The Last Buckaroo by J. R. Wright Read Free Book Online Page B

smell a skunk.  He ’ s
a hack, Katie.  You don ’ t want him representing
your friend Yancey Burke ... take my word on that! ”
    “ Why
should I take your word on anything, Sheriff? ”
    “ You
sound like you have something to say, Katie!  If so spit it out, so all these
good folks can hear it. ”
    “ Okay,
Sheriff, ” she replied and went to
be in front of him. “ You promised me Yancey
would be kept safe, where you moved him. ”
    “ He
is, Katie.  I assure you, nobody can get to him where he is. ”
    Suddenly
the normally loud tavern was stone silent.
    “ Nobody? ” she shouted.  “ Then
why is he lying on a bunk over in that Terryville prison with his face bashed
in …  
Why, Sheriff? ”
    “ Did
Woody Clampett tell you that? ”
    “ Are
you calling him a liar? ”
    Everyone
in the place then ganged around and watched as Preston Ames ’ face turned beet red
with rage.
    “ Is
he, Sheriff? ” somebody from behind
said.
    “ Yeah! 
Is he, Sheriff? ” others joined in until a low roar consumed the silence.
    Finally
Preston pushed his way through the crowd and out of the tavern, slamming the
usually open door, this time of year, behind him.
    At
closing time, fearing retaliation, Katie took the shotgun as she left out the
back.  There would be no lantern to give her location away this night.  But
once underway it soon became evident she wasn ’ t
alone.  An automobile sat in the alleyway to her back …   And another was at the
intersection ahead, she noticed.  Then to her right on the main street, she
spotted three more.  As she moved, they moved with her.  It soon became evident
she was getting an escort home.  And with that realization, the usual spryness
returned to her legs; the familiar spring that caused the dangling ringlets of
her uplifted hair to dance as she walked went back into her steps.
    Once
she was home, shadowy figures, some noticeably with guns, surrounded the
house.  Then after the last lamp was extinguished, she was lulled to sleep by
the comforting sound of an occupied rocking chair, moving to and fro over
squeaky boards on the front porch.

 
     
     
     
    CHAPTER
TEN
    In
the dead of night two men, with tin badges on their chests, exited the sheriff ’ s
office, climbed into the Model T Ford with the white star on the door, and
eased gently down the street.  Eight blocks up it turned left onto the main
road out of town and picked up speed.  In twilight it returned, and now there
were three that entered the office, one unmistakably in cuffs and leg chains.
    Feeling
better this morning, Katie came up the street at nine.  She had every intention
of having breakfast at the eatery and while there visit some with Helmer.  He ’ d
become so complacent with her competence in managing the tavern, she hardly saw
him anymore.  But first she would enter the tavern briefly to deposit the
shotgun, concealed in the rolled blanket under arm.
    No
sooner had she entered, however, when Ralph Longley, from the hotel across the
street, burst in behind her.  Alarmed by the surprise intrusion she near had
the shotgun from the blanket before hearing his familiar voice shout: “ He ’ s
back! ”
    “ Oh! 
God!  Ralph! ”   She
tossed the heavy gun and blanket on the bar with a thud.  “ Who ’ s
back? ”
    “ Yancey! 
They brought him early this morning!  I saw them from the hotel. ”
    At
first a raw ache clutched her belly, followed closely by a faint rush of joy
that progressively became more vibrant as milliseconds whirled by.  Making her
feet work when they didn ’ t want to, she shuffled
toward the door, weak but determined.  Why on earth had that happened now? 
Maybe she needed to re-examine her feelings for Yancey Burke  —  had
they turned physical?  So far in life, physical encounters with persons of the
opposite sex hadn ’ t worked out too well
for her.
    “ Are
you all right? ” Ralph
came to her.
    Katie
deposited the keys to the tavern into his