Free Buchanan's Seige by Jonas Ward

could take you in one hand and your son in the other and crack you like walnuts. But he wouldn't. He wouldn't take advantage of trash like you." Buchanan took a breath, seeking control. "Coco's like me, a peaceable man. I know you're ignorant, which is some sort of excuse, but Mister, you walk careful around me and don't let me hear you call Coco a nigger, not ever. You hear me?"
    The man said, "Goddlemighty, Mr. Buchanan, I didn't go for to make you all that mad."
    "Uh-huh," said Buchanan. "Did it, though, didn't you?"
    "Uh, well, I hear you." The hog farmer retreated.
    Amanda exhaled. She said, "Well, that was quite a lec ture. But about Bull Durkin, now. He is a dangerous character."
    Fay Whelan said, "He made a run at me once. Had to pull down on him. I swear, hawg farmers, stove up people. We are in a fix."
    "How come you trust the rest of us?" asked Buchanan.
    Rob Whelan interposed. "We know about you. You got to remember, Fay and me, we've had to stand by each other. Maybe we got some to learn. But we only know we got each other. Maybe we won't even have a house when this is over. Maybe we'll be dead."
    "Like Badger says, only the good Lord knows," Bu chanan said.
    "One thing," said Fay.
    "Uh-huh." Everybody wanted something, and they all came to Buchanan.
    "Rob and me, we go together. You're the boss here so far as we're concerned. But don't try to separate us."
    "No reason to do that." He was relieved.
    "Way it is with us," Rob said. "One goes, t'other won't know how to cut it."
    "Okay and good luck." He gestured. "How about stand in' guard out there awhile?"
    "Fine with us."
    . They went off into the night, prowling, never more than a few yards apart. They had come a long way together, Buchanan thought. They had scrambled for a place in life. Rob was right: even if they survived, they might lose it all and be forced to begin all over again. What they had put together was really themselves. Perhaps that was enough. He found himself staring at the high ceiling of the big room. He went outdoors and saw there was a stone para pet around the edge of the roof.
    He went back inside and called to Kovacs. "Hey, is there a trapdoor to the roof?"
    "Is so. In closet."
    The closets were in the hallway between the kitchen and the main room. Buchanan asked, "You got a ladder?"
    "Is so." Kovacs opened a closet door. There was a sturdy wooden ladder leading upward. Everything about the Kovacs property was staunch.
    Buchanan said, "That trap's too tight for me. Hey, you, Sonny Thome. Take a look up there."
    The skinny man went up the steps, removed the trap. "Good roof," he called down. "Hard to set afire, I reckon. Should I git some water up here in case?"
    "You do that," said Buchanan. "Leave that ladder right where it is. We'll keep a gun up there."
    He walked around, examining every detail of the house and its furnishings. Amanda Day followed him, watching.
    In the main bedroom, he made certain Coco and Weevil were sleeping. In the other bedroom, she spoke to him.
    "You think of everything, don't you?"
    "I try, ma'am." He sat down on a chair, weary of a sud de n. "Wish there was some way to get yawl out of here."
    "But we belong here."
    "Sure, you do. Only there's a heap of guns will say you got to get out."
    "You think we'd run, even if we could?"
    "I thin k you'd be fools not to. Look, we got the Whe lan s and Trevor. They'll stand up. Kovacs is no fighter.

    The hawg farmers —you can look at them and see what they are. Bull Durkin—we don't know yet which side he's on ... besides his own side." He waved an arm. "Out yonder they're bringin' in an army. They got to kill us now to save their own necks."
    "Of course. But you won't let them." Her coolness was amazing.
    He shook his head. "Such faith no woman should have."
    "Bradbury?" she asked. "He did try to buy out Adam. Could you get to him?"
    "Tried that. Fox and Crane got him over a barrel. I know he was against lynchin' or he wouldn't of called for me. But right now, he's