Susanna’s Choice by Sara Luck

Author:Sara Luck
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket Books

11

At the Trail’s End Saloon in Reno, a thin, wiry man named Asa Teague was standing at the bar. Teague’s skin was so tight across his face that it looked almost as if it were stretched over a skull with no flesh beneath it. The skull-like idea was enhanced by his bald head. Only the well-shaped Vandyke beard interrupted the illusion.

A mug of beer sat on the bar before him, and he had both hands wrapped around it as he stared down at the head, which was slowly receding. At the opposite end of the bar, holding court, was Joshua Broadman, a ranch owner from the surrounding area. His ranch didn’t have many acres, and he wasn’t running many head of cattle, but he was doing well financially because he controlled a commodity that in this part of the country was precious: water.

Boardman’s ranch sat alongside the Carson River, and he charged neighboring ranchers a healthy fee to access the water. The ranchers didn’t like that, and after all reasoning with him failed, a few of the cattlemen secretly vowed to take extreme measures.

Asa Teague was the extreme measure.

“Yes, sir,” Broadman was saying, “what I got is better than silver or gold. You can live without silver and you can live without gold, but you can’t live without water, and I got water.”

“The river don’t belong to you,” one of the other saloon patrons said.

“The river don’t,” Broadman said, “but unless you’re a bird, there ain’t no way you can get to the river without comin’ across the Broken B Ranch. And the Broken B does belong to me.”

Asa Teague turned toward him. “Mr. Broadman, I’ve been asked by some of your friends to convince you to listen to a reasonable offer for your property.” Teague’s voice was low, sibilant, and that, combined with his looks, gave one the impression of a snake.

“Really? And just what are they calling a reasonable offer?”

“Five thousand dollars.”

“Five thousand?” Broadman responded incredulously. “Are you crazy? I’ve already been offered ten thousand, but I turned that down.”

“I know. That offer was from the same people I represent.”

“Just what in hell makes them think I would sell it to them for five thousand dollars when I wouldn’t take ten for it?”

“Because they’ve added a bonus.”

“A bonus? What kind of a bonus?” Broadman asked.

“Your life.”

“What? What do you mean, my life?”

“If you agree to sell, you will have five thousand dollars, and you will live. If you don’t agree, I will kill you.”

“Who—who are you?”

“The name is Teague. Asa Teague.”

When Teague spoke his name, it got the attention of everyone. Asa Teague was a well-known, and much-feared, regulator, someone who hunted men for money. He specialized in those who were wanted dead or alive, and he seldom brought someone in alive.

Broadman had heard of him as well, and now he grew visibly nervous. Beads of perspiration erupted on his upper lip. “You—you can’t just threaten me. I’ve got witnesses.”

“I think I can. When I force you to draw on me, every one of your witnesses will see it my way.

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