Webb's Posse by Ralph Cotton Read Free Book Online Page A

Texas.”
    Summers shuffled the posters back and forth, then fingered another face. “Here is another one: one thousand dollar reward, dead or alive. I’m telling you, Deputy, this gang is money on the hoof if we play our cards right.” He started shuffling through the posters again.
    â€œAll right, I get the idea,” said Abner Webb, feeling a little foolish that he hadn’t already thought of this himself. “By the time you add it all up, the Peltry Gang could be worth, what, three or four thousand dollars?”
    Will Summers just looked at him for a second, then said, “More like twelve or fourteen thousand, I’ll bet. I haven’t added it all up. But whatever it is, it’ll bemore than enough to rebuild what the Peltrys burnt down here.”
    â€œAll right, Will. You don’t have to sell me on the idea. We go after the Peltry Gang, and any of them we find, we turn in for the reward.” He shrugged. “Sounds simple enough to me. You furnish the horses; we pay you for them when it’s over.”
    Will Summers winced and raised a finger for emphasis. “See, right there is where I seem to lose you, Abner. I’m not providing horses unless there’s cash on the barrelhead. But on the other hand, I will provide half the transportation for this posse if you agree to split any reward money fifty-fifty.”
    â€œFifty-fifty? You’ve gone completely loco!” Abner Webb looked stunned by the proposition. “There’s no way the town will stand for that!”
    â€œI don’t know why they won’t,” said Summers. “So far none of them have even thought about the rewards…. You neither, far as that goes.”
    â€œBut they would have, Will, or else I would have.” He shook his head. “It don’t even matter. The fact is, fifty-fifty is too damn high!”
    â€œNot if you think about what you’re getting from me,” Summers responded quickly. “I’m not only providing the horses. I know some men near here who can come up with all the guns we need.”
    â€œGunrunners?” Abner Webb’s eyes widened.
    â€œNever mind what they are,” Summers said, undaunted. “It’s what they can do for us right now that counts.” Without missing a beat, Summers continued. “I’ll also be acting as guide across the desert—some of the most dangerous country in the world.” He paused and studied the contemplative look on Abner Webb’s face for a second. Then he said in a lowered, more serious voice, “And since it’s just you and me here, let’s be honest, Deputy. Have you everkilled a man? Ever shot one? Ever even shot
at
one, for that matter?”
    He watched Abner Webb’s expression as the deputy wrestled to come up with the answer. Webb started to lie but then thought better of it and let out a tense breath. “No, I haven’t.” He looked Will Summers up an down skeptically. “Have
you
?”
    Summers looked all around the small office as if checking it before answering. Then he said, “Let’s put it this way, Deputy. It’s a whole lot different than shooting game: an elk, say, or a mule deer.”
    Webb gave him a stare. “That’s no answer, Will.”
    â€œOf course it is, if you listen close to what I’m saying,” Summers insisted. “It’s not something I can come right out and admit to a lawman.”
    â€œLike hell,” said Webb. “You asked me, and I gave you an honest answer. You’re talking about leading a manhunt, so I’m asking you the same question. Yes or no. Have you ever killed a man?”
    â€œWe’re getting off the subject here,” said Summers. “The main thing is, I can—”
    â€œI don’t think we’re getting off the subject at all,” Webb said, cutting him off. “You brought it up. You must’ve thought it meant