Longarm and the Whiskey Woman by Tabor Evans Read Free Book Online Page A

enough because he had no choice, and his mind was racing as he wondered if he was going to have to expose himself to get out of whatever supposed charge was being brought against him. He preferred not to tell the two deputies that he was a federal officer. He doubted that it would be much safer to tell the sheriff, since this didn't seem to be the kind of town where a federal officer would be very respected or well received, but at least, talking to the sheriff in private would be better than arguing with two young gorillas out in the middle of town.
    They suddenly surprised him. An alley yawned just a few feet ahead, and before he could realize what was happening, they were steering him into its opening. The buildings on each side suddenly cut the last of the sunlight off and he had to blink his eyes in the dimness of the alley. He said, "What in the hell is going on here? I thought you said you were taking me to jail. The jail ain't this way."
    The bigger of the two deputies jerked on his arm and said, "Move along. We'll decide where you be a-going, mister."
    Longarm tried to stop by digging his heels in the dirt. He said, "Listen, you two boys are making a hell of a mistake. I don't know what you have in mind, but you better turn me loose."
    They jerked him forward. "Come along, here, or we'll handcuff your hands behind you and drag you by your bootstraps."
    They had gone about ten yards deep into the alley. Longarm could see the light at the other end and, in that light, he could see a figure approaching. He jerked backward, forcing the men to stop. The figure was coming closer and closer. Now the two deputies seemed content to just hold him in place. As the figure approached, it turned into a man, and in a few more steps, it turned into Morton Colton.
    Longarm said, "I'll be a son of a bitch. So this is what you two boys are up to."
    The deputy holding his left hand suddenly curled his arm around Longarm's neck, jerking his chin back. He said, "Shut your mouth, mister. You're fixing to get yours right now."
    Longarm was forced to look over his cheekbones at Colton as he came forward. He could see that the man was working a pair of heavy leather gloves onto his fists. Longarm didn't think he'd have to guess what was fixing to happen to him.
    Colton stopped some three or four yards away. Even in the gloom of the alley, Longarm could see the glitter of hatred in the man's eyes. Colton reached up and swept off his planter's hat and threw it to the ground. He said, smacking one fist into the palm of the other, "Now, Mr. Long, you're going to get yours. I warned you that you were making a big mistake. You didn't understand then. Now, I'm going to beat you to a bloody pulp, you son of a bitch."
    Longarm said, "Takes two to hold me and you to hit me? You're some man, Colton."
    Colton said, "Talk all you want, big shot. You're fixing to get your face caved in and then, when you're down, I'm going to kick the living shit out of you."
    As Colton started forward, Longarm suddenly flung his weight hard against the man at his left. He felt the man give slightly, felt the hold around his neck loosen. As they swayed to the left, he used that momentum to pull the man on his right with them. Then, with a sudden shift of his weight, Longarm cocked his right arm and swung his body hard to the right, driving his elbow into the deputy's stomach. He felt his elbow go deep into the man's midriff, heard the swoosh of breath as it left the man, felt the solid contact as he shoved all of his weight into the blow. The man released Longarm's right arm and staggered backward. Out of the corner of his eye, Longarm could see him bent over. He didn't pause.
    In an instant, he had pivoted back toward his left, bringing up his big right hand, making it into a fist, letting his body turn, throwing all his weight now back to his left. The deputy that he had shoved against was now standing there with a surprised look on his face. Longarm hit him flush in the