Ruled By Fear Read Free

brother’s horse flew back, hitting him in the face.
         Keith managed to keep his lead as they headed inside, and they had run a good mile or so before he finally did come to a stop.  Immediately jumping from the saddle, Keith tied his horse to a dead log and scrambled just far enough up the steep canyon wall to be out of his brother’s reach.
         Aaron jumped off his horse before it came to a stop, and quickly tethered it next to its companion.
         “Keith, get down here now!”
         “I think I’ll wait a little while,” Keith called down to him, “until you’ve had a chance to calm down.”
         Aaron took a deep breath and tried to remember that his father wouldn’t appreciate having his youngest son come home missing a few limbs.
         “Come down now, please,” he said more quietly.
         “Nope,” Keith replied.  “You’re not calm yet.  I can still see your veins bulging.”
         “That does it,” Aaron said as he started scrambling up the rocks.
         Keith turned to run, but the steep incline made any further escape impossible.  Scampering about like a frightened rabbit, he finally opted to try to slide back down.  He did his best to avoid his brother, but Aaron was fast, and made a lunge for Keith’s jacket.  He caught him but, in the process, the two slipped and ended up in a heap on the hard ground below.  For several moments, neither brother moved.
         “Uh, Aaron,” Keith said after a moment.
         “Shut up, Keith,” he answered.
     
     
     
     
                    

C hapter 2
         It had taken a little more convincing, but Keith finally managed to get Aaron to agree and continue through the shortcut.  Aaron didn’t know whether it was the fact that they were already a good distance inside the canyon and nothing bad had happened yet, or whether he had just hit his head too hard when he’d tumbled down the steep bank but, for some reason, the terrible sense of foreboding he had felt earlier was gone.
         Even with only the few hours of sleep they had gotten the night before and their now battered and bruised bodies, the two brothers still managed to make good time.  As they rode, Aaron’s thoughts turned toward home.  When his father had first sent him on this trip, suggesting he take his little brother, he’d been apprehensive, to say the least.
         Aaron remembered his father’s words.  “Your brother’s getting older, and it’s time for him to learn some of the business side of running a ranch.”  Aaron had argued, claiming that the trip would be too long without enough to do to keep his lively younger brother occupied.  In the end, he had given in to the wishes of his father, and so far everything had turned out fine.  Keith had listened much better than Aaron had predicted and, over the weeks, they had settled more into the role of companions than that of older and younger brother.
         Aaron decided they should stop for the night when they came across a small creek running through the canyon.  He’d had enough foresight to lay in a few extra provisions and, once the camp was set up, they feasted on cold chicken and biscuits from the café.  After their meal, Keith took the few dishes down to the creek and, by the time he got back, Aaron had taken off his boots and had his weary feet stretched out toward the crackling fire.
         Keith plunked down next to him and took off his own boots, stretching his feet out in imitation of his older brother.  Aaron looked at him suspiciously when he suddenly started to chuckle, and waited patiently for Keith to tell him what he found so amusing.  Over the years, he had learned that Keith would always tell him what was on his mind if he just waited.
         “Hey, Aaron,” he said and Aaron couldn’t help but smile.
         “Yes.”
         “Remember that time, when you and me camped out in that little old bitty