Outlaw's Reckoning Read Online Free Page A

Henry didn’t appreciate Clint’s comment, Shelly barely even noticed it.
    â€œI’m just glad you’re alive,” she said.
    After Shelly finished fussing over him, Henry took a few moments to collect himself before he was ready to say anything to her. By the time he was ready, he found her back was already to him and she’d moved on to other things.
    â€œWhat happened out there, Clint?” Shelly asked. “I heard shooting.”
    Clint shook his head and signaled for the bartender. “Just a few panicked shots, is all. No harm done.”
    â€œBetter not be any harm done,” the bartender said. “Them two are some good customers.”
    Clint locked eyes with the man behind the bar and said, “Don’t worry. They’ll be back to drink your whiskey soon enough. Maybe they’ll get a discount for trying to rob a kid outside your own place without you lifting a finger against it?”
    â€œI didn’t know what they were up to!”
    â€œIs that so?”
    Although the bartender was ready to come to his own defense, he faltered under the brunt of Clint’s accusing stare. He looked away and grunted, “Serves the kid right for flashing so much money around here.”
    Clint ordered a beer, which was quickly set in front of him. After that, the bartender found some more pressing matters to attend to at the other end of the saloon.
    â€œThe man’s got a point, you know,” Clint said. “What were your plans for all that money?”
    The kid lowered his eyes, folded his arms and rested his elbows against the bar. Before too long, he felt a pinch at his ear as he was dragged upward once more.
    â€œAnswer him, Henry,” Shelly said as she pulled roughly on the kid’s ear. “What were you . . .” She looked around suspiciously and then finished her question in a much lower voice. “What were you doing with that money?”
    â€œI told you,” Henry grunted. “I need to hire a killer.”
    After setting down his beer, Clint snapped his fingers and pointed toward the kid’s pocket. “Let’s see that money.”
    Henry’s eyes widened as he straightened up. “You beat the hell outta them two outside! Would you work for me?”
    Clint merely rubbed his forefinger against his thumb.
    Digging into his pocket, Henry got the wad of money. He kept it close against his body and wrapped up in two tight fists as he asked, “Are you gonna earn it or take it from me?”
    â€œI’d say I already earned it,” Clint replied.
    Henry let out a defeated breath and let his head droop forward. His eyes pinched in at the corners as he handed over the money in frustration. “Just take it,” he groaned. “I can’t do nothing against you.”
    Clint took the money from Henry’s hands before it was allowed to fall onto the floor. The wad of cash disappeared much more easily within Clint’s hands as he cupped them around the money, as if he was protecting a lit match from strong winds. Flipping through the bills, Clint nodded slowly.
    â€œThere’s enough to hire a killer, all right,” he said while handing the money back to Henry. “You probably could have hired two of the caliber you’d find in here.”
    As much as Henry wanted to take his money back, he didn’t reach for it right away. “You’re not taking it?”
    Clint shook his head and was about to hand it back when he noticed a few of the drunks in the saloon paying a bit too much attention to him. Tightening his fist around the money, Clint stuffed it into his own pocket just as Henry was beginning to reach for it.
    â€œYour first lesson today is to use your head,” Clint told him. “You were almost robbed once today and you’re going to be robbed again if you don’t try to keep this money more to yourself. The first was a lack of experience, but there’s no excuse for