Read Online Slocum and the Diamond City Affair (9781101612118) by Jake Logan - Free Book Online

gave her his hardest efforts until she fainted. He knew dealing with a drunk woman was never wonderful, but he finished on her limp form anyway. What had he learned? Nothing. Searching the small jacal, he found some water plus a towel and cleaned up, then dressed. She’d proved to be a waste of his time. The strong winey smell of her body embedded in his nose, he set his hat on his head and adjusted the gun belt on his waist. In disgust, he looked at her naked body sprawled on the sheets—he’d simply leave her for Ike and get out of there. He couldn’t squeeze answers out of a woman rough-like without his conscience biting him.
    The Apaches were his only lead now. But as superstitious as they were about doing things at night, they still might back out of the deal. Stopping in the street, Slocum looked back at the whore’s closed door and shook his head in disgust. What a big waste of his time.
    He realized that two men were following him, being obvious by turning away whenever he stopped to check who was behind him, walking up the boardwalk, heading for the Oriental Saloon. He ducked into an alley, his hand resting on his gun butt. By law he was supposed to have already checked that pistol in at the nearest establishment when he entered town. But the opportunity had not availed itself for him to do so. He felt grateful to still be wearing his gun and holster.
    Two men raced to the gap opening of the alley. They stopped. “Where in the hell did he go?”
    Slocum, pistol in hand, stood between two buildings and could see them clearly. When they’d run by him, he stepped out behind them and ordered them to halt. They wilted in their tracks.
    â€œWho are you?” He checked them from behind for weapons with his left hand. He found none.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œSpit out your names and who you work for while I consider how I’m going to kill you two.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” the shorter one snarled.
    Slocum slammed him on top of the shoulder with his pistol barrel. The man screamed in pain and fell to his knees.
    â€œNow talk.” His patience thin, Slocum was ready to do more damage to them.
    â€œBob Taylor,” the shorter one said.
    â€œGunner Blythe.”
    â€œWho do you work for?”
    â€œOld Man Clanton.”
    â€œWhy are you following me?” When they didn’t answer him, he kicked the one called Blythe in the butt, who went down onto his knees next to Taylor.
    â€œWe’re just following orders,” Taylor said.
    â€œTell the old man to mind his own damn business. And I’ll put a damn bullet in each of your heads if you trail me again. You savvy me?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œThen get up and run for your horses.” Slocum stepped back, realizing he’d warned the old man and the whole clan that there would be trouble between him and them.
    He watched the two run for the far end of the alley. They weren’t Clanton’s toughest men. But they might ride on too. They’d looked scared enough when Slocum finished with them. Maybe his Apaches would find those horses—if they showed up.
    He went back to the ranch and Rosa ran out to greet and hug him.
    â€œHow did it go?” She was excited by his return.
    â€œWhere do they race horses across the border?”
    â€œMaybe at Engles?”
    â€œGood. You know the way there?”
    â€œSure. Will his horses be there?” she asked.
    â€œThey say Ike is bringing a fast horse. It could be O’Riley’s stallion.”
    â€œWhat horse?” the sleepy-looking O’Riley asked, combing his too-long red hair with his fingers.
    â€œIke, maybe, racing your stallion over in Sonora on Sunday.”
    â€œReally? What can we do?”
    â€œProbably not much except watch. He’ll have plenty of his men there to be certain we can’t claim him.”
    O’Riley’s shoulders slumped. “What good is that?”
    Slocum shook his