The RECKONING: A Jess Williams Western Read Online Free PDF Page A

knew that Red was sleeping it off in the jail and when he let him out, he knew that Red would end up right back at the saloon. If the three drifters went to the saloon, the sheriff knew he would be picking up some bodies. You know how Red is; thinks he’s the fastest thing in these here parts.”
                  “Yeah, and one day he’ll get himself shot, that’s for sure,” claimed Jess.
                  Red Carter was the only son of one of the biggest ranches in the area, the Carter ‘D’, and Red was pretty fast with a pistol. He had gotten into a gunfight a few years ago against some drifter who challenged Red after Red won his money in a hot game of poker. Red planted a bullet in the drifter’s chest before the man got off a shot. Then, last year the drifter’s brother came to town to settle up the score and Red disposed of him even easier. That officially made Red a gunslinger. Most of the townsfolk were afraid of him and steered clear of him when he was in town.
                  Jess walked out the front door and headed for Sheriff Diggs’s office. When he opened the door, the sheriff was filling out some papers. His double-barreled shotgun was lying across his desk, always within easy reach. Jess saw Red lying on the bunk in the cell, still sleeping it off.
                  “Howdy, Sheriff,” he said as he entered the jail.
                  The sheriff looked up and smiled at Jess. He had always liked him. He had always liked his mom, too. Everyone in town knew not to mess with Becky or they would have to answer to the sheriff.
                  “Well, how’s my favorite young fellow?” asked Sheriff Diggs.
                  “Just fine,” he replied “I heard you were having a bad day.”
                  “I was, until you came through that door.”
                  “How’s your pa, and how is my little Becky?”
                  “They’re both just dandy, Sheriff.”
                  “That’s good to hear, Jess.”
                  “Oh, I think I’m just gonna puke or something listening to you two carry on,” Red Carter said, while propping himself up on the bunk in the jail cell. “My head hurts like hell, Sheriff.”
                  “You’re lucky I didn’t take that empty head of yours clean off. I’ve about had it with you coming into town and always causing trouble,” barked Diggs angrily.
                  “I’m warning you Sheriff, if you ever hit me with that shotgun again, I swear I’ll kill you!” threatened Red.
                  “Shut your yap before it gets you into more trouble,” warned the sheriff. “As a matter of fact, you can stay in there for another day now just for getting smart with me.” Red grumbled something under his breath, but the sheriff wasn’t listening to him. He turned his attention back to Jess.
                  “Is your pa cutting up some more steaks soon?” he asked.
                  “Yes sir; he told me to ask you if you wanted some more.”
                  “Tell your pa to cut me up a few extra this time,” smiled the sheriff.
                  “Yes, sir, I sure will,” he agreed. “Sheriff, I ran into three men on the way into town this morning. I think they must have been the same men you chased out of town earlier.”
                  “How’d you hear about them?”
                  “Jim Smythe over at the general store told me about it.”
                  “Well, you stay away from them if you run into them again, they’re nothing but trouble, I’m sure of that,” claimed Diggs. “I’ve been looking through my wanted posters to see if I have anything on them.”
                  “Last I seen of them, they were headed down the road toward my pa’s