The Bandit Princess by J. Roberts Read Free Book Online Page A

early fifties, built square and solid. He turned his head to the right, looked at his gun belt, which was hanging on a peg on the wall.
    “You don’t have to worry about your gun,” Clint said. “This is Deputy Marshal Eads, from Judge Parker’s court. I’m Clint Adams.”
    “Adams . . . the Gunsmith?” the man asked, surprised.
    “That’s right.”
    Alice turned so she was facing the man head on, and he could see her badge.
    “Deputy,” he said with a nod. “My name’s O’Neal. What do you think I can tell you about Pearl Starr?”
    “Whatever you know that we don’t,” Clint said. “When was the last time she was seen around here, who’s in her gang, do they ever come into town for supplies?”
    “We have a small mercantile store here,” the sheriff said. “There’s a bigger one in Whitfield, across the river. That’s where they’d go to pick up supplies, not here.”
    “Is there anything else that might attract them to your town?”
    Sheriff O’Neal gave it some thought then said, “The whorehouse maybe.”
    “No whores in Whitfield?”
    “There are, but here, too. If Starr and her gang are camped on this side of the Canadian, this would be the closest place for whores.”
    “What about Belle Starr?” Alice asked. “Has she been seen lately?”
    “I haven’t seen Belle or Pearl in months, maybe more.”
    “So you know them on sight?” Clint asked.
    “Yes.”
    “Why is that?” Alice asked.
    “I used to be friends with Sam Starr.”
    “Not with Belle?” Clint asked.
    “No,” O’Neal said, “Sam.”
    “I didn’t know Sam had any friends on the side of the law,” Clint said.
    “You know Sam?”
    Clint nodded. “I know Sam and Belle, but I haven’t seen Belle in years.”
    “And Pearl?”
    “I’ve never seen her.”
    “What about Pearl’s men?” Clint asked.
    “What about them?” O’Neal looked uncomfortable.
    “Do you know any of them on sight?”
    O’Neal fidgeted in his chair.
    “Sheriff?”
    “I might.”
    “Like who?” Clint asked. “Know any names?”
    “She rides with a man called Hunter Holcomb,” O’Neal said. “He’s her right hand.”
    “I don’t know the name,” Clint said.
    “He’s young, and very tough.”
    “And the others?”
    “They tend to change.”
    “No idea who’s riding with her now?” Clint asked, pressing the man.
    “Not for sure,” he said. “Might be a man named Randy Green.”
    “What do you know about him?”
    “He’s a rank-and-file type, follows orders. Hunter’s the only one you’d really have to worry about.”
    “So you’d suggest we go to Whitfield?” Clint asked.
    “That’s where they’d go for supplies.”
    “There are two men in town, got here just before me today,” Clint said. He described them. “Know them?”
    O’Neal hesitated just too long to suit Clint.
    “No, can’t say I do.”
    Clint nodded.
    “Okay, Sheriff, thanks for your help.”
    “You stayin’ in town?”
    “Overnight at the hotel,” Clint said. “We’ll be leaving in the morning.”
    O’Neal nodded.
    “Sheriff, I don’t know you, so don’t take offense at what I’m about to say.”
    “Say your piece, Adams.”
    “I’d take it personal if anyone sent word to Pearl Starr that we were looking for her.”
    O’Neal looked at Alice.
    “That somethin’ you’d take personal, too, Deputy?” he asked.
    “Oh, yes,” she said, “very personal.”
    “I see,” O’Neal said. “So you think I’m lyin’ to you.”
    “We didn’t say that,” Clint said.
    “So what are you sayin’?”
    “I think we were very clear in what we said,” Clint replied. “All I’m asking is that you keep it in mind, Sheriff.”
    “I’ll do that, Mr. Adams,” O’Neal said. “I’ll do that.”

SEVENTEEN
     
     
     
    Just outside the sheriff’s office they stopped.
    “You think he was lying?” she asked.
    “Part of the time.”
    “Which part?”
    “That’s the question,” Clint said.
    They started walking.
    “He