CHAPTER I COMPANY COMING High and clear the sweet, western wind brought over the rolling hills the sound of singing. At least it was singing of a sort, for there was a certain swing and rhythm accompanying the words. As the melody floated toward them, three young cowboys, seated at ease in their saddles, looked up and in the direction of the singer. Thus the song. "Oh, bury me out on th\' lonesome prairie! Put a stone under my haid! Cover me up with a rope an\' a saddle! \'Cause why? My true-love is daid * * * * * *" It is impossible in cold print to indicate the mournful and long-drawn-out accent on the word "dead," to rhyme with head. "Here comes Slim!" exclaimed one of the youthful cow punchers to his companions. "As if we didn\'t know that, Dick!" laughed the slighter of two lads who, from their close resemblance, could be nothing less than brothers. "His voice doesn\'t improve with age; does it, Nort?" asked Bud Merkel, smiling at his cousins, Norton and Richard Shannon. "But he means well," declared Nort with a chuckle. "Oh, you Slim!" he shouted, as a tall lanky individual, mounted on a pony of like proportions, ambled into view, topping a slight rise of the trail. "Oh, you Slim!" The older cowboy—a man, to be exact—who had been about to break forth into the second, or forty-second verse of his song (there being in all seventy-two stanzas, so it doesn\'t much matter which one is designated)—the older cowboy, I say, paused with his mouth open, and a blank look on his face. Then he grinned—that is the only word for it—and cried: "Well, I\'m a second cousin to a ham sandwich! Where\'d you fellows come from?" "We haven\'t come—we\'re just going!" laughed Bud. "We\'re going over to see Dad and the folks. How are they all?" "Oh, they\'re sittin\' pretty! Sittin\' pretty!" affirmed Slim Degnan, with a mingled smile and grin. "How\'d you fellows come out with your spring round-up?" "Pretty fair," admitted Bud. "A few steers short of what we figured on, but that\'s nothing." "I should say not!" chuckled Slim. "Your paw was a heap sight worse off\'n that." "Rustlers again?" asked Nort quickly, as he and his brother glanced at one another. They had not forgotten the stirring times when they were on the trail of the ruthless men who had raided Diamond X ranch, and their own cattle range. "No, nothin\' like that," answered Slim easily. "Just natural depravity, so to speak. Some of \'em ate loco weed and others jest got too tired of livin\' I reckon. But we come out pretty fair. Just got th\' last bunch shipped, an\' I\'m mighty glad of it." "Same here!" spoke Dick. "That\'s why we came over here—on a sort of vacation." "I reckon some other folks is headin\' this way on th\' same sort of ideas," remarked Slim Degnan, as he rolled a cigarette with one hand, a trick for which the boys had no use, though they could but admire the skill of the foreman. "What do you mean?" asked Bud. "Is Dad going to take a vacation? If he does—" "Don\'t worry, son! Don\'t worry!" laughed Slim, as he ignited a match by the simple process of scratching the head with his thumb nail.... Views: 68
Three best friends find this is one game you might never outgrow . . . Truth Or Dare Satisfy MeAsia Michaels and her friends find themselves tantalized by a quiet new arrival in their small town—and by its possibilities. One thing leads to another as truth leads to dare, and Asia's in the arms of a man who gives her answers to all of the questions she could never ask . . . Indulge MeShy Becky Harte has a private wild side. But she never thought she'd run into a secret crush like George Westin while buying some rather surprising items. George is more than intrigued at her purchases and would love to show the blushing Becky a thing or two. But it's George who becomes the student when Becky starts calling the shots . . . Drive Me WildAssertive Erica Lee is used to having the upper hand in business, her love life—everything. On a dare, she boldly approaches hunky, mischievous Ian Conrad with a scandalous proposal. Ian isn't... Views: 68
Most honourable Procurator Stiffeniis,You talents have been brought to Our attention by a gentleman of eminence, who believes that you alone are capable of resolving a situation which holds Our beloved Königsberg in a grip of terror. All Our faith and consideration are due to the notable personage who suggested your name, and that same faith and consideration now resides in you. We have no reason to doubt that you will accept this Royal Commission, and act accordingly with all haste. The fate of the city lies in your hands.--King Frederick Wilhelm III It has been years since Immanuel Kant's landmark philosophical work, Critique of Pure Reason, brought him fame throughout Europe and made him Königsberg's best-known citizen. Now, rumors have begun to surface of a new work by this aging but still acute mind. Yet unlike his earlier work, this book will not examine the mind of the average man, but the mind of the serial killer.Hanno Stiffeniis, a young magistrate, has been called to Königsberg to assist in the investigation of an enigmatic string of murders. Is it part of a plot formed by Napoleon's spies to undermine the Prussian king or the work of a solitary, unknown killer? The case would seem unsolvable, were it not for the assistance and unmatched intellect of his mentor, Immanuel Kant. Together Stiffeniis and the elderly, eccentric philosopher must track down the killer who has the city of Königsberg by the throat.Hugely atmospheric, entertaining, and intelligent, Critique of Criminal Reason marks the outstanding debut of a new name in historical fiction. Views: 68
A new short story offered by New York Times Bestselling author, Mark Cheverton, this story is the prequel to the Gameknight999 series of unofficial Minecraft novels that have been published around the world, with over a million copies in print. It documents how Gameknight999's epic adventure really began . . . and how the legend, and the nightmare, were both born.A virus was launched into the Minecraft servers. It was not just any virus; this one was the spawn of artificially intelligent software. It's purpose was to spread out and destroy. But the designer of that virus didn't plan on their lethal viral code interacting with the game in such an unpredictable way. Instead of just penetrating the digital defenses of the Minecraft servers and laying waste to the computerized universe, it instead modified the software ever so slightly, awakening all of the villagers. And now they were alive, as was the virus. Confused and scared, the virus and the villagers must come to grips with... Views: 68
"A Truly Yours Digital Edition. . ."Following her drug-related arrest, Angela finds herself out of rehab and in God's family. She's working at New Beginnings to fulfill her community service hours, but beyond that, she's never felt more alone. Her old friends only want her the way she used to be, and her newest Christian friend, Ben, can't seem to forgive her past. Jesus and His promises are her only comfort. Ben Atchison's attraction to Angela comes to a screeching halt when he learns of her history. His cousins suffered permanent disability due to an overdose. Once an addict, always an addict, right? How could God ask him to love another person traveling the painful road of drug abuse? Will Ben allow his heart to trust Angela and in the God who promises to make her new? Views: 68
In this illustrated tale of murder, the secretive creator of an Alaskan drug route encounters problems on his last voyage to Dutch Harbor aboard the Alaska State Ferry Tustumena. Views: 68
### Review
"Pushes crackling suspense to the breaking point and beyond. . . a must read!" -- _Kay Hooper, New York Times Bestselling Author._
### Product Description
EVERY FEAR, is the second book in Rick Mofina's acclaimed new series, which debuted with THE DYING HOUR. The series introduced rookie crime reporter Jason Wade, and was not only a bestseller, but the International Thriller Writers selected The Dying Hour as a BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL FINALIST for a THRILLER AWARD.
With EVERY FEAR, Mofina takes suspense to a whole new level in a heart-pounding story that moves like a true crime case torn from today's headlines.
On an ordinary morning, Maria Colson takes her baby son Dylan to the corner store. She only turns her back for a few seconds. When she looks again, she sees his empty stroller, at the same time he is being abducted into a waiting van. Maria climbs onto the van, but is violently thrown to the road where she is left for dead as the van vanishes without a trace.
As Maria fights for her life and her anguished young husband keeps a beside vigil, The FBI and police across metro Sea-Tac and Washington State, search for Dylan.
Across the city, Seattle Mirror reporter Jason Wade is under a lot of pressure to bring in a big story, and the Colson kidnapping could be it. It’s certainly a bizarre case with pieces that just don’t add up: The Colsons are a hard-working couple. Former high school sweethearts. No problems. No enemies.
Then Jason and his dad, a private detective haunted by his former life as a cop, discover a grisly murder of a young woman that is somehow connected to the Colsons.
Now, in a dark Seattle underground of desperate dreamers and ex-convicts, Jason, embarks an investigation that parallels one led by Homicide Detective Grace Garner.
They're both hunting for the one piece of the puzzle that connects the baby’s disappearance with a sping-tingling case of revenge. And time is running out, because whoever took little Dylan Colson is more dangerous than anyone could ever imagine. Views: 68
The auction catalogue read: Lot # 217. A tin trunk, circa 1860, containing a number of esoteric volumes, many with curious woodcuts, all in poor conditionThe trunk held the secret diaries of Sir Richard Francis Burton, soldier, spy, explorer, linguist, diplomat, master of disguise, the greatest swordsman of all time, hero, scoundrel, rake. His deeds are legendary, from single-handedly routing a score of attacking tribesmen to translating the Kama Sutra after having tested every single position it describes.Long periods of Burton's life have been shrouded in mystery. His lovely wife, Isabel, burned many of his papers, 'to protect his reputation.' Now it can be revealed that Burton's remarkable skill with the sabre was exceeded by his incredible sexual prowess. During the period of his life that he describes in The Persian Girl, he futtered his way from London to the Himalayas, coupling with two women at once, as an hors d'oeuvre, then taking his pleasure from gorgeous trios... Views: 68
Love will find a way...Slade was Jessie's life, the first love that filled her heart and soul and bound her woman's spirit. Years of waiting culminating in an incredible weekend of sexual abandon—teaching her everything she needed to know to be his woman and branded her as Slade's woman for life. Jessie was certain Slade had to love her.Until he whispered the lie, the ultimate betrayal, and walked away only to wed another woman.Now five years later Slade returns, his soul has withered without Jessie's presence, and now he'll have her, one way or the other. The love for her, the fierce overriding hunger and need consumes his heart and binds his soul. No matter the obstacles, Slade will get her back.Whatever it takes.Whatever he has to do. Views: 68
