Free Lee (The Landon Saga Book 6) by Tell Cotten Page A

breakfast,” she said.
    “Thank you, April.”
    We passed by June, and she was still staring at me through wide eyes.
    “Mister Lee,” June said in her soft and timid voice.
    “Yes, June?”
    “You look awful.”
    “Go back to bed, June.”
    “Yes, sir, Mister Lee.”

Chapter twenty-three
     
     
    A few minutes later I was in bed on my back, with a pillow propped behind my aching head. April had gone downstairs to fix my breakfast, and Brian was standing in the corner, looking broodily out the window.
    “I thought you said things would be better today,” he grumbled.
    “I guess I lied.”
    “We’re in big trouble now.”
    “Really? I didn’t know.”
    “There’s no way we can borrow enough money to pay Jeremiah,” Brian said as he ignored my sarcastic comment.
    “What will we do then?”
    Brian frowned thoughtfully.
    “We’ll explain what happened, and then ask Jeremiah for some time. This hotel is making money. All we need is some time. A lot of time.”
    “How ’bout payroll?”
    “I can borrow enough for that and Mr. Tomlin’s steers.”
    I thought it over and nodded. Meanwhile, Brian turned from the window and looked at me.
    “Now that we’re alone, do you know who it was?”
    “Brock and Amos,” I declared.
    “You’re sure?”
    “Not entirely,” I admitted. “It happened so fast. But it was Amos that attacked me, and the guy’s shadow in the door looked like Brock.”
    “How can you see a shadow in the dark?” Brian looked at me oddly.
    “You know what I mean,” I scowled.
    “Is that all you can remember?”
    “No. The feller that attacked me was wearing boots.”
    “What did these boots look like?” Brian looked hopeful.
    “They were just plain-looking boots. Nothing special that I can remember.”
    “Well, that really narrows it down,” Brian said sourly.
    I shrugged and then winced as a sharp pain pounded my head.
    “Amos hasn’t come in yet,” Brian commented as he looked back out the window.
    “Act normal when he does,” I said. “I want to see how guilty he acts.”
    Brian nodded, and it was silent for several minutes.
    “You want to know the one thing that really bothers me?” I said after a while.
    “Just one?”
    “Out of all the men I’ve killed over years, not once did I attack from behind. They all saw it coming.”
    “Well, at least you heard it coming.”
    “Amos is going to pay for this,” I vowed.
    “If it was him,” Brian reminded.
    “It was him,” I muttered.
    “Well, I’d better go saddle my horse,” Brian said as he moved towards the door. “We’ll talk to Jeremiah when I get back.”
    I nodded, and Brian walked out the door.

Chapter twenty-four
     
     
    April brought my breakfast to my room. It was now daylight, and she gasped when she saw my face.
    “Oh my,” she said. “You look like a raccoon.”
    “Thanks.”
    “How do you feel?”
    “Probably how I look.”
    “I’m sorry,” she said.
    I grunted. I took a swig of coffee and winced as I swallowed.
    April stood silently in front of me. I glanced up, and those big, blue eyes were staring at me solemnly.
    “June is really worried about you,” she said.
    “Tell her I’ll be fine.”
    “I will,” April nodded. She hesitated, and added, “June has become quite fond of you. So have I.”
    I was startled and didn’t know what to say.
    “I – I mean - we would be devastated if anything were to happen to you. I’m not sure if June could take it. She’s already lost so much.”
    “Nobody’s killed me yet.”
    “But there’s trouble coming, isn’t there?”
    “Yes, I think there is.”
    “You will be careful, won’t you?”
    “Sure.”
    April didn’t look convinced as she walked towards the door.
    “I’ll leave you alone so you can get some rest,” she said.
    “Thanks for the breakfast, April. I really appreciate it.”
    “Of course,” she smiled at me, and added, “I’m sorry you lost the, uh, boxing match.”
    “It wasn’t boxing,” I grumbled.