Chapter 3

Since big brother Gideon had chosen the rodeo circuit, she did the same. They’d both learned to ride taming half-wild horses and burros they caught out in the hills, chasing raggedy-assed cattle out of the mesquite thickets and doing the rest of the slave labor required to keep the ranch going while Pa wrote his sermons and counseled his parishioners. He managed to keep Ma pregnant about three-fourths of the time, too, so there were plenty more Conrad kids coming along to replace Gid and Tab.

She reckoned there would be more on the circuit, too, as soon as they turned eighteen. The twins’ll be next. Let’s see, gosh, they’re sixteen now, going on seventeen.

Levi and Leah both took after Ma’s side of the family. Ma had a good bit of Indian blood, and it showed. The twins were dark instead of blond, like her and Gid. She grinned. An ornery, sassy pair they are, too. Bet Pa’s had to wear out quite a few straps to keep Levi in line. Maybe even a few on Leah.

“You coming, Tab?”