Sudden Fury. William W. Johnstone

was behind the big desk in the library. “What is it, Morgan?” he snapped.

      Frank didn’t beat around the bush. “I’ve changed my mind,” he said. “I’ll take the job.”

      Chamberlain’s rather bushy eyebrows lowered in a frown. “You’ll find the Terror and kill it?”

      Frank didn’t like to lie, but he had made a promise to Nancy Chamberlain. He thought about the lines of worry he had seen etched on her pretty face, then said, “That’s right.”

      Chamberlain leaned back in his chair. “May I ask what prompted this reversal?”

      “I decided it was more important that you lift the bounty and get all those trigger-happy fools out of the woods.”

      “And I suppose the ten thousand dollars had nothing to do with it?”

      Frank shrugged. Let the old buzzard think whatever he wanted to.

      Chamberlain stood up and came around the desk. “I’m surprised by this, Morgan, and I don’t mind admitting it. I thought you were too stiff-necked to admit that you were wrong. But I’m glad you changed your mind. I’ll put out the word about the bounty being lifted immediately, but it may take some time for it to reach everyone who’s looking for the Terror.”

      “Make it as fast as you can,” Frank said.

      “Of course.” Chamberlain stuck out his hand. “We have a deal.”

      Frank shook with the timber baron and said, “We have a deal.”

      He hoped it was one that would bring an end to the bloodshed in the redwoods.