “A dime will do it, then.”
    Matthew fished in his left hip pocket, wincing at the pain in his shoulder. He handed over the dime and grabbed the packet with his right hand. “Thanks for not sellin’ my watch. Took me a spell to come back for it, and I know your policy is to keep things for only thirty days.”
    “No worries. I inscribed that watch for Livvy right before your wedding. I know how precious it must be to you.”
    Matthew’s throat went tight. He touched the brim of his hat again and exited the shop. Once on the boardwalk, he opened the envelope and tipped the watch out onto his palm. The gold gleamed in the late-summer sunlight like a puddle of freshly churned butter. His heart hurt as he flipped the watch over to read the inscription on the back. Love Always, Matthew. Forever Yours, Livvy, 1882. Tears blurred his vision as he slipped the timepiece into his watch pocket. Forever, he realized now, was a very long time, and he had to face it without her.
    With difficulty, he remounted the horse and rode slowly home, trying not to jostle his shoulder or ribs. Hoyt, two years his junior, met him at the ranch gate. The younger man’s sun-browned face bore the Coulter stamp, a bladelike nose, Irish blue eyes, a strong jaw, and a squared, stubborn chin. In a rugged, lean way, Hoyt was a handsome man, but like Matthew, he could never lay claim to having fine features.
    “You’re goin’ after ’em, aren’t you?” Hoyt asked.
    Matthew nodded. “Have to. What they did can’t go unpunished.”
    “I’m goin’ with you, then.” Hoyt jerked off his battered hat and raked thick fingers through his dark brown hair. “Us Coulters stick together. It’s how Pa raised us. I can’t let you do this alone.”
    Matthew sighed and rested his crossed wrists over the saddle horn. “Pa needs you and the other boys here, Hoyt. I appreciate the offer, but I can’t