Sunday's Colt & Other Stories Read Online Free PDF

with study. After a while a fellow wondered why he hadn’t noticed her beauty before, sort of like red hills laced with dark green buffalo grass and cedars in the spring. It was always there if a fellow just took the time to appreciate it and once he did, he never forgot it. She was that type of woman.
    Red River gave Billy a wink before turning to Ty Lee. “Why don’t you go over there and say something to her?”
    Ty Lee looked down at his food. “Naw, she wouldn’t take no truck with the likes of me. She’d probably call the law and pronounce me a masher in right quick order.”
    â€œA fellow never can tell. Sometimes them little gals like the attention. Hell, Ty Lee, you ain’t looked or smelled this good for years. Now’s the time. You need to strike while the iron is hot.”
    Ty Lee cut a harsh course with his eyes as he spoke softly. “I ain’t something a pretty little gal like that would be interested in. I reckon she’s got a beau due any minute. Afore I knew it, some city slicker’d have a six shooter stuck in my ribs.”
    â€œI could ask her for ya,” Billy said in earnest.
    Ty Lee puffed up like an Arkansas cottonmouth. “Don’t you even presume that I need the likes of you to do my introducings for me. Boy, you got clabber for brains and that’s fer sure.”
    Red River could see that Ty Lee was having a difficulty pressing on his nerves. The joke was over and a gent never pushed a saddle pard beyond his limit…if he had any sense of right. “We need to be finding us a couple of bottles anyhow. Let’s finish these steaks and be on with it.”
    Ty Lee nodded and returned to his steak. Billy looked at the table and quit his meal. Ty Lee had never talked to him that way and his feelings were hurt. Ty Lee and Red River’s opinions were just about the most important elements in Billy’s life and even mild disapproval from either cut deep into the orphan’s insides.
    Ty Lee sighed, quit his steak as well, and shook his head. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m right proud of you, boy. I just let my saddle get set crooked and tried to blame you. I’m apologizing fer that.”
    Billy smiled weakly. “Don’t pay no mind. I weren’t trying to spur you but I guess I did.”
    â€œIt’s women,” Ty Lee said after a moment of uncomfortable silence. “Fair for a fact, nothing is more perplexing than what a gal can do to a man’s reason. Steer clear of them all—that’s my motto.”
    Billy looked up and smiled broadly. “Yeah, women. That’s fer sure.”
    Red River winked at the boy. “That’s fer sure.” He went back to his steak in earnest.
    It was then that the miracle occurred. That little gal turned toward Ty Lee and smiled broadly. Her teeth were as straight and bright as a piano keyboard. “Excuse me, do either of you gentlemen have the time?”
    Ty Lee gulped hard. His eyes grew wide and his chin dropped to his shirt collar. “I—I reckon I don’t ma’am. I never had much use for a timepiece.”
    Sam leaned across the table toward Ty Lee. “There’s a clock on the wall behind her.”
    Ty Lee didn’t seem to hear. He couldn’t draw his eyes off her.
    â€œTell her the time from the wall clock, Ty Lee,” Sam tried again.
    Ty Lee shook out of his daze and meekly motioned toward the wall. “There’s a clock just behind you, ma’am.”
    She turned and giggled. “My, I am such a fool. I did not notice it. How silly of me!”
    â€œYes, ma’am,” Ty Lee stammered. “I mean…I don’t think you’re a fool or anything. I really hadn’t noticed it myself.”
    She turned back toward Ty Lee. “I guess my companion is not going to make it.” She sighed and shook her head in mock consternation. “Looks like I’m going to have