Lee (The Landon Saga Book 6) Read Online Free PDF Page A

him. Amos goes, and they might all leave.”
    I sighed as I thought on that.
    “This boss thing is more complicated than I thought,” I complained.
    “You just focus on poker and leave the men to me,” Brian instructed. “And, from here on out, just come to me with any concerns you have. I’ll handle it.”
    I scowled.
    “So, in other words, you want me to be more like Yancy and keep quiet.”
    “Exactly.”
    “Why’s everybody so scared of me?” I wanted to know.
    “Your reputation might have something to do with it,” Brian suggested.
    I grunted and shook my head.
    “A bunch of school boys would be tougher than that bunch out there. First mention of trouble and they’re already looking for a place to hide.”
    “Labor is scarce in these parts,” Brian reminded. “I had to take what I could find.”
    I grunted again, and it fell silent.
    “Why the sudden worry?” Brian asked.
    “Ross mentioned Ike Nash.”
    A thoughtful look crossed Brian’s face.
    “You think he’d cause trouble?”
    “I doubt it, but it is a possibility.”
    “Then don’t you think we’d better get prepared?” Brian looked concerned.
    “That’s what I was trying to do,” I frowned, and then I scratched my jaw in thought. “If there is any trouble, it’s probably just going to be you, me, and Ross.”
    “Probably so.”
    “Well then. I reckon we’re about as prepared as we can get.”
    “There’d better not be too much trouble. We can’t afford it,” Brian warned.
    “What do you mean?” I narrowed my eyes.
    Brian gestured at the safe that was behind me in the corner.
    “Have you looked in there lately?”
    “No,” I admitted.
    “We’ve been squeezing dimes to get dollars these past few weeks, and now we barely have any pennies left,” Brian informed. “We have just enough for payroll. All the money from Jessica is gone.”
    “What happened to the dimes?”
    “You’ll be playing poker with them,” Brian retorted, and added, “We’ll be all right once we get some money coming in, but be careful tonight. You lose big, and we won’t be able to cover it.”
    “What if I’m rusty?” I objected.
    “Don’t be.”
    I frowned as Brian walked towards the door.
    “I’d better make sure nobody quit,” he said. “See you later.”
    “I’m sorry if I caused any trouble,” I called out after him. “I reckon I’m just getting irritable.”
    “Getting?” Brian smiled, and I scowled as he walked out.

Chapter seven
     
     
    The biggest challenge in running a restaurant was finding fresh beef. We made a deal with Mr. Tomlin for a steady supply, and we hired our own butcher and built a butcher block out back. We also built a corral where we could keep our steers. 
    Brian Clark rode out that afternoon to pick up more steers, and I stayed in the office and practiced handling and shuffling a deck of cards.
    It was midafternoon when the door knocked, and in stepped Amos Gregg.
    “Boss,” he said. “There’s a lady and a kid out here wanting to see you.”
    “Oh?” I asked curiously. “Who is it?”
    “She didn’t say. They just arrived on the stage.”
    “All right. Show her in,” I said.
    Amos nodded and turned to go, but then he stopped.
    “I’m sorry about earlier,” he said. “I have a bad habit of speaking my mind.”
    “I noticed that.”
    “Well, like I said, I’m sorry.”
    “No you’re not,” I smiled, and added, “You can bring the lady in now.”
    Amos frowned, but he didn’t say anything as he turned and walked out.
    There was only one lady I thought it would be, and I was excited to see her. My only confusion was why she was here, and who the kid was.
    I disposed of my cigar, hastily cleaned off my desk, and sat up straight in my chair and tried to look important. 
    Seconds later the door opened, and in walked a lady and a small child.
    To my surprise, the lady was not Jessica. She was a tall, graceful looking woman with tired eyes and a wisp of natural gray hair here and