Read Online Bad Men Die by William W. Johnstone - Free Book Online Page B

always make some late rounds after Bucky goes to sleep.”
    The youngster said, “I think you ought to take me with you on your rounds, Pa. I’m not sleepy.”
    Hatfield chuckled. “You say that now, son, but I know good and well you’ll be asleep two minutes after your head hits the pillow.”
    A few minutes later, Luke and Consuela left the house. She had a wicker basket containing the food intended for McCluskey. Luke offered to carry it for her, but she said, “No, that’s all right, Señor Jensen. It’s not heavy.”
    As they turned onto Main Street, Luke saw that Rattlesnake Wells was loud and boisterous, but there wasn’t any real trouble going on. “Marshal Hatfield seems to have the lid on this town pretty tight.”
    â€œSí, the people respect him and try not to cause too much trouble,” Consuela agreed. “Of course, how could they not respect him? He is a fine man. I have known him for many years.”
    â€œThen you must have known his wife.”
    â€œPriscilla? Yes, she and Señor Hatfield were older than me, but we all grew up together down in . . .” Her voice trailed off and she didn’t finish what she was saying.
    But it had been enough to jog another memory in Luke’s brain. “Down in Texas, right? In the border country? I remember hearing something a few years ago about a young fella down there who was mighty fast with a gun. Had red hair, too, as I recall. But he wasn’t named Hatfield or called Sundown Bob, for that matter. Seems like they called him the Devil’s River Kid.”
    He heard the sharp intake of breath from Consuela as he spoke that name. She stopped short and turned to face him on the boardwalk in front of a hardware store that was closed for the night. “Señor Jensen, I . . . I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    â€œThe Devil’s River Kid was an outlaw, wanted for murder,” Luke went on. “He shot up a bunch of hired guns working for a wealthy local rancher. I don’t remember all the details, but it seemed like he was in a bad spot and didn’t have much choice but to do what he did.”
    She stood stiff as a steel rod and said quietly, “Please, Señor Jensen . . . no one here knows who Bob really is or what happened down in Texas. He just wants to live here in peace and raise his son.”
    â€œMight not be easy to do, as fast on the draw as he is. Sooner or later, somebody’s going to hear about him and remember the same things I just did and figure it out. They’ll show up and try to take him back to Texas. Either that or beat him to the draw and get famous that way.”
    â€œPerhaps. Perhaps not. If there is any justice in the world—”
    â€œWell, that’s sure something nobody can count on,” Luke said.
    â€œBut if there is,” Consuela insisted, “Bob will have a good life here. I will do everything in my power to make it so.” She moved a step closer to him. “Anything you wish of me, Señor Jensen, to leave him alone, it is yours.”
    â€œHold on a minute,” Luke said with a frown. “What makes you think I’m after him?”
    â€œYou are a bounty hunter, and . . . and . . .”
    â€œAnd there’s still a reward out for the Devil’s River Kid. But not for Marshal Bob Hatfield of Rattlesnake Wells, Wyoming. As far as I’m concerned, that’s who I just had supper with. A very pleasant supper, I might add.”
    â€œThen you . . . you didn’t come here to arrest him and . . . take him back to Texas, as you said?”
    â€œSeñorita, all I want from that young man is the use of his jail for the night. That’s the honest truth. I didn’t figure out who he really is until just a few minutes ago, and I’m not going to cause trouble for anybody who’s been so friendly and hospitable.”
    â€œHe is a good man, a very good