Relentless Read Free

nickname fit. She wasn’t afraid of a challenge, and, having seen the spirit in her early, he’d taught her how to ride astride and use a gun. Their town could be a wild place, and there was no telling what might happen. With his being on the road so much, he wanted Dusty to be able to defend herself and her mother. He’d been missing them and couldn’t wait to have a home-cooked meal and sleep in a comfortable bed tonight.
    Hank Jones, the clerk in the stage office, had been nervous as he’d kept watch for the stage all afternoon. He’d known Charley was due back in today and the news he had for him was bad. When he saw his friend drive up, he went outside to talk to him, knowing it was going to be one of the most difficult conversations he’d ever had in his life.
    Charley had just finished tossing the luggage down to the two men who had been his passengers on the trip when he saw Hank come outside.
    “Hey, Hank—We made good time, considering the storm we ran into,” Charley said as he climbed down to speak with his friend.
    “It’s good you’re back. Come inside for a minute,” Hank said.
    Charley glanced down the street, eager to head for home, but he knew business came first. He followed his friend into the office and was rather surprised when Hank waited at the door and then closed it behind them. He tensed, knowing something wasn’t right. “What is it?”
    “You want to sit down?”
    His expression hardened. “Hell, no. What’s going on?”
    “It’s bad news, Charley—” Hank looked him straight in the eye as he said, “It’s Mary Anne—I’m sorry—”
    “Sorry? What are you sorry about? What about Mary Anne?” Confusion overtook him. He couldn’t imagine what Hank was talking about.
    “It was a bad fever—Came on real suddenlike—She died three days ago—”
    Charley could only stare at him in disbelief. Mary Anne, dead? He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Numb and confused, he immediately thought of his daughter. “Where’s Dusty?”
    “The Randolphs took her in—”
    Charley was thankful for the Randolphs. Fred Randolph owned the local general store and was a good friend. He was out the door before Hank could say any more.
    Dusty was in the kitchen at the Randolph house with her friend Francie and Mrs. Randolph, helping to prepare dinner, when they heard the loud knock on the front door. She looked at Francie anxiously.
    “It might be my father—” She knew he was due back in town that afternoon if he’d been able to stay on schedule, and she desperately needed to be with him.
    Francie gave her a quick hug and then they followed her mother into the front hall. Mrs. Randolph had just answered the door and in that moment Dusty saw her father standing on the front porch. A tormented cry escaped her as she rushed to him.
    “Oh, Papa—” Heartbroken, she went into his arms, finally giving vent to the grief she’d tried to control these past days.
    Charley held her close as he looked up at Mrs. Randolph, all the pain he was feeling revealed in his eyes. “Thank you for taking Dusty in.”
    Mrs. Randolph touched his arm sympathetically. She had known this moment would come and realized father and daughter needed their privacy to come to grips with what had happened.
    “Why don’t you and Dusty go on into the parlor?” she offered. “Francie and I will be in the kitchen if you need us—”
    She drew Francie away with her, leaving them alone.
    Charley and Dusty moved into the sitting room and sat down on the sofa.
    A torrent of emotions filled Charley as he faced his future. He still couldn’t believe it—
    Mary Anne was—dead.
    The pain of losing his beloved wife was like a knife in his soul. He had no idea what he was going to do without her. She had meant the world to him—and now—Again, thoughts of his loss overwhelmed him.
    Dusty clung to her father, taking solace in his loving embrace. She knew their lives had been changed forever, but they still had