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

fast.
    “Thank you very much, Mr. Mattingly,” she said.
    “The name’s Lee.”
    “Yes, sir. I mean, Lee.”
    I nodded and smiled. I waited for them to leave, but they just stood there.
    “Is there anything else?” I finally asked.
    “We have nowhere to stay,” she explained, and added quietly, “We don’t have much money.”
    “I see,” I said thoughtfully, and then I sighed. “All right. You can live upstairs. Brian Clark and I share the corner room, and you can have the room next to ours.”
    “Thank you, sir.”
    “Lee,” I corrected.
    “I’m sorry,” she said, and blushed slightly. “Thank you again, Lee.”
    “No problem.”
    April nodded and turned towards the door while I grabbed my deck of cards.
    I still felt a pair of eyes on me. I looked up, and June hadn’t moved. She was still staring at me through those round and solemn eyes.
    “Mister Lee,” she said suddenly, and her voice was very soft and clear.
    “Yes?” I said, startled.
    “Thank you for giving Ma a job,” she said, and then she turned abruptly and followed her mother out the door.
    I sat there for a long time in stunned silence.
    “You’re welcome,” I finally said to an empty room.
     

Chapter eight
     
     
    Brian Clark burst into the office a couple of hours later.
    “Amos told me you just hired a woman,” he said gruffly.
    “That’s right,” I confirmed.
    “I just told you we can barely meet payroll,” he objected. “We can’t afford anybody else.”
    “They have no place else to go,” I protested. “And, that ain’t all. Wait until you meet June. The way she stared at me, it felt like she was looking into my soul.”
    Brian snorted.
    “They can’t stay here, Lee.”
    “Have you met them yet?”
    “No. They’re upstairs, getting settled in a room that we won’t be able to rent out now.”
    “Go meet them,” I suggested. “And then, if you still want them to leave, get rid of them.”
    “I’ll do that,” Brian declared, and he turned and stormed out.
    I smiled and waited patiently. A few minutes passed, and Brian returned to the office. He looked sullen and somber.
    “Well?” I asked.
    “I’ll find something for her to do,” he muttered.
    “June stared at you too, eh?”
    “She did,” Brian admitted.
    I didn’t reply. Instead, I just smiled.
     
    ***
     
    A few hours later, I stood in front of a mirror up in our room, looking at my reflection.
    I had just come from the bathhouse, and I was also freshly shaved. I wore a brand new shirt, new pants, and polished boots. Altogether, I had to admit that I looked quite handsome.
    I displayed my Colt on my right hip. It was loaded and ready, but I checked it once more just to be sure.
    I grinned at myself in the mirror. I holstered my Colt, grabbed my hat, and walked out.
    Outside my room in the hallway, I leaned on the railing and looked below.
    I couldn’t help but smile. We had only been open for an hour, and already business was booming.
    Men were lined up at the bar, and all of the tables were full. Waiters hustled about, serving them. Amos and two others were behind the bar, and April was cleaning tables.
    The gaming tables were busy too, and I also noticed several men lingering in the poker room, waiting for a game.
    “Jessica would be proud,” I said to myself softly as I walked down the stairs.
    I exchanged a few pleasantries, and then I made my way over to the poker room. I sat at the center table and smiled at everyone.
    “Shall we get started?” I asked.
    Several men nodded and walked over.
    There was a new deck of cards on the table. While everyone sat down, I grabbed the deck and shuffled.  
      
    ***
     
    After an hour of playing, I was pretty much even. I had won a few hands, but I’d also lost some.
    I finally got the hand I was waiting for. I had a sure winner, and I bet high. Nobody folded, and the pot grew big.
    Suddenly, I felt a pair of eyes on me. I glanced behind me, and June stood there, looking at me through