Webb's Posse by Ralph Cotton Read Free Book Online

pretty much the same: offered to send you every man he’s got once they get back from their drive two weeks from now.”
    â€œTwo weeks!” shouted a voice from the crowded street. “Hell, they’ll be no need even looking for them in two weeks!”
    â€œAll right, men,” said Abner Webb. “I know weneed more horses and guns.” His eyes swept across the crowd and saw that many of the men were now wearing old pistols they had scraped up from their homes or barns. “But before you all go flying off the—”
    â€œWhat we
need
is somebody who can
take charge
,” Miles Michaels, the blacksmith, interrupted. “All we’ve seen Abner Webb do is
take advantage
!”
    Deputy Abner Webb rubbed his temples as if suffering from a headache. Then he looked out from the boardwalk at the angry faces. “All right, we’ve only got five horses. Anybody got any idea how we’re going to get by with
five
horses? Any of you want to join a
walking
posse?”
    â€œThat polecat has horses!” shouted Ned Trent with a nasal twang, his nose swollen to twice its normal size. “Make him give them up!”
    â€œYou don’t learn easily, do you, Trent?” said Will Summers, stepping to the edge of the boardwalk as Abner Webb grabbed his arm and held him back.
    Trent touched a wet rag to his broken nose as he shied back a step. “In an emergency situation, I say the town can confiscate a man’s horses for its own use.”
    â€œWatch me break your nose again,” Summers said. But Abner Webb held him back as he replied to the crowd.
    â€œMen, we’re not confiscating anybody’s horses.” He turned to Summers. “Will, how much will you take for those six horses?”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter how much I’ll take,” said Summers. “None of you have any money. The Peltrys cleaned everybody out.”
    â€œDamn it! I plumb forgot.” Abner Webb let out a breath of exasperation. “All right, Will. Can you hold the town’s marker until we can round up enough money to pay you?”
    â€œNope.” Will Summers shook his head. “I’m strictly cash only, all sales final.”
    Abner Webb stepped in close and said to Will Summers under his breath, “For God sakes, Will! These men are ready to tar and feather you. Can’t you bend a little? I’m trying to save your hide!”
    â€œBy taking my horses and giving me a marker? No thanks,” said Summers, keeping his own voice low between the two of them. “But don’t worry, Deputy. I’ve got an idea that’ll work out for both of us.”
    â€œWhat kind of idea?” Webb asked warily.
    â€œCome on,” said Summers. “Let’s go to the sheriff’s office, where we can talk in private.” He turned to the townsmen and said, “Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse us for just a few minutes, I believe we can work this out to everybody’s benefit.” He looked back and forth from one face to the next. “Meanwhile, decide among yourselves which ten of you are going to ride posse with us.” The townsmen looked at one another, then began to nod and comment among themselves.
    â€œThere now, Deputy,” Summers said to Abner Webb. “That’ll keep them busy for a while.” He offered a thin smile. “Long enough for us to work everything out.”

Chapter 4

    In the sheriff’s office, under Will Summers’ urging, Deputy Abner Webb went to a wooden file cabinet standing in a corner and took out a folder full of wanted posters. When he handed the folder to Summers, the two stood looking down as Summers took out the posters and spread them across the worn wooden desk. “There, first one out of the pile,” said Summers, his finger pinning a rough, bearded face to the desk. Gilbert Metts, five hundred dollar reward…participation in bank robbery in the State of