Man for Temperance

"Who is that blasted woman?" Brennan said. His mind was not working at full speed, but he was at least alert enough to see that building roads for a year was not the most appealing thing in the world. "She's a good Christian woman and she needs help, but the choice is up to you. I'll make you a deal. I won't sell your horse and your gear, and I'll get the judge to cut back on the fine. A couple of months' work won't hurt you none." Meek grinned at Brennan, adding, "But it's your say. If you'd rather bust rock for a year, that's fine with me." Silence prevailed for a moment, then Brennan cursed loudly and said, "I'll have to do it, but it don't go down good." "Well, now you're getting smart, but let me make this clear to you, Brennan. You try to soldier on the job, I'll be out, and you'll think the roof fell on you. You try to run, I'll run you down. You ask around town what Meek is like when somebody crosses him. You got me?" Brennan took a step closer. He was an extremely tall man, two inches taller than Meek, who was a big man himself. "I'll do the work without any sermon from you, Meek." "Now you're being smart. I'll work out the deal with the judge. You'll be out at the Peabody place in time to do the afternoon chores!"Morris, Gilbert is the author of 'Man for Temperance ', published 2007 under ISBN 9780805432909 and ISBN 0805432906.