The Terms of Release Read Online Free PDF Page A

feedstore.”
    Sage didn’t bother to answer his piece-of-shit brother-in-law. Hell, what the fuck was he supposed to say? He didn’t fight with anyone. He kept his peace and got on with life.
    “It’s a matter of time, you know, before you fuck up again. You fucking faggots always do.” Greg spit at his feet, and Sage kept unloading Momma’s Chevy. “I went with the sheriff, warned both sets of neighbors to keep their kids inside, you know. Don’t want you sticking your dick in them.”
    “Greg! Sage isn’t a… a… sex maniac.” Sage’s sister Rosie stood at the door, looking pale as milk, the dark eyeliner making her look a little like a raccoon. “He’s a good man.”
    “He’s a pervert and an abomination in the eyes of God. You think he’ll be back in the slammer where he belongs before you pop that baby out? I pray he does.”
    “He belongs here. This is his home. He’s my brother, damn it, and I love him.”
    Sage didn’t have a chance to wallow in the words, because Greg turned on her, one hand fisted up. “Get your ass in the house, woman. Don’t you dare talk back to me.”
    Sage didn’t like how she flinched and stepped back, hand on her belly. Didn’t like it at all, and he reckoned he’d have to nudge Momma on it.
    Speaking of Momma, she hollered for Rosie, and as soon as Rosie disappeared inside the screen door, Greg grabbed at Sage’s arm, only getting shirtsleeve. Sage stared the evil fucker down, calm as deep water as Greg hissed, “I’ll never let you see my babies, ever. You’ll get your ass thrown back in jail, and I’ll—”
    “Teddy Dale won’t get this land, Greg, no matter what you think, so you’d best let it go.” No matter what. He knew Rosie, he knew Momma, and it wasn’t going to leave the family. Their blood was sunk into the black land itself. “This is Redding land.”
    Greg snorted. “Rosie’s not a Redding.”
    “Sister will always be a Redding. You can’t rinse that stain off in hot water like she can from your tin wedding ring.”
    Taking advantage of the sudden, shocked silence, Sage grabbed the currycomb and the spray and headed toward the barn, telling himself that he was right, that he knew his sister, his own strength.
    Walking away from a fight wasn’t a natural thing, it was learned, but God help him, he knew how to do it and he would, for Daddy.
    For the land.

C HAPTER S IX
     
     
    S AGE SAT in the back of the Red Wagon, his gimme cap pulled down low and eyes on his book. He found if he came in at 8:00 p.m., right before closing, he could have a cup of coffee and a piece of pie and read without anyone giving him shit.
    It wasn’t the most convenient time, but Daddy came up at six in the morning, and the older cowboys stared and sucked their teeth. At lunchtime there were the cops and the coffee klatch, and supper time was when the rednecks were looking to impress their women by protecting them from the big bad convict.
    Wilma didn’t take any shit, though, and she didn’t give any, making sure his cup was full, his pie was fresh, and no one fucked with him, so he came out every night. He sat for an hour until Bulldog, Wilma’s husband, came to take her home.
    Bulldog understood, and the man didn’t seem to worry that Sage was molesting anyone, so it all worked out.
    Today he was eating cherry pie, carefully making sure he got a bite of cherry in each mouthful, and he was still on his first cup of coffee. The second cup was the one he waited on—the perfect balance of sugar and bitter. The little things were both the best and the scariest about being out of prison. They were so easy to take away.
    Bulldog came in—long gray hair tied back in a braid, riding leathers on. “Hey, baby.”
    “Hey, love. You want tea?”
    “And pie, yeah. Howdy, Sage.”
    “Evenin’, sir.” He nodded at Bulldog, who had an air of calm around him that was completely infectious.
    The door opened again a few seconds later, the bell jingling. “Hey,