BooksBarbecue
Back Montana Territory Save as PDF
Chapters (25)
  1. Also by
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Dedication
  5. CHAPTER 1
  6. CHAPTER 2
  7. CHAPTER 3
  8. CHAPTER 4
  9. CHAPTER 5
  10. CHAPTER 6
  11. CHAPTER 7
  12. CHAPTER 8
  13. CHAPTER 9
  14. CHAPTER 10
  15. CHAPTER 11
  16. CHAPTER 12
  17. CHAPTER 13
  18. CHAPTER 14
  19. CHAPTER 15
  20. CHAPTER 16
  21. CHAPTER 17
  22. CHAPTER 18
  23. CHAPTER 19
  24. CHAPTER 20
  25. Teaser chapter

“Hell, it’ll be a face-off,” Billy boasted. “I’m gonna call the son of a bitch out right there in the saloon, where everybody can see I gave him a chance. Those two back there better damn sure come up with my money, or this Hawk feller ain’t gonna be the only one gets shot tonight.”

“Don’t you worry none about that,” his father assured him. “They’ve got the money. I know they have.”

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 18

“John Hawk!” Sam Ingram called out from a table in the rear of the saloon. He motioned for Hawk to come join him. Seated at the table as well was Bertie Brown. Hawk signaled with his hand, then stopped at the bar to order a drink, which he carried back to the table. “Have a seat,” Sam said. “Bertie told me you’d been in earlier today, and the reason you’re back in town. Damned if trouble don’t have a way of findin’ you. You didn’t pay Dewey for that drink, did you?”

Hawk propped his ever-present rifle against the wall next to an empty chair and sat down. “Not yet,” he replied to Sam’s question. “I thought I might have a couple more before I’m done.” He was still thinking about his thoughts in the dining room and considered going over his usual limit of two shots of whiskey.

“That drink’s on the house,” Sam said, “and you can take the next ones outta this bottle on the table.”

“You must be something special,” Bertie said, beaming at Hawk. “I don’t think Sam ever offered anybody drinks on the house before.”

“I owe Hawk,” Sam said. “If it wasn’t for Hawk, I wouldn’t have you or Blossom workin’ here.” He looked at Hawk and said, “I ain’t forgettin’ that.”

“Well, I’m much obliged,” Hawk said, “but we’ll just call it even after a couple of drinks, all right?”

“You oughta take ’em free as long as ol’ Sam offers ’em,” Bertie said. “He might wake up any minute and find out what he’s doin’.”

“Looks like a party goin’ on here,” Blossom declared as she walked back to the table. “I leave just long enough to go to the outhouse and come back to find somebody settin’ in my chair,” she joked. “I reckon it’s all right, long as it’s you.” She smiled at Hawk.

“I won’t be in it long,” Hawk responded as she sat down in the empty chair on his left.