Read Online Longarm and "Kid" Bodie (9781101622001) by Tabor Evans - Free Book Online Page A

is in the hands of my boss. And, Bodie, there’s something else you need to know. The letter is bloodstained.”
    Even in the dim light of the barn’s interior, Longarm saw the boy pale. He whispered, “Go on.”
    â€œI’m pretty sure that your onetime stepfather, John Stock, murdered or badly injured your mother and stole her jewelry. Most likely, he intended to take you to your grandmother and aunt and tell them some tall tale about how your mother died and he was the one that helped you get to Denver and safety. John Stock would have hung around your grandmother’s place a few days . . . or even weeks, playing on her sympathy, and then he’d have robbed and possibly even murdered her and your aunt just like he might have done your mother.”
    Bodie was silent a long time before he said, “I still don’t believe a word of it.”
    â€œIt’s sad but true.”
    â€œI need to see the letter.”
    Longarm scowled. “The letter is addressed to you, Bodie. And I’ve no doubt that you’ll recognize the handwriting.”
    â€œI want to see it now!”
    Longarm decided that he had no choice. “All right. Let’s go to my office, and I’ll talk my boss into showing you the letter and the jewelry.”
    â€œWhy would my ma send me jewelry?”
    â€œShe didn’t,” Longarm explained. “John Stock took it away from her, probably after he killed her. But I won’t know that until I’m in Virginia City.”
    â€œYou’re goin’ there?”
    â€œI am,” Longarm said. “I’m leaving on the train tomorrow. It runs up to Cheyenne and then all the way to Reno. I can catch a coach from Reno to Virginia City.”
    â€œI’m goin’ with you.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI’m goin’ with or without you, Marshal. And I’m takin’ my dog.”
    â€œIt’s a long, long way to the Comstock Lode.”
    â€œI know. I come from Bodie. I know how far it is, but I’ll get there.”
    â€œYour grandmother, Ida, and aunt Rose would like you to live with them. They have a fine house. You and Homer could stay with them, and when I get back with some answers, we could decide what to do.”
    â€œIs Sheriff Miller that dumb that he couldn’t even find me there?”
    Longarm almost smiled. “He’s dumb, but you’re right. He’d find you at your grandmother’s house.”
    â€œWell then? I ain’t never rode a train and neither has Homer.”
    â€œYou can’t take him on the train.”
    â€œI’ll take him or not go.”
    â€œYou can’t take a dog on the train.”
    â€œI can if I sleep in a cattle or freight car. Some of them go to Reno, don’t they?”
    â€œYes, but . . .”
    â€œWell that’s it then. If you got the letter and it’s from my ma, I’m goin’ to Virginia City one damned way or the other.”
    Longarm had to admire the boy’s determination. “Let’s go to my office and see what my boss says.”
    â€œI don’t give a damn what your boss says,” Bodie told him. “That letter and that jewelry you said belonged to my ma now belong to me. I could sell the jewelry and have enough money to buy my own damn ticket to Reno, couldn’t I?”
    â€œI suppose.”
    â€œAnything else that my ma had for me?”
    â€œA few gold nuggets.”
    â€œWell then I’m set for money, and I’m leavin’ with or without you, Marshal.”
    â€œWere you born this stubborn?” Longarm asked.
    â€œI was born hard and I stayed hard,” Bodie said without a trace of pride. “I been on the bottom, and I’m sick and tired of it. Don’t like being told what to do.”
    â€œThen how do you even hold a job like this?” Longarm asked, looking around.
    â€œI ain’t been here but a couple of days. Mr. Redman,