Devils on Horseback: Nate Read Online Free PDF

takes a shot at us.”
    The four of them sat in a living room on more expensive furniture than they’d seen since before the war. Fresh-squeezed lemonade had been placed before them on a shiny wooden table, virtually untouched. Nate probably couldn’t drink it if he tried. As it was, he was having trouble keeping the food down they’d eaten earlier.
    Nate swallowed hard. “So you want to hire us to remove them? Exactly how?”
    “That ain’t my problem. You see, I’ve tried everything I can but they won’t leave.” O’Shea stretched his legs out and shifted in the leather chair he occupied. “That’s where you come in. You remove the Taggerts, I pay you five hundred dollars.”
    “Each,” Zeke interjected. “Plus a fifty dollar advance.”
    “I wondered when you’d speak, Mr. Blackwood. You’re the quiet one in the bunch, ain’t ya?” O’Shea took a gulp of his lemonade. “Each, eh? How many of you are there in D.H. Enterprises?”
    Gideon met Nate’s gaze for a moment before turning to O’Shea. “There are five of us. If we take this job, we want certain assurances.”
    O’Shea’s steely eyes narrowed. “What kind of assurances?”
    “My guess is that you are, shall we say, friends with the local law enforcement. If we have to employ certain tactics to remove the Taggerts, I want your assurances that we won’t spend any time in jail.” Gideon’s tone brooked no argument on that point.
    Nate’s entire body broke out in a sweat. Gideon was already talking about what they’d have to do, illegal or not, to the Taggerts. Fact was, they had to take this job, regardless of how he felt personally. Nate had to forget his fascination with the exasperating Elisa and grab what life was offering. A chance.
    “I insist on putting the agreement in writing, as well. No offense to you, Mr. O’Shea, but as a businessman, I’m sure you understand.” Nate gulped a bit of lemonade to unlock his throat.
    O’Shea puffed the cigar again. “I didn’t know what to expect from you, Mr. Marchand, and I’m pleased to find that you are a smart man.”
    “Thank you kindly, Mr. O’Shea. Now about the fee.” He glanced at Zeke. “As Mr. Blackwood says, it’s five hundred each, for a total of two thousand five hundred dollars, plus any supplies we might need. In return, we shall remove the Taggerts within one month’s time.” Nate held out his hand. “Do we have an agreement?”
    O’Shea regarded them for a long, silent moment. Nate stepped on the small part of him that protested the thought of forcing Elisa off her property. O’Shea had shown them the bill of sale signed by her mother. If she refused to leave, then she left herself open to be moved by any means necessary.
    “We have an agreement. Five hundred dollars each with a fifty dollar advance.”
    O’Shea shook Nate’s hand. The coldness of his skin was not lost on Nate.
    D.H. Enterprises finally had a paying job.

Chapter Three
    Lee was practically hopping like a jackrabbit by the time they made it back to camp. Gideon had the forethought to ask the cook for enough of the delicious chicken dinner to feed two men. Jake smiled and dug in with gusto, not even bothering to ask questions. Lee had other ideas.
    Before they even unsaddled the horses, he peppered them with questions.
    “What’s the job? What does it pay? Are we working for O’Shea? Did you take it? What the hell happened? Isn’t anyone going to tell me?” His brown eyes snapped in the firelight.
    “I would if you’d stop talking for five seconds,” Zeke groused. “Sit down and eat, Lee. We’ll be right there.”
    “Don’t think you can order me around. I might be younger but I’m—”
    “Sit down and eat.” Gideon touched Lee’s right shoulder. “It’s really good chicken and the biscuits remind me of your mama’s.”
    That seemed to take the air out of Lee’s anger. He shrugged off Gideon’s hand and walked over to Jake. When he sat down, Jake handed him a chicken