Read Online Scream of Eagles by William W. Johnstone - Free Book Online Page B

said, a touch of French accent in his words. “And I knowed ol’ Robedeaux what took up with the Cheyenne and bred forth the woman who’s the mama of Gentle Breeze. Your son treatin’ her rat, MacCallister?”
    â€œThat he is.”
    â€œFigured he must be. The Cheyenne would a-never a-stood for it if he wasn’t a good man.” The old man, who Jamie figured must be eighty if he was a day, looked at the Greener in Jamie’s hands and smiled. “That’s two men a-sittin’ at a table just to your rat as you step in the door. Two more facin’ the door, backs to the rear wall. The other two is along the bar. That’d be to your lef’ as you walk in. Take the two at the right side table out furst, they’s the fastest. Waddy Keeton and Slim Terry. They’s some other folks in there, but they’s moved out of the way. Go in shootin’. Good luck to you, Mac.”
    â€œThanks.”
    The old mountain men walked to the hitch rail, swung into their saddles, and were gone.
    The cold winds off the mountains blew harsh against Jamie’s face as he walked to the front door. Pausing for a few seconds, Jamie took several deep breaths. He eared back both hammers to the sawed-off, slammed open the door and went fast and low, turning to his right.
    * * *
    In Falcon’s hotel suite, a pot of coffee on the table, Falcon listened with rapt attention as Ben F. Washington carefully recounted the whole sorry and sordid tale of his family’s history—as much as he knew.
    When Ben had finished, Falcon poured a fresh cup and leaned back in his chair. “Roscoe and Anne Jefferson became Anne and Ross LeBeau, the actors and singers and musicians. I often wondered what happened to them. So Anne is the mother of you and Page?”
    â€œYes. She passed for white. Obviously, if you have eyes, you can see I could not.”
    â€œBut you don’t know Page.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œShe’s done nothing to you personally.”
    â€œNo. Nothing.”
    â€œAnd she doesn’t know she is a quarter Negro?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThen why do you hate her so and want to destroy her life?”
    Ben did not reply to that. He leaned back into his chair and stared at Falcon.
    â€œIs it jealousy?” Falcon asked. “Is that it?”
    â€œQuite possibly, that is part of it.”
    â€œYou know, of course, that I will not allow you to ruin my nephew’s life?” Falcon could butcher the English language when he wanted to, and when he wanted to, he could speak with the precision of a teacher.
    â€œHow would you stop me?”
    â€œThat’s easy. I’d kill you!”
    Ben’s eyes widened in disbelief. “But you just saved my life!”
    â€œStrictly to get information; to find out what in the hell is going on.” Falcon stared hard at the man. “I don’t sympathize with you at all, Ben. Not one bit. You’ve got your own life, so why not just live it, and let others live theirs. You have no right to come along and destroy others just because you’re angry at the hand life dealt you. If you want to live, just settle down and play your cards.”
    â€œI can’t believe you’d kill me, Falcon.”
    â€œThis is a family matter, Ben. And the MacCallister family sticks together. You poke one of us with a needle, we all feel it. I will stop you from ruining two lives.”
    Ben didn’t believe it. He just didn’t believe Falcon would kill him. The reporter rose from his chair and walked to the door. He paused, turned around. “Thank you for what you did in that alley. Tomorrow, I shall buy a pistol and learn how to use it. Good night, Falcon.”
    Falcon sat for a time, staring at the closed door. He knew what he had to do, but damn sure didn’t look forward to doing it.
    * * *
    Six men in the trading post grabbed for guns when the door burst open. The other men hit the