Slocum and the Three Fugitives by Jake Logan Read Free Book Online Page A

her toward the town plaza. Annabelle sighed, hung on his arm, and laid her head against his shoulder as they walked.
    â€œHe hasn’t closed yet,” she said, pointing across the plaza to an adobe with an open door and light spilling out. “Won’t be long, though. It’s almost dawn.”
    Slocum walked faster when he saw a man struggling to pull the door shut.
    â€œPete, wait a second,” Annabelle called.
    â€œ
Hola
, Miss Harris,” the man said. “Sorry to hear about your brother.”
    â€œThanks. You closing?”
    â€œGot a couple customers left to toss out. It’s been a busy night, and I’m all tuckered out.”
    â€œIf you’d answer a question, I’d appreciate it,” Slocum said. “Miss Harris would appreciate it.”
    The man glanced from Slocum to the woman. He almost leered when he said, “How appreciative would you be, Annabelle?”
    â€œNot
that
grateful, Pete, you old horny toad.” She laughed, letting Slocum know this banter had gone on between her and the other saloon owner before.
    â€œYou having supply problems for your whiskey?” Slocum asked. He stood a little straighter when he saw the man’s reaction. Even in the dark, he saw the man turn pale.
    â€œNo.”
    The curt answer only spurred Slocum’s curiosity.
    â€œAnnabelle said the whiskey peddlers stopped coming to town a few months back. Tom was on his way to Denver to buy his liquor. How are you supplying the booze for your customers?”
    Pete stepped out and blocked their entry into the saloon. This put Slocum on his guard. He and Annabelle hadn’t made a move to go inside. Pete even glanced over his shoulder as if someone crept up on him to listen to his answer.
    â€œTom was a hardheaded son of a buck, no offense, Annabelle. He wouldn’t knuckle under to no man. Me, I seen enough trouble fighting the Navajo and Ute back in the day. I don’t look for trouble.”
    â€œWhat if it hunts you down?” Slocum asked. He separated himself a little from Annabelle so Pete had to turn slightly to look squarely at whichever of them was speaking.
    â€œA man learns how to duck and dodge the older he gets.”
    â€œOh, Pete, you’re not that old,” Annabelle said. She reached out and took the man’s arm, forcing him to look her way.
    Slocum caught a quick glance into the saloon and two men sitting near the door. They had a bottle on the table in front of them, but both nursed empty shot glasses. He had seen men intent on eavesdropping. Both of them worried more about what Pete said than filling their own glasses for one last drink.
    â€œYou running the Black Hole now, Annabelle, you’ll find out what Tom already knew. Or you letting Pierre take charge?”
    â€œIf Pierre comes looking for work, think it over carefully before you hire him,” Annabelle said angrily.
    Pete looked back at Slocum and said, “He your new barkeep?”
    â€œThe new owner,” Slocum said, to see what reaction this caused.
    â€œDo tell. Didn’t take you long to find a buyer.” Pete started to look over his shoulder at the two men, then forced himself to remain facing outward. “You’ll find supply routes are different in Taos.”
    â€œHow different?”
    â€œYou’ll find out. I got to close. Again, Annabelle, sorry about Tom. Damned shame him getting thrown from his horse and dying like that.”
    Before either Slocum or Annabelle could correct him, Pete ducked into his saloon. The door grated shut and a locking bar fell inside.
    â€œWho were the men in the bar?” Slocum asked.
    â€œThey never moved so I didn’t get a good look at them. Why?”
    Slocum said nothing more. He hadn’t seen their faces either, but their clothing was heavily stained. As if they had spilled a lot of whiskey on their coats and pants.
    â€œDo you have a place to stay, John?”
    â€œNo. I