It wasn’t everyday you found a leather diary on the side of a dusty prairie trail.
Ace Carter stooped to pick up the book but nearly dropped it again when he opened the cover.
The writing was neat and girly, so it could have belonged to Becky Bronson. But there was blood on the paper.
If even one hair on Becky’s precious blond head was harmed, well, her daddy would kill Ace.
Still, the diary was his first lead since Billy hired him to track down his wayward daughter.
“She been kidnapped by Tommy Anson.”
Ace doubted that, on count of Becky’s reputation, but then Billy hadn’t left Ace a choice. Thirty dollars was $30, and Billy Bronson was a mean son-of-a-....
A blood-curdling roar erupted from behind the rock wall at the next turn in the path. Ace whipped his rifle into position, ready to unload if the big cat came his way.
Instead, a tuft of yellow hair flicked around the side of the stone face.
“Why, you ain’t gonna shoot me, are you, big fella?” Becky Bronson teased.
Ace lowered his weapon. “No, I ain’t gonna shoot you. But I ain’t gonna let you get ate by that bobcat, neither.”
“There ain’t no bobcat here mister. Just me.”
“You alone? Your daddy sent me out here to rescue you from Tommy Anson.”
The evening air had grown cool, and Becky pulled her scarf tighter around her neck. She used the end to dab something red next to her mouth.
“My daddy knows I can take care of myself. Say, you sure are handsome!”
It was then that Ace saw a man’s bloody boot jutting out from behind the rock where Becky stood.
As Ace turned tail and ran toward town, a bobcat roared behind him.
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