Zooey Pinkerton- a Daughter's Right Read Online Free Page A

she whispered with venom
in her voice. Despite everything, Zooey was ravenous. She
hesitantly opened the bedroom door to see if Charlie had left
anything. To her delight, a tray was sitting just outside the door
with fresh coffee, bread, butter and a bowl of stew.
    “Thank goodness something is
right today.” Zooey muttered as she took the lid off the stew bowl
and spooned up a mouthful. The tiny morsels of meat, potatoes and
thin gravy were not overly hearty but filled her empty stomach.
    A soft knock on the door came
soon after.
    “You awake, Zooey?”
    “Come in, Josh.”
    Zooey pasted on a small smile as
the Sheriff walked in, stone faced. Zooey could feel her stomach
drop.
    “What's the news, Josh?”
    Joshua sighed. He closed the
door and sat down next to her on the bed. “We found your father's
body, Zooey. So you can properly bury him.” He paused. Zooey
remained quiet even as a tear trickled down her cheek.
    “Pops deserves that,” she
nodded. “Where did you find him?”
    “It doesn’t matter, Zooey, just
be thankful we did so you can say goodbye.”
    Zooey put down her coffee cup
and stood up. She walked toward the window and looked out, not
wanting Josh to see the turmoil on her face. I have to be
brave, she thought. I can't let the anger consume
me.
    “I need to know what that
bastard did to him. That way, when I find him, I can pay him back
properly!”
    Joshua walked up behind Zooey
and gingerly placed a hand on her shoulder. He could see her jaw
clench, so he stepped back. He knew she wasn't looking for
sympathy, just revenge.
    “It looks like they dragged his
body around behind one of the horse for a bit. I'm sorry Zooey but
you deserve to know”
    It was heartbreaking for the
Sheriff to stand back and watch Zooey's shoulders heave with anger
and grief. She cried, staring out the window at the afternoon sun.
He jumped when suddenly she slammed a clenched fist against the
wall. “Damn the indignity!”
    “Zooey, we will get this bastard and his men. Don't you worry about that.”
    Very slowly, Zooey turned around
and revealed a look of cold fury. Joshua backed up and shook his
head. “I know this is frustrating for you, Zooey...”
    “Frustrating? You think this is
frustrating? My home is gone, my father is gone, and no one seems
to know where this murderous outlaw is. This is more than
frustrating. I will find this man and make him beg for his
life.”
    “If it helps any, from what we
can see, the ranch is fine. No fires or looting from what my men
have reported.”
    “Well, that's something,” she
answered bitterly. “Has anyone seen Marta? Is she there? Is she
alive?”
    “I don't know. There was no
report about her. I didn't see her.”
    “And the horses?”
    “They seem to be alright for
now. None have been moved or killed.”
    Zooey shuddered at the thought
of her father's precious Palominos being hurt. “If Tom Brennan and
his boss are smart, they'll realize they have gold in those horses.
They damn well wouldn’t hurt them.”
    Joshua looked at Zooey's face.
Even with those girlish pink cheeks and freckles, she looked aged
and tired. She is much too young for so much heartache , Josh
thought.
    As if reading his thoughts,
Zooey looked up at him and smiled. “I'll be alright, Josh. As soon
as I can drag that sorry outlaws’ carcass in front of the law, I'll
feel even better.”
    “You’re not still considering
that bounty are you?”
    Zooey clenched her teeth and
nodded. “It's my right as Pop's only daughter. He has no son to get
justice for him, so it's up to me. I'll do it, Josh. Just promise
me when the time comes you won't stand in my way.”
    “Zooey, I...” Joshua knew from
the look on her face that it wasn’t the time to convince her
otherwise.
    “Sheriff! Sheriff Duncan?
Hello?”
    Charlie Mark's voice was
frantic. Joshua opened the door to see the man scurrying up the
hall. “What's wrong, Charlie?”
    Charlie spied Zooey trying to
peek around Joshua's broad