Read Sean Donovan (The Californians, Book 3) for Free Online Page A

your
family, I'll get the address then."
    Sean nodded and realized he had an awful headache.
Duncan returned him to the cell, removed the breakfast
tray, and left him alone.
    A dog barked outside the window, and an old woman
was screeching at some kids in the street. Sean heard none of it. He fell asleep trying to pray-something he
hadn't done for well over two years.

    When Sean woke it was midmorning. He immediately
remembered Duncan's words and thought of his own
hanging. He realized that his head felt better, and his
anger was gone, but his heart still thundered within him
like that of a trapped bird. Trapped. A very fitting word
for a man in a cell, and even though he wanted to blame
Hartley, he couldn't. It was time to face the fact that he
had no one to blame but himself.
    Suddenly Hartley's words from the cabin as they bent
over the plan of the bank came rushing back to Sean.
"Nothing to it, Sean, you'll see." Sean's throat emitted a
hoarse, humorless laugh.
    "You've been a fool, Sean Donovan," he whispered.
'And you're going to pay for that foolishness with your
life."
    Sean rolled over to his stomach on the narrow cot and
let the tears flow. At the same time he wept, Sean once
again began to pray. He surrendered his heart to God,
with all its anger and bitterness, for the first time since
his mother died.

     

    Two days later Sean was handcuffed and led to the
courthouse. The small building was packed and stifling.
Sean's mouth had never been so dry, and he longingly
eyed the pitcher of water sitting on the judge's table.
    Judge Thomas Harrison entered, going straight to his
chair. Sean was surprised by his appearance, for he was
very small in stature, not even up to Sean's shoulder. The
most remarkable feature about him was his full beard; it
nearly obscured his face.
    The next two hours would forever live in Sean's mind.
The sheriff gave a full report on all Sean had told him,
including his behavior as a prisoner, his background,
and the way Hartley had used naive young men in the
past to rob banks with him.
    Franklin Witt was not so benevolent. He proclaimed
that Sean was no better than a two-bit thief, and that the
country was better off without such vermin. He reminded the court that one of his guards had been hit on
the head and could have been killed. After this he announced, in a voice heard by all, that Sean Donovan
should die.
    "Might I remind you," Witt nearly shouted, "that this
will continue to happen? And when Hartley and his gang are done with the bank, they'll start on our homes.
Are you going to set this man free to rob again?" Witt was
in his element, and he was determined to convince the
judge that Sean needed to hang.

    Franklin Witt was a man in his forties with a full head
of gray hair and a distinguished air of authority about
him that captured everyone's attention. He took great
pride in his position as town banker, and even greater
pride at the amount of property he owned.
    When it came to his business dealings, some said
there was a demon behind his smile. He was more than
willing to loan money, but if a mortgage or rent payment
was overdue, he was merciless. It was said that he had a
special book in his pocket where he kept track of how
many homes and properties he had repossessed since
coming to town five years ago. The joke around town
was that whenever Franklin Witt was smiling, he must
have been reading in his little black book.
    "All right, Witt, I've heard enough. Do you have anything else, Duncan?"
    "He's already had his say!"
    The judge stared Witt back down into his chair and
Duncan stood.
    "Only this, judge. Sean needs to pay for the crime he's
committed, but not with his life."
    Witt came out of his chair once again, but one look
from the judge and he kept his mouth shut. Judge Harrison's eyes swung from Witt to Duncan, and finally to
Sean. The regret Sean saw in those eyes made his heart
pound.
    "The prisoner will