A Good Day To Kill by Dusty Richards Read Free Book Online Page A

get in another ambush, I want these guys with me. Chet, they never took a breath, had loaded rifles and were returning fire. We soon learned our raiders were mostly armed with old pistols. That was the difference. Those 44/40 Winchesters were great.”
    â€œThose three brothers fought like fierce tigers,” Cole said. “They went around their west flank levering rifles and mowing them down. They had no fear.”
    Roamer agreed. “I wanted to shout at them to get down. They cleared out the west side of the canyon. Only got scratches. But the others were dug in on the east side and they weren’t going to be drove out that easy. Then the damn reserves came and they were shooting up everything. Luckily, they had mostly cap and ball pistols, too. It was obvious they wanted the bodies, so we used them for bait. That worked till sundown, then we let them have the rest.
    â€œShawn fed us. And he sent a boy to the fort for medical help, and the Army got to us right after sundown.”
    â€œThey’re a great bunch of guys,” the officer said about his crew.
    â€œI think so, too.”
    The officer shook his head. “We wished we’d been down there to help them.”
    â€œI know about the rules. That’s why we’re here.”
    He nodded. “I can put you up in a guesthouse.”
    â€œWe rented a hotel room.”
    â€œHave your man go get your luggage. You two can sleep in nice beds tonight.”
    â€œI’ll go get them,” Jesus said.
    â€œWhen you come back, my guard will show you where to go.”
    Chet gave Jesus some money for the taxi and he nodded thanks, then left to get their things.
    The soldier at the door showed Chet to a fine two-story white house in a row of similar houses and told him Shawn was sleeping there.
    Chet thanked him and rapped on the door.
    â€œComing.”
    â€œNo need.” Chet opened the door and entered to see a rumpled Shawn coming toward him. “Just didn’t want to get shot. Jesus has gone back to town for our luggage. He’ll be along. I just need a place to fall down and sleep.”
    â€œYou doing alright, sir?” Shawn looked at him with concern.
    â€œFine, you’ve done a helluva job down here. I wanted to thank you. They said you kept them in ammo—a very important job.”
    â€œDamn.” He swept back his hair from his face. “I thought they were eating it, sir.”
    â€œI also appreciate your sending me word.”
    â€œThat was hard. Roamer said to tell you we were all alive. But it was tough.”
    â€œYou did good. Thanks. Where is that bed?”
    â€œCoolest place to sleep is on the second floor on the porch,” Shawn said.
    â€œIt’s cool enough for me to sleep here.”
    â€œGo in that bedroom.”
    â€œDon’t forget Jesus is coming.” In the dark room, he shed his boots and gun belt and fell across the nice mattress. He’d overdone it the last two days. Things could go slower now. In seconds, he was sound asleep.
    Dawn tried to peer into the canyon that housed the fort. Chet could hear troops marching to mess. They were black buffalo soldiers and they sang out cadence songs that rang in the cool air. These were Black Jack Pershing’s men and they were serious Indian fighters. He was getting his first taste of them.
    â€œShould I wake Jesus?” Shawn asked, joining him.
    â€œLet him sleep. Where do we get food?”
    â€œOfficers’ mess hall. Food’s better there than in the troopers’ tent.”
    They walked to the officers’ mess, where a soldier saluted and opened the flap. They filled their trays, then a black soldier brought them hot coffee in mugs.
    â€œBe anything else you’s need? Make yourself at home.”
    â€œThanks, soldier. We’ll be fine.”
    â€œYes, sah.”
    Fried eggs, German potatoes, biscuits and flour gravy, plus oatmeal if you needed more. He savored the coffee to