To Reap and to Sow Read Free Page B

name. Despite the attractiveness of that idea, he replied, “Adams.”
    â€œTomorrow morning it is, Mr. Adams. I’ll be looking forward to the story.”
    Clint was glad to have appeased the bartender for the time being just so he could drink the rest of his beer in peace. Hopefully, the small town wouldn’t be flooded with stories about the Gunsmith by morning thanks to Clint dropping his own name.
    Then again, judging by the tenacity of the bartender, the little man probably knew who he was the moment Clint stepped through the door.

FOUR
    Clint’s eyes snapped open for what felt like the tenth time in as many minutes. As always, his hand reached for the modified Colt at his side but stopped just short of clearing leather. Unlike the other times that had happened, hadn’t been awakened by a sound from outside or someone walking heavily down the hall.
    He’d heard footsteps, sure enough, but not loud. When he looked at the narrow gap beneath his door, Clint saw two shadows where a set of feet were standing. Swinging his legs over the side of his bed without taking his hand away from his Colt, Clint walked across the small room and stood next to the door.
    â€œWhat is it?” Clint asked.
    The voice that came from the other side of the door was quiet but not as gruff as Clint was expecting.
    â€œIt’s Lynn McKay,” the voice said. “I’m the one from the room down the hall from yours.”
    When Clint pulled open the door, he caused Lynn to jump back half a step.
    â€œYeah,” Clint said in a tired voice. “I remember you.”
    Lynn had her hands clasped in front of her as though she didn’t know quite what else to do with them. When she looked at Clint, she kept her head at a demure angle, out of shyness, it seemed, more than anything else. No matter how much she tried to shrink herself down, however, there was no hiding the elegance of her tall, wispy frame.
    â€œI never got a chance to say how much I appreciated what you did,” she told him. After waiting a few silent moments, Lynn added, “Thank you.”
    â€œNo need for that,” Clint replied. “It was my pleasure.”
    â€œYou didn’t have to step in like that.”
    â€œYour friend was making a lot of noise and I was trying to sleep.” Now that he was off his bed and looking at Lynn, it was hard for Clint to keep up his gruff demeanor. “I also don’t like to hear a man pushing around a woman,” he said in a much softer tone. “I hope I wasn’t too late in getting there.”
    Lynn gave a quick wave with one hand. “I’ve gone through worse with Mark, but it won’t be happening again. I’m through with him.”
    â€œThat’s good to hear. Was it a mutual decision?”
    There was a bit of a flicker in Lynn’s eyes, which put a small dent in her confidence, but she eventually nodded. “He’s gone for now, but he might be back. It’s happened plenty of times before.”
    â€œIt may get worse now,” Clint replied. “I’d hate to see anyone get blindsided by someone like that friend of yours.”
    Lynn put on a fresh smile as she took a step into Clint’s room. “You’re worried about me? That’s sweet. But I can handle Mark. Now that he’s shown his true colors, I won’t make the mistake of giving him one more kind word. And don’t worry about the rest of it either,” she added as she propped one leg up on the small dresser next to Clint’s door. “I can take care of myself just fine.”
    As she said that, Lynn reached down to hook her fingers along the bottom of her skirt and peel the material up over her leg. The smooth curve of her calf seemed to go on for days, and when it led up to her thigh, the view only got better. She wore a lacy garter midway between her knee and hip. Under that garter, held in place by a red ribbon, was a pearl-handled