Slocum Giant 2013 : Slocum and the Silver City Harlot (9781101601860) by Jake Logan Read Free Book Online

Although twice wounded, once by bullet and the second time with an arrow through his leg, the man did a credible job of motivating the mules into pulling. The wagon rattled away toward the far side of the small clearing where the battle had occurred.
    The wagon and two outlaws on their horses disappeared through a cut in the woods, possibly an old logging trail.
    Slocum lay prone on the tree limb, waiting to see if anything stirred in the clearing. He didn’t want the Apaches coming back for their fallen companion, but he wanted that dead man’s horse. Without it, he had a long walk to Silver City.
    After waiting a respectable time when no one showed his face, Slocum slid over the limb, dangled, and then dropped to the ground. He remained in a crouch, hand on his six-shooter as he listened for anything out of the ordinary. The forest had returned to its natural sounds now that the gunfire had stopped.
    He walked toward Frank, then spun when movement at the edge of his eye caught his attention. The Indian pony had tangled itself up in the thick undergrowth. Bridle wrapped around a thornbush, it reared but could not pull free.
    Slocum went to help it. Gentling the horse took a few minutes. White still showed around its eyes, and it tried to toss its head and lash out with its front hooves, but Slocum eventually won it over, yanked the bridle free, and had himself a mount. It had been a spell since he’d ridden bareback, but there wasn’t a horse alive that could throw him if he put his mind to it. Try as it might, the Indian pony sunfished and bucked and eventually decided it was the lesser of two evils having a white man astride it than fighting further.
    A slow walk back to where the ice wagon had stopped completed the conquest. Slocum had himself a new horse.
    He looked down at Frank, wondering if he owed the man a burial. Then he cursed. Frank moaned, stirred, and tried to roll onto his back. The effort proved too great, but it didn’t kill him either.
    Unless Slocum wanted to use that bullet to put the man out of his misery, he had a companion all the way to town. He dismounted, got his shoulder under Frank’s gut, then heaved. Without rope, he couldn’t lash the weakly stirring man to the horse, but when he mounted, Frank in front of him, he could hang on to keep him from sliding to the ground.
    It would be a long, slow ride to Silver City.

5
    â€œI don’t know what all they’re asking me to fix,” Marianne Lomax said, frowning. She looked out over the crowd gathered in the Lonely Cuss Cantina and Drinking Emporium and began to despair. “You did what you said, Sheriff, and there’s no way I can repay you, but this is too much.” She started to take off the leather apron, but Harvey Whitehill reached over the bar and caught her wrist. She started to pull away but couldn’t. His grip was too strong.
    â€œThere’s plenty of time to learn, Marianne. Look at these yahoos. So what if one asked for a Mississippi Peach Fizz and you didn’t know how to fix it? He was just funnin’ you. You can draw beer and pour shots of whiskey. Not much else bein’ served here or anywhere else in Silver City that ain’t those or some combination of ’em.”
    She reached over and used her left hand to pry loose his grip. It made her uneasy having him touch her—having anyone but Texas Jack touch her, actually. How she missed him!
    â€œI’ll stick,” she said. “I need the money.”
    â€œTom Gallifrey is a skinflint and doesn’t pay his barkeeps too good. That’s why he has such a hard time keepin’ help, but you can make tips. Just talk to the men.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œAnd nothin’ more. Just listen. Most of these galoots want to brag on how good they are at minin’, how rich they’re goin’ to become, and have a pretty lady pay them some attention. You don’t have to do anything more than