Sabrina's Man by Gilbert Morris Read Free Book Online

and Waco will pick one.”
    Waco watched as Will picked a card out and showed it to them. “The nine of spades.”
    Waco reached out and said, “It’ll take a high card to beat that.” He picked a card out and stared for a moment. When he turned it over, he said, “Queen of hearts. I guess I’m going after all.”
    â€œI still think it should have been me,” Will said.
    â€œWe did this your way, which was fair. As I said earlier, the store needs you anyway.”
    â€œWell, it shouldn’t be for long. You’ll go off to the army and get the fighting done. When you get back, the store ought to be doing well, and you and Alice can get married then.”
    Seeing the stricken look on Alice’s face, Waco smiled and said, “Well, that’s the way it’s got to be. I’ll be back before you’ve even missed me. Now I’d better be getting you home.”
    Alice and Waco left the store and walked together. She said, “I knew something would go wrong.”
    â€œWars break up things, Alice. I’ll be careful. I’m no hero.”
    â€œYou can’t promise that.”
    â€œWell, there are ways to keep from being shot. Take one of the wounded men out of the battle back to the hospital. It won’t be for long. You can fix the house up. Will will help you.”
    Alice said sadly, “I thought my life was planned. Now it’s a wreck.”
    â€œYour life is all right, sweetheart.” He stopped, turned her around, and held her tightly. “I’ll be back, we’ll be married, have a house full of kids, and grow old together.”
    â€œIf you say so, Waco.”

CHAPTER 4
    T he law office of L. G. Simms was cluttered to such an extent that Waco wondered how any work ever got done there. All the walls had shelves going up to the board ceiling, which were packed with books, magazines, newspapers, and souvenirs. The big desk, with its back to the single window, was illuminated by sunlight, and the surface was filled with artifacts, books—some of them open, some of them closed—and old newspapers.
    Simms himself was a large man bursting out of his clothes almost. He had a large stomach decorated by a gold chain that led, no doubt, to a gold watch in his pocket. His white shirt had the sleeves rolled up, and the buttons seemed ready to burst off. All in all, L. G. Simms was a disappointment.
    Waco had not known the man, but he and Will had come in to have him do some work.
    â€œSo, you’re going off to war. Is that right, Mr. Smith?”
    â€œThat’s right,” Waco said sparingly. “We have a little legal matter we want to take care of before I go.”
    â€œVery well. That’s my specialty, little legal matters.” Simms grinned, pulled a half-smoked cigar from a desk drawer, stuck it in his mouth, then struck a match on his thumbnail and sucked the blue flame in. As soon as the purple smoke was rising as if from a miniature engine, he said, “What can I do for you, gentlemen?”
    Will spoke up at once. “Mr. Simms, we went into business, a hardware store, as partners. We’re doing real well, but then this conscription thing comes up and throws us into a bind.”
    â€œI should imagine it does.” Simms had small eyes and glasses that were propped up over his head.
    â€œYes sir, it really does.” Will nodded. “But only one of us has to go.”
    â€œSo I hear. So what’s your decision?”
    â€œWe cut cards for it, and I won, I guess you might say.” Will made a face. “I didn’t like it. I still don’t like it. It’s not right. It’s not fair, and I hate the whole idea.”
    â€œWill, we already thrashed this out.” Waco shrugged. He turned to look at Lawyer Simms and said, “What we want to do is put everything in Will’s name, the business and a house we recently bought.”
    â€œWell, that should be