King Blood by Jim Thompson Read Free Book Online

down on the stool and crossed one leg over the other. Her shoes were high-topped and laced, in the style of the day. With a sharp twist of her hand, she removed the heel of one of them.
    It was hollow, and a tiny Derringer nestled within it. Reassured, she replaced the heel, smoothed out her skirt and left the stall. And once again her mind moved from business to pleasure.
    Captain Crittenden.
    Was it really as unthinkable as it seemed?
    He was kind of dumb, in a cute way, and he would be vain like all men. So why shouldn't he suddenly find himself in the saddle, and why shouldn't she suddenly find herself playing horsie, without either of them – heaven forbid! – ever, ever meaning for it to happen?
    Smiling, he came swiftly toward her as she emerged from the restroom. Guiding her out of the station, he complimented her on her appearance, giving her various little pats and squeezes – amiably innocent actions which unerringly detected the money belt. With the same ostensible inadvertence, she nudged him with a breast and rubbed a buttock against his thigh.
    Arm in arm, Anne-Emma, professional murderess, and Critch-Captain Crittenden, arch scoundrel, moved companionably toward their date with destiny.
    ____________________

*Chapter Three*
    In their bedroom at the King's Junction Hotel (which was also the King ranchhouse) Old Ike's oldest son, Boz, grabbed the firm round breast of his Apache wife, Joshie – old Tepaha's grand-daughter – and twisted it cruelly. Twisting it harder and harder, gritting threats to rip it off of her. And the girl still remained coldly stoical. Silent, motionless; refusing to recognize the torture of her husband's presence by even the smallest moan or movement.
    At last, he desisted, shifting from brutality to a kind of argumentative pleading. Making a feeble attempt at caressing her in the pre-dawn darkness.
    'Aah, c'm on now, Joshie. Why'nt you admit it, huh? You warned him, didn't you? You told ol' Arlie that I was trying to get him.'
    'Hah!' the girl spat out the word. 'I your squaw. You think I tell on sonabitch husband?'
    'Well, how did he find out then, huh? How'd he figger it out if you didn't tell him?'
    'How he figger out skunk make bad stink?'
    'Why, you God damn -!'
    'Arlie smarter'n you, old Boz. Old Arlie plenty man.'
    'Shit! You sayin' I ain't a man?'
    'I say it. You got no balls.'
    Boz cursed, started to reach out for her again. Then knowing the uselessness of it, he angrily flopped over on his back.
    And in their bedroom at the King's Junction Hotel (which was also the King ranchhouse) Arlie grasped his wife, Kay – for King – who was also Tepaha's grand-daughter and Joshie's sister, and gave her naked bottom an admiring slap.
    'Now, that's an ass,' he declared. 'Gets any bigger you'll be shittin' in a washtub.'
    'Ho!' Kay giggled happily. 'I shit in your hand, old husband.'
    'Now, God damn if you ain't a snotty ol' squaw!'
    'You like snotty ol' squaw?' She snuggled close to him, sneaking a small hand across his hard, flat belly. 'You like ol' squaw's stuff?'
    'Well, now, I ain't so sure that I do. Maybe I just better take me a little sample…'
    After they had again separated their bodies, and lay contentedly side by side, Kay whispered in her husband's ear, nudging him with playful impatience when he did not immediately answer.
    'You do it, huh, ol' Arlie? You kill sonabitch Boz today?'
    'We-el' Arlie paused, teasing her. 'Well, I reckon so. Figger I'll have me a plenty good chance today.'
    'How you do it?'
    Arlie shrugged lazily, murmuring that he'd kind of have to wait and see. 'But if I know that son-of-a-bitch, he's practically gonna do it for me.'
    'Just you do it,' Kay insisted; then, wifelike, 'You too good-natured. Let people put things over on you.'
    Arlie said he was going to put something over on her in about a moment. Kay persisted in her nagging.
    'You get Critch, too. He come, you kill him.'
    'Critch? What the hell for?'
    'Hah! Same reason kill sonabitch,