The Deputy - Edge Series 2 by George G. Gilman Read Free Book Online Page B

Hyams.’
    ‘Breakfast every morning is always at seven thirty on the dot and Rex can tell you I don’t stint on my portions at any mealtimes. So you have yourself some sweet dreams and build up your appetite. Welcome and goodnight to you, mister.’
    ‘Name’s Edge.’
    She nodded. ‘Reckon you know mine from Rex. And if you got the time and patience, he’ll tell you everything else there is to know about this town and all the folks in it.’
    She showed a brief smile to emphasise the criticism was good natured then turned and waddled down the unlit hallway. Was heard climbing the stairs just before the peace of the town was invaded by galloping hooves some way off to the west, getting closer by the moment.
    ‘That’ll be Ted coming back in from the Bellamy placed, I reckon,’ Whitman predicted and remained firmly at the foot of the stoop steps.
    This blocked Edge’s entrance to the house while the liveryman peered along River Road that intersected with Main Street across from the Hyams property, ran straight for a short distance then veered to the left.
    Moments later the rider raced his horse into sight from around the curve and slowed the animal as he neared Main Street.
    ‘Did Billy Injun tell it like it was, Ted?’ Whitman yelled above the less obtrusive sounds made by the slowing animal as the rider jerked on the reins to command a left turn.
    ‘It’s a stomach turning sight, Ted,’ Straker called back without slowing further as he did a fast double take at Edge, clearly having spotted him as a stranger to Bishopsburg. Edge got the impression of a thirty years old, slimly built man carrying maybe a hundred and forty pounds on a five feet ten inch tall frame. With a round, good looking face. The kind of open countenance that might be inclined to bring out the maternal instinct in women, even those of the deputy’s own age. He looked fit and maybe he was tough behind the shock that had fixed his expression after he witnessed the gruesome scene at the farm where three adults and two children were recently murdered. Edge said to Whitman: ‘You going to show me where I can bed down, feller? Then you can get back to the law office if you want.’
    38
    Whitman snapped his head around and peered absently at Edge for several moments, then dredged up from within his pre-occupied mind the inquiry that had been addressed to him. He showed a wan smile, turned to start up the steps and replied as Edge followed him:
    ‘The hell with that, mister. I reckon I know as much as anybody’s gonna find out tonight. Can’t see no point in going without shuteye for no good reason.’
    Offered a choice of rooms on either the second or third floor of the boarding house, Edge elected for the one on the third at the front.
    He could not be entirely sure and it was of no consequence to him, but he guessed from a cryptic comment made by Whitman as they parted that it was not only Doris Hyams’
    table the liveryman put his feet under when the urge was upon the widow for male company.
    Maybe subtle signals had been exchanged at the doorway earlier which meant Whitman would not be spending the entire night in his own room? But there were no tell tale sounds of what was taking place on the floor below and within a few minutes of Edge making himself comfortable on the soft bed between clean linen in the small but adequate room no more noise filtered in through the cracked open window from the town beyond. The furore caused by the discovery of the mass murder had subsided for the night and he drifted effortlessly to sleep: remained unaware of the passing hours and whatever filled them until he was awakened by the distant barking of dogs and crowing of roosters. He knew from the brightness of the light entering the room through the single uncurtained window that it was more than a few minutes after sun up the next morning which, he recalled, was a Wednesday.
    He also recollected he was in the south east Texas town of Bishopsburg, owed