Betting, because I want to fold without regret

[rharless]

My problem is two-fold:

(1) I have problems believing that with an UTG raiser and a solid BB cold-caller, that this flop keeps me in the lead. But I still wing that bet out there, to see what happens, denying that this flop just sucks. It feels better than checking and folding, I suppose, but I wonder if it is sometimes better to check-and-see-what-happens-behind me, with three other players also in the pot to act after me.

(2) My heartburn now comes when I bet and am only called in 1 or 2 places. How many shots do I fire?

Exactly