Read Online Blood Bond 3 by William W. Johnstone - Free Book Online

crazy. Killin’ crazy. You boys don’t know him the way I do. Ed’s tough. He planted some of them goddamn Northern reconstructionists who come in hereafter the war, blowin’ off at the mouth about what they was goin’ to do.”
    â€œIt’s your decision, Jeff,” Matt said. “I suppose this puts you in one of those damned if you do and damned if you don’t positions.”
    The rancher nodded his head. “I’ll think on it. Red’s back. Ed will send Noah with a wagon for supplies. You boys be ready to pull out early in the morning and be prepared for trouble in Crossing.”
    The Circle S was sending three wagons, the Flying V two wagons. Gene, Red, and Matt would each drive a wagon, with Sam on horseback, scouting, and Noah and Sonny would drive the Flying V wagons. The Circle S crew breakfasted at Carson’s place, arriving just after dawn. Neither Cindy nor her mother made an appearance. As soon as the men had emptied the big pot of coffee and shoved in the last of the beef and potatoes, they were on the road. They expected to be gone the better part of two days. A day down and then load up and catch some sleep, then a day back with the heavily loaded wagons.
    The trip down was boring. But as soon as they pulled into the settlement, all knew boredom was over. Half a dozen Broken Lance horses were tied up at the hitchrail in front of the saloon. And several more horses wearing the brand were tied across the street.
    They pulled the wagons around back of the huge general store and grouped up.
    â€œWe’re not here to start trouble,” Matt told the men. “But if it comes, be ready for it. And it will probably come.”
    â€œI’d like a beer to cut the dust,” Red said.
    â€œSounds good to me,” Matt replied. “After we get the supplies loaded.”
    Red grinned. “I had a hunch you’d say that.”
    â€œI don’t want no trouble in my store, mister,” were the first words out of the shopkeeper’s mouth as soon as Matt walked in the door, followed by Noah and Gene. He was speaking to Matt but his eyes were on Noah and Gene.
    â€œThere won’t be any problems,” Matt told him, laying several sheets of paper on the counter. “Just fill that order.” He had noticed two men lounging at the rear of the store, and they weren’t there to play checkers and gossip. Their tied-down guns and smirky faces gave them away.
    â€œThat’s the problem, mister,” the shopkeeper said. “I can’t fill that order.”
    â€œWhy not?” Matt looked around. The shelves were filled with everything imaginable: bolts of cloth to boots; canned goods to corsets; ammunition to hernia aids; nostrums to cure everything from hangnails to flat feet and medicines for various ladies’ woes. “You seem to have everything we need.” Matt casually pulled an axe handle out of a half barrel as if inspecting it.
    â€œHey, you!” one of the gunslingers said, walking up to him. “Are you deaf? Carry your damn business elsewhere.”
    â€œWhy should I?” Matt asked.
    The gunny grinned at him. He had bad teeth. Matt had a hunch he was going to make them worse in a few seconds—or make them better, depending on one’s point of view. “ ’Cause I said so, cowboy. Now rattle your hocks on outta here, before I take them guns of yourn and feed ’em to you.” His buddy moved in closer.
    Matt hit him with the axe handle. Right in the teeth just as hard as he could swing the wood. The gunhand was stone cold out before he hit the floor.
    His buddy was jerking iron when Matt drove one end of the axe handle into his belly. The air came whooshing out as he doubled over, and Matt conked him on the noggin with the business end of the wood. The gunslinger kissed the floor.
    â€œLoad up the supplies, boys,” Matt said, just as Sam and the others came in through the back