Blood Valley by William W. Johnstone Read Free Book Online Page B

one will.”
    She reached into a pocket of her dress, a real pretty gingham dress; not fancy like the gowns on Joy and Wanda. She reached down and took my hand, pressing something into it.
    Several double eagles.
    â€œNow, ma’am . . . !”
    â€œNo,” she said, a final tone in her voice. She gave her pretty head a toss. “If you’re brave enough to bid against Big Mike, on my behalf, the least I can do is pay for it. Don’t worry, my mother came from a very wealthy family back east. Old money. And I have money of my own. Besides, we’re doing this with Father’s permission and blessing.”
    â€œFigurin’ anybody else might get stomped or killed, but Big Mike should have more sense than to brace the sheriff?”
    â€œYou’re quick, Cotton.”
    I wasn’t really sure what she meant by “old money.” I guessed that meant she was rich.
    All kinds of suspicions jumped into my head.
    She looked up at me in the dim light from the lanterns. “You don’t trust me, do you?”
    Before I could reply, and if I had done it, I’d a probably stuck my foot in my mouth, she said, “You’re different, Cotton.” She smiled. “And kind of cute, too, in a range-rough way. And you’re not afraid of Big Mike, or . . . anyone, so it seems. Cotton, you’re either a very brave man, or a fool. Time will tell where that takes the both of us. Now please walk me back. The bidding will start in a few minutes.”
    Big Mike and some of his boys was all lumped up together, and they give me some hard looks when they spotted me and Pepper. I just smiled at them all and tipped my hat to Big Mike.
    That made him so mad he looked like he was fixin’ to swell up and explode.
    The little band had stopped playin’ and some fellow that I didn’t know stepped up on the raised platform and announced that the biddin’ was about to get underway, and it was all for a good cause and all that.
    I was very conscious of Big Mike’s eyes on me as the biddin’ got underway. Pepper had joined up with her pa and ma and brother. I didn’t know where Rusty had gotten hisself off to, but I figured he was close by.
    Like most of these socials I’d been to, and that wasn’t all that many, all the gents pretty well knew in advance how to identify what box they wanted to bid on, and it was almighty easy to tell who was sweet on who.
    I’d spotted Pepper’s box right off, and it was comin’ up next.
    I let Big Mike open the biddin’ with a two-dollar call. Then I upped the ante to five.
    He looked at me, and the expression on his face was anything but nice to look at.
    Big Mike went to ten and I went to fifteen. Rusty come up beside me and said, “Pepper’s daddy tole me to stand by with these in case you needed them.” He shook his fist and I heard some coins rattle.
    â€œI can’t figure this, Rusty.”
    â€œI can. You’re an honorable man. You ain’t got no sense, but I reckon Pepper can’t see that.” He grinned hugely.
    â€œFifty dollars!” Big Mike squalled.
    â€œSixty.” Man, that crowd was some kind of dead quiet.
    I chanced a look down and Rusty opened his fist. Close to a hundred dollars in coin.
    I shook my head.
    â€œSeventy-five!” Big Mike yelled, anger plain in his voice.
    I looked at him. Even across the yard I could tell his face was flushed.
    â€œOne hundred dollars,” I called. “Ought to be a piece of apple pie in there for that bid,” I said with a grin.
    A few of the ladies laughed. I’d find out what they was laughin’ about shortly.
    Big Mike whirled around, facin’ me and glarin’ at me. “By God, I’d like to see the color of your money, Sheriff!”
    â€œOh, I got it. And if you don’t believe that, then I reckon you’d be callin’ me a liar.” With my right hand, I swept back my coat,