Jessica wiped the tears from her cheeks and showed a brave look to Jesse. “Maybe,” she said. Then she managed a smile, even though the loss of Blake Durant was crushing the feelings out of her.
“One day, Jesse,” she said, “he may come riding over the ridge and everything will be fine again. But you’ve got to remember what he taught you so you can look after me. His brand is on the cattle, isn’t it?”
“Well, yeah,” Jesse said.
“It’s also on us, son.”
“His brand,” Jesse said, and suddenly the boy seemed to grow a little taller. “Maybe he figures I’m big enough now to look after things, Ma.”
“I’m sure of that,” she said. Then she hurried into the house, not wanting Jesse to see the new tears in her eyes.
She looked at the empty room where her husband had been and where Blake Durant had been. Even if he didn’t come back, part of him would be there ... would always be there ...
About the Author
Sheldon B. Cole was one of many pseudonyms used by prolific Australian writer Desmond Robert Dunn (6 November 1929-5 May 2003). In addition to four crime novels published under his own name, Des was a tireless western writer whose career spanned more than fifty years and well in excess of 400 oaters. These quick-moving, vivid and always compelling stories appeared under such pen-names as Shad Denver, Gunn Halliday, Adam Brady, Brett Iverson, Matt Cregan, Walt Renwick and Morgan Culp. He is also said to have written a number of the ever-popular Larry Kent P.I. novels, but at this late date author attribution is almost impossible. He married and divorced twice, and had three children. He died at the age of 73 in Brisbane, Queensland.
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