Read Online Imposter by William W. Johnstone - Free Book Online Page A

give it much thought anymore. He’s a man grown now. It’s his decision to make.”
    â€œUmm. Yes. Well . . . would you walk me back to my house, Frank?”
    â€œOf course. It would be my pleasure.”
    Frank took Lara’s arm and they began strolling up the boardwalk. The gunfighter and the lady.
    They were greeted by merchants and customers alike as they walked slowly up the town’s main street . . . and received many curious looks.
    â€œPeople are going to talk about this, Lara,” Frank cautioned her.
    â€œLet them. I’m used to people talking about me.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œWe’ll discuss that some other time.”
    â€œAs you wish.”
    â€œWhat the hell is that?” a man shouted, pointing down the main street.
    Frank and Lara turned to look. Frank sighed.
    â€œIs that a woman riding that mule astride?” Lara asked.
    â€œYes,” Frank replied. “And she’s carrying a shotgun.”
    â€œShe looks like a . . . well . . . a witch.”
    â€œClose enough,” Frank said. “That’s Alberta Davis. From a little town called Deweyville.”
    â€œWhat in the world is she doing here?”
    Alberta was drawing closer.
    â€œLooking for Val Dooley, I imagine.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œShe’s sweet on him.”
    â€œVal Dooley is sweet on that . . . pathetic-looking person?” Lara asked. “You can’t be serious!”
    â€œNo, Lara. She is sweet on him.”
    â€œHow do you know all that?”
    â€œIt’s a long story, believe me.”
    Lara stepped closer to him. “You simply must tell me all about it sometime.”
    Before Frank could reply, Alberta yelled. “I see you, Val Dooley!”
    â€œShe thinks I’m Val Dooley,” Frank said.
    â€œOh?”
    â€œVal Dooley, you whoor-chasing no-good!”
    â€œDid that woman just call me a whore?” Lara asked. “The nerve of her! How dare she!”
    â€œI don’t believe she was specifically referring to you, Lara.”
    â€œI’ll give that skinny trollop a piece of my mind!”
    Alberta leveled the old repeat shotgun and yelled, “You’ll pay for toying with my affections, Val Dooley!”
    â€œI’m not Val Dooley, damnit!” Frank hollered.
    â€œHow dare you curse me!” Alberta yelled.
    â€œI believe that woman is going to fire that weapon,” Lara said.
    â€œI hope not,” Frank replied.
    â€œI waited for you, Val!” Alberta yelled. “I waited and waited and you left me in the lurch, you sorry piece of white trash!”
    â€œNow you hold on, Alberta,” Frank yelled. “I tell you I am not Val Dooley. I just look a lot like him.”
    â€œLiar, liar, pants on fire!” Alberta hollered. She put her heels to the mule and the mule started running.
    â€œOh, hell!” Frank said.
    Just an instant before the shotgun boomed, Frank grabbed Lara and jumped into the door of the barbershop.
    Lara screamed, Alberta cussed, the shotgun boomed, and the barber hollered and hit the floor as the shop window was shattered by buckshot.

EIGHT
    Alberta whooped and hollered and put the mule into a run. She galloped past the barbershop and the shotgun boomed again. The buckshot hit the striped barber pole and started it spinning and squeaking.
    â€œWhat the hell is going on?” the barber yelled from his position on the floor. “Who is that crazy woman?”
    â€œAlberta Davis,” Frank told him, speaking from his position on the floor. “Her brother is the sheriff over in Deweyville.”
    â€œWoman called me a whore,” Lara said, pressing against Frank.
    Frank was having a difficult time concentrating with Lara close against him and the scent of her perfume in his head.
    â€œWell, her brother damn sure better come get her before somebody puts some lead in her!” the barber said.
    The shotgun boomed again just as Frank was getting to