Imposter by William W. Johnstone Read Free Book Online Page A

crowd. He stopped when he saw Ed Simpson, finally getting to his hands and knees in the dirt. “You testing the soil for something, Ed?”
    â€œGo to hell, Doc!” Big Ed told him.
    â€œAll in due time, Ed.” Doc Evans looked at Frank. “You would be the famous Mr. Morgan, right?”
    â€œI’m Frank Morgan, yes.”
    The doctor pointed to Big Ed. “Did you do this to Ed?”
    â€œI sure did.”
    â€œThen you are some man, Mr. Morgan. I don’t think Ed Simpson has ever been bested in a fistfight. At least, not since I’ve known him.”
    â€œHe got lucky,” Ed mumbled.
    â€œSomehow, I doubt that, Ed.” Doc glanced at Frank. “You object if I get him over to my office and check him, Deputy?”
    â€œNot at all. But if he can’t walk, he’ll have to crawl. He just fired the three hands who came in with him.”
    â€œI was only funnin’ with them,” Ed muttered. “I didn’t mean nothing by it.” Big Ed coughed and spat out blood and a piece of a tooth. “I swear I’m gonna get you, Morgan.”
    â€œOh, shut up, Ed,” Doc Evans told him. “Take your whipping like a man and forget it. I’m sure you started it.”
    â€œI don’t take no lip from any man, Doc, you know that,” Ed said, struggling to get to his feet. He made it, only to fall down again.
    â€œYou men get him up and over to my office,” Doc Evans told the three hands. “Go on, hell, he didn’t mean it when he fired you.”
    Pete, Jimmy, and Claude got Big Ed to his feet and half carried, half dragged him out of the street.
    Doc Evans walked over to Frank. “Are you hurt?”
    â€œNot a scratch, Doc.”
    â€œYou were lucky, Morgan. I hope you know that. Big Ed is pure hell in a fight.”
    â€œHe’s also overconfident and careless, Doc.”
    Doc Evans nodded his head. “I sure can’t argue that. Morgan, get some hot water and soak your hands for a few minutes. Help keep down the swelling. I’ll see you later.” The doctor walked off to tend to Big Ed.
    Marshal Wright made his way to Frank’s side. “What happened, Frank?”
    Before Frank could reply, his eyes touched those of Lara Whitter, standing alone on the boardwalk, staring at him. She smiled and turned away.
    â€œFrank?” Tom pressed.
    â€œWhat? Oh ...” Frank briefly explained.
    â€œYou’ve made a bad enemy, Frank,” the marshal cautioned. “Big Ed will never forget or forgive.”
    â€œWhere’d he come from, Tom?”
    The marshal shrugged his shoulders. “Drove a herd of cattle in here about twenty years ago. Right after the war, I’m told. I wasn’t here. I come in in seventy. Why?”
    â€œJust curious.”
    â€œThere was some talk about him once bein’ a gunfighter. You ever heard of him?”
    â€œNot under the name he’s now using.”
    Tom looked at him, questions in his eyes. “You got suspicions, Frank?”
    â€œNot really. But if Big Ed gets up in my face again, there’ll probably be a killing. I won’t take a lot of crap from his type.”
    â€œHe’s a pushy one, for a fact. Used to gettin’ his way. And he’s got some randy ol’ boys workin’ for him. Real hardcases, I’d say.”
    â€œIs he married?”
    â€œTo a woman that’s just as mean as he is ... maybe more so. Elsie’s her name.” Tom shuddered. “Don’t nobody like that woman, and I mean nobody. She’s stuck up and got a dirty mouth on her. Pretty woman, until she opens her mouth.”
    â€œSounds like she and Ed were made for each other.”
    â€œI reckon that’s one way of lookin’ at it.”
    â€œI’m going to toss his big butt in jail, Tom.”
    â€œMight do him some good. But I doubt it.”
    â€œYou don’t have any objections to my doing that?”
    Tom