{"id":264446,"date":"2026-07-15T02:07:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T23:07:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1kitap1.com\/en\/jessie-texas-gamble-louise-behiel\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T02:07:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T23:07:52","slug":"jessie-texas-gamble-louise-behiel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1kitap1.com\/en\/jessie-texas-gamble-louise-behiel\/","title":{"rendered":"Jessie Texas Gamble – Louise Behiel"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cThanks so very much, little sister. I\u2019m glad you learned the lessons of hospitality our parents worked so hard to teach us.\u201d He took the glass she handed him, tipped it toward her then guzzled the water, allowing the liquid to drool down both sides of his lips. With the glass empty, he swiped the back of his hand across his mouth, then handed it back to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cAppreciate it.\u201d His gaze swiveled around the men backing her. \u201cDon\u2019t suppose you have an outhouse?\u201d He looked around. \u201cWould be a shame to mess up this beautiful yard.\u201d He turned to her, his eyes narrowing. \u201cTo mess up anything so beautiful.\u201d She pressed her hands against her stomach, all color draining from her face. Recognizing a threat when he heard one, Jessie stepped close behind her and rested his hand on her shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe treasure beautiful things on the McKenzie Ranch. And we protect them.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m sure you do.\u201d Bobby Joe looked around. \u201cThis place fairly shouts of the care it\u2019s given. All prettied up, so fine.\u201d He searched her eyes, then allowed his gaze to slide down to Bernadette\u2019s feet and back. \u201cEven a sow gets all gussied up around here.\u201d \u201cWhat are you insinuating?\u201d Jessie stepped in front of her, his hand on his Colt.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe? Why nothing.\u201d His oily smile was disgusting. He imagined it was the same smile he\u2019d given Bernadette when handing her over to Slim. \u201cJust saying that everything looks real fine around this here ranch.\u201d He spit toward the corner of the steps, missing by a couple of feet. As the tobacco and spit congealed on the painted planks, Bobby Joe glanced out to the range. \u201cI heard you have lots of cattle out there. Must be risky, leaving them so far from the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned back to them. \u201cEver have any trouble with rustlers?\u201d Jessie pushed Bernadette further behind him and stepped closer, hands fisted on his hips. \u201cIs that a threat?\u201d \u201cA threat? No sir. Not at all.\u201d Bobby Joe looked to the horizon again. \u201cJust jawing, is all.\u201d He jabbed his index finger into the weasel\u2019s chest. \u201cIf anything happens, and I mean anything, you will have us to deal with.\u201d He looked back at his family and Ted who had moved to the side of the porch. \u201cThat goes for the property, the cattle, and my family.\u201d<\/p>\n

He jabbed his finger into Bobby Joe\u2019s chest again. \u201cDo I make myself clear?\u201d \u201cYes, sir. You do. But there ain\u2019t no call to get all heated up. I\u2019m only passing the time of day.\u201d He nodded toward her. \u201cMy sister and I should talk a spell.<\/p>\n

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In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. OceanofPDF.com CHAPTER ONE Barrons, Texas, 1850 \u201cI heard you were back in town.\u201d Jessie McKenzie tipped back his black Stetson and looked up. \u201cYou heard right.\u201d \u201cHow long you staying?\u201d asked the scowling man standing across the table from him. Glancing at his cards again, Jessie threw three eagles on the pile in the middle of the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot sure.\u201d He wasn\u2019t ready to discuss why he\u2019d come home and wasn\u2019t sure how long he would be staying. \u201cDid you plan to tell any of us you were back?\u201d Aggravation tinged Cole McKenzie\u2019s voice and his hands fisted. The men at the table looked from brother to brother. A couple of men got ready to jump and run.<\/p>\n

It had been nine, almost ten years since Jessie left town after his last family brawl\u2014the last of many for him. No one wanted to get caught in another one. \u201cI might have.\u201d He looked at the man to his left. \u201cYou in or out?\u201d The other man mumbled to himself as his gaze dropped to his cards.<\/p>\n

He folded his hand and discarded it. \u201cOut.\u201d Jessie studied the next one who did the same thing. What did he expect? He was Baron McKenzie\u2019s third son, the bad seed of the bunch. Everybody was waiting for a fight. The last man at the table stared at him. \u201cI\u2019ll see you and raise you another hundred.\u201d Jessie matched the raise. \u201cCall.\u201d The other man threw down his cards, lips curled in disgust. \u201cI\u2019ve got nothing.\u201d Jess placed his cards on the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cFull house, Kings over tens.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m done,\u201d Tim Locke, another rancher\u2019s son from the area, said as he stood. \u201cYou McKenzies always did have the damndest luck.\u201d As Jessie scooped the money from the table, he glanced at the other players. \u201cMy brother wants to have a family reunion, and I\u2019m thinking I ought to oblige him.\u201d He piled the coins then rose to his feet. After sliding them from the table and into his pants pocket, he turned to his brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cBarrons was on my way, so I stopped.\u201d He signaled the barkeep for another bottle of whiskey. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you grab a chair and we can talk about the good old days?\u201d He smiled, but remained standing, waiting for a reaction he hoped didn\u2019t happen. Cole\u2019s eyelid twitched, but his shoulders settled. \u201cUnless there\u2019s something else you want to shoot the breeze about? Our loving father?<\/p>\n

Our brothers? The ranch?\u201d \u201cYou always were an ass.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.<\/em><\/p>\n

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