Read Online [Texas Rangers 05] - Texas Vendetta by Elmer Kelton - Free Book Online

with gray hair and a slight paunch, the sheriff reacted sharply at the sight of Big’un being held at gunpoint. “What do you think you’re doin’ with my deputy?”
    Andy said, “He was fixin’ to get himself in trouble. We’re protectin’ him.”
    The sheriff turned his anger on Big’un. “Damn it, I told you to stay home, and keep all the Hoppers there too.”
    Big’un bristled. “We just come to make sure none of Jayce’s kinfolks let him loose.”
    “That’s my job.” The lawman turned back to the Rangers, making no secret of his antagonism toward Jayce Landon. “Thank you, Rangers, for deliverin’ this murderer. I’ll take over from here.”
    Farley gave Andy a severe look that warned him to be alert. “Our orders are to deliver him safe to your jailhouse. Till then, he’s still ours.”
    Andy watched the Ranger and the sheriff glare at each other. He knew Farley would stand his ground if it took all afternoon. The sheriff evidently came to the same conclusion. He said reluctantly, “All right. Another mile won’t make much difference.”
    Big’un looked back for support. “A trial is goin’ to cost us taxpayers money. There’s a good, stout tree yonder. I say we drag Jayce over there and hoist him like a fresh beef.”
    The sheriff’s voice crackled, “Shut up, Big’un. The judge crowded me into takin’ you and Harp as deputies, but I don’t have to listen to you talk like a damn fool.” He pointed his thumb toward town. “All right, Rangers, Jayce is still yours till we get him to jail. Let’s go before some idiot takes a notion to show how stupid he is.” He looked at Big’un again.
    A crowd had gathered to watch Jayce being brought to town. Andy had never seen so many angry people. Some supported Jayce, but it appeared that the majority were hostile to him. A couple of fistfights broke out as the horsemen approached the jailhouse door.
    Farley muttered, “Keep a close watch. There’s no tellin’ what some hothead might do.” He cut the leather thong that bound Jayce’s hands to the saddlehorn, but the cuffs remained on the prisoner’s wrists.
    Andy stayed in the saddle, holding the rifle in a firm grip. Big’un slipped away from him and rejoined the five who had ridden behind. The sheriff opened the front door of the jailhouse but stood in the middle, blocking it for what seemed to be several minutes.
    Giving somebody a good chance to shoot Jayce, Andy thought. He studied the people with anxious eyes.
    The long road to justice had many a shortcut.
    Farley took a firm grip on Jayce’s arm and led him through the doorway, past the sheriff. This time Jayce showed no resistance. Instead, he seemed in a hurry to get inside away from the crowd. Andy dismounted and followed, walking backward, the rifle ready.
    Farley said, “Badger Boy, would you mind fetchin’ my saddlebags?”
    Andy could not remember that Farley had ever asked him to do anything. He had always just told him.
    A woman burst through the door and ran to the prisoner, her arms outstretched. “Jayce,” she shouted. “Jayce!”
    The sheriff tried to restrain her, but she was strong enough to break free. She embraced Jayce, sobbing loudly. Too loudly, Andy thought. He sensed that she was making a show of it. After letting her cry for a bit, Jayce’s brother Walter pulled her away. “Come on, Flora, you oughtn’t to act like that in front of these Hoppers. They’ve had too much satisfaction already, just seein’ him brought in.”
    She launched a tearful tirade at the sheriff. “My Jayce is a better man than you, Oscar Truscott.” She turned on the crowd. “He’s better than the lot of you. All he done was kill a man that needed killin’. There’s a whole bunch of you Hoppers needs killin’.” She seemed to concentrate particularly on Big’un.
    Andy thought he saw a look of satisfaction in her eyes as Walter Landon led her outside. He wondered about it.
    Farley withdrew some papers from the