Slocum 419 (18 page)

“I was hoping you'd—”

“I've done what I had to do. You're a fine woman, but here is where we go our separate ways.”

He leaned over and kissed her on the lips.

“John . . .”

He turned his head for a minute, then back again.

“You're better off without me, Clara,” he said. “Go home and take care of your daughter. She needs you now more than ever. Maybe we'll meet again. At a better time and place.”

“You're breaking my heart,” she said.

He lifted a hand to wave good-bye.

“No, I think your heart's on the mend. I'm going on to Pagosa Springs. I'll catch up to Tom Jessup and offer him one of these horses.”

“You're not going to kill him?”

“There's been enough of that. And I don't think he was involved in any of Wolf's schemes. So long.”

Then he turned Ferro and rode off into the rain, leading the two horses.

Behind him, he thought he could hear Clara sobbing, but perhaps it was only the patter of rain on his hat brim.

And the thunder rolled.

Watch for

SLOCUM AND THE BEAST OF FALL PASS

420
th
novel in the exciting SLOCUM series
from Jove

Coming in February!