Read Online Slocum 419 by Jake Logan - Free Book Online

that much time, Jasper. I can’t stop the bleeding and you’ve got some damage to your innards.”
    â€œI know. I’m real woozy.”
    Slocum knew, from the pool of blood beneath Jasper, that he had lost a couple of pints. Blood was no longer reaching his brain.
    The young man was dying.
    â€œIf you know any good prayers, Jasper,” Slocum said, “this might be the time to start saying one of them.”
    â€œI—I’m dyin’, ain’t I?”
    â€œYou’ve lost a lot of blood and there’s no way to get it back in you.”
    â€œI’m dyin’, then.”
    â€œYes. I’m sorry, son.”
    Jasper started to cry. Slocum squeezed his shoulder.
    â€œIt’s gettin’ kind of dark,” Jasper said.
    â€œYou got any kin in Durango?”
    â€œNo. My brother. He was the onliest one.”
    â€œWell, maybe you’ll see him soon,” Slocum said.
    He didn’t know what else to say. There was no saving the young man. He was pumping out blood in smaller and smaller flows now. His face was blanched almost pure white. His eyes were glazing over, wet with tears.
    Jasper tried to turn over to look up at Slocum, but the pain was too great. He slumped even closer to the ground and one of his hands made a fist. A pitiful fist, as if he was trying to hang on a little while longer.
    Jasper gasped something, but Slocum could not understand what he was trying to say. The young man closed his eyes and shuddered.
    Then he was still.
    Slocum leaned down close to Jasper’s mouth to listen for signs that he was breathing. Jasper’s mouth was closed and so, now, were his eyes. Slocum could feel no pulse when he touched a finger to the big vein in his neck.
    Jasper was dead.
    Slocum stood up and looked toward the man he had shot.
    â€œIs he dead?” Whit asked.
    Slocum did not give him the satisfaction of an answer.
    Lou Darvin stirred. He pushed up with both arms and looked over at the dead man nearby.
    Slocum heard the sound of a loud grunt and turned to see Lou struggling to get to his feet.
    â€œMr. Slocum, that you?” Lou called out. He stood up and swayed on his feet. He gingerly rubbed the top of his head and staggered toward Slocum.
    â€œTake it easy,” Slocum said.
    Whit groaned in pain.
    â€œWhat the hell happened here?” Lou asked when he saw Jasper lying there and another man lying on his back, bleeding from a hole in his abdomen.
    â€œThat man there shot and killed Jasper,” Slocum said.
    â€œThat’s Whit Grummon,” Lou said. “We boarded his horse for a few days.”
    â€œHe’s one of Wolf’s men,” Slocum said.
    â€œWolf?”
    â€œAn outlaw in town.”
    Lou walked over to Jasper, looked down at him with sad eyes.
    â€œI got jumped,” he said. “I wish I could have—”
    â€œNot your fault, Lou,” Slocum said. “Jasper never had a chance either. He was backshot.”
    Lou turned and looked at Whit. Then he strode over to him and glared down at him.
    â€œYou’re a worthless chunk of shit, Grummon,” Lou said.
    Slocum walked over to stand beside Lou.
    Whit’s eyes closed tight in pain. He did not have the strength to reply.
    â€œLet me have your gun, Mr. Slocum. I’ll kill this no-good sonofabitch.”
    â€œNo need, Lou. This sonofabitch is just a sliver and a slice from being cold meat.”
    Whit’s eyes opened.
    They were already glazed over and wide with fear. More blood oozed from his wound. Then his eyes closed and he quivered a moment and stopped breathing. His legs shook for a few seconds and then were still.
    â€œHe’s gone,” Slocum said. “There was another man with him. He ran off, but he’s toting a lead slug in his leg.”
    â€œSomebody’s got to pay for what was done to Jasper,” Lou said.
    â€œSomebody will,” Slocum said.
    Lou turned his head and looked into Slocum’s