Promises Decide by Sarah McCarty

Author:Sarah McCarty
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2018-09-03T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

• • •

“Mr. Montgomery! Mr. Montgomery! Come quick! Come quick!”

“Looks like someone wants your attention,” Cougar said from where he leaned hipshot against the railing outside the small, traditional whitewashed church.

“And in a damn hurry, too,” Reverend Brad said in his distinctly nonreverend way.

Jackson turned around, watching the boy run toward him. What the hell was wrong now? “That would be Tony.”

“And the two coming up fast behind him?”

Jackson sighed. “Kevin and Melinda Sue.”

“Any particular reason they would be calling your name like you’re the second coming?” Cougar pushed away from the railing. He was an impressive figure. Taller than average, with broad shoulders, dark skin announcing his Indian ancestry, and a wild air that was only enhanced by the buckskins and moccasins he wore. As he straightened to his full height, his long black hair fell over his shoulders, casting his dark eyes in darker shadows.

“Probably the same reason you’re letting your hair go long again.” The Rev pushed his black hat back and squinted against the morning sun. He was not as tall as Cougar, but he wore the same wildness, which the white clerical collar around his neck couldn’t disguise. “It’s got to be a woman.”

Cougar smiled. “Mara likes my hair.”

Jackson snorted and narrowed his eyes. The hairs on the back of his neck tickled as he saw Tony’s expression. “She’s the one who asked you to cut it.”

“And the one who asked me to grow it again.” He jerked his chin, indicating the children. “So, what’s her name?”

Jackson stepped down into the street. “Mimi Banfield.”

Behind him he heard Brad mutter, “I knew it had to be a woman.” Just as clearly he could imagine Cougar’s sardonic grin as he said, “It was bound to happen sometime.”

Tony was running so fast puffs of dust kicked up from his feet.

“Nothing’s happening,” Jackson countered. Even to his ears his words lacked conviction.

“Uh-huh.”

“Mr. Montgomery!” Tony gasped, coming up alongside him and grabbing his shirtsleeve.

Jackson put his hand on Tony’s. “Catch your breath, son, and tell me what’s wrong.”

“You’ve got to come.”

Before he could ask why, Cougar and the Rev circled round. Tony stiffened, took a step back from the Rev, realized that only brought him closer to Cougar, and froze. His complexion blanched. Jackson couldn’t blame him. Cougar was a big man with a sharply angular face that compelled with the ferocity of his namesake. The golden brown of his eyes only added to the appearance of a predator waiting to strike. The only other man Jackson knew who could match him for that predator-on-the-prowl impression was Cougar’s cousin Clint.

“Where to?” Cougar asked in his succinct manner.

“Shit, you’re scaring him, Cougar.”

“Maybe he should be scared.”

Tony stepped to the side. Cougar caught his arm. Tony gasped. That was all it took for Kevin. He launched himself at Cougar.

“Leave my brother alone!”

Melinda Sue went for Cougar’s hand, grabbing hold and biting down with the ferocity of a badger, the fiercest of utterances coming from her throat.

“The hell now.”

Cougar grabbed Melinda Sue by the back of her dress, lifting her off the ground.

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.