Slocum at Whiskey Lake by Jake Logan

Author:Jake Logan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group

10

“Some days I don’t want to get up,” Maude said, stretching so that she reached high above her head and caused her shapely breasts to flatten. Then she relaxed, and they popped back into shape.

“Better get dressed,” Slocum advised, pulling on his pants. “You don’t know when the first customer’ll be by, wanting to wet his whistle.”

“I’m glad I had a chance to wet your whistle, if that’s what you want to call it,” Maude said, grinning ear to ear.

“Were you serious about having another supplier for your whiskey?” asked Slocum, settling his gun belt around his waist. The time for play was past, and he had enough other things on his mind to keep him occupied all day long. “Ethan’s not going to sell to you anymore, even if the sheriff lets him.”

“I can order it from Coeur d’Alene, or maybe Oro Fino. It might take a dozen guards to get past the road agents, but I swear I’ll do it before I give in to the like of Will Pennant!”

Slocum liked her fire, though he suspected Maude was biting off more than she could chew. She went up against Ethan and the sheriff, but there had to be more involved than that. For starters, he reckoned all the masked highwaymen who had destroyed much of Maude’s last whiskey shipment were part of the gang.

“Where does Ethan get his liquor?” Slocum asked suddenly.

“Why, I—” Maude looked surprised. “I never asked him. It’s right-good whiskey. Strong, smooth. Better than I could make on my own.”

“The sheriff would never let you set up a still,” Slocum said.

“I’ll find someone who can get me cheap whiskey, John. Don’t worry. I’ve been in this business for a spell and have seen about everything there is to see.” She moved closer to him and ran her fingers over his arms, his chest, lower. “I wouldn’t mind seeing some of it again, though.”

Slocum kissed her and then pushed her away.

“I’ll go find out if Finch made it back to his spread,” Slocum said.

Maude laughed. “You feel like you have to watch out for him, too? He’s like a little puppy dog, all eager and getting into trouble but you just can’t find it in your heart to punish him when he makes a mess because it’s so cute.”

“I don’t think Finch is cute,” Slocum said curtly.

“Get on out of here, John. I need to clean up and then do inventory to see what’s left in the kegs. We did a ripsnorter of a business last night, in spite of the Naughty Lady’s grand opening.”

Slocum left, taking care to look around for the sheriff when he got to the street. He reached over to his cross-draw holster and made sure his Colt was riding easy at his hip. Slocum knew how close he had come to being gunned down by the sheriff the night before. Given the chance, Pennant would shoot him from ambush and make it look as if someone else did it.

Slocum heaved a sigh of relief when he got out of Woodchip and onto the road leading to Finch’s ranch.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.