Sometimes Bone: The Walnut on Devil's Elbow: Book 1 by Clayton Lindemuth

Sometimes Bone: The Walnut on Devil's Elbow: Book 1 by Clayton Lindemuth

Author:Clayton Lindemuth [Lindemuth, Clayton]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hardgrave Enterprises
Published: 2017-12-21T18:30:00+00:00


*

Hal exhaled. Again Eddie emerged. He was making quick work of the hogs—the few remaining had scattered and it would take time, on ten acres, to find them all.

Hal aligned the sights and led Eddie by a foot and a half. Hundred and fifty yards. Not an easy shot, without support.

He’d best wait until—

Eddie raised his rifle and snapped off another shot, and another. A hog squealed.

Hal would have to wait for a closer target or he’d have to shift sideways and brace the rifle against the sapling. That might give him away; he’d best not risk it.

His only advantage—with his back the way it was—was surprise. That advantage would disappear with the first shot.

Don’t squander your advantage, Hoot. No, I only got one advantage and I’ll wait. Damn skippy. But this bastard’s going to die.

More shots. Eddie was closer now; Hal discerned the plaid pattern of his shirt, the sheen of his dark hair. Looked like he was carrying a Mauser.

Jonah McClellan didn’t have the stones to come do the dirty work himself. Just like the rich, buy somebody to do the deed, then claim the spoils. Well I’ll be damned if I’ll sit and take it. Wait for the right moment. He’s looking for hogs, not Hoots. Ha! Stay calm. There, like that.

Hal had the sight picture. Eddie was still, ear cocked.

Hal’s front sight post came half way up Eddie’s head. His nose seemed to rest on it. It was the same picture he’d used forever, all three posts level, the middle centered, and the target floating on top. This son of a bitch was going to die. No room for accidents or errors.

Hal had the edge.

But what would Jonah McClellan do?

Or Sherriff Brooks?

Was Eddie shooting at you? Directly at you? If I say yes, Brooks says, well let’s count how many shots he fired. Appears he dropped a hog with each shot. And I say I defended my property like the goddamn Constitution says I got the right—and Brooks comes back with sure you got the right. But I got the jail. I got you for murder, ‘cause I take my money from the dead man’s master…

There was no way to fight all of them.

Hal glanced away. If he fired, he might as well go put a bullet in Jonah too, or go to the Sheriff and give himself up for a hanging.

Unless it was self-defense, there was no way they’d let him live. He couldn’t fight all of them. A prudent man would let the killers do what they would do, and when they moved along, look over what was left and find something to build again.

And the Bible said the meek would inherit.

As if hearing Hal’s thoughts, Eddie snapped his rifle to his shoulder and dropped another hog. He stood, looked to Hal, dusted his legs, and wandered away.



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