Read Online Outlaw Hell by Len Levinson - Free Book Online Page A

what a cowboy earned, and fines could really add up. But he had plenty of money, and didn't need additional headaches. “No thanks. I was planning to move on.”
    â€œA sheriff can do pretty much what he wants, thanks to that tin badge,” Maggie said, persisting. “If a wanted poster came from Austin with yer picture on it, you could set a match to it.”
    â€œIf a wanted poster came from Austin with my picture on it, I wouldn't even be here. I'm hitting the trail soon as my horse rests up. No thanks, Mrs. O'Day.”
    â€œIt's Miss O'Day. Have you noticed anything strange about this town, Duane?”
    â€œI never saw a nest of coyotes like this in all my days.”
    â€œYou seen any children on the streets?”
    â€œI figured there weren't any.”
    â€œThey're here, but they cain't go outdoors to play. There's too much stray lead flyin’ around, and we need a tough sheriff to put an end to it. There's decent folks left in Escondido, and we'd be mighty grateful if you took the job.”

    â€œThis town is full of backshooters and bushwhackers. I wouldn't last a day.”
    â€œThey're all scared of you now. You could do some real good here, make yer own laws if you want, and put together a nice little grubstake. How's about some whisky?”
    She poured a glass and handed it to him, and he sipped sweet mellow liquid, a notch above what she served in the bar. “The more I think about it, the worse it sounds,” he declared.
    â€œMaybe yer right,” she said reluctantly. “We got some real bad fellers in Escondido, no doubt about it. Yer young and I reckon you've got a lot to learn.” She winked. “The girls must go plumb loco over that purty face of your'n, ay cowboy?”
    Duane smiled faintly. “But they always leave after they get to know me.”
    â€œA gal looks fer a man who can take care of her, not git her strung up. You pull yer life together, you'll have all the gals you want. If it's one thing I know, it's women.”
    Duane examined the strange flamboyant creature before him. “You been in this business long?” he inquired.
    She puffed her cigar thoughtfully. “I was born in this business.”
    â€œDid you ever hear of my father, Joe Braddock?”
    She flinched barely perceptibly. “Long time ago, but I never met ‘im. They say he was one wild-ass son of a bitch once he got going, and you're a chip off the old block. Lots've owlhoots pass throughEscondido, and you might meet somebody who knew ‘im from the old days.”
    â€œI already met one of them—Amos Twilby. Were you a friend of his?”
    â€œHe was a customer. How'd he know your father?”
    â€œHe got shot before he could tell me.”
    â€œHe was a damned fine stablemaster, but I've always wondered where his stake come from. You know, if you wanted to ask about Joe Braddock, folks would feel obligated to answer a sheriff's questions. A sheriff could do pretty much as he pleased in a town like Escondido.”
    â€œYou ever hear anything about Joe Braddock's woman?”
    â€œJoe Braddock prob'ly had a lot of ‘em, a good-lookin’ feller like that.”
    â€œIf you never met him, how do you know he was good-looking?”
    â€œI'm just telling you what people used to say. Joe Braddock was a legend in the Pecos country, because he dared to buck the big ranchers.”
    â€œSome folks say he was an outlaw.”
    â€œMaybe he was. Hell, everybody's got an axe to grind. If the big ranchers who killed yer paw ever heard you been a-snoopin’ around askin’ questions, they might send vigilantes after you, too. But if you was a lawman, they wouldn't dare touch you. Think it over, cowboy. And if you want a girl for the night, just pick her out and take her upstairs, on me. It's a li'l fringe benefit of being a friend of Maggie O'Day's.”

    Duane sat in a dark corner of the Last Chance Saloon, sipping