Outlaw Trackdown Read Online Free Page A

settled over the town and every face was either downcast or stamped with fury.
    Deputy Wilkins returned and asked where the marshal had gotten to. “This is terrible, just terrible,” he remarked. “Amanda is the sweetest gal anywhere. If that Hoby Cotton touches her . . .” He stopped and balled his fists.
    â€œThere were six of them,” Fargo said.
    Wilkins absently nodded while watching a body being lifted. “Hoby Cotton and his brothers, Granger and Semple. Then there’s Timbre Wilson, Abe Foreman, and Rufus Holloway.”
    â€œYou know all their names?”
    â€œI should. They’ve been terrorizin’ the territory for goin’ on half a year now. They’re snake mean, every mother’s son. That Hoby is the worst. He’s killed four men that the marshal and me know of.”
    â€œWhy isn’t he behind bars or been hung?”
    â€œYou think the marshal hasn’t tried to catch him?” Wilkins said. “Must be fifty times or more we’ve gotten a tip on where they are and it’s always the same. They’re gone when we get there.”
    â€œFifty times is a lot.”
    â€œMaybe it was only forty. The thing is, they never make camp in the same place twice. They’re always on the move. And they have more hideouts than you have fingers and toes.”
    â€œHave you tried a tracker?”
    Wilkins nodded. “Jonas over to the general store did some when he was younger but he hasn’t been of much use. We used an old hound once that belongs to a farmer but all the dog did was sniff a lot and run in circles.”
    â€œI guess that tells me why the marshal wants me to go along.”
    â€œHe does?” Deputy Wilkins seemed to grow concerned. “Listen to me, mister. I don’t know you from Adam but if you’re helpin’ us then you deserve to know. Those men are hard cases.”
    â€œI reckoned as much.”
    â€œYou have to be careful. If they find out you’re after them, they’re liable to turn on you. They’ve done it before. One time the marshal went out with seven men and he was the only one who made it back.”
    â€œI don’t die easy,” Fargo said.
    â€œI hope not,” Deputy Wilkins said earnestly, “for your sake.”

6
    Fargo was tired of waiting. Over an hour had gone by and the marshal hadn’t returned. With every wasted minute the outlaws and their captive got farther away. Were he the marshal, Fargo would have headed out after them just as soon as he could assemble a posse.
    Coltraine finally appeared, strolling down the street as if he had all the time in the world. He stopped to talk to two women and then stopped to talk to several men. When he reached the jail he stopped yet again to take off his hat and run his fingers through his hair.
    â€œTook you long enough,” Fargo said as the door opened.
    â€œI had a lot to do.”
    â€œThe Cottons and their friends could be in Nebraska Territory by now.”
    Coltraine had stepped to a rifle rack. “I don’t need your guff. I’ve worn a tin star for pretty near fifteen years now. I know my job better than you.”
    Fargo decided to drop it. “How many did you line up for the posse besides me?”
    â€œWilkins,” Coltraine said, bringing a Spencer over to the desk, “and nine others. They’re to meet here at the bottom of the hour.”
    â€œThat’s another twenty minutes.”
    â€œSo?” Coltraine proceeded to methodically load the Spencer.
    â€œI’ll fetch my horse and be back,” Fargo said, and turned to leave.
    â€œNot so fast. You’re forgettin’ somethin’.” Coltraine held out a palm. “The forty dollars.”
    â€œThat’s all you can think of at a time like this?”
    â€œA fine is a fine and collectin’ them is my job.”
    Simmering, Fargo produced his poke and counted out the forty.