Lawman from Nogales (9781101544747) Read Online Free Page B

pause, she added, “I owe you thanks for saving my life.”
    â€œMa’am, it’s I who owe you the thanks,” the Ranger said, lowering the Colt as he thumbed bullets from his gun belt to reload. “The bartender might have killed you. But it’s certain either one of these men would have killed me had you not warned me both times.”
    The two turned from the dead bartender and looked down at Matten Page. The outlaw lay dead, his eyes wide-open, staring down at the dirt as if engrossed by the spreading puddle of blood beneath him.
    â€œI take it you know this man,” Sam said.
    â€œYes, I do—or I did know him, ” Erin corrected herself. “He rode with the gang you’ve been trailing. He’s one of the Gun Killers.” She stared at Sam, wondering what to expect from him.
    Sam began to recognize that something had motivated her warnings.
    â€œGo on,” he said, encouraging her to continue.
    She started to speak, saying, “My brother, Bram, has been trying to ride with the gang—”
    â€œNo, wait,” Sam said, cutting her off as soon as he saw Three-Hand Defoe and several other men step out of the cantina and start walking their way.
    â€œI see them,” said Erin, her eyes following Sam’s toward Defoe. “Can you take me away from here, to the livery barn? My brother is there.”
    Sam looked at her warily. The dun plodded up closer and stopped beside him.
    â€œAm I going to have trouble with your brother?” he asked Erin. He had reloaded the Colt and kept it in his hand.
    â€œNo, he’s unconscious,” she said. “He’s snakebit. I’m keeping him in the barn loft until he’s well enough to ride.”
    Sam didn’t need to consider it any further. He reached around with his empty hand, took the dun’s reins and brought the horse around in front of them.
    â€œHop on,” he said to her. “I’m right behind you.”
    Â 
    Defoe stopped in his tracks when he saw the Ranger swing up behind Erin Donovan, the big Colt still in his right a hand, a wooden rifle case under his bedroll between himself and the saddle. Defoe eyed the rifle case. A sharpshooter rifle ... ?
    â€œEasy does it, everybody,” he said over his shoulder. “Let him clear out of here.”
    â€œWhat about him killing Freddie?” a Mexican asked with a hard stare toward the Ranger as the dun turned and bounded away along the dusty street. “Freddie was one of us, nuestro amigo !”
    â€œOur friend?” questioned Defoe, shooting a hard stare at the Mexican. “I’d hardly call Freddie a friend. Did you ever smell him?”
    â€œYes, he was an odorous man—it is true,” said Hector.
    â€œThat’s putting it mildly,” said Defoe.
    â€œI will not speak ill of the dead,” Hector said, “especially one of our dear amigos . ”
    â€œFreddie Loopy tended bar for me, Hector,” Defoe said bluntly. “Let’s not make him out to be more than he is—or was ,” he added, gazing toward the bloody body lying in the dirt.
    â€œStill,” said the Mexican, “do we let this man ride in and shoot one of us down?”
    â€œThis lawman will get what’s coming to him soon enough,” said Defoe. “If you’re just itching to do something, go get your horse. I’ll pay you to do an errand for me.”
    â€œYes, right away,” Hector said, keeping his excitement at bay. He’d been hanging around in Wild Roses for a week trying to find a way to earn some money. It looked as if Freddie’s death might be just the break he needed.

Chapter 4

    As the Ranger rode the dun off the street and along an alleyway to the livery barn, Henri Defoe and some of the men from his cantina stood staring down at the two bodies. Meanwhile, Hector Pasada ran back to the cantina and unhitched his big paint horse from the iron hitch