standing.
âAnyone else want to try and force their way into that manâs home?â Clint asked.
The big fellow remained on his knees and raised both hands up over his head.
George was chomping at the bit to take Clint up on his offer, but didnât quite have the sand to see it through. Instead, he fell back to the one thing he knew he could do well enough. âYouâre all dead!â he blustered. âThat nââ
Clint cut that short by thumbing back the hammer of his Colt. The modified pistol didnât require the movement, but the metallic click was loud enough to get the job done.
When he spoke again, George acted as if he was forcing each word out through his teeth. âCarl, his sister, and you, Mister Adams. You are all dead. Ainât nobody gonna stand for their kind treatinâ hardworkinâ men like this.â
âThey didnât do a thing,â Clint said. âIt was all me, and Iâll be glad to explain myself to anyone youâd like. Iâm pretty certain there are plenty of folks around here whoâll believe you and your friends are a bunch of back-shooting idiots.â
George may have been too frightened to say anything else, or he may have simply been unable to dispute Clintâs words. Whichever it was, he started walking toward the house without another threat or complaint.
âLeave him,â Clint said. âJust go and weâll bring your friend back to Paceâs.â
George showed his true colors that night. Not only did he turn and run, but he left his partner without a second thought.
SEVENTEEN
Just to be on the safe side, Clint slept at Carlâs house that night. He actually didnât get much sleep at all, since the only place for him to stretch out was in an old rocking chair in the sitting room. He had blankets to keep him warm, and even a pillow, but none of that was enough to make the wooden slats more bearable upon his back and shoulders. After it was too late to even try to sleep any longer, Clint realized he would have had better luck lying on the ground.
âYouâre up bright and early,â Sadie said as she shuffled from her room and into the kitchen.
Rather than air out a few truthful complaints, Clint nodded and rubbed his neck. âThe sunâs up, so I am too.â
âWill you be staying on then, kind of like our own personal scarecrow?â When she saw the expression on Clintâs face, Sadie laughed and shook her head. âNever mind me. After hearing all the fire and brimstone my brother was saying last night, itâs a wonder the world hasnât ended by now.â
Clint watched her move about to prop open some windows and collect a few cups to go along with the kettle in her hand. She still wore her sleeping gown, but wasnât as careful to wrap it around her. She must have been comfortable around Clint, because she went about her business without making certain every lace was cinched up or checking that her collar was properly situated. She wasnât exactly putting on a show, but Clint did get a few glimpses of her smooth, dark skin.
Sadieâs generous breasts swayed beneath the single layer of cotton and the cool morning air made her nipples stand erect against the material. The bright sunlight even shone through her gown when she stood in just the right spot, allowing Clint to see a hint of her full, rounded hips.
âYou donât seem too concerned with what happened,â Clint said.
She set down the cups and kettle to pick up a dented pail. âIf they come back, weâll figure out a way to deal with them. If someone different comes around, weâll deal with them too. Whether all of that happens or none of it, no good will come from us carrying on about it.â
âI suppose thatâs true enough.â
âYou want some coffee?â
âThatâd beââ
âThen go get some water from the pump,â Sadie cut
Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Martin A. Lee, Bruce Shlain