Read Online The Savage Trail by Jory Sherman - Free Book Online Page A

hardwood. A moment later, Roscoe Bender, a cigar stuffed in his jowly face, entered the saloon from the hallway. He wore a Colt Bisley on his belt, up high, and the holster was snugged up next to a long, skinny knife with a hole drilled in the handle that was threaded with a thong. Ollie knew that Roscoe usually had that Arkansas toothpick danglingdown his back, within easy reach if he got into a brawl. He was surprised to see it hanging from his belt in plain sight.
    â€œHere comes Roscoe now,” Sam said, and moved away towardthe sodden patrons at the other end of the bar.
    Bender came up next to Ollie, looked him over with jaded, rheumy eyes set back behind high cheekbones like those of some feral animal’s. He puffed on his cigar and blue smoke formed a cloud just over his head.
    â€œOllie, long time.”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œI heard you run into some gold.”
    â€œSome bigmouth tell you that?”
    â€œBirds fly back and forth, from north to south.”
    â€œRoscoe, I got a job for you. Pays in paper or gold.”
    â€œEither way. Spends about the same. Ain’t none of your boys around to do it?”
    â€œNot many of my boys left, and none of ’em here.”
    â€œWhat you got, Ollie?”
    â€œYou’re going to need more than that puny Bisley on your belt.”
    Roscoe didn’t glance down at his pistol. He blew a plume of smoke out of the side of his mouth.
    â€œThis is my bar gun,” he said. “It’s more of a persuader and does real good up close.”
    â€œTwo men on my trail, Roscoe. An old guy and a young whippersnapper. I don’t want them to get any farther than Cheyenne. You’ll have to meet ’em on the trail from Denver.”
    â€œI got two men can do the job.”
    â€œYou got to be one of ’em. It’s right important.”
    Ollie swallowed the rest of his whiskey.
    â€œYou sound real serious, Ollie.”
    â€œI’m serious. The boy’s a fair shot with a Colt. He’s rubbed out some of my boys.”
    â€œWhat’s your offer, Ollie?”
    â€œA hundred now, and I’ll give you another two hundred when you give me the pistol that young feller’s carryin’. I want proof.”
    â€œHell, I could just give you a piece of hardware and tell you I done it.”
    â€œThis boy’s got a special pistol. Ain’t no other like it. I want it.”
    â€œSure, Ollie. You’re payin’ more’n anybody around here for a killin’. Hell, for twenty bucks, I could get burials for four men.”
    Ollie dug into his pocket and peeled off five twenty-dollar bills. He slipped them to Roscoe below the counter. Bender put the money in his pocket.
    â€œThey might be real close behind me, Roscoe,” Ollie said.
    â€œYou be around?”
    â€œGoin’ to Fort Laramie. Be here till about four. If you bring me the pistol before then, I’ll pay you off.”
    â€œYou want me to go check the trail right now?”
    â€œRight now, Roscoe.”
    â€œAll right, Ollie. Another drink?”
    Ollie shook his head.
    â€œAnd you ain’t got time to jaw with me, Roscoe. Take the longest rifle you got is my advice.”
    â€œYou ain’t scared, are you, Ollie? And this ain’t the law on your tail?”
    â€œNo, I’m not scared and there’s no law on my tail. Just that damned kid and the old geezer. I want their lamps put out permanent.”
    â€œSure, Ollie. Make like it’s already done.”
    Ollie snorted.
    â€œJust bring back that pistol and keep it in the safe for me, Roscoe.”
    Roscoe stubbed out his cigar in an ashtray as Ollie walked toward the bat-wing doors. He watched him go outside, then beckoned to Sam.
    â€œI’ll be goin’ out, Sam. You seen Dooley and Kerrigan this mornin’?”
    Sam shook his head. But he knew if Roscoe wanted to see those two, somebody was going to wind up dead.
    Sam swallowed as Roscoe