To Reap and to Sow Read Online Free PDF Page A

He quickly tried to choke it back, but wasn’t quick enough to do so before Mark turned to glare at him.
    â€œYou think that’s funny, Joey?” Mark grunted.
    Joey shook his head. “No, I just—”
    â€œThen shut yer damn hole and help me bury this cocksucker.”
    When Joey shifted his eyes toward Clint, he found Clint already staring at him with a deadly fire burning in his eyes. Joey didn’t want to hold Clint’s gaze and quickly looked back at Mark. “Lynn’s probably back at the hotel by now. Why don’t we look for her there?”
    â€œWhat?”
    Still keeping his eyes away from Clint, Joey added, “That bitch is more trouble than she’s worth. You said so, yourself.”
    Mark pulled the gun from his holster and spoke in a voice that sounded as if it had been dried out and tom to shreds. “I can say whatever I please about her. She’s mine, you hear? Mine!”
    Clint would have been content to let Mark spout off all he wanted. He drew the line, however, when he saw the gun leave Mark’s holster. Seeing that, Clint reacted out of pure reflex and drew his modified Colt in a one fluid motion.
    A single shot barked from the Colt and clipped a piece from Mark’s sleeve. Mark pulled his arm away with a surprised expression that was almost funny. As soon as he saw Clint standing there with a smoking pistol in his hand, Mark let out a profane grunt and shifted his aim in Clint’s direction.
    The modified Colt spat out another round and bucked against Clint’s palm. This time, the bullet sparked against Mark’s gun. It was pure luck that the round ricocheted from there and whipped past Joey’s head.
    Mark couldn’t toss his gun away fast enough. His face had turned beet red from his own anger, and he was fit to be tied when he saw Joey back away from him and Clint.
    â€œSon of a bitch!” Mark hollered.
    Clint kept his pistol aimed at Mark and said, “Next time I see you, I’ll figure you’re out to shoot me. Whatever happens after that will be self-defense.”
    â€œShe’s mine, goddammit,” Mark shouted. “I’ll take her back whether you like it or not. I’ll have her back whether she likes it or not!”
    â€œJust leave.”
    Without a gun in his hand or any friends to back his play, Mark didn’t have many options other than the one Clint had given him. “She’s a whore, you hear me?” Mark said as he backed away. “You can have her.”
    Clint stood his ground and watched as Mark sputtered and kept shuffling backward toward the town. He didn’t pay any mind to the obscenities rolling from Mark’s mouth or the gestures he made with his wildly flailing hands.
    Once Mark turned tail and ran, Clint holstered his Colt and started walking back to the hotel. He kept his eyes open for either of the two men to come at him again, but there was no trace of Mark or Joey. Clint’s mind shifted to more pleasant thoughts when he caught a whiff of bacon coming from one of the nearby restaurants.

SEVEN
    â€œI’m glad Mark didn’t hurt you,” Lynn said as she pulled apart one of the fresh biscuits that had been set onto her plate.
    Clint picked up a strip of bacon and snapped off an end that was burned just right. “You heard about that, huh?”
    â€œIt’s a small town, Clint. All I needed to do was open a window to hear it.” She shrugged and showed him a tired smile. “Sorry about that. I feel like maybe I am more trouble than I’m worth.”
    â€œI won’t hear any talk like that. Seems like all you did wrong was spend too much time with an asshole like Mark. Stepping in was my choice and coming after me today was his.”
    â€œAll right then,” Lynn said with a wider smile. “At least let me pay for breakfast.”
    Shaking his head slowly, Clint said, “I don’t know if you’ll want to do