Excerpt (continued)

cheekbone, and cut a small section of his nose and lip. Then the kicking began. Frankie landed several hard ones in Ren’s stomach and on his left arm that he used to protect himself. Finally, the barman decked Frankie from behind with a big wooden club. Frankie crashed on top of Ren, who was bleeding and nearly unconscious. Several patrons tried to help him out of the bar. But Ren was too angry to accept their help. His left collarbone was broken and he hurt all over. His face was covered with his own blood and it burned his eyes, but his head was very clear. Extreme pain has a way of focusing one’s attention, even when an alcoholic haze clouds the vision. Ren had become very focused.

The beatings that he had taken from his father were not as bad as the one that he just received. But this was the last beating that he would take from anyone ever again! Ren stumbled around the block while looking for something that he could use to get even. On his second go-round, Ren spotted a two-by-four plank leaning beside an unfinished porch. It had a five-inch spike sticking out of the end. He picked up the three-and-a-half-foot-long board with his one good arm and hid inside a small shed that had a large board missing in its door. The shed was only a few yards away from the saloon door. This hiding spot gave Ren a clear view of anyone who was leaving the bar. He waited there for two hours before Frankie Wilson staggered out. MORE