Young Roy Shuster served five years in the Yuma, Arizona, prison, and when he’s released on December 24, 1889, he revels in freedom at last. A local man, an ex-convict, takes him in and teaches him lovemaking.<br><br>But Ray can’t abide the prison’s proximity and moves on to Tombstone where, despite a growing interest in a rancher named Clay Bowman, he causes more trouble than good. Can Clay see past Roy’s youthful impulsiveness, even when it lands him in jail?

Riding High

“I understand,” he said. “Buy you breakfast? I’m hungry as hell.”


I near dissolved with relief at his talking like he did before and I was badly in need of food, but I asked instead if we could see to Rooster. “He’s not been fed. Can you front me money for the livery?” I asked. “I’ll work for you if you want, earn it back.”


We fetched Rooster, walked him to the livery, where Clay ordered extra oats and a brushing. He paid the man while Rooster looked on. “We’re fine now,” I told the horse. “Enjoy yourself.”


While Rooster had his oats, I gobbled down a meal that tasted better than any I’d ever had. “Slow down,” Clay said at one point and I sat back, feeling like some child. “No rush,” he continued. “Enjoy your food, take time to savor it. Then we can pick up where we left off yesterday. Let’s see, we had us a bath, and I was thinking on a nap after that. I’d like that now as that jail cot was awful.”


Chapter 9