Read Online Straw Men by J. R. Roberts - Free Book Online

rank insignia on his shoulder.
    â€œThat’s right. Congratulations.”
    Beaming like a kid who’d just won the spelling bee, Farelli marched behind his desk and sat down. He then motioned toward one of the other chairs in the room and said, “Have a seat, Adams. I’ll get right down to the heart of the matter, since I’m sure you’ve already heard about the Indian attacks that have been happening of late.”
    â€œHeard about them and seen them for myself.”
    â€œReally? Nothing too serious, I hope.”
    â€œActually, it was on the way over here,” Clint replied while carefully studying Farelli’s reaction. “Abigail and I crossed paths with a wagon being guarded by a Sergeant Davis. Do you know of him?”
    Farelli wasn’t too hard to read. He was smug when Clint began his story, but his expression turned to one of surprise when he heard Davis’s name. “He came through here not too long ago. Did he mention me?”
    â€œNo. Should he have mentioned you?”
    Pulling himself together with a few breaths, Farelli puffed out his chest and regained his original smugness. “We’re both dealing with the same problem. The reason I requested to speak to you was so you could help us with that problem. I’ve arranged to meet with Chief Tolfox. He runs the tribe that’s been responsible for most of the attacks, so I hope to smooth over enough differences to ensure the safety of travelers in this area.”
    â€œAre you sure this chief has a problem with the travelers?” Clint asked. “What if he’s just attacking the men in uniform?”
    â€œIf that’s the case, it’s the first I’ve ever heard of it. Besides, I can only know about the attacks that are brought to my attention and those have been the ones involving Army men.”
    Clint knew it was pointless to pursue that matter any further. If Farelli was hiding something, he wasn’t about to give it up. Even if he wasn’t hiding anything, what he’d said fell well within the realm of possibility. Clint had to forget about who he was dealing with and focus on the task at hand. “Where do I come into this?” he asked.
    â€œI thought the letter was clear. Since my men have been under fire, I assume this Chief Tolfox is keeping watch for them. At the very least, it’s safe to assume he’s got men among his warriors who have a knack for hunting down the Army uniform.”
    â€œThat seems about right.”
    Settling into a whole other layer of smugness now that he saw Clint was genuinely paying attention, Farelli leaned back in his chair and said, “Going to these peace talks with a brigade of armed men wouldn’t send the proper message and might just spark a fight straightaway. If I don’t send enough armed men, I’d be putting my negotiators at risk. That’s why I need to send a few extremely capable men to the talks. Since you were in the area and you can handle yourself under such conditions, I thought I’d ask for your help.”
    â€œAre you going to the talks?” Clint asked.
    That question hit Farelli like a cold slap in the face. “No. My relations are…strained with Tolfox. My presence there wouldn’t be prudent.”
    â€œOf course not. Who will be going?”
    â€œIf all goes well, you’ll be going along with my second in command as well as a few of my assistants who are qualified to barter a certain amount of our goods if that should be necessary.”
    Clint chuckled under his breath. “Trying to buy them off?”
    Farelli held out both hands and replied, “What ever works. I’d just like to be done with this whole mess. If you don’t want to take part, that’s fine. If you do, you’ll be paid a fee of five hundred dollars to cover your expenses as well as the ser vices you’re providing.”
    Oddly enough, that moment was the first time