Cross Draw Read Online Free PDF Page B

as new.”
    â€œYou bill my horse and the repair on the wagon to me,” Clint said.
    â€œWhatever you say, mister.”
    â€œThanks.”
    Clint walked to the back stall, found Eclipse standing comfortably. He looked as if he was freshly brushed, and he had plenty of feed.
    â€œYou haven’t even missed me, have you, big boy?” Clint asked, stroking the horse’s massive neck.
    Eclipse nodded his big head emphatically.
    â€œYeah, okay,” Clint said, “you’re okay. I just had to make sure.”
    He left the stall, exchanged nods with Leroy, and left the livery.
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    Sheriff Evans left Clint at the livery and walked back to the center of town. Having Clint Adams in town was exciting, but if all he did was recover from his injury, it wouldn’t do anything for the town, or for the sheriff. Evans had to figure out some way to make Clint Adams’s presence work for him.
    Â 
    Clint went back to his hotel and into the dining room. He ordered a breakfast that would be easy for him to eat with one hand—a stack of flapjacks. While he was eating, Doc Jacobs came in and approached his table.
    â€œMind if I sit?” he asked.
    â€œHey, Doc,” Clint said. “Have a cup of coffee.”
    â€œDon’t mind if I do,” he said. “I’ve been up all night with Mrs. Francis. Finally delivered twins.”
    â€œI admire you for being able to bring new life into the world, Doc.”
    â€œWasn’t me,” the sawbones said. “It was her. I just helped.”
    â€œYeah, well, without your help I’m sure it would’ve been a lot harder.”
    â€œYeah, maybe.” The doctor drank some coffee. “How are you feelin’?”
    â€œWell, except for not being able to move any of the fingers on my right hand, I’m fine.”
    â€œYou look okay,” Jacobs said. “When I walked in, I never would have known you were injured.”
    â€œThat’s good.”
    â€œBut if you have to go for your gun—”
    â€œI decided not to advertise by wearing a left-handed rig, so if I need to, I’ll cross draw.”
    â€œWill that be enough?”
    â€œIn most cases, yes,” Clint said. “Unless I’m facing an experienced gun.”
    â€œThen what?”
    â€œThen I’m dead.”
    â€œYou say that calmly.”
    â€œOh, there’s nothing calm about dying,” Clint said, “but it’s going to happen sooner or later.”
    â€œWell, yes, death is unavoidable but how we die is sort of up to each one of us, isn’t it?”
    â€œNot me,” Clint said. “I see my death happening one way. The same way Bill Hickok died, Ben Thompson died, and Jesse James died.”
    â€œThey were all shot to death.”
    â€œExactly. But I don’t expect it to happen anytime soon. At least, not until my arm heals. When the time comes, I want to face it as a whole man. Then I can accept whatever happens. But this way . . .” Clint shook his head.
    Jacobs poured himself some more coffee. “Well, like I said, no one’s going to find out anything from me.”
    â€œI appreciate that, Doc.”
    Jacobs drained a second cup of coffee while Clint finished his flapjacks.
    â€œLet’s go to your room so I can examine you,” Jacobs said. “Then I’m gonna get some sleep.”
    â€œOkay, Doc.”
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    In Clint’s room, the doctor took hold of his hand and manipulated each finger in turn.
    â€œHow’s that feel?” he asked with each one.
    â€œHurts,” Clint said each time.
    The doctor lowered Clint’s arm.
    â€œWhat’s that mean, Doc?”
    â€œWell,” he said, “you’ve got feeling. That’s a lot better than if your arm and hand were completely numb.”
    â€œI guess.”
    The doctor undid Clint’s sleeve and rolled it up. He removed the bandages so he could examine the stitches on the wound,