The Provider (The Provider Saga Book 1) by John Deacon

Author:John Deacon [Deacon, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-17T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 24

The following afternoon, Sully Weatherspoon was just returning from a ride around the plantation when he saw a black carriage pull up to the estate.

The driver, a stocky thumb of a man, emerged first, his face discolored with faded bruises.

Sheffield, Sully thought, the sight of the man rekindling his rage concerning Will Bentley.

He’d been certain that Gibbs could have handled the job, but that obviously had not been the case. Apparently, Will Bentley had gotten even tougher during the war.

Unconsciously, Sully lifted a hand to his face and ran a fingertip over the crooked contours of his once straight nose.

Well, he wouldn’t make the same mistake again. The next time he sent someone after Will Bentley, he’d send enough men to finish the job.

The white-haired Isaac Pew stepped down from his carriage and climbed the steps toward the front door, leaving the horse and carriage to Sheffield.

Likewise, Sully swung down from his black stallion and called over one of the young black boys loitering outside the stables.

“Take good care of this horse, boy, or you’ll wish you were never born.”

“Yessir,” the frightened boy said, taking the reins.

Sully strode toward the house, not wanting to miss whatever Pew had to say, though he thought he knew exactly why the bitter old man was visiting.

Sully had heard rumors about Rickert hunting for Will Bentley the day before. He couldn’t get many details, but he’d heard that Will had faced down Rickert, Pete Smith, and Chad Butler.

That was surprising, since Butler seemed to back down to no man.

There was undoubtedly more to the story.

But that was almost certainly why Pew was here. A man like him hated not getting his way. He was here to beg for the help of Sully’s father.

Pew had never endeared himself to the Reconstructionists. He was wealthy enough to make sure they left him alone, but he hadn’t spent the time or money to gain real influence among them the way Sully and his father had.

Yes, that’s why the old man was here. He wanted the Weatherspoons’ influence.

Sully hurried up the steps and through the doors, saw the open door to his father’s office, and had just entered when Pew said, “Rickert should be fired.”

Sully’s father smiled coldly from behind his big desk. “Is that why you’re here, Mr. Pew? To ask that I have Rickert removed?”

“No, that’s not why I’m here,” Pew said, pacing back and forth.

“Ah, son,” Mr. Weatherspoon said. “Please join us. You know Mr. Pew, I believe.”

“Yes, sir,” Sully said, stepping forward, ready to shake the old man’s hand. “In fact, I saw Mr. Pew recently, waiting in front of the sheriff’s office.”

Pew didn’t offer to shake hands. Instead, he sneered disdainfully, “Sheriff.”

Sully, who had enjoyed plucking the wings from flies as a child, smiled innocently and said, “Yes, sir, Sheriff Rickert.”

“Rickert’s worthless,” Pew said. “Criminally negligent!”

“Son,” Mr. Weatherspoon said, and gestured toward one of the chairs in front of his large desk. “Please have a seat. Unless, like our esteemed guest, you would prefer to stand.

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