Read Online Lee (The Landon Saga Book 6) by Tell Cotten - Free Book Online

commented. “Are you hungry?”
    June nodded sleepily.
    “April,” I called out. “We have another guest for breakfast.”
    April stopped sweeping, and she frowned when she spotted her daughter.
    “June, I told you not to bother Mister Lee,” she scolded.
    “She’s not bothering anybody,” I spoke up.
    A grateful look crossed April’s face.
    “Thank you,” she said. “Thank you very much.”
    I smiled and nodded. Meanwhile, an anxious look suddenly crossed June’s face.
    “I gotta go,” she announced. “I gotta go now.”
    April started towards our table, but I stood and waved my hand at her.
    “Go get her breakfast,” I said. “I’ll take her.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Go on,” I said.
    April flashed me a smile as she hurried to the kitchen. Meanwhile, I took June by the hand and headed towards the back door.
    Brian never said a word. He just sat there and watched us with a thoughtful look.

Chapter eighteen
     
     
    Lady luck finally remembered me.
    For the second night in a row, I was actually winning at poker. There was more money than usual in the game, and the pots were big.
    It didn’t take me long to accumulate a big pile of cash. The night was still young, and I was eager for more.
    I won a few more hands, and then everybody decided to take a break. I didn’t want to stop playing, but I had no choice.
    Some of the players went outside to visit the outhouse while others went for coffee.
    April usually brought me coffee during breaks, so I remained seated and waited patiently. I organized my pile of cash, and then I trimmed and lit a cigar.
    I took a puff, and as I exhaled a stranger walked into the room.
    I narrowed my eyes as I studied him. He was tall, thin, and had a dark, tanned face. I had seen him before, but I couldn’t remember where.
    He walked up to the table. He pulled out a wad of bills so thick it could have choked a cow, and then he smiled at me.
    “Can I join?”
    “Sit down,” I said as I eyed all that cash.
    He nodded and sat across from me, and it was then that I recalled who he was.
    “You’re Jeremiah Wisdom.”
    “That’s right,” he nodded. “And you’d be Lee Mattingly.”
    “You used to run around with the Landons,” I recollected.
    “And you used to run from the Landons.”
    I smiled at that.
    “Weren’t you with Wade Davis earlier this year?” I asked.
    “I was, but he’s dead now. The Landons killed him.”
    “I remember that,” I nodded, and added, “I hear you’re a good poker player.”
    “Let’s find out, shall we?” Jeremiah smiled.
    “Yes, let’s,” I smiled back.
    Other players started drifting back. April appeared from the kitchen, carrying a coffee pot and a few cups.
    Jeremiah spotted her, and his eyes lit up with interest. He smiled and stood as she arrived at our table.
    “Good evening, ma’am,” he said.
    April smiled politely and glanced at me.
    “I brought you some coffee.”
    “Thank you, April.”
    She poured me a cup and glanced at Jeremiah.
    “Would you like some?”
    “I sure would,” Jeremiah said eagerly.
    April poured another cup and turned to leave.
    “Thank you, ma’am,” Jeremiah said.
    April nodded. She glanced at me and smiled warmly, and then she walked back towards the kitchen.
    Jeremiah remained standing as he watched her. Soon as she was gone, he smiled wistfully and sat. Meanwhile, I frowned disapprovingly.
    “She seems like a nice lady,” he commented innocently.
    “She is.”
    “Do you know her well?”
    “Some.”
    Jeremiah looked thoughtful, but he didn’t say anything else. 
    By now everyone else had returned. They sat around the table, and the game started.

Chapter nineteen
     
     
    A little voice inside me told me to be careful. But I was suddenly feeling irritable, and I ignored the warning.
    I bet big and won the first hand, and I won again a few hands later. My confidence soared, and I felt unbeatable.
    If I had been paying attention, I would have noticed that Jeremiah wasn’t