Wish You Well by David Baldacci

Author:David Baldacci [Baldacci, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Tags: General, Fiction, Legal
ISBN: 9780330419697
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Published: 2003-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

"But, Louisa, it wasn't our fault. You see—"

"Is your fault!" Louisa said fiercely, and Lou felt the tears rush to her eyes at the woman's tone.

"I didn't have you come to this mountain to die at the sorry hands of George Davis, girl. You gone off on your own bad enough. But taking your little brother too—and he follow you cross fire, not knowing no better—I'm ashamed of you!"

Lou bowed her head. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."

Louisa stood very erect. "I ain't never raised my hand to a child, though my patience run sore over the years. But if you ever do somethin' like that agin, you gonna find my hand 'cross your skin, missy, and it be somethin' you ain't never forget. You unnerstand me?" Lou nodded dumbly. "Then get to bed," said Louisa. "And we speak no more of it."

The next morning George Davis rode up on his wagon pulled by a pair of mules. Louisa came outside to face him, her hands behind her back.

Davis spit chew onto the ground next to the wagon wheel. "Them devils broke up my propity. Here to get paid."

"You mean for busting up your still."

Lou and Oz came outside and stared at the man.

"Devils!" he roared. "Gawd damn you!"

Louisa stepped off the porch. "If you gonna talk that way, git yourself off my land. Now!"

"I want my money! And I want them beat bad for what they done!"

"You fetch the sheriff and go show him what they done to your still, and then he can tell me what's fair."

Davis stared at her dumbly, the mule whip clenched in one hand. "You knowed I can't do that, woman."

"Then you know the way off my land, George."

"How 'bout I put the torch to your farm?"

Eugene came outside, a long stick in his big hand.

Davis held up the whip. "Hell No, you keep your nigger self right there afore I put the whip to you just like your granddaddy had 'cross his back!" Davis started to get down from the wagon. "Mebbe I'll just do it anyway, boy. Mebbe all'a you!"

Louisa pulled the rifle from behind her back and leveled it at George Davis. The man stopped halfway off his wagon when he saw the Winchester's long barrel pointed at him.

"Get off my land," Louisa said quietly, as she cocked the weapon and rested its butt against her shoulder, her finger on the trigger. "Afore I lose my patience, and you lose some blood."

"I pay you, George Davis," Diamond called out as he came out of the barn, Jeb trailing him.

Davis visibly shook, he was so angry. "My damn head's still ringing from where you done walloped me, boy."

"You durn lucky then, 'cause I could'a hit you a lot harder if'n I wanted to."

"Don't you smartmouth me!" Davis roared.

"You want'a git your money or not?" said Diamond.

"What you got? You ain't got nuthin'."

Diamond put his hand in his pocket and drew out a coin. "Got me this. Silver dollar."

"Dollar! You wreck my still, boy.

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